CES 2006 was bigger than ever with events and vendors at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Alexis Park, the Las Vegas Hilton, and the Sands Expo and Convention Center. The following is information I gathered from the companies at the booths, or from the press kits.
By Terry Currier
They are everywhere replacing the floppy drives, large capacity, and easy to carry everywhere. Here are some of the more interesting ones I found.
See also overview of: Storage Video Projectors Navigation Preserving Memories Blu-ray & HD Flash Drives
U3 A-Data Advanced Media FingerGear Kingston LaCie Lexar Media PNY Technologies
LG Electronics Royal SanDisk SmarThumb Swissbit Verbatim
U3™ Technology
U3 is a powerful new platform that offers a private,
securely protected experience on any PC with Microsoft Windows XP or 2000.
These smart drives will be able to launch a variety of U3-compatible (called
"U3 Smart") software programs, including anti-virus, security,
synchronization, communications, audio, video, gaming and photo-editing, to
name a few. U3 announced that Yahoo!® toolbar is now available for use on the
drives, through the Mozilla Firefox browser for U3. OpenOffice.org and
ThinkFree suites of office productivity applications, plus the Web browser
Maxthon are also available on U3 Software Central for download to any U3 smart
drive. The U3 smart drive houses all of the information which temporarily runs
on the PC. Nothing is installed on the PC and when the smart drive is removed
the computer retains its original settings. An
library of U3 smart applications
ranging from backup, email and photo organizers, to music players and graphics
applications are also available from www.u3.com.
A-Data www.adata.com.tw
With an embedded sweep-type sensor, the “My Flash”
Fingerprint Disk can only be accessed when your fingerprint is verified; no one
else can use the disk unless they have their fingerprints registered. There is
also a backup password for you to use in case your fingerprints are injured. Capacities
will be 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB. Software includes data
encryption/decryption, web auto-login, web favorites, file management and flash
mail.
I-Drive is a USB removable flash disk drive with PC camera
function. When it is connected with PC through the USB port it acts as a PC
Camera, or USB Flash Disk. It can support one NAND flash memory and up to 512MB
disk space for mass data storage application. Capacities, include 64MB, 128MB
and 256MB and 512MB. They include what they call a snake pipe, which is able to
twist as a stand to put I-Drive as PC camera.
Advanced Media
(RIDATA) www.ritekusa.com
Its new high-speed RIDATA
USB Drive features a USB 2.0 flash drive with a
laser pointer. Featuring four new useful functions:
It also comes with a security lock (Safety Zone); is shock proof; and has power-saver functionality. The data transfer rate is up to 19MB/s for read and14MB/s for write in dual-channel mode, and up to 10MB/s for read and 7MB/s for write in single-channel mode. The class II laser pointer will make a 0.4-inch spot from approximately 11 feet. Available in 128MB, 256MB, 512MB , and1GB capacity sizes.
FingerGear www.fingergear.com
The Bio USB
Flash Drive with LCD is portable and secure. With
its own LCD to guide you through fingerprint setup and operation it requires no
software to run on a host PC. Works with PC, Linux, and Mac. A single swipe of
the finger confirms a user's identity and grants the access to their secured
data. Read speed is up to 18 megabytes per second and write speeds of up to 13
megabytes per second. Cost is $99 for 256MB capacity.
Kingston www.kingston.com
U3 DataTraveler 
Their U3 DataTraveler® smart drive offers more than just
portable storage - it conveniently carries data and U3 software programs that
you can download from U3.com. Choose from a growing list of U3-compatible
software categories including: communication, productivity, file
synchronization, games, photo, security, and many more. Capacity is 512MB and
1GB.
DataTraveler Elite
A leading-edge USB Flash drive solution for business and
corporate IT users. Keeps your data safe by combining data encryption with
outstanding performance. Capacity is 256MB-4GB.
DataTraveler II Plus - Migo Edition
Perfect for anyone who shares a PC or wants to securely work
with their desktop data and settings on public PCs or between computers.
Features the award-winning Migo software to keep your personalized workspace
synchronized. Capacity is 256MB-2GB.
DataTraveler II
Exceptional value and secure access, capacity is 256MB,
512MB, and 1GB.
DataTraveler
Ideal for anyone, and it's affordable, Capacity is
128256MB-2GB.
