Flash Drive -- Engadget

Super Talent introduces world's first USB 3.0 flash drive

by Darren Murph posted Nov 4th 2009 at 1:27PM

USB 3.0 devices are just now starting to peek their heads out at retail, and it looks as if Super Talent is doing its darnedest to not be left out of the spotlight. Said company has just introduced what looks to be the planet's first USB 3.0 thumb drive (or "RAIDDrive," as it were), promising transfer rates of up to 320MB/sec when relying on a separate UAS Protocol driver with a USB 3.0 port. If you're using a stock USB 3.0 socket, you'll see speeds as high as 200MB/sec, while those bold enough to slam this into a USB 2.0 connector will see it slow to USB 2.0 speeds. There's no mention of a price or release date, but it should ship relatively soon in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB flavors.

[Via Hot Hardware]

Gallery: Super Talent introduces world's first USB 3.0 flash drive

IronKey ships uber-secure D200 USB flash drives

by Darren Murph posted Nov 4th 2009 at 4:22AM

IronKey has never been one to shy away from sensational claims, but for whatever reason, it's announcing its newest secure drive in a rather low-key fashion. Or, somewhat so. The D200 range of USB flash drives are said to be more manageable and secure than ever, offering up the peace of mind necessary in government and enterprise scenarios. The new devices include policy enforcement, usability and field-maintenance capabilities, a dual-channel architecture for rapid transfers, the ability to double as an authentication token and a self-defense mechanism designed to resist "physical, malware and password attacks." It's available in 1/2/4/8/16GB capacities and should withstand most encounters with water and shock, though it's on you to dig up the presumably lofty MSRPs.

USB PC Prankster: guaranteed to freak out, enrage your cubicle mates

by Darren Murph posted Oct 18th 2009 at 3:33PM

Oh, brother. As we all know so well, the office can be a draining place. But devices such as these could make even the most burnt-out middle manager excited to clock in. The USB PC Prankster looks like a stock flash drive, but as you can clearly see above, a few toggle switches enable it to become quite the headache. Once plugged in, the unlucky PC that it's attached to will have its Caps Lock enabled and disabled at random, see garbled text splattered about quarterly reports and be victim to uncontrollable, erratic cursor movements. Thankfully, the drive will never activate the Enter key nor close or save documents, so you can rest assured that it's all in good fun. Turning your office up on its head costs just £19.99 ($33), but you'll have to wait a tick 'til it comes back in stock.

[Via Switched]

Cowon's UM1 thumb drive for lovers, stalkers

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 1st 2009 at 6:03AM

If you thought Cowon's iAudio E2 had reduced the digital audio player to its stylish, diminutive core, think again: With the UM1 the company takes things even one step further by eliminating the "audio player" from the DAP altogether, leaving us with an elegant USB thumb drive that stores up to 16GB (75,900 Korean Won, or about $64). Featuring a little loophole at the top for a chain and the inscription "Don't Forget Me," this is practically begging to be presented as a gift, packed full of specially picked MP3s for your sweetheart / object of obsessive stalking. Just keep in mind that he or she will then need something to listen to the tunes on.

[Via DAP Review]

Ninja Kunai USB Drive: the tech equivalent of getting a foreign language tattoo

by Vladislav Savov posted Sep 21st 2009 at 8:08AM

You know how the vast majority of us would like to be ninjas, but don't know where to start? Well, we have found the answer -- that missing link between geek and ninja -- in the form of the Ninja Kunai 2GB flash drive. This USB accessory-cum-gimmicky 90s toy is inscribed with ... something, and, well, looks mildly threatening. Here's the really awesome part: it costs $125.35. Some might scoff and others might scowl, but just think of how exclusive this thing is going to be. Buying one of these will mark you out as truly individual.

[Via TechnaBob]

Crapgadget: 'Hopefully USB 3.0 can avoid this path' edition

by Darren Murph posted Sep 21st 2009 at 6:08AM

With USB 3.0 on the horizon, we can only hope that the world's purveyors of crap have a little respect for the forthcoming standard. By and large, USB 2.0 is plenty fast to handle the awful data transmissions between USB hand grenades, alien flash drives, moody card readers, Japanese fans and your PC, and frankly, we're not sure if the world can handle oodles upon oodles of SuperSpeed rubbish. Have a peek at the latest roundup from the worst of the worst, but please, not while you're eating.

Read - Bear hand warmers
Read - Solar cap fan
Read - USB hand fan
Read - USB moody card reader
Read - Alien flash drive
Read - Mosquito repellent USB dongle
Read - USB hand grenade

Gresso Grand Monaco USB is the closest you'll get to a supercar 'drive'

by Vladislav Savov posted Sep 8th 2009 at 9:42AM

Le's face the cold hard facts: with only a single-digit percentage of the global population able to afford a Ferrari, most of us are just gonna have to make do with an Atom-based replica instead. Spending inadvisable amounts on USB drives, on the other hand, that's something we can all do. Say hello to the $200 Grand Monaco Classic, a 32GB memory stick that continues Gresso's tradition of wasting expensive materials -- titanium, ceramic and carbon, in this case -- on otherwise fungible goods. Not outlandish enough for ya? Click past the break for the 64GB Double Security version, which costs $500. Disregard for basic economics comes as standard on both models.

