MEGATech Showcase: Flash Drives Are Back! Beth Snyder June 3, 2014 Features Seems like about a hundred years since we’ve had a flash drive showcase, but for some reason there was a serious lack of nifty-looking ones the last few months. Or maybe I wasn’t paying attention. Either way, now my folder is overfull of them, so here we are. Let’s dive in, shall we? First up is one I need, since I carry an adjustable wrench every single day for work. This wrench, which appears to be adjustable but is not, measures 7 x 2 x 0.5 cm, and holds 32GB of data. It’s USB 2.0, and is compatible with all major operating systems. When not in use, the USB portion turns into the handle, which makes the only drawback that it can’t be hung from a keychain. Pick yours up for $15.50 US. Source: Geek Alerts This one I also like. The entire bulb measures 10 x 4.1 x 4.1 cm and is supposed to be anti-shock. When in use, its blue LED lights up, and it is also USB 2.0. It comes with a keyring attachment which serves as the cap, but no worries about losing it from your keychain… the cap screws on and off. This will cost you all of $5.99 US. Source: 7 Gadgets How many times have you had to include a flash drive with a paper report, or needed to keep the files contained on one attached to paperwork? Aditi Singh & Parag Anand have solved that problem with dataSTICKIES, which are Post-It style notes with data storage attached. When they’re in use their edges light up, and the tops of them can be written on so you know what data lives therein. These aren’t currently available, but they were a 2013 Red Dot Award: Design Concept winner so it wouldn’t surprise me if they were someday. Source: Yanko Design Sid! I’m not entirely sure I’d be comfortable trusting any very important data to his care, but he could surprise me. He’s USB 2.0, and offers 8GB of data storage. There’s also a chain attached to his head so you can hook him to whatever you want in an effort to prevent him from wandering off. Add Sid to your collection for $14.95 US. Source: 7 Gadgets Need somewhere to store your music? This guitar-shaped flash drive seems like a darn fine place. It measures 3.2? X 1.3? X 0.4? and has a keyring attachment. It uses USB 2.0, and is compatible with all major operating systems. It’s available anywhere from 2GB to 32GB, with prices ranging from $14.00 US to $33.00 US. Source: The Gadgeteer This is a neat way to make sure your flash drive stays with your paperwork! The File It flash drive is designed to mount to a three-ring binder. When it’s clipped in place, the rings will make sure the USB connector is safe, and when you need to access your data you unclip it and slide out the connector. It only offers 4GB of data for a whopping $55.00 US, but it is pretty darn neat. Source: Craziest Gadgets I’ll admit it: I have no earthly idea who this is. “Quico, the spoiled troublemaker, friend of El Chavo”… which helps me not even a little (although I do see this is a character from Mexico, which would explain my ignorance). If you know the character, then perhaps you’ll be interested in owning this 8GB, USB 2.0 flash drive shaped like him. It measures 6.9 x 2 x 4.6 inches, and is compatible with most major operating systems. Pick yours up for $16.00 US. Source: 7 Gadgets Football (or as we in the US call it, soccer), is huge in the world. Treat yourself or the football fan you love to one of these new flash drives from Apacer, available in red, blue, or green. Here’s what truly sets them apart: they feature a microUSB connector so they can be used with most mobile devices (except iDevices, of course). They also come with a USB adapter so you can plug them in elsewhere. Each one comes on a chain so you can attach it where you need it. No word on pricing or availability yet (although I’m sure they’ll be out before the World Cup), but they’ll be available in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities. Source: TechFresh If you love Family Guy, then you need this set of eight flash drives modeled after its characters. You get the family (of course), as well as the Giant Chicken and the Evil Monkey. Each drive offers 16GB of data storage, and is USB 2.0. They’re made from flexible 3D silicon in varying sizes depending on character. The entire set of eight runs $97.00 US. Source: 7 Gadgets If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you need this Stark Sigil Direwolf flash drive. Well, assuming you prefer House Stark, I guess. But even if you don’t, it’s really, really cool. I’ve never seen the show and I kind of want one. It measures 1? across by 1 ½” tall and comes with a necklace/keyring attachment. If you’d like to add one to your collection, $89.95 US will get you its 64GB of storage capacity and the envy of your friends. Source: Geek Alerts Or maybe this one is more to your liking. This also comes from GoT, and is the Hand of the King. Not only is it a 16GB flash drive, it can actually be worn as a pin. Kudos to the GOT flash drive makers for giving them fashion potential in addition to functionality! This one runs $40.00 US. Source: Oh Gizmo Are you more of a superhero fan? Captain America’s shield is also a flash drive. It offers not just a standard USB plug (USB 3.0), but also a microUSB OTG for mobile devices. You can also attach a keyring or necklace to it, so you’ll never be without your data or your shield. Pricing ranges from $59.99 US (8GB) to $83.99 US (32GB). Source: Everything USB In keeping with the multi-use superhero theme, here’s a Spiderman 2 dual card reader. It’s compatible with USB OTG and regular USB, but it will also read standard SD cards. It’s not made to store your data (unless you insert an SD card), but it does make transferring files to and from your smartphone and computer a snap. All this goodness is available in one neat looking package for $22.00 US. Source: Red Ferret Need to be a grownup, but still a superhero-loving kid at heart? These Superman flash drive cufflinks are for you. Each one measures 3/4-inch tall x 5/8-inch wide, and they hold 4GB of data. The whaleback closure is engraveable, so you can tell the world that they’re yours. Each pair costs $199.99 US. Source: Geek Alerts It may be summer, but you can keep your data cool with this cute little baby seal flash drive. Just don’t hit it with a club, because that’s wrong on a number of levels. It measures 1.4 x 1.3 x 1.3 inches, is made of soft 3D silicon, and uses USB 2.0. This cute little baby seal is part of the EMTEC Animalitos family, and costs $19.00 US. Source: 7 Gadgets Be careful where you leave these “Striped Candy” flash drives… you don’t want an unsuspecting person to try to eat one! These come from Apacer, and are designed to plug into the microUSB port of an Android device. They also come with a USB adapter so they can be used with multiple other devices as well. They’re available in orange or green, and really do look like those hard candies my grandma always had sitting on the end table. No word on pricing or availability yet, but they’ll come in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities. Source: TechFresh Leef has come out with a line of flash drives that, while not a goofy shape, certainly caught my eye. These are their Copper Edition Flash Drives, and in addition to looking pretty they are water-, dust-, and shock-proof. The three styles are the Magnetic (USB 3.0 with a magnetic cap, on left), the Ice (USB 3.0 with a resin base for “a unique optical experience”, center), and the Surge (USB 2.0 and as tiny as the receiver for my wireless mouse, on right). Each style is available in 16GB and 32GB, while the Magnet and Surge also offer 64GB. Pricing starts at $14.99 US. Source: The Gadgeteer Let’s close this out with a bang, shall we? Yeah, OK, that was bad. Whatever. This of course is a grenade-shaped USB 2.0 flash drive, and it will not blow anything up except maybe your data if you misuse it. It measures 8.5 x 7.5 x 3.00 cm, and is a an antiqued copper colour. Don’t worry about pulling the pin, as that’s how you access your data. It’s available with an 8GB capacity, for $7.55 US. Source: 7 Gadgets Share This With The World!
