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LaCie PetiteKey USB flash drive: slim and discreet, for files of the private variety
What if the key to your home continued to get smaller and smaller? Would that be something you'd cheer or loathe? Thankfully, that's not the question we're posing today -- instead, we're wondering if you'd enjoy a key-like flash drive that's smaller than its predecessor. LaCie's new PetiteKey sort of gives itself away right in the title, being even tinier than the iamaKey that shipped in March of 2009. In fact, it's some 30 percent smaller, and ships with a Wuala Secure Cloud Storage account as well. The unit itself is waterproof up to 100 meters, and LaCie claims that your sultry love letters will be protected "even if dropped in a mud puddle or put through the washing machine." Sadly, the unit only transfers at USB 2.0 speeds, but can be had soon in 8/16/32GB capacities starting at $14.99. Mildly related video can be found after the break.
ego Hybrid Series USB case: Hands-on review
Last month we announced the availability of a unique iPhone 4/4S case that included a 4, 8 or 16 GB USB flash drive as part of the design. The idea behind the case, formally called the ego Hybrid Series USB Case, is that you'll always have a USB drive at your fingertips wherever you have your iPhone. Let's take a look and see how this idea works in reality. Design The design of the ego USB case is actually rather mundane; it's a very thin wrap-around case made of a scratch-resistant resin that comes in a variety of colors including gray, pink, sky blue, light green, red and black. What makes the case unique is what's on the back -- a slot for a thin USB flash drive. %Gallery-162281% The flash drives also come in colors that signify their capacity. A 4 GB drive is either pink or blue, an 8 GB drive is either yellow or light green, and the 16 GB drive is red or black. The result is that you have a variety of color combinations that you can come up with, mixing and matching case and flash drive colors. Price-wise, the ego USB case goes for US$34.95 (4 GB flash drive), $39.95 (8 GB flash drive), or $49.95 (16 GB flash drive). Functionality As I noted, the case isn't anything special by itself. But add in that flash drive and suddenly you have increased the utility of the ego USB case. Most of us who own iPhones are glued to those devices. With an ego USB case, you now have a flash drive in your hand anytime you're holding your iPhone. I personally use a LaCie iamaKey to perform the same function, as it's with me any time I have my keys in my pocket. But there's a downside to having a flash drive on your keychain -- it's constantly smashing against metal keys, and the drive in my pocket is beginning to look increasingly fragile as time goes by. Most of us treat our iPhones with a lot more respect than we do our house and car keys, so a flash drive in an ego USB case should have no problem surviving at least as long as your iPhone. If I have any regrets about the ego USB case, it is that Apple has unfortunately made it impossible for us to slap the Camera Connection Kit onto an iPhone or iPad and offload photos from the iOS device to a flash drive. A flash drive attached to an iPhone case would be an awesome way to always have a backup buddy close at hand. But that's an Apple issue, not an ego USB case problem. Conclusion While the design of the ego USB case is pretty pedestrian, the manufacturer has come up with a clever way to insure that you always have a way to transfer files en masse from one computer to another any time you have your iPhone with you. The choice of mixing and matching colors is also something that I haven't seen before, and it's a good method of turning the case into a colorful extension of your personality. Pros A smart way to always have a USB flash drive with you Mix-and-match colors provide a variety of configurations Resin material used for the case has a good sharp look and nice soft feel Cons The flash drive alone is more expensive than competing drives on the market; you're paying about $10 - $19 dollars extra for the convenience of having the drive clipped into an iPhone case. Who is it for? iPhone owners who want the convenience of always having a USB flash drive available wherever they have their iPhone. Giveaway We're giving away a gray ego Hybrid Series USB case with an 8 GB light green flash drive. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before August 15, 2012 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive an ego Hybrid Series USB case with an 8 GB flash drive valued at $39.95. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
ego USB Case for iPhone 4/4S: A handy hybrid of protection and storage
Just when I think I've seen everything in terms of iPhone cases, along comes a manufacturer that does something completely different. ego&company has announced a novel iPhone 4/4S case called the ego USB Case that includes a removable 4 GB (US$34.95), 8 GB ($39.95), or 16 GB ($49.95) USB flash drive that slides into the back of the case. I don't know about you, but I've lost a number of flash drives over the years simply because they're small and they tend to fall out of bags and pockets. Something like the ego USB Case would be perfect, since I'm never without my iPhone. The USB flash drive slides into a slot on the back side of the case and snaps into place, so it's less likely to fall out and be lost. You can either buy the standard gray case with pink or blue (4 GB), yellow or light green (8 GB), or red or black (16 GB) flash drives, or order the case and drive separately to mix and match colors. The case itself is available in pink, sky blue, yellow, light green, red, and black for $18.75, while the separate drives are $13.95 for the 4 GB size, $18.95 for the 8 GB size, and $28.95 for the 16 GB capacity. The ego USB Case is available for purchase immediately.
