Gizmodo: flash drive

Man, We’ve Come a Long Way From Floppies

Chris Jacob — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

This infographic makes me so glad that we came up with storage methods other than floppy disks. Imagine replacing your 2TB hard drive with 1,422,222 floppies. No thank you. Update:

Reader Drew just noticed that the artist updated the graphic. I've replaced the image. Looks like the guide inconsistencies you all noticed have been fixed, at least for the most part.

Update 2: Curtiss just wrote to tell me that version 4.0 is up, and that he's taken your feedback into account. The new image is above. [Curtiss Spontelli via fellow Gizmodian Kyle. Thanks dude!]

Star Wars USB Drives Hands On Gallery

Jason Chen — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:20:00 EST

Tyme Machines' Star Wars sculpted USB drives might not have your favorite characters available yet, in its first series, but they do have Vader, Boba Fett, Yoda and a Storm Trooper, and they're quite good.

The drives are available in 4, 8 and 16GB capacities for $30, $40 and $60, respectively. The head comes off and you plug the body into any USB port. The downside is that the bodies are decently sized, so if you have two USB ports adjacent to each other, you won't be able to use the other one.

Click through the gallery to see our impressions. [Tyme Machines]

Here's a lone Storm Trooper before he suffers a fate unimaginable for all but Storm Troopers. Decapitation.

With his head gone, his body is free to be plugged into any USB port.

Here's the view from behind.

Boba Fett and Vader are still in mint condition.

The set includes Yoda, but we only have the evil characters.

All three with their heads off.

Vader, engaged.

What would it look like if they switched helmets? This.

The World's Smallest 16GB Flash Drive and Oh Hey, Sarah Palin

matt buchanan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:53:54 EST

Somehow the presence of a winking Sarah Palin does not make me any more inclined to believe in the veracity of Wink's claim to be the tiniest 16GB flash drive "on the planet." But maybe it is, have a look:

[ActiveMP via jkOnTheRun]

The First USB 3.0 Flash Drive Is a Wide Load

matt buchanan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:03:17 EST

Super Talent's first USB 3.0 flash drive, is huge—about the same size as Corsair's Voyager, in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB sizes. It'll push those gigs of Zatoichi rips at 4.8Gbps, or about 10x faster than USB 2.0.

Of course, you need a computer running one of these motherboards or cards, since Intel's dragging ass on a standard it helped developed. And you might as well pick up one of these hard drives too, while you're at it. [Register]

4GB Star Trek Flash Drive Comes Loaded With The New Film

Sean Fallon — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:40:00 EDT

Star Trek, merchandising and obsessive fans go hand in hand, so it is not surprising that the new film is being released on an individually numbered 4GB Starfleet insignia USB drive.

Needless to say, the drive is also loaded up with DRM—but you are allowed to run it on 5 registered devices and burn it to DVD, so it's not unreasonable. And since it has been deemed as a "collectible", fans will surely line up to fork over their $29. [Play via OhGizmo]

Rap Group Hands Out Uzi-Shaped Flash Drive Album

Rosa Golijan — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:40:00 EDT

If you're a fan of novelty USB drives, submachine guns, and rap, I've got a treat for you: The Get Busy Committee stuck their upcoming album Uzi Does It on uzi-shaped flash drives to create an unholy threesome. [Wired]

Flash Drives Invade Combs, Brushes Speculated to Follow

Mark Wilson — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:40:00 EDT

Your analog hair is so 2000-and-late. Update your look with this 2GB comb flash drive for $36, or hold out for the indescribably more awesome switchblade comb edition (that is in no way planned or real). [AudioCubes via RedFerret]

USB Chocolate Popsicle Flash Drive

Brian Lam — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:20:37 EDT

Brando, how kind of you to deliver us a chocolate popsicle shaped USB drive to stave off the summer heat. For sure, children are going to choke on this. [Brando via Giz.jp]

Elephant Flash Drive's Junk Is Bigger Than His Trunk

Andi Wang — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EDT

If you think that trunk is impressive, wait until you see this Elephant's giant dongle. The 4GB USB flash drive whips out from the beast's underbelly when you're ready for it to mount your computer. [XTremeGeek via GeekyGadgets via CraziestGadgets]

Kingston Launches "World's First" 128GB USB Flash Drive... For The Price Of A Laptop

Simon Crisp — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:40:42 EDT

Remember those heady days when USB drives used to cost hundreds of dollars? Well, thanks to Kingston's latest 128GB monster, they can again.

The DataTraveler 200 comes in three sizes 32GB, 64GB and the world's first 128GB USB flash drive, which sells for a whopping $546. However it doesn't look like they are expecting too many people to snap up the largest option, it is build-to-order only.

