Filed under: Storage

We’re not really sure how many people worldwide have been pining for a flash drive to match their Zippo, but Transcend‘s decided that’s exactly what we need. Beyond coming in the normal assortment of sizes ranging from 1GB to 4GB, the JetFlash 180 “also comes bundled with some very useful software applications,” although we’re not really sure which ones. Still, it’s got some decent read and write speeds, coming in at 10-12MBps and 8MBps, respectively. Unfortunately Transcend’s sped off without letting us know when or where we can get our greasy paws all over this shiny new drive.

[Via Far East Gizmos]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Storage

Anything labeled a “must-have” from a security company that we’ve never heard of is flips on our huckster radars, and a new startup called Atomynet purports to sell its new “Mighty Key” portable security solution. Basically it’s a USB security key that supposedly encrypts data stored to the thumb drive using AES, provides remote encrypted storage, creates a secure connection to the internet, and deletes your browser’s cookies and history files. Now that doesn’t seem so offensive to begin with, until you find out that the company charges a monthly fee to use this device. Still not convinced that Atomynet could be playing you? Well, it doesn’t help that their device is still only a mock-up, and yet they have “feedback” on the company’s website, which, incidentally, reads like it was written by a D-average middle schooler. One reads (no, we’re not making this up): “great, finally I can surf the internet without fear that my mom or dad knows what I do.” Finally, we love how this Windows XP-only product is demoed on an iBook in the demo video on the site. Still, if you do try it out and are convinced of its effectiveness, drop us a line in comments, we’re intrigued.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Filed under: Storage

We’re not so massively fond of the whole U3 machine-independent application and computing package thing, but if there’s one thing we can get behind, it’s a big ol’ damned flash memory drive. Toshiba’s new TransMemory line, which they’re launching in November in sizes from 512MB to 4GB, are all well and good, but only the 16GB Limited Edition due in December would have gotten get us through the year (what with the occasional Vista build and Leopard beta and all). Of course, as with the other 8GB+ flash memory drives, we leave it to Toshiba to ensure we aren’t extorted for five or more figures in order to get our unworthy hands on one.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Storage

Filed under: Storage

Wouldn’t it be nice to see how much space was left on your flash drive without having to find a computer to jam it into? Although the problem already has a few solutions, Corsair has released the CMFUSBREADOUT-1GB and CMFUSBREADOUT-2GB USB 2.0 drives rocking a not-so-typical Bi-stable Cholesteric Display (BCD). While internal functionality is nothing out of the ordinary, the snazzy external display features a 4 digit readout showing the capacity remaining (in MB), a pie chart showing the space used, and just for those who just love to customize, an 11 character programmable display to enter the drive’s content. If you’re concerned about the longevity of the display, it’s presumably charged while in use, and can function “without a battery” for a year (saywha?). These data-driven drives will run you $39.99 (1GB) and $59.99 (2GB) and should go perfectly with your collection of devices that sport unnecessary, yet beneficial, displays.

[Via The Gadgets Weblog]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Storage

So maybe this USB drive isn’t the the cutest, the biggest, the smartest, or even the weirdest, but how can you deny the Jeep drive’s rugged allure? Oh sure, perhaps it’s just a fickle attempt to overcharge for a cheap accessory, but whatever the case, EDGE Tech Corp has unveiled these presumably trail rated jump drives to store your maps, hiking trails, emergency contacts, and nearest parts dealers just in case cruising off-road leaves you in a pinch. Aside from looking rough and tough, these USB 2.0 drives seem barely more durable than your run-of-the-mill versions, claiming “shock resistance” as the lone rugged attribute. Considering the absurdly high prices — $29.95 for 256MB and $44.95 for 512MB — we can’t really understand why these would be appealing, but maybe “it’s a Jeep thing,” so we wouldn’t understand.

[Via USBDriveSoft]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Portable Audio

What do you get when you cross an iPod Shuffle with Nokia’s 7280 fashion phone? (Hint: it’s not Transcend’s T.Sonic 310, but good guess). Why, Apacer’s upcoming Audio Steno AU522 DAP, of course. This fairly-stylish little number comes in capacities ranging from 256MB to 2GB, supports MP3, WMA, and WAV files, and includes a memory card slot for boosting storage by another gig. A built-in USB connector allows you to use the AU522 as a flash drive or reader for all those MMCmicro cards you have lying around, and you can also record directly from the FM tuner and share your music with a friend thanks to dual headphone jacks. The two-color, 128 x 64 OLED screen is another nice touch, though it probably contributes to the player’s mere eight hours of battery life. No word so far on either pricing or availability, but if you really have a desire to snatch one of these up, we’re confident that you’ll be able to make it happen.

