USBKey
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Keyport Slide adds new feather to its cap with USB key prototype
If you looked at the blade-based key organizer known as the Keyport Slide and thought "this thing could really do with an integrated USB flash drive," you were not alone. The company's currently teasing a few images of a new 4GB accessory, which uses the same attachment as its key blades to slot in and out of that metallic shell. Even more tantalizing, this is said to be only one of a number of new accessories in development for the pricey but versatile door opener. Are these guys trying to subtly start a war with Switzerland or what? [Thanks, Declan]
LaCie MosKeyto streamlines portable storage, invites bad puns
LaCie's keeping up its eccentric branding strategy today with this pest-inspired new USB key. Measuring a mere 20mm in length and 10 grams in weight, the MosKeyto is ready to all but disappear once you plug it into your computer, and it'll outdo its physical counterpart by not only sucking data down but pushing it back out should you want it. Basically, it's yet another miniaturized USB drive and can be owned today, starting at $18 for the 4GB version. 8GB will set you back $28 and there's a 16GB variant to come as well. Got all that? Good. Now buzz off.%Gallery-101243%
LaCie's XtremKey: it's pretty rugged, we guess
OK GUYS, WE GET IT. Sheesh, it's like they think we're a bunch of klutzes or something. Sure, there was that one time with the garbage disposal... one time. But after that... alright, the time with the mud, and the thing with the ocean. Oh, and when we dropped 2GB of Word documents into a black hole. Still, we hardly deserve to be treated like children. LaCie has stepped up the condescension to new levels with its XtremKey, a drive that's waterproof up to 100 meters, temperature proof from -58 degrees Fahrenheit to +400, and resistant to 16 foot drops. This ruggedness is accomplished by screwing the USB drive into a 2mm thick metal pipe that can withstand the pressure of a 10 ton truck rolling over it. Like that would ever happen that one time. The drive ranges in capacity from 8GB to 64GB, and will be out in August for some exorbitant, as-yet-undisclosed cost. Check out a needlessly abusive video of the drive after the break. %Gallery-97432%
Crapgadget: frightening party favors edition
There are a few things in life you can count on. And we mean really count on. You may argue "taxes," but as one Wesley Snipes has so clearly proven, even those can be evaded given the right motive. Instead, we're arguing that the next installment of Crapgadget is indeed more likely to be unavoidable, evidenced by the fact that you're reading this right now. What's up in today's best of the worst? Oh, just a USB arm wrestler, a knockoff Land Rover mobile phone, a faux gold World Cup trophy storage device and a handgun that's anything but. And that's just for starters. Dive in below if you've got a stomach of steel and a thing for sick jokes, and be sure to cast your vote for which turns your evil smile up the most. Read - USB arm wrestlers Read - Land Rover phone Read - Transformers USB drive Read - World Cup Trophy USB drive Read - USB handgun Read - USB itch removal instrument %Poll-48544%
SanDisk ships first licensed Xbox 360 USB flash drive
Seems that April 6th ship date that GameStop posted back in March was a bit off, but hey -- beggars can't be choosers, yeah? SanDisk has just announced that it's now shipping the planet's first licensed Xbox 360 USB flash drive, which just became useful for easily transferring gamertags, game saves, map packs, Arcade downloads, etc. from one console to another. The device is pre-configured for plug-and-play, and SanDisk is even throwing in a one-month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold for good measure. Naturally, you'll be paying a premium for that Microsoft seal of approval, with the 8GB unit boasting an MSRP of $34.99 and the 16 gigger going for $69.99 (or £29.99 and £51.99 respectively in the UK). Hang tight if you can, though -- we get the impression that loads more are on the way from every other storage outfit, and you know what competition does to pricing. Don't you?
Switched On: MyDitto NAS has some key issues
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. There are many devices that allow one to remotely access your digital content at home when you're on the road. These include low-cost remote access appliances like the PogoPlug, midrange NAS storage devices such as Netgear's Stora, and expensive but powerful solutions that cater to the technically inclined, such as HP's MediaSmart products powered by Windows Home Server. Now, however, Dane Elec -- best-known for selling USB flash drives and memory cards at retailers such as Target -- has jumped into the shared storage space with an offering called MyDitto. The late entrant seeks to overcome some of the setup and access complexities of other products in its class, bringing network storage beyond the early adopters. While MyDitto incorporates a number of good ideas, though, its advantages help only in a limited number of NAS usage scenarios.