SanDisk outs Extreme USB 3.0 flash drive alongside a trio of Cruzers
If diminutive USB-friendly storage is a hobby of yours, SanDisk is looking to add to your collection. The company has announced its USB 3.0-weilding Extreme flash drive and added a handful of new siblings to the Cruzer line. First, the Extreme accessory touts transfer speeds of up to 190MB/s while offering storage capacities ranging from 16GB on up to 64GB. This portable storage device is now shipping and will set you back somewhere between $65 and $160. If you're looking to carry a truckload of photos, videos, music or whatever else on a USB flash drive, the company has also unveiled the Cruzer Glide. While only 4GB to 64GB options are available now starting at $19.99, a 128GB model is slated to arrive in Q3 for $250. Not looking for super-sized capacity at your fingertips? Perhaps the Cruzer Facet or Pop will better suit your sensibilities -- both carry 8GB up to 32GB worth of storage with a price range of $32.99 to $84.99. For a few brief details on the four, hit that PR button below to read on.
Toshiba trots out TransMemory-EX USB 3.0-compliant flash memory
It seems like just yesterday that Tosh outed its original TransMemory lineup... ah, who are we kidding? 2007 was about a century ago. Flashbacks aside, Toshiba America Electronic Components (TAEC) has announced that it'll be demonstrating the new TransMemory-EX series of USB flash memory products here at CES. The new sticks are compliant with USB 3.0 standards, with initial storage capacities set for 32GB and 64GB. The new kit uses Toshiba's DDR NAND, offering maximum data transfer rates of 220MB/sec on the read side and 94MB/sec on the writes. For those keeping score, that's 22 times and 18 times faster than the company's prior models, respectively. We're told that the new products can transfer 25GB of video in around five minutes, which would take the prior model around a half-hour. Mum's the world on commercial availability, but you can find the press release just after the break.
Victorinox SSD official: up to 1TB of high-speed storage crammed in a Swiss Army Knife (Update)
Shocker! Victorinox has officially pulled the wraps off of its latest pocket-knife and thumb drive combo here at CES -- you know, the one we spied just yesterday during the show-floor setup. Simply titled, SSD, the "pocket-sized drive" is apparently the only one in the world that connects to eSATA II / III and USB 2.0 / 3.0 with a single connector, and it's also being touted as the smallest one around. Furthermore, SSD features a 96 x 48 Bi-Stable monochrome graphic display for keeping track of what's stored inside of it, and Victorinox states that you won't find this on any other drive currently available. Impressively, you can expect up to 220 MB/s read and 150 MB/s write speeds, and you'll be able to encrypt all of your info with hardware- and software-based 256-bit AES -- not bad for something that fits on a key-loop, and packs a blade, scissors and a nail file! The SSD comes with a secondary flight-case sans utensils so you can get past security, and it'll be available in 64, 128 and 256GB flavors, not to mention a massive 1TB version. The company's also taken the wraps off its Slim 3.0 USB drive, which is said to be up to ten-times faster than the previous model. There's no official word on pricing yet for either of the drives, but you can expect to be faced with a thin wallet when they hit shelves at some point this year. Hit up the press release after the break for more details. Update: We've just heard Victorinox that SSD will sell for "about 400 to 3,000 dollars" depending on the model -- time to start saving.
