Small independent record label Superfrothco has become the first record label to release their signings record albums on a flash drive.
It would appear that they are rolling this out right across the companies catalogue, so that any future orders for older albums will also come on a flash drive. This is a unique way of promoting bands, by only using flash drives to get the music out there, it is bound to cause some sort of stir that will get the media interest flowing. This will create hype and lead to sales, great business.
The first artist to get the honour of being the first artist to solely released on flash drive is Jeffery Scott Holland’s The JSH Combo, who is some sort of modern jazz group. His or her album will be released on the 1st September 2007, the album will cost around $10 and has more music on it than on a CD album, and so it looks like everyone is winner.
It is impossible to say at the moment whether or not this will attract customers or put them off, after all there are two sides, those who use mp3, they would love the concept of having an album on flash drive, whereas there are those who like to listen to there music through a music system, preferably via CD, they will not like it at all.
So by using a flash drive for music albums is a great innovative idea, but there is the danger of isolating the artist and record label from the more general music listener. We shall have to wait and see how long it lasts!
Jul 22, 2007
Imation 4GB Nano Flash Drives
Imation India has announced added capacity of up to 4GB for it's Nano Flash Drives.
According to Imation, the 4GB Nano Flash Drives not only deliver the kind of performance and storage capacity needed to manage and transfer digital files, but also come in a very small form factor.
The 4GB Nano Flash Drives feature an all-in-one swivel cap design, and are extremely lightweight and compact -- fitting easily into any pocket or onto a keychain.
Sanjay Koul, country manager of Imation India, said, "Our Nano Flash is an ideal solution for mobile consumers and business professionals. The innovative 360-degrees rotating swivel cap allows for easy access to USB ports in tight spaces, circumventing the need for additional USB cables."
The new drives feature password protection and drive partitioning software for Windows (Windows 2000 and later). With plug-and-play format, dragging-and-dropping of files is easy using a USB 1.1 or 2.0 port.
The Nano Flash Drives do not require any software installations (Windows 2000 and later), additional power supply, or cables. The drives are compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux operating systems.
The new drives are available in capacities of 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB at prices of Rs 525, Rs 900, and Rs 1,800 respectively. They come with a ten-year data retention period and a 5-year limited warranty.
According to Imation, the 4GB Nano Flash Drives not only deliver the kind of performance and storage capacity needed to manage and transfer digital files, but also come in a very small form factor.
The 4GB Nano Flash Drives feature an all-in-one swivel cap design, and are extremely lightweight and compact -- fitting easily into any pocket or onto a keychain.
Sanjay Koul, country manager of Imation India, said, "Our Nano Flash is an ideal solution for mobile consumers and business professionals. The innovative 360-degrees rotating swivel cap allows for easy access to USB ports in tight spaces, circumventing the need for additional USB cables."
The new drives feature password protection and drive partitioning software for Windows (Windows 2000 and later). With plug-and-play format, dragging-and-dropping of files is easy using a USB 1.1 or 2.0 port.
The Nano Flash Drives do not require any software installations (Windows 2000 and later), additional power supply, or cables. The drives are compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux operating systems.
The new drives are available in capacities of 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB at prices of Rs 525, Rs 900, and Rs 1,800 respectively. They come with a ten-year data retention period and a 5-year limited warranty.
Jul 16, 2007
Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager
Standard Install
Use this application to backup and restore presentation, pictures, songs and applications from and to USB Flash Drive devices and take them with you. Use USB Flash Drives to store personal data, to keep your network configuration and to share information with your friends. Microsoft USB Flash Drive .
Download
Overview
USB flash drives are compact and easy-to-use devices that are similar in use to your computer hard drive. USB flash drives slip into your pocket, conveniently around your neck or on a keychain for ultimate portable storage. USB flash drives in 2005 can hold up to 4 gigs of data, which is over 1700 three-minute songs (66 hours) recorded as MP3s or about three times the content of a standard compact disc. If you share a computer, USB flash drives are a great way to store personal information. USB Flash Drives are also a great option for saving information and share it with others. When you have many things to save and share but you have a limited number of USB Flash Drives, you will need to backup the information and restore it when needed. This is where the Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager application can help you. The Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager will help you backup and restore presentation, pictures, songs and applications from and to USB Flash Drive devices and take them with you. The application can also help you to classify and name USB Flash Drives images (for instance "My network configuration" or "The pictures for my grandma") and lets you see this name whenever the USB Flash Drive is plugged into the computer.
Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager is available for Windows XP only.
Use this application to backup and restore presentation, pictures, songs and applications from and to USB Flash Drive devices and take them with you. Use USB Flash Drives to store personal data, to keep your network configuration and to share information with your friends. Microsoft USB Flash Drive .
Download
Overview
USB flash drives are compact and easy-to-use devices that are similar in use to your computer hard drive. USB flash drives slip into your pocket, conveniently around your neck or on a keychain for ultimate portable storage. USB flash drives in 2005 can hold up to 4 gigs of data, which is over 1700 three-minute songs (66 hours) recorded as MP3s or about three times the content of a standard compact disc. If you share a computer, USB flash drives are a great way to store personal information. USB Flash Drives are also a great option for saving information and share it with others. When you have many things to save and share but you have a limited number of USB Flash Drives, you will need to backup the information and restore it when needed. This is where the Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager application can help you. The Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager will help you backup and restore presentation, pictures, songs and applications from and to USB Flash Drive devices and take them with you. The application can also help you to classify and name USB Flash Drives images (for instance "My network configuration" or "The pictures for my grandma") and lets you see this name whenever the USB Flash Drive is plugged into the computer.
Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager is available for Windows XP only.
What is a USB Flash Drive?
USB flash drives are compact and easy-to-use flash memory data storage devices integrated with a USB interface. The term "USB flash drive" is a generic term used to describe these products without specifying a particular manufacturer. USB flash drives are sold by many different companies under a variety of different proprietary product names such as JumpDrive, DataTraveler and Attaché, to name just a few. The term "USB flash drive" is used in the same manner that the term "DVD" and "CD-RW" are used; to describe the technology in generic terms. Other common names and terms are pen drive, memory stick and thumb drive.
They're virtually universally compatible with all Laptop and Notebook PCs running Windows 98SE and higher, as well as many MAC OS systems that have a USB port.
USB flash drives sales in 2006 are forecasted to reach 150 million units, with that number growing to 340 million in 2008, consisting of approximately 75% smart drives, according to Web-Feet Research.
They're virtually universally compatible with all Laptop and Notebook PCs running Windows 98SE and higher, as well as many MAC OS systems that have a USB port.
USB flash drives sales in 2006 are forecasted to reach 150 million units, with that number growing to 340 million in 2008, consisting of approximately 75% smart drives, according to Web-Feet Research.
What’s Wrong With Flash Memory Drives?
A lot of people in the industry believe that flash memory is the future of data storage for personal computers. We all use flash, of course, in digital cameras, in most music players, and on the ubiquitous USB flash memory keys. But flash is just beginning to appear in desktops and notebooks, either as an additional interface between the computer’s main memory (DRAM) and the hard drive; on the hard drive itself as a larger cache; or as a replacement for the hard drive, called a solid state drive (SSD). The concept is simple: hard drives require a motor to physically move a read/write head, while flash memory is a solid state device that offers random access. As a result, flash memory drives should be faster, lower-power, and more reliable.
There’s just one problem: flash memory drives don’t seem to work as advertised yet.
Take the concept of using flash memory to supplement the memory on a PC, which Microsoft calls ReadyBoost in Vista. In my tests, it can make a difference on a machine with 512MB or less, but doesn’t seem to have any positive impact on any machine with 1GB or more of RAM. The overhead associated with managing the memory seems bigger than any real benefits, and most real world tests I’ve run on it show slower performance. It’s not “ReadyBoost” it’s “ReadySlow.” On a 512MB system, you can see some improvements, but why bother? You’ll get much more improvement by adding another 512MB of DRAM enough main memory.
Another idea is to use as a cache between system memory and a hard drive, which Intel calls Turbo Memory, or “Robson.” The idea sounds right, but most system vendors have stayed away, saying they have the same kind of performance issues I saw with ReadyBoost. Now, I’m told that if it’s in place over a number of weeks, there are some improvements, but it’s probably not enough to care about now.
