Imation argues that, by providing a one-to-one connection over the air, the Pro WX Wireless USB hard drive "limits the possibility of signal interception." That's a pretty vague claim to me. They also argue that it works like any other USB drive, although it only transfers data at 15 megabytes per second. That's not too fast compared to a Network Attached Storage drive over Wi-Fi.

And then, even while you don't have to connect it to the computer with a cable, you have to plug in a USB key. So why not just leave a regular drive on the desk, and plug the cable for a better transfer rate at a much cheaper price? And if you want wireless, why don't get a drive that is Wi-Fi enabled?

The only good argument for the Pro WX is simplicity: You don't need to connect to a server using the network, the drive just pops up in your desktop. But then again, connect to a networked drive is not that difficult. Certainly, not difficult enough to pay the $500 that this 1.5TB drive costs. [Press Release]

Sandisk sues to enforce memory SYSTEM patents

Twenty-Five Card Vendors and Controller Suppliers Named in Patent Infringement Suits

MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA, October 24, 2007 - SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today announced the filing of three patent infringement actions against 25 companies that manufacture, sell and import USB flash drives, CompactFlash cards, multimedia cards, MP3/media players and/or other removable flash storage products. The actions, filed in the United States District Court in the Western District of Wisconsin and in the United States International Trade Commission ("ITC"), allege that the defendants have infringed various SanDisk system-level patents, and seek damages and a permanent injunction in the federal court actions, as well as a permanent exclusion order from the ITC banning importation of the products into the United States.

"These actions demonstrate SanDisk's long-term commitment to enforcing its patents, both to protect our investment in research and development by obtaining a fair return on that investment, and out of fairness to third-parties that participate in our patent licensing program," said E. Earle Thompson, Chief Intellectual Property Counsel at SanDisk. "Our goal is to resolve these matters by offering the defendants the opportunity to participate in our patent licensing program for card and system technology. Otherwise, we will aggressively pursue these actions, seeking a prompt judicial resolution awarding damages, obtaining injunctive relief and banning importation of infringing product."

In the ITC action, SanDisk is suing numerous companies for infringement of five SanDisk patents, including:
ACP-EP Memory
A-Data
Apacer
Behavior Computer (d/b/a Emprex)
Buffalo
Chipsbank
Corsair Memory
Dane-Elec
Edge
Imation/Memorex
Interactive Media (d/b/aKanguru)
Kaser
Kingston
LG Electronics
Phison Electronics
PNY
PQI
Silicon Motion
Skymedi
Transcend
TSR (d/b/a T.One)
USBest
Verbatim
Welldone Company
Zotek/Zodata (d/b/a Huke)

In the first Wisconsin District Court case, SanDisk is suing numerous companies for infringement of the five patents also at issue in the ITC complaint, including:
ACP-EP Memory
A-Data
Apacer
Behavior Computer (d/b/a Emprex)
Buffalo
Chipsbank
Corsair Memory
Dane-Elec
Edge
Imation/Memorex
Interactive Media (d/b/a Kanguru)
Kingston
LG Electronics
Phison Electronics
PNY
PQI
Silicon Motion
Skymedi
Transcend
TSR (d/b/a T.One)
USBest
Verbatim
Welldone Company
Zotek/Zodata (d/b/a Huke).

In the second Wisconsin District Court case, SanDisk is suing numerous companies for infringement of an additional two patents that are not involved in the ITC action or the first Wisconsin District Court case, including:
A-Data
Apacer
Behavior Computer (d/b/a Emprex)
Buffalo
Dane-Elec
Kingston
Phison Electronics
PQI
PNY
Skymedi
Silicon Motion
Transcend
USBest
Verbatim
Zotek/Zodata (d/b/a Huke)

SanDisk is the original inventor of flash storage cards and is one of the world's largest suppliers of flash data storage card products, using its patented, high-density flash memory and controller technology. SanDisk is headquartered in Milpitas, California, and has operations worldwide, with more than half its sales outside the United States.

Of course, since Imation is only selling these things in bulk, it's fairly difficult to get pricing information. They are available starting today (in Japan, at least). – Nicholas Deleon

Press Release (in Japanese) [Imation via Fareastgizmos.com]

The Flash Drive Pivot goes on sale in Japan on August 21. Though the price is listed as open, expect to see the 4GB version selling at around $190. – Nicholas Deleon

Product Page (in Japanese) [Imation via Digital World Tokyo]

Go Back to School with Imation's Sudoku Clip Flash Drive [Gearlog]

Imation, maker of CD and DVD media, is playing it safe with the next-gen DVD war and releasing both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. Similar to the battle between DVD+R and DVD-R in the late 90s, store shelves are going to be full of incompatible DVD formats for a few years before working itself out, much to the dismay of grandma.

At least one analyst thinks the makers of the new high-definition DVD players ultimately may have the most influence. "It probably comes down to who's going to be more aggressive on the hardware side—who's going to subsidise losses on the short term to try to drive adoption," says Dan Renouard, an analyst for Robert Baird in Milwaukee.

A $US2000 high-definition player may not sell, but one for $US500 might, he says.

Gee, a DVD player that doesn't cost more than the TV you're watching it on might sell? Was that something he learned in analyst school?

Imation takes both sides in DVD war [Australian IT]

Imation Clip USB 2.0 Flash Drives [MobileWhack]

Imation Flash Wristband [uncrate]

Imation Buys Memorex [Extremetech]

Imation ships Toshiba s world s smallest drive [The Inquirer]

Imation integrates tape and disk [Inquirer]

Imation Swivel Flash Drive 4GB [UberGizmo]

Review: Imation Disc Stakka CD/DVD Manager Storage System [GadgetMadness]