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Western Digital today announced the availability of two high capacity external hard drives: My Passport Elite and My Passport Essential drives are now available in half-a-terabyte (500GB) models. Both feature USB-bus powered (no AC adapter needed), synchronization software to ensure changes are synced across storage media, and plug-and-play compatibility with gaming consoles such as Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PS3.

Measuring 0.590 x 4.967 x 3.130 inches (HxLxW) and weighing less than half a pound, the drives are compact and lightweight for easy portability. The Essential version comes in eleven different colors; the Elite, in four colors.

The Elite model offers more options than the Essential, including a capacity gauge, auto back-up software and the ability to remotely access files from any MioNet-enabled PC (the latter is a Windows-only feature).

My Passport Elite has a suggested list price of $219.99; the Essential version costs about $199.99. www.wdc.com