GameStop listing shows SanDisk's Xbox 360-branded USB drives at outrageous prices
GameStop listings are about as accurate as a 14th century musket -- especially when it comes to release dates -- but that didn't keep news site GameSpot from capping the above screenshot. As you can no doubt read, the picture suggests that SanDisk will indeed release a specially-branded 8GB USB flash drive alongside the Xbox 360's USB storage update -- but at twice the normal price for a drive of that capacity. Our red hot rage at this injustice is tempered somewhat knowing there's no concrete proof the $40 figure is correct, but knowing SanDisk (and, frankly, Microsoft's own propensity for overpriced storage) we wouldn't be surprised to see several green thumbdrives pulling a premium at retail next week. Once more for the record: as long as it's larger than 1GB, smaller than 16GB and you format it using the Xbox 360 menus, any USB flash drive will do. Update: According to Major Nelson, it seems that USB flash drives larger than 16GB will work with the Xbox 360 update, but only 16GB of the drive's space will be available for the Xbox 360 to use. Thanks, willowtwf!
MyDitto is the cloud-accessible NAS for people who don't know what NAS stands for
There are plenty of ways to get your datas online, more coming online by the moment, but if you're the type who doesn't know your WAN port from a MAC address you're probably looking for the most straightforward solution. As of now the myDitto from Dane-Elec looks about the simplest. It's a dual-bay device that can manage RAID 0 or 1, also sporting a pair of USB ports for when internal storage just won't cut it and DLNA and iTunes support for media accessibility. If you don't know what any of that means here's the important bit: to access that storage all you need to do is connect it into your network and then plug a myDitto USB key into any internet-attached machine. Then, hey-presto, your storage will be accessible and you won't have to configure a thing. In practice these fire-and-forget sort of implementations can often create more headaches than they solve, but if this one works it could be an ideal way for non-networkers to get networked. Mind you, at $249 for a 1TB model that simplicity will come at a premium when it launches in March.
Verbatim Tuff-Clip flash drives for the adventure nerd
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.
Solid Alliance's $10,000 Mnemosyne USB drive is built for style, not convenience
The Greek goddess of memory, Mnemosyne, would surely be proud of this product bearing her name. For starters, it comes at a price few mere mortals can afford and is couched within an extravagant all-aluminum body. The puzzle cube certainly provides a ceremonial feel to accessing the data within, and makers Solid Alliance are pitching it as a luxurious receptacle for your most treasured memories. Yes, under all the sheen, you are still looking at 16GB of standard issue flash memory, but can we really put a price on mythology-infused style?
Canon EOS 5D Mark II flash drive: just 21.1MP shy of awesomeness
You could say that this is the perfect USB flash drive for existing EOS 5D Mark II owners. We'd argue, however, that this is the perfect USB flash drive for those looking to just live vicariously while not shattering the bank. 'Course, $129.99 for a 4GB USB key is pretty absurd, but at least that gets you Live View and a 1080p movie mode. Er, wait...[Via Zungua]
LaCie's itsaKey, iamaKey and PassKey USB drives now available
Remember those so-very-key-like USB keys we peeked from LaCie earlier this month? Yeah, those bad boys are now priced and available for shipment. Designed by 5.5 Designers, the itsaKey, iamaKey and PassKey USB drives are now available to order, with the first two sporting up to 8GB of internal capacity and the PassKey boasting a built-in microSD card slot. As for pricing? Try starting points of $14.99, $17.99 and $9.99 in order of mention.
USB cake design worst birthday surprise in history
Imagine this -- you walk into a custom confectionery and inform the design team that you want the image on a USB flash drive made onto a very special cake. In fact, you even leave the flash drive with them so they can really look it over. Sure, you'd think they would get to frost-brushing that unicorn flying through a rainbow right onto the cake, but apparently the artists in question had other ideas. Namely, creating a photo-perfect replica of a Lexar flash drive on the surface of what appears to be an otherwise delicious pile of sugar. Seriously. Too bad about that black icing, birthday boy.[Via UberReview]
Verbatim trots out OS X-friendly 8GB Store 'n' Go retractable USB drive
Verbatim doesn't really make a lot of racket during the year, but come Macworld / CES, it pulls out all of the stops. Alongside a new family of delectable ExpressCard SSDs, the company is also introducing an 8GB Store 'n' Go Retractable USB Drive (Windows version shown) that caters to the OS X crowd. Verbatim's pushing two main selling points here: for starters, the capless, retractable design means that your USB socket will always be covered, and secondly, the password controlled access to the drive's private zone plays nice within an OS X environment. The half-ounce device is expected to land on store shelves in just a few weeks, though it'll cost you a stiff $59.99 if you're looking to pay MSRP.
