30.09.2011
News You Can Use, Portable Applications
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For all who think that Skype is the next best thing to actually being there, there’s now Skype Portable that can be installed on a USB drive. By now it is commonly known that Skype can be used for both video and audio calls, either between two computers or from computer to phone. In the Portable Apps format, Skype can be copied on to a USB drive to be opened on any computer, including those that don’t have the original Skype program installed. The beauty of the Portable Apps version is that you can access your own program settings and data from anywhere using a device such as a USB drive with the Skype portable version on it.
26.09.2011
News You Can Use, Portable Applications
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In some circles there is speculation that Windows 8 has a “security” feature that could block open source operating systems. Until it’s actually released, we have no way of knowing. What we do know is that when Windows 8 comes out it will be more portable than ever in the USB drive world. This is due to the Windows To Go feature which will allow the operating system to be booted from a USB drive. The genies behind Windows demonstrated how a USB device loaded with Windows 8 performed operations while the USB key was plugged, but stopped as soon as it was removed. Then, after being plugged in again, the USB drive picked up right where it left off. Cool! We love that the possibilities for fans of portable media continue to expand.
16.09.2011
Creative Ideas
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One of the biggest dilemmas for the clothing optional community is, where on earth, or on your body, do you store your USB flash drive. It’s the most discussed topic at clothing optional meetings. That, and how to be sure which option everyone else might be choosing before showing up at an event. At least that is what we’re speculating because we know everyone carries a USB drive. If only there was some sort of hidden compartment. But that dilemma is forever solved now that a USB drive can be part of your jewelry collection. Designer Emily Rothschild came up with a collection of necklaces with lockets that hold a 2GB USB flash drive. The USB drive which can be plated in gold or rhodium is of course, detachable. These USB drives are so pretty that they are popular even in places where the clothing is not optional.
12.09.2011
Creative Ideas
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Is the USB drive a thing of beauty or merely a useful tool in the world of portable applications and on the go storage for digital files? Obviously, in our world we’ve often thought that the USB drive could be creative, limited only by the imagination. But along the way, someone at the French luxury brand, Christofle decided that the USB drive should also be brought into its luxury lineup. Now along with other silver-plated key chains, clocks and gifts for babies, there is the Christofle silver-plated USB drive – elegant, stylish and useful. Okay, there are only 4 GB of storage. We get that this doesn’t cut mustard in the ultimate geek world but hey, it’s all about style and luxury. Word from the brand says, “Each time you open it, its mystery is revealed – an elegant USB key.” As always, feel free let us know your thoughts on this silver-plated, luxury USB drive.
02.09.2011
News You Can Use
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What to do if you’re on the go an there is no computer around? If you’ve got a USB flash drive, there is much more you can do now. Word from the USB Promoter group in Beaverton, Oregon says the game has changed. Phones and cameras can connect to USB drives without a PC. Using the fast USB 3.0 connectivity, users can download data from device to device rather than from device to computer to device again. Thanks to the Embedded Host features, your USB devices are no longer like children, always in search of a parent computer. Is there a day in the future when the USB device will replace the PC? Unlikely, but always possible. Let us know what you think.
26.08.2011
Blog
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Most people don’t get rid of the USB drives because files can be erased and the drives be reloaded rather easily. Well, there was the guy who tried to delete files from a USB drive on his Mac, only to spend much time puzzling over why the files did not go away and the USB drive remained full. Turns out he hadn’t emptied the trash – but to his credit he did plug in his computer. At least we hope so. In any case, if you’re replacing your USB drive with some of the newer more creative ones and find yourself wondering what to do with the USB drives you no longer want, there’s a solution. You can recycle them. The people at Sugar Labs claim that they will load new educational software onto used USB drives and donate the drives to needy children around the world. It’s part of the foundation’s mission to bring technology and education to children everywhere. Of course this is only one way to do something good with your USB drive. Feel free to send us other ideas you may have.
19.08.2011
Blog, New Technologies
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Once again, the people at Victorinox have changed the game in the world of USB flash drives. A while back they added a USB drive as part of the Swiss Army Knife toolkit. Now they’ve improved on that by releasing an unhackable USB drive. At least they claim it’s an unhackable drive. It is a rather intelligent member of the USB species due to its ability to recognize when malicious software is attempting a break-in with thousands of passwords per second. If it “senses” that such a program is getting close to finding the correct password, it will short circuit itself. Another useful feature can be enabled to restrict access to specific files. The USB drive encrypts incoming files so that even those who know the password can only read files that are approved for them. Now that’s one intelligent USB drive.
12.08.2011
News You Can Use
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From time to time a debate about USB drives bubbles up. And it mostly has to do with security. How do you stop the spread of malware and other evils that occur via USB drives? In today’s complex mobile computing world, it’s a valid question. On the one hand, USB flash drives are practically a necessity, on the other hand not everyone follows the security rules – something not unique to the USB world. Along the way we have outlined an array of security measures that can be taken. From portable antivirus apps to encryption and more, it’s all possible. But there could be another way to deal with USB drive security. Michael Vizard who covers IT issues believes that IT departments need to embrace the USB drive more fully than they’ve done in the past. And if IT departments support and manage security software for USB drives, everyone would be happier and the USB drive would be the star of portability that it was meant to be.
05.08.2011
Creative Ideas
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Long before there were USB drives, there was the Karabinerhaken, which is a German word defining the hook for a carbine, which is a gun. Over time Carabiners or Karabiners gained popularity for their wide use in rope related activities such as climbing and sailing among others. In recent history the carabiner evolved as a useful and fun shape for a USB drive. Like the original item, it is possible to find carabiner type USB drives in oval, D and pear shapes. While carabiner USB drives have been in the marketplace for years, they were not necessarily meant as mountain climbing equipment. Unless of course, climbers wanted to plug in a USB drive on the top of a mountain. But they’re very portable, especially when paired with apps. The latest entry in this shape is Elecom’s Karabiner USB drive in several colors with 4GB of storage. And if you happen to be thinking of a similar type of promotional item, we can help you make that happen.
29.07.2011
News You Can Use
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By now much has been said about the anticipated popularity of USB 3.0 with its faster transfer speeds – all the better for future computing. But one day you’re standing at your local electronics store ready to buy a USB drive or some other drive. Should you go with USB 3.0 or USB 2.0? How do you know? As you can clearly see there are tons more USB 2.0 ports and relatively few USB 3.0 ports. Conventional wisdom says you should always get the most advanced technology available because upgrading happens rather quickly but this isn’t always the case. In the case of USB 3.0, the devices are usually backwards compatible but obviously using a USB 2.0 port results in slower transfer speeds. Reading from a USB flash drive generally goes faster than writing to it. But as it turns out, for now, most people can get by with the more common USB 2.0 flash drives and ports.