And then finally we come to solid state drives (SSDs), where flash-based drives are supposed to replace hard drives completely. A few weeks ago, I tested one machine – a Dell Latitude D420 -- with an SSD vs. an identical model with a hard drive.
The results were not encouraging. A 32 GB solid state drive added $450 compared to the more standard 60 GB hard drive. It took about 20 seconds less to boot, and 15 seconds less to shut down, which is good, but hardly earth-shattering. Some file operations were faster, some slower, since today’s flash memory typically reads faster but writes slower than a hard drive (though with less startup time, since there’s no drive head to move). Neither performance nor battery life showed a major improvement. Of course, proponents say SSDs should be more durable in a notebook since it doesn’t have any moving parts, but until a lot more people use SSDs in a PC fashion, it’s too early to quantify it.
Since then, I’ve been talking to a number of makers of both PCs and flash memory to ask them why I didn’t see nearly the improvements that flash proponents have claimed. Mostly, the answers say flash is just not ready to replace a hard drive yet. The big issue, they say, is that the operating systems just aren’t tuned for flash drives, but instead treat them just as they would a hard drive, even though their fundamental characteristics are very different. In addition, they say a different interface (the 3 Gbit/sec version of SATA, often called SATA II) will make a big difference as well. And, of course, flash memory, is getting faster over time. When could all this come together? Developers I’ve talked to tell me not to expect it to really make a different until next spring at the earliest. But a year from now, they tell me, flash as PC storage will be ready for prime time.
In the meantime, it remains an interesting idea – particularly if you’re worried about hard drive failures – but not something I’d recommend yet.
There’s just one problem: flash memory drives don’t seem to work as advertised yet.
Take the concept of using flash memory to supplement the memory on a PC, which Microsoft calls ReadyBoost in Vista. In my tests, it can make a difference on a machine with 512MB or less, but doesn’t seem to have any positive impact on any machine with 1GB or more of RAM. The overhead associated with managing the memory seems bigger than any real benefits, and most real world tests I’ve run on it show slower performance. It’s not “ReadyBoost” it’s “ReadySlow.” On a 512MB system, you can see some improvements, but why bother? You’ll get much more improvement by adding another 512MB of DRAM enough main memory.
Another idea is to use as a cache between system memory and a hard drive, which Intel calls Turbo Memory, or “Robson.” The idea sounds right, but most system vendors have stayed away, saying they have the same kind of performance issues I saw with ReadyBoost. Now, I’m told that if it’s in place over a number of weeks, there are some improvements, but it’s probably not enough to care about now.
And then finally we come to solid state drives (SSDs), where flash-based drives are supposed to replace hard drives completely. A few weeks ago, I tested one machine – a Dell Latitude D420 -- with an SSD vs. an identical model with a hard drive.
The results were not encouraging. A 32 GB solid state drive added $450 compared to the more standard 60 GB hard drive. It took about 20 seconds less to boot, and 15 seconds less to shut down, which is good, but hardly earth-shattering. Some file operations were faster, some slower, since today’s flash memory typically reads faster but writes slower than a hard drive (though with less startup time, since there’s no drive head to move). Neither performance nor battery life showed a major improvement. Of course, proponents say SSDs should be more durable in a notebook since it doesn’t have any moving parts, but until a lot more people use SSDs in a PC fashion, it’s too early to quantify it.
Since then, I’ve been talking to a number of makers of both PCs and flash memory to ask them why I didn’t see nearly the improvements that flash proponents have claimed. Mostly, the answers say flash is just not ready to replace a hard drive yet. The big issue, they say, is that the operating systems just aren’t tuned for flash drives, but instead treat them just as they would a hard drive, even though their fundamental characteristics are very different. In addition, they say a different interface (the 3 Gbit/sec version of SATA, often called SATA II) will make a big difference as well. And, of course, flash memory, is getting faster over time. When could all this come together? Developers I’ve talked to tell me not to expect it to really make a different until next spring at the earliest. But a year from now, they tell me, flash as PC storage will be ready for prime time.
In the meantime, it remains an interesting idea – particularly if you’re worried about hard drive failures – but not something I’d recommend yet.