Victorinox to launch 1TB USB / eSATA II flash drive with built-in LCD at CES
Well it looks like everyone's favorite pocketknife company is readying a 1TB combo USB 2.0/eSATA II flash drive for a CES launch next week -- yes, one TERABYTE. From the looks of it, the Victorinox drive will come in black and red finishes with two bodies -- one with a scissor and knife, and a TSA-friendly version without. Besides the optional implements, both drives appear to be virtually identical, with a key ring and plastic clasp to keep the drive safely covered when not in use. Once you've wrapped your head around that gigantic one-terabyte capacity, take a gander at the built-in monochrome LCD, which will be used to display drive contents and possibly a custom message. All we appear to be missing at this point are pricing and availability, and with an entire terabyte of storage, we can't imagine this thing will be cheap.
Windows Defender beta gains 'offline' functionality, can run sans-OS
PC users have been using Windows Defender to free themselves from the bane of viruses, malware and spyware for quite a while, but until now, you've needed Microsoft's OS running for it to do its work. That changes with a new beta, which creates bootable CDs or USB sticks that can run the utility. Those interested can begin by downloading the Windows Defender Offline Tool, which'll prompt you for either of those mediums and then install around 300MB of virus hating bits. And remember, because you're statically downloading an almanac of today's viruses, doesn't mean you'll be ready for those tomorrow, so those taking the plunge better remember to stay up to date.
Kingston HyperX is an SSD soul stuck in a flash drive's body (video)
Every time we get a free USB key, we wince at the memory of spending $70 on a measly four gigs back in '06. That's why a company like Kingston has to up its game with kit like the new Data Traveler HyperX 3.0. Far from your average thumb drive, this little monster is powered by the same HyperX technology that you find inside the company's premium SSD line. The performance is pretty impressive, getting 225MB/s read and 135MB/s write -- making it Kingston's fastest ever flash drive (and a tempting shot at expanding the solid state storage on a laptop). The setup is capped off with a sturdy rubber cover and keyring hook, although we wouldn't fancy putting gear this expensive at the mercy of our car keys. Kingston isn't saying when the devices are coming out, but expect the 64GB model to set you back $193, with 128GB running up a tab to the tune of $377. Rather ominously, 256GB has no price -- presumably, if you have to ask how much it costs, you clearly can't afford it.
Mac 101: Format choices for USB flash drives
The overwhelming majority of USB flash drives you buy are going to come in one of two formats: FAT32 or NTFS. The first format, FAT32, is fully compatible with Mac OS X, though with some drawbacks that we'll discuss later. If the drive comes formatted in NTFS, which is the default file system for Windows, you're going to want to re-format the drive because Mac OS X can't write files to NTFS-formatted volumes (at least not without a bunch of extra work that's beyond the scope of this article). How do you tell which format your brand-new USB drive has? Hook it up to your Mac and launch the Disk Utility app, located in your Utilities folder (which is in Applications). Your new drive should appear in the left-hand column, and clicking the "Partition" tab will bring up info on the drive which includes its current format. If the drive's format comes up as MS-DOS (FAT) or, less likely, ExFAT, you may be able to simply leave the drive as-is and not bother reformatting it. If the drive is listed as NTFS-formatted, you're going to need to format it to something else if you want full compatibility with Mac OS X. There are several possible file system formats you can use for a USB flash drive, and changing them in Disk Utility is as easy as selecting the number of partitions you want on the drive (usually just one), picking the format you want for the drive, and clicking "Apply." Note that this will erase all information on the drive, so make absolutely sure you've got copies of everything before moving