The drive is divided in half—2GB on each side. So separating files is as simple as choosing which side to stick into the computer. The drive also comes in several colors and includes the option of laser etching text or icons on either side of the switch to help you distinguish between drives. Available for $20. [Split Stick]

Too bad these glasses can't store the images you see. Last week at the beach I saw some things I would like to remember. Then again, I saw other things that I would reaaaally like to forget. At any rate, they will be available for $200 this October—just in time for...fall? [Men.Style via GetUSB via Technabob via Geekologie]

The retractable USB drive used the OLED screen to browse files and carry out certain functions. When used as a biometric scanner, the screen will change colors to indicate success or failure. Ennova hasn't mentioned any specific storage capacities for these drives, but they did talk in the presser about people backing up large chunks of data, up to 64 gigabytes. So I'll guess we'll be seeing a few drives bigger than 4 gigs.

Ennova says we should expect to see their hyper-ultra-advanced USB drive sometime in early 2010, under their Ion Technologies brand. [PRweb via OLED Display via Engadget]

Now that every press release anyone gets handed comes on a USB flash drive, I've found it hard to actually purchase one. But an unobtrusive 8GB on my keychain for $33 ($22 for the 4GB) is appealing. At least it looks like I can use it with my MacBook and still have room for something in the other USB slot. [Brando]

Update: Speed is up to 15Mb/s read, up to 6Mb/s write

Each Bagel Drive is individually hand-crafted from the finest ingredients and carefully preserved by a proprietary process. No two look exactly alike! It’s the only flash drive that looks good enough to eat.

I have to admit, the $25 bagel drive looks so delicious that my brain is having a tough time registering the fact that it's not real. Seriously, if a test unit were sitting by my computer right now, I'd be tempted to take a bite, or at least lick it once.

Don't judge me. [Bagel Drive via Geek Alerts]

In the background you can see that the female has ripped the face off the male and stuck his lifeless corpse up on the fridge with a phony suicide note. Tragic I know—but it's nature and we mustn't interfere. Available in 2, 4 and 8GB capacities. [A-DATA]

There are nearly endless ways to bring a USB stick out of retirement, and they're not just gimmicks: virtually all USB sticks, 32MB USB 1.1 dinosaurs included, can be repurposed into anything from a lifesaving troubleshooting tool to an entire portable OS. Here are your best options:

Turn it into a physical "key" for your computer
For security freaks or the extraordinarily literal-minded, Vista has built-in software to convert your USB key into an actual key, such that your PC won't boot without having it inserted. It might not be ideal if your key may be old enough that it is likely to fail on you, if you have a propensity to lose tiny things, or if your laptop only has one or two USB ports to begin with, but it definitely offers a special kind of peace of mind. For Macs, Rohos essentially does the same thing, but at $30, it's not particularly recession-friendly.

Install a portable OS
This is actually simpler and less esoteric than it sounds—installing a wide array of Linux systems is pretty easy nowadays, and will more importantly net you a fully functional desktop that you can take with you wherever you go. Lifehacker recently assembled a useful comparison of popular USB-able Linux distributions, in which they recommend the fantastic UNetbootin or creating the bootable keys in the first place. It's worth noting that two of these distros will work on keys at less than 128MB capacity (DSL is just 50MB, total) and all carry a legitimately useful range of apps.

Use portable apps to create a pocketable user profile
Most free software now comes in a portable variety, meaning that at least under Windows, programs that normally extend their tentacles into your user profile and registry can be installed completely—user data included—onto a USB stick. All you do is insert the stick and find the desired .exe, and you're good to go.

The most obvious advantage to this is profile portability—in other words, your portable Firefox (or Opera or Chrome) isn't just the app, it's your favorites, history, user preferences and cookies too. The portable version of Pidgin, a multiprotocol IM program, can hold your account data, transcripts and settings. Most of these installations are quite small—Firefox is just 8MB, for example—so you can build an extensive user profile on all but the oldest keys.

The very best one-stop shop for portable apps is the, well, aptly named PortableApps.com.

Create a powerful troubleshooting toolbelt
Portable antivirus and file recovery apps are convenient, but a USB key can be loaded up with much more powerful software. Ultimate Boot CD for Windows is a sort of software panacea which, in addition to including a selection of Windows maintenance apps, carries a veritable treasure trove of low-level troubleshooting programs, made accessible by booting into a sort of temporary "Windows Lite" desktop. It can manage disk deletion and partitioning, software and hardware diagnostics and a huge variety of lifesaving recovery functions. Despite the "CD" part of its name, Ultimate Boot CD for Windows can be loaded onto a USB key, though it requires a Windows installation disc from which to build the aforementioned "Windows Lite" environment. If you don't run Windows but still want a basic DOS-based suite of hardware diagnostics and disk tools, the vanilla Ultimate Boot CD has you covered.

Convert it into a tiny SNES, Genesis, MAME, etc.
Emulators are tiny, and most ROMs are even tinier; a USB key, no matter the size or speed, can probably hold more vintage console games than you can find the time to play. Many popular emulators come in a portable flavor, so your display settings, saved games and cheats will follow you everywhere. Without the need to install anything, this potentially opens up work, school or other public PCs to most pre-PlayStation gaming. Popular portable NES, SNES, Game Boy, Genesis, and arcade emulators. As for ROMs, that's on you. (Pro tip: GOOGLE).

Carry a portal to your home computer
Virtual Network Computing (VNC) sounds more complicated than it is—it simply lets you see and control your computer screen remotely. Whatever OS you run (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux), VNC servers are simple to set up and, if configured correctly, plenty secure. While many provide web interfaces to be accessed through a browser, they're almost always clunky, Java-based monstrosities. A simple VNC client (download the binary archive version) will carry your settings, run responsively and offer more quality, speed and transfer options than its bastard HTTP brother, transporting a home computer's desktop to wherever you happen to be.