Jul 10, 2007
Worldwide Solution for Ultrawideband Analysis with new Features
Ellisys releases new time-saving Instant Beacons and Superframe views to enable real-time debugging of multiple networked WiMedia devices
(via Press Release from Ellisys Website - July 9, 2007) - Geneva, Switzerland - Ellisys, a leading supplier of test solutions for USB, Certified Wireless USB and the WiMedia Platform, today announced new Instant Beacons and Instant Superframe features, the latest in its series of productivity-enhancing Instant™ functions for the company’s WiMedia protocol analyzer.
Beacons are special-purpose frames exchanged by all devices in a WiMedia personal area network (PAN) to both signal their presence and reserve bandwidth. Since it is expected that many consumers will eventually have multiple wireless devices – MP3 players, cameras, printers, scanners, etc. – being able to verify the simultaneous operation of multiple devices is an important step in interoperability testing and quality assurance. Beacon frames contain status information that can be examined to determine how various devices are working together. (more…)
(via Press Release from Ellisys Website - July 9, 2007) - Geneva, Switzerland - Ellisys, a leading supplier of test solutions for USB, Certified Wireless USB and the WiMedia Platform, today announced new Instant Beacons and Instant Superframe features, the latest in its series of productivity-enhancing Instant™ functions for the company’s WiMedia protocol analyzer.
Beacons are special-purpose frames exchanged by all devices in a WiMedia personal area network (PAN) to both signal their presence and reserve bandwidth. Since it is expected that many consumers will eventually have multiple wireless devices – MP3 players, cameras, printers, scanners, etc. – being able to verify the simultaneous operation of multiple devices is an important step in interoperability testing and quality assurance. Beacon frames contain status information that can be examined to determine how various devices are working together. (more…)
Jul 6, 2007
Flash Drives Become A Popular Method Of Promotion
When Toyota recently promoted its 2006 Lexus RX 350 sports utility vehicle in a U.S. mass mailing, it didn't print up glossy brochures and cram them into bulky envelopes. Instead, it sent out 21,000 digital devices smaller than cigarette lighters.
While some recipients may have been confused at first, they surely caught on when they pulled off a plastic cap and found a familiar Universal Serial Bus plug. Sticking the plug into a computer USB port, they gained access to the device and its contents: RX 350 pictures, video clips, interactive demos and more. Lexus isn't the only company that is handing out such gizmos — which go by such names as thumb drive, pen drive, pocket hard drive and USB flash drive — like candy.
The storage devices, which keep digital data in non-mechanical “flash” memory, have displaced the venerable floppy diskette as a convenient means for transporting and distributing computer files. As a result, the flash drives have become popular among companies that distribute promotional materials by mail, at industry gatherings or in meetings to clinch deals.
Flash drives are becoming the new darlings of conventions and trade shows, largely because of their increasing ubiquity and affordability. About 30 million were sold worldwide last year, including about 5 million in the United States.
When Frank Beeck of Brooklyn Park, Minn.-based Siemens Transportation Systems prepares for one of his industry's exhibits, he no longer needs to weigh himself down with printed materials.
Increasingly, he puts his information on 64-megabyte flash drives because these can be quickly reloaded with updated info if necessary. An alternative he considered, the CD-ROM, can't be updated once recorded and must be replaced with a newly burned disc. This takes too long, Beeck said.
Beeck's flash drives proved so popular at one recent transportation show that he ran out even though he had tried dipping into his stash of several dozen devices selectively. No matter: He dashed to a local Radio Shack store and bought a fresh batch.
Marlene Nelson of St. Paul, Minn.-based Sight Creative and Interactive multimedia-design company creates a variety of promotional materials for corporate customers such as Medtronic. She is increasingly putting the materials on flash drives.
Their key advantage, said Nelson, is that they can be reused. Once recipients have perused the devices' contents, they're free to use the drives for their own files. The “killer application” for such drives remains portable storage, said Steffen Hellmold, the group's president, but he said they have other uses—as authentication devices for locked rooms, cars or computers, for instance.
While some recipients may have been confused at first, they surely caught on when they pulled off a plastic cap and found a familiar Universal Serial Bus plug. Sticking the plug into a computer USB port, they gained access to the device and its contents: RX 350 pictures, video clips, interactive demos and more. Lexus isn't the only company that is handing out such gizmos — which go by such names as thumb drive, pen drive, pocket hard drive and USB flash drive — like candy.
