Storage maker LaCie has announced an update to its Rugged external hard drive, adding an integrated Thunderbolt cable. While on the surface the feature is just more convenient, it also improves protection against dust, water, and other contaminants, since the drive’s cap can be left on unless a person needs a USB 3.0 connection. When not in use, the Thunderbolt cable wraps around a groove and tucks into the space sealed by the cap. The 250GB ($300) and 500GB ($500) SSD versions of the drive are rated for drops up to 2m, and conform to IP54 durability standards. Warranty coverage has been extended from two to three years. LaCie is also selling 1TB ($220) and 2TB ($300) models based on 5400rpm hard disks. 