[Via MP3 Player Guide]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Storage

You know, even Thanko can ignite a bright spark now and again. Here we have the Thanko USB neckstrap which brings 512MB to your MP3 player or cellphone’s lanyard. Sure it’s not for everyone but for all those crazy kids flauntin’ their high tech wares up front, well, why not for the ¥4,680 or about $41 bucks it’ll cost ya? We’re just wondering what happened to the integrated earphones, huh Thanko?

[Via Fareastgizmos]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Storage

Filed under: Storage

We’ve seen plenty of tiny USB flash drives, not to mention all those SD cards with built-in USB connectors, so we thought that portable storage had finally gotten small enough for everyone to be happy. Storage device manufacturer OCZ doesn’t think so, however, and are hoping that their Mini-Kart USB flash — available now in sizes up to 2GB for around $60 — will lure consumers away from other Lililiputian options on the market. The folks at XYZ Computing broke out a magnifying glass and took one of the little drives for a spin, finding that the transfer rate was slower than on a larger drive — but apparently, they were willing to live with the trade-off for the smaller size and coolness factor. We say that since you’ll probably just end up losing this thing anyway, you’re better off keeping your most sensitive data more tightly guarded — like by wrapping it around your wrist.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Peripherals

Transferring digital files between disparate hardware no longer has to be such a chore thanks to a new Mass Storage- and Picture Transfer Protocol-compliant offering from Sima Products called Hitch (model USB-101), which lets you connect nearly any digital camera, DAP, PMP, or flash drive with a USB connection and send single files or entire albums to a like device. Once both products are hooked up, you simply need to choose what you want to send and where you want it to go using Hitch’s 2.5-inch backlit black and white screen, and your digital swag starts zipping between devices at USB 2.0 speeds (or USB 1.1, if your gear is a bit pokier). You’ll be able to pick one of these up — DRM-compliance and all — later this month for about $150.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Storage

Last time we heard from BioCert, it was regarding that there Guardian biometric fingerprint door lock. Now it looks like they're back in the game with the ClipBio Pro 1GB biometric flash drive. Yeah, it's more of the same when it comes to integrated-biometric personal data storage, but their fingerprint reading piece will only set you back $130, which ain't too bad for a gig of room (sans whatever space is required for that bundled iQBioDrive security software).

[Via Mobility Site]

Filed under: Storage

If you’ve got some spare Lego bricks, a rather tiny USB flash drive (might we recommend a Lexar USB FlashCard?), a bit o’ spare time, and no discernible fears for the safety and well being of your digits and extremities when applying tools to rather small, hard plastics, then we’d like to point you to Stickman’s Lego flash drive how-to. Novelty, yes; but why is that a bad thing?

[Via MAKE: Blog]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Storage

We've seen plenty enough units claiming to be the "world's ____ flash drive," and while we think most of the size awards can safely go to the iDisk Diamond, it's hard to begrudge the title of "world's thinnest flash drive" to a 3mm thick unit that features a whopping 16GB of storage. The new U510 from PQI in Taiwan takes its credit card form factor seriously at 3.3 x 2.12 x 0.1 inches, and the USB 2.0 device features a thin retractable USB jack. No word on pricing or availability, but we're guessing it's not going to be cheap.

[Via New Launches]

Filed under: Storage

Despite the government's best efforts to secure its classified electronic data, the L.A. Times is reporting that it was easily able to obtain a thumb drive full of sensitive military information -- from a bazaar right next to a US Air Force base in Afghanistan. According to the Times, the 1GB flash drive -- which, at $40, was quite the bargain -- contains details that could put the lives of several informants and sources at risk, including pictures, phone numbers, and even the names of their family members. Furthermore, even though files on the drive lay out specific military procedures and intelligence gathering strategies and contain photos of the base inside the perimeter, few of the documents are encrypted or password-protected. Although Army officials claim to regularly shop the bazaars for stolen material, and have ordered a review of their data security protocols, the fact that such damaging info can be purchased so easily would seem to indicate that the matter is a bit more urgent.

[Via Slashdot]