The storage devices, which keep digital data in non-mechanical “flash” memory, have displaced the venerable floppy diskette as a convenient means for transporting and distributing computer files. As a result, the flash drives have become popular among companies that distribute promotional materials by mail, at industry gatherings or in meetings to clinch deals.
Flash drives are becoming the new darlings of conventions and trade shows, largely because of their increasing ubiquity and affordability. About 30 million were sold worldwide last year, including about 5 million in the United States.
When Frank Beeck of Brooklyn Park, Minn.-based Siemens Transportation Systems prepares for one of his industry's exhibits, he no longer needs to weigh himself down with printed materials.
Increasingly, he puts his information on 64-megabyte flash drives because these can be quickly reloaded with updated info if necessary. An alternative he considered, the CD-ROM, can't be updated once recorded and must be replaced with a newly burned disc. This takes too long, Beeck said.
Beeck's flash drives proved so popular at one recent transportation show that he ran out even though he had tried dipping into his stash of several dozen devices selectively. No matter: He dashed to a local Radio Shack store and bought a fresh batch.
Marlene Nelson of St. Paul, Minn.-based Sight Creative and Interactive multimedia-design company creates a variety of promotional materials for corporate customers such as Medtronic. She is increasingly putting the materials on flash drives.
Their key advantage, said Nelson, is that they can be reused. Once recipients have perused the devices' contents, they're free to use the drives for their own files. The “killer application” for such drives remains portable storage, said Steffen Hellmold, the group's president, but he said they have other uses—as authentication devices for locked rooms, cars or computers, for instance.
Jul 4, 2007
U3 saves a ton of time and effort
Melvin just wrote me from the United Arab Emirates telling me about his recent gift…
“When I received this U3 smart drive gift from my aunt, I was pleased that I got a 1 GB kit so that I could load important installer for office use. I could not believe the trouble the applications in U3 have saved me. I move from one different workstation to another in the office and it can get so bothersome when I have to login to Yahoo Mail for each access. Aside from this, my favorite web browser isn’t installed in my manager’s PC. Having U3 by my side, I need not worry about missing my mail from home and work since I carry both with me. I can also bring Mozilla Firefox to any PC and surf my favorite website since they are stored there. Better yet, I also have all the passwords from my Mozilla with me so I can simply login to Amazon and buy stuff without worrying for leaving a trace. I have also been able to keep in touch with my friends without installing any messenger programs on the said PC. My U3 flash disk has it and it is such a relief that I can do a lot of things without compromising installation of applications which my superiors may find uncomfortable. Thanks U3.”
You are most welcome Melvin. We truly appreciate you taking the time to write.
Nathan Gold
U3 Ambassador
“When I received this U3 smart drive gift from my aunt, I was pleased that I got a 1 GB kit so that I could load important installer for office use. I could not believe the trouble the applications in U3 have saved me. I move from one different workstation to another in the office and it can get so bothersome when I have to login to Yahoo Mail for each access. Aside from this, my favorite web browser isn’t installed in my manager’s PC. Having U3 by my side, I need not worry about missing my mail from home and work since I carry both with me. I can also bring Mozilla Firefox to any PC and surf my favorite website since they are stored there. Better yet, I also have all the passwords from my Mozilla with me so I can simply login to Amazon and buy stuff without worrying for leaving a trace. I have also been able to keep in touch with my friends without installing any messenger programs on the said PC. My U3 flash disk has it and it is such a relief that I can do a lot of things without compromising installation of applications which my superiors may find uncomfortable. Thanks U3.”
You are most welcome Melvin. We truly appreciate you taking the time to write.
Nathan Gold
U3 Ambassador
White Stripes, Nine Inch Nails push use of USB drives
Gramophone records, LPs, tape cassettes, CDs and downloads all revolutionized music delivery.
Are USB flash drives the next hot medium?
USB flash drives are data storage devices that essentially do the same thing as old-fashioned floppy disks,but are smaller, faster and hold much more data. Sales of these compact, portable and rewritable drives are expected to grow from 149 million units sold in 2006 to 242 million units in 2008. But that number could be much bigger if more musicians follow the example of the White Stripes and Nine Inch Nails, who have released their new recordings on these portable storage devices
Are USB flash drives the next hot medium?