LaCie www.lacie.com
Carte Orange
A credit-card sized 8GB USB key it offers 4GB, or 8GB
storage capacity. It has a sturdy metal design and plastic bumper yet light and
thin. Measuring at 6mm height and weighing less than 60g. The flexible
connector allows users to plug into the port wherever it may be located on the
computer, and retracts for safe transportation. Available for $100 (4GB
version) and $150 (8GB version).
Lexar Media
www.lexar.com
Announced its plans to incorporate PowerToGo into its line
of JumpDrive products. PowerToGo has simple
familiar interfaces allowing customers to run applications, carry browser
favorites and personal profiles, web-surfing preferences, and instant messenger
from any Windows-Based PC anywhere they go. It will also provide the security of a private
session: users can work with their files or surf the web and
then simply unplug the JumpDrive safely, knowing that no trace will be left
behind. Available
starting in Spring of 2006. Lexar also plans to make the PowerToGo solution
available via download to its
installed customer base. 
JumpDrive Mercury
their newest product includes a new integrated capacity meter that helps users
know how much storage space is available on their drive. The easy-to-read
onboard meter saves users time by letting them quickly and easily gauge exactly
how much storage space is left on their USB JumpDrive without even plugging it
into a computer. The display is a paper-thin, shatter proof form that is easy
to read, and does not rely on power to maintain capacity information. It will be available in 1GB and 2GB.
Also debuting at
CES is Lexar’s super-compact USB drive, JumpDrive Firefly, a very small and
convenient solution for storing, transferring and sharing multimedia and more.
JumpDrive Firefly, will be available in 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB capacities.
The high-capacity
JumpDrive Lightning will feature increased performance of 150x write speed and
will be available in a new 4GB capacity version. Lexar defines "x"
within its speed-rating system as equivalent to a minimum sustained write speed
capability of 150 kilobytes per second.
It’s JumpDrive
TouchGuard™ will also increase capacity product to 1GB. This is a USB flash
drive with an integrated biometric fingerprint sensor to authenticate a user’s
identity and provide easy access to secured files and password protected web
sites.
PNY Technologies www.pny.com
The following new PNY 2.0 USB drives will be available in
the first half 2006
Mini Attache™ compact size and swing design, which
eliminates the risk of lost caps. Available in 256MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GB (late
Q1) storage capacities for an MSRP starting at $35.
Pro Attache™ encased in a durable, titanium housing. Has a
retractable USB connector that slides in and out of the titanium casing,
eliminating the hassle of lost caps. Available in 512MB, 1GB, 2GB and 4GB (late
Q1) storage capacities for an MSRP starting at $70.
Evolution Attache™ includes a seven-in-one flash card reader
and USB drive. Offering 128MB or 256MB
of embedded flash memory which is expandable to 2GB+ with compatible card formats. Supports the
most popular forms of flash media. Available for an MSRP starting at $30.
All-Terrain Attache™ was designed to perform in a variety of
climates, weather conditions and
temperatures. It is shock, dust, water and UV resistant allowing the user to
carry the drive anywhere with confidence. Available in 512MB, 1GB and 2GB
storage capacities for an MSRP starting at $60.
LG Electronics www.lgusa.com 
The Platinum USB drive is compact, stylish tool for anyone
in need of an external storage device. With a capacity ranging from 64MB to 1GB
it has a read speed of 8MB per second and a write speed of 7MB per second. With
a weight of only 12 grams, it is also one of the smallest, and comes in its own
jewelry case. Every lose the cap to your USB drive? You can’t with the Retractable Flash RAM USB Drive.
Comes with storage capacities ranging from 64MB to 2GB.
Royal www.royal.com
The new EZVue Vista Series of USB Jump/Flash Drives have a
built-in, scrolling 2-line display. It
makes it easy to quickly see the names of the files stored, even without a PC.
Files are viewed within their respective directories or subdirectories which
are clearly identified on the display. Scrolling to the right will reveal
longer file names, extensions, file sizes and creation dates. A Directory key
allows rapid jumps between directories and subdirectories. Available in a range
of memory sizes. An additional model even has a SD Card Reader/Writer built in.
SanDisk www.sandisk.com
With the new 'U3 Smart' USB Flash Drives added to its Cruzer
Line users can access their "personal workspace" -- software
programs, personal preferences, personal files and data as well as the means
for managing them within a highly secure environment -- on any personal
computer running Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000.
