StarTech USB Duplicator & Eraser Doesn’t Need a PC to Lobotomize Flash Drives

Do you frequently need to transfer or back up data from USB drives? Are you a spy? Well if you’re not one, what kind of job requires you to do that? Whatever it is you do, StarTech has a gadget that could serve you well. It can copy data from a USB drive and transfer it to up to two other USB drives simultaneously. And it can do that on its own, there’s no need to hook it up to a computer.

startech flash drive duplicator and eraser

The Flash Drive Duplicator and Eraser can copy just the data stored in a USB drive or it can make a clone of the entire drive. The second feature is useful if you’re copying up a bootable back-up drive or a disk image. As its name implies, the device can also erase data from up to two USB drives at the same time using either a quick erase method or a slower, but more secure way that supposedly follows a standard set by the US Department of Defense. I feel ashamed that I don’t have any data that merits that kind of sophisticated death.

startech flash drive duplicator and eraser 2

Aside from transferring data to a flash drive, you can also use the device to transfer data to a hard drive, a solid state drive and other storage devices like memory cards as long as you have the proper USB enclosure or reader for your storage device. What I don’t know is if you can use those storage media as a source drive. You can order one from Amazon for about $171 (USD). Head to StarTech’s website for more information.

[via Electronista via Xataka]

 

A Snail USB Drive Is the Most Adorable USB Drive

Be careful with this snail USB drive—it’s so cute someone might try to steal it from you. More »

You Can’t Store Your Stuff on This USB Drive Necklace

Adorable USB drives: we love ’em. Pop an homage to the storage system on a necklace, and we like it even more. More »

A USB Drive on a Shovel? Sure, Why Not

You’re working on the farm, you’re planting corn, you’re checking up on your Excel docs. How do you do it all? Easy, just pop a USB drive on the end of your trusty shovel. Genius multitasking. More »

Wireless Card Reader Lets You Share Your Shots Without Stupid Cables

Wireless devices are usually far more convenient than their tethered alternative. But in this case losing the USB cable has made the REX-WIFISD1 SD/SDHX/SDXC and flash drive reader a bit on the bulky side. So what do you really gain for it being wireless? The ability to access it from any mobile device. More »

This Tiny Flash Drive Broadcasts Its Contents Over Wi-Fi

Besides greater capacities, faster transfer speeds, and novel designs, there hasn’t been much recent innovation with USB flash drives. Which is why the Paketta from King Jim is such a welcome break. With built-in Wi-Fi B, G, N hardware it can wirelessly broadcast its contents to PCs and mobile devices. More »

This Meteorite Flash Drive Is Out of This World

Chances are you’ve got tons of flash drives just laying around. More than you really need. But are any of them made with real, certified meteriote? The Zana Design “Apophis” drive could fill that hole in your collection, for a price. More »

Victorinox nixes software updates for USB drives, security certificate to expire in September

Victorinox nixes software updates for USB drives, security certificate to expire in September

Victorinox may have offered a hefty bounty to crack its secure USB drives’ encryption, but the storage sticks seem to have met their match another way: the end of software support. In an email sent to customers and a pair of Facebook posts, the firm announced that it will halt updates as of next month and that its security program’s VeriSign certificate is only valid until September 15th. As a result, customers are urged to backup their data lickity split. According to the outfit, the economics of continuing application development just weren’t reasonable and it’ll now refer to a third party for all software. However, the Swiss Army Knife maker isn’t out of the flash drive business — it’s committed to putting more of the devices on the market. We’ve reached out to the company for more details on how the thumb drives will be affected and we’ll update when we get word. In the meantime, hit the source links for the notice or check out the e-mail below.

[Thanks, Scott]

Continue reading Victorinox nixes software updates for USB drives, security certificate to expire in September

Filed under:

Victorinox nixes software updates for USB drives, security certificate to expire in September originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 03:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceFacebook (1), (2)  | Email this | Comments

Toaster USB Hub and Toast Flash Drives: Ready to be Jammed with Data

I’m sure you have a thousand and one flash drives by now, but as far as gimmicks go, you don’t see USB hubs with matching flash drives that often. Too bad this toaster USB hub doesn’t pop the flash drives out when they’re ejected.

toaster usb hub toast flash drives

The flash drives come in four variants, including one that seems to have been burnt to a crisp already:

toaster usb hub toast flash drives 2

The toaster also has an SD Card reader built-in. You can of course use the USB hub with any flash drive (and the toast drives with any USB hub), but, well:

toaster usb hub toast flash drives 3

Unfortunately, this delicious combo costs a lot of bread. ThinkGeek is selling the goodies separately, $28 (USD) for the hub and $25 for each of the 4GB drives, so for a fully-loaded four-slice toaster, you’re looking at $128.


SanDisk Cruzer Pop Flash Drives are Thin, Flashy, and Crazy Colorful

Over the years, USB drives have become smaller, sleeker, and more compact than they’ve ever been – even while packing tons of gigabytes into a teeny, tiny device. SanDisk has always been known for good quality flash drives, and I especially like how they managed to make the Cruzer Fit so compact (it’s the size of a thumbnail and can hold up to 16GB) And then there’s the Cruzer Pop, which takes flash drives from just being functional to being ultra flashy and creatively decorated.

sandisk cruzer pop 1There’s the black and gray checkered one that’s a bit more low-key, red with the symmetrical design that’s simple yet loud, and the white one with printed-on paint that looks like it’s running down the drive. Not only that, but they’re extremely thin, too, at 0.15 inches thick.

The Pop got its name not form its look alone, but also how you’re supposed to use it: just pop the drive open to reveal the USB connector, and plug it into the USB hub. The drives are available in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB and will be available in retail outlets soon.

[via Chip Chick]