Germany-based Freecom has announced the launch of the first external hard disk drive to arrive on the market compatible with USB 3.0 interface. XS 3.0 is a 3.5” hard disk available in 1 TB, 1.5 TB and 2 TB capacities, features hardware-based AES 256-bit encryption, maximum transfer rate of 130 MB/s, a rubberized enclosure which reduces vibration, weights 1.89 lbs (860 g) and has backward compatibility with USB 2.0/1.1 interfaces. As offer of motherboards and controller cards featuring USB 3.0 is still low, Freecom will be also selling a USB 3.0 controller card to support their new hard disks (€ 25.95 desktop model and € 29.95 notebook model). XS 3.0 hard disks will reach the market in the middle of November with the 1 TB model costing € 119.