forward. Disk Utility gives you five different choices for drive formats in OS X Lion. Unless you have extraordinary needs, you can safely ignore two of them: Mac OS Extended (Case-sensitive, Journaled) and Free Space. I'll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the other three formats below. Mac OS Extended (Journaled) - This is the default file system format for Mac OS X drives. Advantages: Formatting your USB flash drive this way will give you full interoperability with Macs. It also includes support for features from OS X Lion, such as Versions. You can even set up an OS X startup drive if you have the right files, the know-how, and a big enough flash drive, which will allow you to boot your Mac off an external disk if something goes wrong with your built-in drive. The "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" option will have the highest degree of support for Mac OS X features, and there's no limit to the size of files you can put on the drive. Disadvantages: Windows-running PCs can read files from drives formatted this way, but they can't write to them (at least not without the same amount of work it takes to get OS X to write to NTFS-formatted drives). If you're transferring files from Macs to PCs, this won't be an issue; however, transferring files from PCs to Macs won't be possible if your drive is formatted in "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)." If you will only be working with Macs and not PCs, this may not be an issue. Otherwise, you may need to consider one of the file formats discussed below. MS-DOS (FAT) - This is Disk Utility's name for the FAT32 filesystem. Advantages: FAT32 offers near-universal interoperability with virtually every computing system on the planet. A drive formatted this way can easily transfer files between Macs and PCs. You can also move files to video game systems like the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii. Virtually all cameras and videocameras support FAT32, too. It's the closest thing we have to a universal file system format, which is why most flash drives are formatted this way right out of the box. Disadvantages: FAT32 doesn't support files larger than 4 GB, and that's its greatest drawback. You also can't create a startup drive for your Mac using this format. Furthermore, FAT32 doesn't support OS X Lion's Versions feature -- something users have discovered the hard way when working directly off of files stored on a USB flash drive (something we recommend against doing). However, those downsides may be more than outweighed by FAT32's near-universal support, and if you don't think you're going to be dealing with files bigger than 4 GB, this may be the optimal choice. ExFAT - A newer file format, supported in Mac OS X 10.6.5 or later. Advantages: exFAT has many of the same advantages as FAT32 in that it's a disk format that offers interoperability between Macs and PCs. It has one big advantage over FAT32: exFAT supports file sizes larger than 4 GB, so if you have a need to move huge files between Macs and PCs, this is likely the format you'll want for your flash drive. exFAT is supported by the following operating systems: Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6.5 or greater) OS X Lion Windows XP SP2 or later (with an additional update for exFAT support) Windows Vista SP1 or later Windows 7 Disadvantages: As a relatively newer file system format, exFAT isn't supported in older versions of Mac OS X (anything prior to 10.6.5) or anything older than Windows XP SP2. If you won't be dealing with older Macs or PCs, this may not be a problem. Of greater issue is that most consumer electronics (cameras, camcorders, video game systems) don't support exFAT, either. If you need to transfer files between your Mac and one of these non-PC devices, you're almost certainly going to have to format your flash drive in FAT32 instead. The Bottom Line Here's a basic rundown of which format we recommend for your USB flash drive, broken down by use case. If you absolutely, positively will only be working with Macs and no other system, ever: Use Mac OS Extended (Journaled). If you need to transfer files larger than 4 GB between Macs and PCs: Use exFAT. In all other cases: Use MS-DOS (FAT), aka FAT32.
