Accordion-style USB drive actually solves a problem
By Nilay Patel 
posted Apr 5th 2008 3:24AM
posted Apr 5th 2008 3:24AM
[Via MAKE]
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Bout time some on came up with a good thumb drive idea.
i see what you did there
This article's a nice change from Gizmodo's report on the same USB drive. They just couldn't help comparing this particular USB drive to a part of the male anatomy...
more like sexmodo.. Frackin' sickos over there...
what about sandisk's cruzers?
Sha-wing!
FWA-TANG!!
Look interesting, but don't we already have drives with retractable connectors?
Am I missing something here?
Yes, this is one solid piece, most retractables use some kind of rail and pin mechanism to lock the USB connector inside, this one uses the simple springy force of that rubbery material in an accordian shape. result? less wear and tear due to lack of moving parts, and cost of manufacture for the same intent with a difrent simpler design.
I guess you guys never heard of the SanDisk Cruzer Micro. The USB connector slides in and out of the case, no cap needed.
Although admittedly that accordion thing is damned cute.
Actually getting it to line up with the usb slot could be a annoying problem with some computers. It might be too big to fit in spots with lots of usb ports also, but it wouldn't be the first flash drive with that problem.
these flash drives that just slide away (like the common sandisk ones) don't make sense to me, okay, the connector is "out of sight" but it is really not being any more protected than missing the cap to a regular flash drive. All I care about is the connectors and not getting crap in there, these seem to just make people think they are solving the problem
Accordian? I don't see any people on those pics. Perhaps you mean accordion?
A great idea anyhow!
You must havent gone to the lands of accordia.
I've been carrying a cruzer micro in my jean pockets for the past year straight. I've never had a problem. A usb connector isn't that fragile anyway... just four flush pins. Worse case scenario just blow any dust out. If you've ever seen a tutorial on making a thumb drive water proof (aka washer proof), they always just cover the pcb in epoxy and leave the usb connecter be. It can take a tumble in a washer and dryer just fine, and it can surely survive your pocket in daily life.
Mines been through the wash like 7 times.. I also took the case off and colored everything on the pcb with a black sharpie during math class.. And threw it at someone in the same math class.. The things are indistructable, epoxied or not.
note it still works
Although it's true they keep working they can transfer crap to the USB socket, which could cause poor connections in the future.
I use these retractable USB devices from Sony - been around for a while
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Sony_Micro_Vault_USB_flash_drive_4_GB__6498775
Retract like a stanley knife (box cutter to non UK) and the slide also has a USB to show power.
But isn't the real problem caused by the fluff entering the connector from the pin-side (which neither the retractable ones nor this one will cover?)
Just add MicroSD slot and I'm sold
it's uncircumcised
That's what she said.
To Elliot Spitzer?
If dirt is a concern, there are these:
http://www.sony.com.sg/product/usm1gh?site=hp_en_SG_i
PCB with metal leads that plug straight in, no movable parts, no cap.
Of course, the no-frills design could get damaged more easily, but at least you get to choose your nightmare.
Thats exactly what i thought.
Lets take scizzors to the guy.
As others have pointed out, the Sandisk Cruzer solved this problem years ago, and with much more style.
Now we need a 25MBps version instead of the presumably chinese crap pictured above that gives 2MBps write speeds.
Exactly.
why on earth do people need a cap for thumb drive anyway since the USB connector itself aint fragile at all
~~~~~~~
There once was a USB flasher
Entrojaned, and ribbed, it was brasher
When its heiny gets shoved
It slips in sans its 'glove'
And soon Vista's a Headygoosed™ crasher
~~~~~~~~
Cool USB driver, but doesn't come near to matching the phrase "color us magenta"
Pure awesomeness
Has anyone noticed that some USB ports feel really loose, and the same device can feel like a snug fit on others? I would hope that the springyness of the compressed accordion isn't great enough to pop the USB drive out of a loose fit.
It's ribbed, but for whose pleasure?
Jacek Ryn? Wasn't he in the Polish translation of Patriot Games?
Why is there a "problem"? You've already reported on the Kingman smallest USB flash drives, which require no case and are practically indestructible:
http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/15/kingmax-unveils-worlds-smallest-usb-flash-drive/
Agreed. These don't really protect the drive at all. Still kind a nifty.
Side note I have this 32mb(yeah that small) gateway(yeah that company) flash drive that I carried around when thumb drives just started being a available, and it survived the washer and the dryer, TWICE.
Definitely nifty, although my swivel imation flash drive serves the same purpose... without the waiting. (If anyone is curious, I'm not using the swivel pro, for some reason they decided to cut a HOLE in the "cap"....)
Great find nonetheless.
note that it still works
that was for another comment.. I clicked on the date and everything!! wtf?
That Gizmodo article, while you may think it is sick, they made a completely honest observation... Thats what I thought when I first saw this article... Then again, I may just be sick, myself.
Reply system is broken.
Must be damn hard o get a tune out of though!
Wouldn't this put stress on the usb connection to keep the plug connected? If it's going to accordion back out it obviously has to have some stress built up.