All of the capless drives have built-in password protection and are enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost. The smaller versions are priced at $120 and $213 respectively. [Kingston via PocketLint]

Darth Vader Unmasked Mimobot Flash Drive: If You're Lucky, You'll Get the Not-Whiny Anakin

matt buchanan — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:20:00 EDT

Mimoco's getting more clever with their latest Star Wars mimobot flash drives—Darth Vader and Clone Rex have removeable masks, and one out of six Vaders will have the Uncle Fester face underneath, not the NOOOOO one. [Mimoco]

Resident Evil 5 USB Chainsaw Only Kills Nano Zombies, But Stores 2GB of Confidential Umbrella Files

matt buchanan — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:40:00 EDT

Only the teeniest of zombies will fear this little USB chainsaw that normally comes packed in limited edition copies of Resident Evil 5. $23.99 is pricey for 2GB storage, but...bloody chainsaw. [eBay via OhGizmo]

The Green Man USB Drive Can Do Impossible Yoga Poses

Sean Fallon — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:20:00 EST

Practicing yoga can involve achieving higher levels of posing and meditation. Only Green Man can achieve true Nirvana by sitting cross legged with his decapitated head lying in his hands. Suck on that Sting!

The Green Man USB drive is completely poseable and his removable head can hold 2GB of data. Available for $31. [Geek Stuff 4U via Craziest Gadgets]

Cake Decorator Takes Flash Drive Photograph a Bit Too Literally

Mark Wilson — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST

Note to anyone buying a custom cake: Always print the picture you'd like recreated in frosting. Never just hand over a USB drive expecting things to work themselves out. [Cake Wrecks via The Raw Feed]

Leyio Personal 16GB File Sharing Device Is Wireless with a Fingerprint Scanner

Andi Wang — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:40:13 EST

The 16GB Leyio File Sharing Device comes equipped with a fingerprint scanner, and can also wirelessly transfer data to your computer and other nearby Leyios. Wait, there's more.

This flash drive also has a digital screen and a USB port built in so that you can plug in other flash drives to transfer more data. However, because the Leyio uses an ultrawide-band radio that is different from bluetooth or Wi-Fi, you must plug in a custom dongle in order to sync your Leyio with your computer. This also means that this flash drive can only wirelessly connect with other similar Leyio devices. [Leyio via TechDigest via OhGizmo]

The Eraser Flash Drive Eventually Erases Itself

Mark Wilson — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:45:00 EST

While our goal is generally to protect our data, the Eraser Flash Drive concept is just self-destructive enough to placate our inner wild man.

The flash drive isn't just coated in a eraser material. The entire thing actually is an eraser, save for the flash drive circuitry. Eventually, you'll wear the drive down to that metal on bare paper level that punished you as a child. Except this time, they'll be some voltage awaiting your notification. [studioroom906 via DVICE]

CurrenKey Coin-Shaped Flash Drive: It's Almost a Good Idea

Sean Fallon — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:40:00 EST

Kudos to LaCie for making their flash drives more portable—although, the coin-shape may prove problematic. It won't be long before your sensitive data ends up in the hands of some Starbucks employee.

It is definitely thicker than a traditional coin, but the metal exterior of the USB 2.0 drive enhances the illusion, making it easy to lose in a pocket full of change. Still, at $20 for the 4GB version and $30 for the 8GB version, at least you are getting a decent amount of storage for the price. [LaCie via Crunchgear]

The Pentagon Bans USB Flash Drives: Will There Be a Floppy Disk Comeback?

Dan Nosowitz — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:30:00 EST

AP reports that the Department of Defense has, at least for the time being, banned USB flash drives and is collecting all Pentagon-owned drives from the entire department. The Pentagon hasn't issued an official statement, but a spokesman did say that they are dealing with a "global virus" that affects such external storage. Apparently, Department of Defense lackeys are being told that they may not get their drives back, and no information has been given regarding the length of the ban. A list of items now banned from the Pentagon after the jump.

- Beer-filled USB flash drives
- Fetus USB flash drives
- Sawed-off USB flash drives
- Carabiner USB flash drives
- USB flash drives shaped like obsolete equipment
- Food-shaped USB flash drives
- Arty meta-storage USB flash drives [AP]

Fetus Flash Drive Offends Everyone

matt buchanan — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:20:00 EST

You know, all of the jokes that come to mind about this fetus USB flash drive—complete with a detailed how-to process to make your own—I really can't make them. But I'm pretty sure that it manages to be offensive to both pro-baby killers and anti-women's-righters all by its lonesome, miniscule self without my help, even though it's just a little humanoid blob of fabric with a piece of metal hot-glued to its ass. [Instructables]

HP USB Flash Drive Can Pretend To Be Floppy

Kit Eaton — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:24:44 EDT

No... not that kind of floppy...a disk-type one. Why is this useful? Apparently some BIOS updates still need you to jam in a floppy disk, despite the fact that many a PC nowadays ships without a drive for you to jam the disk into. So HP's floppy-emulating USB flash drive gizmo is more a sysadmin's friend, rather than your average user's fare, but you can at least switch it over to behaving like a normal flash drive. Available now in 256MB and 1GB sizes for $49 and $79. [Crunchgear]