Mac 101: Creating a recovery disk using Recovery Disk Assistant
Lion's recovery partition is a wonderful idea, but doesn't really help out if your hard drive fails. That's why yesterday's announcement of the Recovery Disk Assistant from Apple was welcome news to a lot of people who were trying to figure out how they could easily create a recovery disk on external media. Here's how you can do make your own recovery disk using the assistant. First, you'll need to download the Recovery Disk Assistant app. It's a small file -- a little over a megabyte in size -- and once it was downloaded I opened the disk image and dragged the Recovery Disk Assistant app into my Utilities folder. Next, you'll need media. The "disk" part of Recovery Disk Assistant is a bit misleading, since you can't actually use a blank DVD. I'd recommend going to your local OfficeMax / OfficeDepot / Staples / Walmart / Target to pick up a 4 GB flash drive. They're cheap -- most outlets are selling them for less than US$10. If you already have one, realize that the Recovery Disk Assistant is going to reformat it, so make sure you take all of your files off of it. Now fire up the Recovery Disk Assistant app. You'll be required to agree to a software license agreement, so be sure to take some time and read every last word in the agreement (I am kidding). Click the Agree button, and now you'll be asked to plug the flash drive into an available USB port. After noting that your disk is going to be erased, click Continue. The process takes less than a minute, after which you'll be instructed on how to use the recovery disk in the event of an emergency (below). Basically, if your boot drive is toast, connect the flash drive to your machine, restart while holding down the Option key, and then select the Recovery Disk. You'll have four options available to you -- restore from a Time Machine backup, Reinstall Mac OS X, Get Help Online, or Repair or Erase a disk using Disk Utility. Under the Utilities menu are three more options -- the Firmware Password Utility, the Network Utility, and everyone's favorite, Terminal. It's so easy and inexpensive to create a recovery disk for your OS X Lion installation that you should not only create one, but seriously think about carrying it on your keychain for those emergencies you encounter while away from home.
This 'TR-808' flash drive takes style cues from Roland (video)
Still trying to convince your friends that you're a mad scientist DJ with a shrink ray? Show those heretic doubters you've still got some (miniaturized) old-school cred with this replica 8GB "TR-808" flash drive. This snappy Roland knockoff won't actually lay down your mad beats, it only stores them, and the privilege of pre-ordering that trendy track storage will set you back $40. If you actually want to sound awesome, you could always satiate your portable mixing lust with the Korg Monotron, which actually, you know, makes noise. Hit the break for a peek at what an authentic TR-808 can do, and dream the dream that only a true novelty flash drive / synth enthusiast can.
Victorinox Swiss Army Slim, Slim Duo USB drives begin shipping, won't get you into trouble with the TSA
For frequent business travelers, the days of carrying around a Swiss Army knife on your keychain were gone even before the TSA was born. Well, that familiar pocket multi-tool is back, in the form of Victorinox's Swiss Army Slim and Slim Duo. Both products pack a tool that many of us use far more often than scissors and knives: the USB flash drive. We first took a look at Victorinox's latest gadget at CES, but the colorful, waterproof storage devices are finally shipping, in capacities that range from 4GB ($40) all the way up to 128GB ($350) with the Slim Duo (which, as its name implies, includes a pair of 64GB drives). Both flavors are designed to let you file photos and presentations, not your fingernails -- but if you're looking to do both, Vic's got you covered there, too.
Cryptex flash drive uses combination lock sleeve, brings a whole new meaning to hardware encryption
256-bit AES not doing it for ya? Now you can replace that dedicated-processor encryption with actual mechanical hardware, thanks to the Cryptex flash drive and its five-wheel combination lock sleeve. Modeled in AutoCAD and constructed using various glistening metals, the Cryptex's five-digit combination will keep prying eyes far from you sensitive files -- and, well, it just looks insanely awesome. Like many shiny objects that seem too good to be true, it's barely more than a concept at this point, so you'll have to settle for the digital version for now.
PQI USB 3.0 flash drive is world's smallest, easiest to misplace
Storage in the cloud has limited the appeal of previous-generation flash drives, but until we can beam 32GB video clips across the web in less than a minute, there's always room for a USB 3.0 "traveling disk" on our key rings. Especially when it's smaller than a key. The PQI U819V measures just 3.15cm long, but ships with a keyring and attached cap, so at least its accessories will be nearby when it gets misplaced in your desk drawer. We're still waiting on pricing and availability information, but we do know that storage capacity ranges from 4GB to 32GB, and the drive is backwards-compatible with USB 2.0 ports. PQI says the drive's cap also doubles as a cell phone ornament, but if you need a square silver USB cap to dress up your mobile, you may want to redirect some cash from your flash drive fund to upgrade your cell.