I can't believe you guys haven't used the glory that is the Sandisk Cruzer.
http://uk.sandisk.com/Products/Catalog(1168)-SanDisk_Cruzer_Micro_USB_Flash_Drive.aspx
Heres's what I'm thinking... the skin is going to be a spring of sorts all bunched up- I can imagine it shooting out of my port at some random time. Sucks.
For the retractable drives, you don't need to worry about sliding pins and contacts wearing out. The USB connector is actually still soldered onto the flash PCB, the guts of the drive are so small they just slide the whole PCB inside the case. Very little wear on any surface that matters.
Oh right, it's uncircumcised...
This explains my preferred use of the SanDisk line of usb-retractable drives.
Broken reply system, is fuckin' broken again.
I guess they don't sell these thumb drives in America:
-The ones that rotate so that the cap never has to come off.
-The ones that have that slide thing. You push it down and the connector comes out, you pull it up the connector goes back inside the case. Kinda like a pen.
Cap, schmap. USB sticks don't need protection. My SuperTalent PicoDrive is just a little (and I mean really little) chunk of metal that sticks into a USB slot. I keep it in my wallet, it's that small. No useless plastic covers to biggen it up. Yes, I made that word up.
Touche, salesman...
I am no salesman, though my girlfriend does work for them. But yes that was a pretty salesy post.
For fuck sakes, every thread is full of people saying "The reply system is broken".
We get it.
Because it's still broken? I don't understand why Engadget hasn't fixed it yet.
Why isn't the reply system working???
What would be really cool is if the accordion part expanded/retracted proportional to the amount of space used. So the more it was filled up with files, the further out it would extend. Just something that popped into my head when I saw it ...
But will it work with the MacBook Air's USB port?
Have you seen something smaller than these A-DATA USB readers for microSD cards:
http://www.adata.com.tw/adata_en/product_show.php?ProductNo=AMCSRZZZGH
I bought the 2GB kit from NewEgg for $12 (item # N82E16820211154).
Then I substituted the 2GB card with an 8GB microSDHC ($55 at NewEgg). Unbelievably small...
But if I need the reader to also fit in an SD slot, then I'd use:
http://www.adata.com.tw/adata_en/product_show.php?ProductNo=ATRAZZZWH
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/flash_drives/ocz_trifecta_secure_digital-memory_cards
NewEgg sells the 2GB kit also for $12 (item # N82E16820211152) -- note that they show a picture of the older black version as opposed to the white.
Not as small, but more versatile. I just wish they can copy the SanDisk Ultra II SD Plus card's patented USB connector hinged cover, so I won't have to worry about losing the removable cap...
Eh I was replying to the page1 post from J S:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/05/accordian-style-usb-drive-actually-solves-a-problem/comments/11463273/
I wonder if the thing will break like the bendy part of a straw after a while
Well they are called Gawker Media...
Three words: Sandisk Cruzer Titanium. I saw a TV program where they taped one of those to the underside of a boot and the guy ran up a rocky hill, through a swamp, shook the water out of it and plugged it into a laptop and it worked just fine. My 4GB model has been on my keyring for many months and still looks new in spite of being rubbed up against keys and whatnot in my pocket. As for the person saying that didn't protect the connector... yeah right, obviously the problem for the connector are crushing or bending forces, not the miniscule risk of having something poking into it.
And now those photos are online, I'm guessing it'll be about 48 hours before cheap, poorly functioning Shenzen-made knockoffs are all over the internet too...
I have a Kingston drive that does the same thing. It almost works like a switchblade, but without a spring. The thing is, its overall length is still the same as most of these with their cap on.
.
Well...I admit that my second thought (after "cool idea") was "foreskin." It can't be helped.
if its a capless thumb drive your looking for, get what I bought, the Memorex Travel Drive.
Problem is that too many consumers think that the slighest spec of dust could destroy a USB drive. I use the Corsair Voyagers myself and Corsair has been great about sending a few extra caps upon request. I look at the cap as a means to prevent the USB connect from scratching, snagging, damaging something else. I think the cap for a pen is far more important, however.
Yep, this doesn't solve anything and looks super cheap. Fail, IMO.
this is really cool I would love to buy this when they actually do make it, Hey I would use it! It does look pretty sweet though, you dont have to admit that. now hopefully they put some bright LED in there too :) hehehe So cool :)
Nick
http://nerwin.net
They obviously don't. Let's continue!
It's broken!
I think the common fear among manufacturers is that you could potentially have barbecue chicken wings in your pocket; the sauce could get into the usb connector and you'd have a seriously hard time cleaning it out without putting tossing it in the washer machine. Wait a minute...
Well the corsair flash voyager rubber encased pcb takes care of the BBQ sauce on the circuit board, but not in the usb connector you might just have to lick it off
MMM.. flash drive lickin' good.
But seriously I don't see any reason to even have to conceal the usb port by any means retracting, caps, flips, rotates... etc. i mean even if the connector gets dirty enough not to make contact any more and you absolutely have to get the data off then pop open the case solder 4 wires to a cut usb cable get the data off and buy a new drive.
Now if only they could make one that wouldn't break off my keychain. I lost two of them that way and gave up.