USB flash drives are data storage devices that essentially do the same thing as old-fashioned floppy disks,but are smaller, faster and hold much more data. Sales of these compact, portable and rewritable drives are expected to grow from 149 million units sold in 2006 to 242 million units in 2008. But that number could be much bigger if more musicians follow the example of the White Stripes and Nine Inch Nails, who have released their new recordings on these portable storage devices
Jul 2, 2007
Access Your Desktop With Smart USB
When you leave the house in the morning, what do you take? Your wallet, keys, cell phone... what about your laptop? Many Bay Area consumers find their laptops essential for business, especially while traveling. Now there's a way to access your computer's desktop even if you don't have your laptop with you.
Related Links
ABC7 Video On Demand
Get Alerts In Your E-Mail
Get Alerts On Your Desktop
Talk About This Story
Would you believe that entire computer programs can fit on a device that fits in the palm of your hand? Not just documents or files, but actual programs. It's the latest kind of USB flash drive, which basically lets you store programs, so you can run them on other computers.
Saleswoman Nancy Glover is always on the go, and hates to lug her laptop around. "I'm constantly needing to take this laptop with me, and it's a little bit cumbersome," says Glover. The solution: a little gadget known as a Universal Serial Bus.
It's one of several new USB smart drives equipped with a cutting edge technology called U3.
CNET's Tom Merritt says it's for people on the move. "You can store the programs you use most often, and you can store your settings on them, so it's like having your whole PC right there," Merritt explains.
Merritt says older USB drives made it difficult to store anything other than documents or data files. But with U3, users can easily store software -- like your web browser, email program, instant messenger, personal preferences and games.
"If I can have everything that I need on this small device, then I can use literally anyone's computer to access what I need," says Glover.
Once you've installed all the programs you want, just plug in the USB, click on the icon that pops up and you'll see all your programs. "It automatically will synch with whatever computer you've started it on and you can kind of just go from there."
Merritt says the only real concern is if you lose the device -- along with your private information. "If you're storing your settings on here like your email or passwords, if you lose this device, it's possible anyone else could get a hold of that information," he warns.
Nancy says her drive is password protected, and at this point, she can't imagine life without it. "To not have to carry your laptop and to consolidate everything into one really small, lightweight device is really key," she says.
Most U3s do come with password protection or other security, and some also have pre-loaded programs.
Prices range from about $15 to more than $100, depending on storage space.
Related link:
www.cnet.com
Related Links
ABC7 Video On Demand
Get Alerts In Your E-Mail
Get Alerts On Your Desktop
Talk About This Story
Would you believe that entire computer programs can fit on a device that fits in the palm of your hand? Not just documents or files, but actual programs. It's the latest kind of USB flash drive, which basically lets you store programs, so you can run them on other computers.
Saleswoman Nancy Glover is always on the go, and hates to lug her laptop around. "I'm constantly needing to take this laptop with me, and it's a little bit cumbersome," says Glover. The solution: a little gadget known as a Universal Serial Bus.
It's one of several new USB smart drives equipped with a cutting edge technology called U3.
CNET's Tom Merritt says it's for people on the move. "You can store the programs you use most often, and you can store your settings on them, so it's like having your whole PC right there," Merritt explains.
Merritt says older USB drives made it difficult to store anything other than documents or data files. But with U3, users can easily store software -- like your web browser, email program, instant messenger, personal preferences and games.
"If I can have everything that I need on this small device, then I can use literally anyone's computer to access what I need," says Glover.
Once you've installed all the programs you want, just plug in the USB, click on the icon that pops up and you'll see all your programs. "It automatically will synch with whatever computer you've started it on and you can kind of just go from there."
Merritt says the only real concern is if you lose the device -- along with your private information. "If you're storing your settings on here like your email or passwords, if you lose this device, it's possible anyone else could get a hold of that information," he warns.
Nancy says her drive is password protected, and at this point, she can't imagine life without it. "To not have to carry your laptop and to consolidate everything into one really small, lightweight device is really key," she says.
Most U3s do come with password protection or other security, and some also have pre-loaded programs.
Prices range from about $15 to more than $100, depending on storage space.
Related link:
www.cnet.com
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