Storage specialists Seagate have launched some much needed color to the boring backup area.

It's not the traditional hard drive range - these devices are intended to keep you connect to both your media and your desktop, not unlike larger versions of the U3 pocket drives, allowing you to access Internet favorites, settings and passwords, email, instant messaging and more wherever you are.

The FreeAgent Pro range is available in 320GB, 500GB and 750GB capacities. The included software allows you to automatically synchronise content wherever they want it - to a flash drive, iPod or obviously, your home PC. Also thrown in is access to a personal Seagate Internet Drive - 500MB of online space, free for 6 months and accessible by password. Connectivity for the main unit is via a USB 2.0 and eSATA interface or dual FireWire 400 ports. Prices range from $199.99 (320GB) to $419.99 (750GB).

The FreeAgent Go devices are in sizes 80GB, 120GB and 160GB, with a FreeAgent Go Small offering 12GB in storage. Again, you can store both your media and desktop. Plug it into any USB port on a Windows machine and access your settings just as you left them at home. Settings are stored on the device, not the host PC - so security shouldn't be an issue. The FreeAgent Go Small retails for $139.99, with the FreeAgent Go ranges available from $129.99 (80GB) to $189.99 (160GB).

FreeAgent Pro data movers (320GB, 500GB, 750GB)

FreeAgent Pro data movers provide prosumers, creative pros and anyone who’s serious about their digital content the freedom to stay connected to it. They combine desktop and online solutions that let you access your content from anywhere, share it with anyone, and sync it to almost anything. The included software allows consumers to automatically synchronize content they select wherever they want it – like automatically transferring your latest project files to a flash drive, copying your email and contacts from Microsoft Outlook to an iPod®, accessing or auto loading your favorite photos to a Shutterfly® account, or quickly syncing your entire ‘My Documents’ folders to the FreeAgent Pro drive. FreeAgent Pro data movers provide an entirely new way to interact with and manage digital content, providing much more than just storage. In addition to the full suite of software tools, every FreeAgent Pro data mover includes access to your own private Seagate Internet Drive, an online service that provides a “24/7 ATM” to post, access and share your favorite files from anywhere using the Web. The FreeAgent Pro data mover will include a trial offer of 500 megabytes of online space, which is free of charge for the first six months and upgradeable anytime. Access to the Seagate Internet Drive will be password-protected, so users can safely provide access to their content to trusted friends and family.