SanDisk showcases new Ultra Backup / Cruzer USB flash drives
Rather than simply adding a new capacity option or throwing another adjective on the end (i.e. Ultra, Xtreme, Gnarly, etc.), SanDisk is actually launching something in the flash drive sector that's worth paying attention to. The Ultra USB Backup is hailed as the planet's first USB key with simple backup software activation at the touch of a button, and with capacities up to 64GB, we'd say this is a pretty decent option for keeping your digital paraphernalia backed up sans an external HDD. In related news, the outfit has redesigned the long-standing Cruzer to fall more in line with today's trends, effectively stripping the retro pastel hues and adding in "iconic new design language developed by global innovation firm frog design." The new bunch is expected in stores this April, with prices ranging from $24.99 to $99.99 for the Cruzer and $39.99 to $199.99 for the Ultra Backup. Full release is after the break.
EMTEC's Kooky Klickers-based USB drives bring a smile to anyone's face
Think you're having a rough day? Did you get a placard with instructions to the exit rather than a bonus check this week? We know, life's a little rough right now, but how on Earth can you look at the bunch pictured above and not crack at least a smidgen of a grin? Based on the insanely popular Kooky Klickers brand, the Kooky USB Drives are modeled after the widely recognized character pens and are being pushed by EMTEC. Curiously, there's no mention at all of a price, and odder still, not a peep on capacity choices; in other words, you should be fully prepared to pay too much for too little when your kid starts to wailing.
CANAL+ KEY provides pay-TV reception of French networks
Forget those OTA tuners that only pick up what's widely distributed for free; the CANAL+ KEY can handle that and more. Developed in conjunction with DiBom, the device -- hailed as the planet's first USB key-sized DTT HD decoder -- enables the reception of French pay-TV programs (SD and HD), 18 free DTT channels and even the premium channel CANAL+ HD. The key is equipped with two small antennas and can provide viewing enjoyment to any USB-equipped PC. Regrettably, there's no price / availability date mentioned, but yet again, we're amazed at how quickly France is becoming Europe's beacon of HD light.[Via TechDigest]
Crapgadget: not-even-suitable-for-gag-gifts edition
We all know the holiday season is coming up, but even if you're on the hunt for a gag gift for your fav-o-rite prankster, we can't not recommend the following turds enough. Up first is the absolutely unbelievable Night Sweat Alarm watch, which actually wakes you up if it detects that you're perspiring. Why? Legend has it that no one knows. Moving on, we've got the USB Volcano -- a perfect mix of your first-grade science project and your college-era infatuation with all things USB. Things start to get really absurd when viewing the self-explanatory Glass of Milk Light and the Retro Handy Handset, but even those are potentially topped in stupidity by the Air Flow Mouse and cake-shaped USB drives. Have a look at each below before casting your vote, but keep that barf bag handy.Read - Sweat Alarm watchRead - USB VolcanoRead - Glass of Milk LightRead - Retro Handy HandsetRead - Air Flow MouseRead - Cake-shaped USB drive%Poll-21440%
Solid Alliance's 2GB USB Skull Ring helps RPG players look tough
We'll be straight with you: there's no single expression of bad-assery more potent in the polyhedral kingdom of nerdistan than the USB Skull Ring. Brought to you by Solid Alliance, the 2GB USB drive feels right at home transferring files to your PC or at the end of a fist, deftly buried into the gut of a Moradin dwarf. Your choice for $145, no seriously. One more hair-free shot after the break.
Incrudo 8GB flash drive reeks of expensive
Don't spaz out or anything, but that thing you're peering at above actually isn't a small flask of cologne. No, no -- it's an 8GB USB drive, and it's one of the most expensive you can buy. Reportedly built with titanium, the drive is water-resistant, crush-proof and fancied up further with a single red ruby. Sure, it's 21,750 rubles ($837), but dollars to donuts they'd trade you one for a sure-to-be-authentic iPhone.[Via Gadgets-Weblog]