The Cruzer Micro will be available in capacities that range
from 512-megabytes (MB) to 4-gigabytes (GB), while capacities for the Cruzer
Titanium will be 1GB and 2GB. It has read and write speeds of 15MB/second. To
physically protect the valuable data of business and power users, its
high-strength case is mechanically crush-proof to more than 2000 pounds. It is
manufactured with an advanced titanium alloy that is pound-for-pound stronger
than steel.
The new Cruzer products are preloaded with four free
U3-smart programs:
Cruzer Crossfire
USB Smart Drives for Console and PC Video Gaming; users can
store games and game data, play music, transfer wireless internet settings and
view digital photos. The U3 enabled smart drive comes in four color-coded
capacities ranging from 512 megabytes to 4 gigabytes. For owners of the
Microsoft Xbox 360 console it can be used to play digital music tracks and show
digital still images on any television set that is connected to an Xbox 360.
Also to transfer home wireless network settings from a PC to the Xbox 360.
SmarThumb www.smarthumb.com
SmarThumb is a flash drive with a complete suite of
productivity software that resides in and operates from the flash drive. What
this means is that you can use the software on any PC, minus the fear of
causing system conflicts on the host PC, or worry about loss of privacy
resulting from lingering fragments of personal data being left behind on the
host PC. The same PC can be shared by more users without compromising on
security and confidentiality. To date, a total of 24 applications have been developed
for SmarThumb, these include: My Mail (email application), My Zip (data
compression), My Encoder (data encryption), My Eraser (erases usage tracks), My
Lock (PC lock), My Shredder (secure data deletion), Photo Album (includes
slideshow function), My Address Book, Calculator, My Notepad, Auto Backup, My
Favorites (website bookmark), My Directory (yellow pages), My Wallet, Clock,
Games, Stick-It Notes, To-Do List, Time Zone.
Swissbit www.swissbit.com
SWISSMEMORY™ USB Victorinox, the liaison between Swiss
pocket knife and Hi-Speed USB storage medium is now able to save data volumes
up to 2GB (MSRP is $190 USD.) Additional benefit: The Travel-it-easy™ Software
stored on the USB Sticks converts the small handy aid into a pocket-size
office. Not to forget: it also serves as a first class pocket knife with all
the traditional tools such as knife, file, screwdriver and scissors. Also
included are a ball point pen and an LED light. The mechanism allows the USB
Flash drive to be detached from the knife body and be carried separately from
the housing when traveling through airport security, or when stacking multiple
drives.
SWISSMEMORY ™cirrusWHITE and pitchBLACK feature reading and
writing speeds of 28MB/s or 14.5MB/s and storage capacities ranging from 128MB
to 2GB. At 8 grams it won’t weigh you down, and comes with software such as the
synchronization of individual settings in Outlook Express, personal Internet
favorites and data from <My Documents>. The function <No Trace
Surfing> deletes all tracks left by users when browsing the Internet. All
data and data transfers are password protected, thus as safe as possible. The Lost&Found-file
is the only folder that is not locked, since it allows finders to track down
the owner of the stick and return it.
MiniTwist USB 2.0 delivers data storage capacities of up to
1GB and features a foldable cover. The device comes with Travel-it-easy™
software allowing partitioning and also synchronizes all personal user data on
the computer with the USB-memory.
Verbatim www.verbatim.com
Verbatim Corporation announced two new Store ‘n’ Go U3 Smart
Drives with capacities of 2GB and 4GB. Like the current 1GB version, users can
carry 1 to 4GB of launchable smart software applications, PC settings, files
and personal preferences wherever they go and can access them on any Windows XP
or 2000 PC. They will be available in Q1 2006. Users can carry their emails,
applications, personal settings, bookmarks and favorites, folders and documents
with them wherever they go--without always having to carry a laptop, or risk
not having a needed application on a borrowed PC. They can launch their smart
software and access their files anywhere there’s a PC with a USB port. The
drives come with U3 Launchpad, an intuitive interface that makes accessing U3
smart software and device features fast and easy. It also includes McAfee anti-virus protection
and an advanced password security system to prevent unauthorized access to the
device. Additional smart software applications are available free to Verbatim smart
drive owners who register at Verbatim.com/U3. Expect a street price of $179 for
the 2GB version and $349 for the 4GB version. The 1GB is available now with a
street price of about $89.
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