NES becomes world's least efficient flash drive (video)
Hold on to your Zapper, because we're about to blow some minds -- this Nintendo Entertainment System has been outfitted with a USB port, and its Tetris cartridge transformed into an 8GB USB flash drive. Not only that, there are simple step-by-step instructions to craft your own online, so you too can slot, socket, mount and feel blissfully anachronistic all the same time. Speaking of time -- it looks like we've finally got a sufficiently retro alternative to your Iomega ZIP drive.
USB 3.0 shocker! Supersonic Magnum thumb drive rocks 200MB/s read times, sure to be rather pricey
You thought the 70MB/s write speeds were wild? The kids at Patriot are making the scene at CeBIT with the successor to the Supersonic USB thumb drive we first saw at the tail end of last year, and it's putting its old man to shame. The Supersonic Magnum series, sporting capacities up to 128GB, boasts a single eight channel controller with 200MB/s read and 110MB/s write speeds. And it will fit in your hip pocket! Release date TBA, and we can only imagine it will cost you a pretty Deutschmark.
SanDisk reveals $1500 128GB Extreme Pro CF card, Ultra / Cruzer Edge USB drives
The world's fastest high-capacity CompactFlash card? Yes, please! SanDisk has just taken the CF game to an entirely new level, doubling the capacity of its current highest Extreme Pro offering by dishing out a 128GB model here at CES. The Extreme Pro is definitely the card of choice for the high-speed cameras here at Engadget HQ, and for those who've outgrown their twin 64GB setup within their D3S, you can soon pop in a pair of these bad boys for a nominal fee. The card touts performance as high as 100MB/sec (write), a Power Core controller and a UDMA-7 interface, perfectly suited for capturing hours of 1080p footage. Oh, and speaking of that nominal fee -- it's expected to hit retail "later this year" for $1499.99. Yeah, a grand and a half. But hey, you get what you pay for. In less enticing news, a pair of new flash drives are also being launched this evening, the SanDisk Ultra and Cruzer Edge. The Ultra offers transfer rates as high as 15MB/sec, ships in capacities ranging from 8GB to 32GB and will cost between $44.99 and $109.99. The Cruzer Edge reaches from 2GB to 16GB and will set you back between $12.99 and $79.99. Check out the full releases after the break, and though we shouldn't need to advise you, we'd recommend you start pinching those pennies dimes soon. %Gallery-112736%
Isabella Products' Mini USB stick connects unconnected digital photo frames
Passed on Isabella Products' Vizit digital photo frame? 'Tis a shame, really. But hey, if you were one of the millions gifted with a lackluster, non-connected digiframe over the past few years, at least the aforesaid company is giving you a way to make things right. The outfit's newly launched Mini is one special USB key, embedded with an AT&T 3G SIM and tailor made to provide cellular connectivity to dormant frames. The key is linked to one's VizitMe content management service, and users will be able to email photos directly or have the device extract content from Photobucket and LIFE.com; once received, owners will see new images pop up on any frame that accepts USB keys. Furthermore, these same emailed images can be viewed on USB-equipped monitors and televisions. The company's planning to ship the Mini in Q2 of this year for an undisclosed rate, but naturally, we're more interested in the potential unadvertised capabilities. An off-contract, fee-free USB key with an AT&T SIM card within? Sounds like we're just a hack or two away from the most beautiful mobile broadband card this world has ever seen.
Kingston's DataTraveler Mini Fun USB flash drives: they're small and thrilling
Tired of lugging around that boring flash drive? Kingston feels your pain, and it's hoping to add a fair amount of "pizazz" and "spice" to your mobile storage needs. One look at the new DataTraveler Mini Fun G2 all but confirms that there's oodles of joviality brimming beneath the colorful plastic, with a trio of hues to choose from (based on model). These guys can also be connected together for kicks and giggles, with 2GB, 4GB and 8GB models available to bring smiles to the faces of those you know and love. Pricing is set for £4.58 ($7.26), £5.04 ($7.99) and £9.00 ($14) from least capacious to most, with no surcharge to be placed on your favorite color -- in other words, bonus fun is provided gratis. Beat that. %Gallery-110493%