Donate it to charity
If you're some kind of ingrate who doesn't see the potential in any of the above options (or you're just a good, charitable person), InVineo, a non-profit tech outreach organization will find someone who does. They'll gladly take your 64MB Cruzers and send them to developing countries to be used in schools or local governments.

Hat tip to Lifehacker and Portable Apps.

Dealzmodo Hacks are intended to help you sustain your crippling gadget addiction through tighter times. If you come across any on your own that are particularly useful, send it to our tips line (Subject: Dealzmodo Hack). Check back every other Thursday for free DIY tricks to breathe new life into hardware that you already own.

[Plankton via Likecool]

The Key to Staying Organized and Secure Lies Within Consumers' Pockets Deerfield Beach, FL - March 24, 2008 - From bank statements and insurance policies to birth certificates and contracts, today's consumers face confusion and frustration when it comes to organization and protecting critical data and documents. This month, Black Box Innovations, as part of its new Tâke line of portable technology, unveils the solution with the launch of the Personal Pocket Safe™, the world's first encrypted, epoxy coated, pin-protected smart drive offering powerful organization and portable digital protection for consumers. Formatted to fit any standard USB port found in PCs and notebooks, the Personal Pocket Safe™ will be available through select retail channels starting in spring 2008. "To shred or not to shred, to file or keep a paper copy, and where to store them safely are questions we all struggle with on a regular basis," said Stewart Wallach, visionary behind the Personal Pocket Safe™ and CEO of its parent company, CHDT, Corporation. "The Personal Pocket Safe™ eliminates the tedious and labor-intensive obstacles that prevent today's consumers from gaining control over organization by combining easy-to-manage technology, portable efficiency and digital security in an affordable way that's never been done before." The Personal Pocket Safe™ is powered by proprietary software embedded within a pin protected pocket safe that features a host of security-rich options that lock in all of the confidential and critical information that powers the lives of today's consumers. Measuring less than 3 inches, the Personal Pocket Safe™ is convenient for travel and easy to store from plain view. Robust functionality and security features include: • A pin (4 to 10 digits) that prevents unauthorized users from accessing stored data. • Military grade encryption and storage of confidential documents, from insurance policies and contracts to heirloom photos and other irreplaceable items • Archiving of sensitive credentials such as social security numbers, financial account information and passwords • Digital compartmentalization of up to 70 years of bills and bank statements*, health records, and scanned copies of important documents such as licenses, permits, birth certificates, etc. • Customizable reminders for everything from warranty and policy renewals to scheduled maintenance back ups • Digital security features that make the device untraceable when removed from a host computer or laptop • Automatic "lock out" technology that shuts down the device to deter hackers "As we designed the Personal Pocket Safe, we began to discover that it's not simply hardware or software. This innovation is a new breed of technology we've coined 'anyware,' said John Tate, President of Black Box Innovations, the developers and marketers of the Personal Pocket Safe. "As a digital safe, it organizes and protects the user, any time, any place in simple ways that can save consumers around the world a lot of time, money and heartache; in short - it makes users lives easier." In addition to its menu of organization features, the Personal Pocket Safe™ also helps protect consumers' identities. With nearly 10 million Americans victimized by some form of identity theft in 2007, the Personal Pocket Safe™ offers peace of mind in knowing that once critical documents are organized and secure, the risk of someone accessing that data is a non-issue. On top of proactive protection, the Personal Pocket Safe™ also offers consumers help with one of the most overlooked but necessary functions in today's digital age - backup. Data that might normally be lost in the event of theft, computer disk crash or other unforeseen disasters is held securely within the Pocket Safe. "According to recent reports we've collected, close to 90 percent of adults today know they should backup the information they store on a laptop or personal computer, but more than 75 percent admit they do not take action," said Tate. "The reality is, 100 percent of computer drives will fail at some point if in use long enough, and proper backup is critical." With an increasing population of consumers who try to "live green", the Personal Pocket Safe™ provides an easy and convenient way for individuals to achieve their eco-friendly goals by digitally archiving monthly statements to save paper. Other features include a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, packaging made from recycled materials, as well as a storage case crafted from bamboo. About Personal Pocket Safe With patents pending in the United States and overseas, the Personal Pocket Safe™, developed and marketed by Black Box Innovations, marks the first product within the company's Tâke line, based on licensed technology from ClevX, LLC and ExamSoft Worldwide Inc. Black Box Innovations is a wholly owned subsidiary of CHDT Corp., based in Florida. Available through select retail channels starting in spring 2008, the Personal Pocket Safe™ helps consumers organize and safeguard their most critical documents and information through the world's first encrypted, epoxy coated, pin-protected USB device. For more information, visit takeanyware.com.

Basically a flap on the rear of the card can be used to attach different memory sizes, and a pair of slits can be used for the USB adapter. To be honest, it doesn't amount to much more than taping a USB drive to an existing card. Still, it is a fairly elegant approach to the problem —but it might make more sense to develop a thin all-in-one usb drive that is specifically designed to hold business cards. So, my guess is that this concept will have to go back to the drawing board a few times before a viable product can be developed. [Coroflot via Core77 via DVICE]

It got dented with a .44, but totally disintegrated when they shot a .500 at it. That's probably as strong as you're gonna get with a "bulletproof" thumb drive, so we wouldn't recommend stringing up a bunch of them and wearing them as a bandolier, Worf-style. – Jason Chen

Pretec [Tietokone - Thanks Lauri!]