[Via Luxury Launches]

Continue reading Gresso Grand Monaco USB is the closest you'll get to a supercar 'drive'

Kanguru takes eSATA + USB e-Flash drive to 64GB

by Darren Murph posted Sep 2nd 2009 at 8:54PM

We'd be stretching things ever-so-slightly if we said Kanguru's newest e-Flash drive was just a wee bit behind schedule, but at least the unit -- which was originally slated for a January release -- is finally real. If you'll recall from last year, this dual-sided drive includes a USB 2.0 connector for mass compatibility and a powered eSATA port for blazing performance. Until now, however, you've had to deal with capacities of 32GB and smaller, but the new 64GB iteration changes all that for good. Too bad there's nary a mention of this thing's MSRP, but we'd go ahead and brace for the worst if we were you.

[Via HotHardware]

Mimoco is back with more Star Wars thumb drives

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Aug 24th 2009 at 4:20PM

We trust you're reading this on your R2-D2 case mod PC with matching Star Wars-themed Skype webcam, all of which you acquired using your awesome mind control powers (learned with the assistance of your Force Trainer). And as all this goes down, you are undoubtedly surrounded by a full compliment of Star Wars Mimobot flash drives. But wait! What if we told you the company has extended the line, now offering C-3PO, Wicket, and an all new Darth Vader (complete with creepy old Anakin Skywalker face when the helmet's removed)? These guys are $39.95 each and come complete with audio clips, wallpaper, a keychain attachment, and more. HIt that read link to see for yourself. What more could you possibly ask for? Wedge Antilles?

Sanrio and MIMOBOT team up to unleash some cute for Hello Kitty's 35th

by Laura June posted Aug 12th 2009 at 1:33AM

Get ready -- Hello Kitty's about to blow out the candles for her 35th anniversary -- so Sanrio's gone on an especially wild licensing tear. We see all kinds of insane HK gear around these parts, but we are, admittedly, fans of MIMOBOTS adorable storage. Now, there are not a lot of details to go on here, nothing specific, with regards to pricing or capacities -- but the Hello Kitty MIMOBOT flash drives are expected on or about the 1st of November. Similar 'bots (we checked out Darth Vader) run $19.95 for a 1GB model, and up to $49.95 for a 30GB. Meow!! Now, we're not sure -- but we're laying our bets that we can expect other fruit-inspired costumes for our feline friend above... or maybe we're just hoping to see her dressed up as a peach!

Verbatim Tuff-Clip flash drives for the adventure nerd

by Nilay Patel posted Aug 10th 2009 at 7:58PM

We can't honestly say we've ever had a flash drive go bad because it wasn't tough enough, but apparently there's a market of globe-trotting ex-military jungle assassins out there big enough for Verbatim to join in with the Tuff-Clip USB stick. (Actually, it's TUFF-CLIP, because all-caps names are water-resistant to 100 feet.) Of course, you'll have to pay for those rugged good looks: the 4GB version is $30, while the 8GB is $50. Not exactly a steal when you consider this Hello Kitty stick we've been using cost us nothing more than our pride.

Super Talent's Pico USB drive: still world's smallest, now 32GB

by Darren Murph posted Jul 29th 2009 at 2:31AM

While USB flash drives are now available in sizes that likely dwarf your own HDD, Super Talent's Pico line isn't looking to compete on sheer capaciousness. What it lacks in capacity, so to speak, it makes up for in size -- or, the lack thereof, we should say. The outfit's "world's smallest*" drive just jumped from 8GB to 32GB, and considering that there's at least a marginal chance that this thing slips out of your palm / pocket / etc. and into a puddle, Super Talent even threw in a dash of water resistance. A half dozen models are expected to ship this week, with prices ranging from $85 to $99. Too bad you won't even be able to find it between the couch cushions after it arrives.

*Image probably isn't to scale, but it might be.

Custom-made Luke Skywalker USB drive is impressive. Most impressive.

by Ross Miller posted Jul 26th 2009 at 6:51PM

In response to an Engadget Japan post entitled "Cruel Star Wars USB drives," one incredibly talented reader went ahead and one-upped the entire collection with a custom made Empire Strikes Back Luke Skywalker drive. All you need to know is that the USB input is accessed by severing his hand. Search your feelings, you know this to be awesome.

Gallery: Custom-made Luke Skywalker USB drive is impressive. Most impressive.

[Via Engadget Japan]

Sonic brings CinemaNow films to flash drives, connected devices

by Darren Murph posted Jul 24th 2009 at 10:54AM

We can only hope that the travesty that is slotMusic isn't coming over to the film side, but just days after Disney announced its intentions to offer up major motion pictures on microSD cards, Sonic Solutions has stepped in to bring CinemaNow flicks to USB flash drives. Unlike you'd probably think this would work, Sonic has actually developed these to function in more than one place. Each stick contains a movie along with an integrated media player and the necessary video codecs, but aside from enabling users to play back content locally, there's also the option of catching it remotely. Once connected to the 'net, owners can add the title to their Roxio CinemaNow Digital Locker to access it on network-connected Blu-ray players and HDTVs. If all goes well, the first drives will start showing up in Q4 of this year, just in time to puzzle your young ones when they unwrap their favorite film on something other than a round disc.

[Via HotHardware]

Split Stick double-sided USB drive keeps personal / private matters separate

by Darren Murph posted Jul 24th 2009 at 5:12AM

It's sort of like Wite-Out®. Or Mighty MendIt™. Or sliced bread. Yeah -- we just put quirky's Split Stick on that pedestal. Rather than forcing users to carry around two flash drives just to keep personal and private files separate, this here double-sided USB drive gives you 2GB for each half of your life (on one single stick). Just think: left for loathly, right for, um right. The anodized device is available in orange, blue, pink, red, black, violet, grey, or green, while the onboard plastic button enables users to easily navigate between the two different sides of the drive. Go ahead and hit the read link with $19.99 in hand -- you won't be leaving that checkout page without an order confirmation number, we promise. Full release is after the break.