Keychain Transflash Reader

This is a keychain version of a transflash memory reader. It features a USB 2.0 connector on one side and a slot for a transflash card in the other end.

The dimensions are really minimal: 1.02'' x 0.43'' x 0.16'' and weights 0.2 oz. To use it you need to have a transflash memory card too, TF cards are becoming popular since they are used in many cellphones, you can plug the card, insert the reader in a USB port and access the card as a drive without drivers or aditional software. Used in conjunction with a 1gb or 2gb TF card this can be a tiny flashdrive, probably the smalles you can have since the reader is just as big as the USB connector itself so we don't see how it can be any smaller.

The reader has a small hole for a strap so you can carry it on your keychain or a necklace, construction is good enough to survive your keys, there are no moving parts so unless the plastic where the TF card is inserted gets crushed the reader will work fine. Remember you also need a TF card to use this as a flashdrive.

You can get it for $4.50 from DealExtreme.

Imation Wristband

Yet another presentation for a USB flash drive, in this oportunity in the shape of a wristband.

The Imation Wristband is basically a USB drive surrounded by a rubber band giving it the shape of a wristband. The USB connector is used as a buckle to secure the drive to your wrist, bag handle, backpack or other places.

The band is not sizeable and measures 210mm (5.59'') so you have to make sure that it will fit your wrist in a confortable way. Being made of rubber and in only one size we estimate only a few will find the band confortable to the wrist.

The idea is interesting but with the size of flash drives today one has to wonder why carrying it as a bracelet is a need or even a good idea, you can put today's tiny drives on your wallet, keychain, necklace and so many places that the bracelet might even be impractical and too geeky for your taste.

The product is available in several colors and different memory sizes up to 1gb, probably bigger versions coming soon, it can be customized with your own logo too.
You can read more at Imation's website.

Cyber Snipa Dog Tags

This novelty item combines a USB pendrive with a flashlight and a multi-tool in the shape of a dogtag chain.

The tool comes shaped as a dogtag with a chain, intended for neck carry but can certainly be used in a keychain with a shorter chain or a splitring.

The USB drive has 512MB of capacity and slides in and out from the tag. It has a normal transfer rate, nothing exceptional but is not bad either.

From the "case" sides 3 small tools can be opened, a small set of pliers, a flat screwdriver and a bottle opener. The small tools are fine, a little fragile but they are not intended as power tools.

The flashlight is activated pushing a button, it is not very bright but works if you need a light in a hurry and have this handy.

You can read more and order for $54 from this site.

Trascend USB Drives

This is a new line of very thin and small USB drives, available in 1Gb, 2Gb and 4Gb of storage space.

The drive is 42.6 x 16mm and it's only 3.1mm thin. The total weight is less than 2gr so the drive is virtually weightless. The drive as many others connects directly to a USB 2.0 port without needing drivers in modern operating systems (XP, etc). It comes with a hole to attach a neck strap or lanyard.

It comes with some pre-installed software like PC-Lock, Zip, AES encryption, Email, Autologin and backup a good set of useful utilities for this type of drive. The transfer rate is 10Mb/sec reading and 2MB/sec writing, the manufacturer ensures data retention up to 10 years.

The 1gb model is $16, the 2gb model $25 and the 4gb model $43 and you can order from Trascend.

PQI Intelligent Stick

The PQI Intelligent Stick is a very small thumbdrive just 43 x 18 x 2.8 mm (1.69 x 0.71 x 0.11 in) and weighting 2.8gr 0.01lb the PQI is almost weightless and invisible.

The thumbdrive plugs into any USB port offering from 32Mb to 2Gb of storage, some of the models have a small tab for write protection in the back and others don't.

The transfer rate is very good, the drive has no pre-installed software and is not a U3 drive so what you see is what you get a small device for storage of your data.

The PQI comes with a small credit-card plastic case that can hold 2 PQIs in case you want to carry them in your wallet. They are small enough to be in danger of getting lost but the case makes them lose the charm of the size. They are probably better without the case, hidding in a small pocket or a flap of your wallet. There is no attachment point for a lanyard or a splitring.

You can get a 2Gb version for about $36 which is an excellent price from Newegg.com, you can read more about the drive and check the different versions available at PQI's website. You can also check a list of retailers here.

Sony's Micro Vault Tiny Pendrive

The Micro Vault Tiny from Sony is one of the smallest cutest pendrives you can get. The picture offers no size reference so I will give you a visual reference: the micro vault is about the same size as a fingenail.

Amazingly this is directly plugged to any USB port and you have your storage space, there are 256MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GB versions.

The drive comes in different colors: orange, purple, yellow and blue and you get a soft carrying case that is quite cute too.

The drive includes the Micro Vault Virtual Expander software that offers transparent compression when you store files in the drive, this is no better than any other compression utility but being something built-in is a nice thing.

The 2Gb version retails for about $80, prices of pendrives fluctuate a lot so check your favourite dealers. More information in Sony's website.

SanDisk Cruzer Titanium 2Gb pendrive

This a 2Gb flash drive enclosed in a "luquid metal" metallic case, it's supossed to resist forces of up to 200lbs, some guys tried to crush it with an SUV but failed. It has a cool look and feel too.

The cruzer comes with a lanyard, split ring and a metallic pocket clip that I didn't find useful so I removed it. The USB connector is plastic and retractable, when being used a blue led glows and the led blinks when the drive is transferring data.

The cruzer is a U3 compatible drive, this means that you can use it as a regular 2Gb flash drive but you can also use it as a U3 device downloading and installing U3 portable software (freeware) that you can then launch from the U3 launchpad. It comes with the usual sofwtare in trial mode that you don't want but it also comes with the U3 launchpad and download manager that I found very useful download the applications you want and they will be ready to be launched from the U3 launchpad.

I installed portable firefox, open office, thunderbird, a PIM application, a encryption software, a notepad and a PDF reader all installed and ready to use in minutes. Prices for flash drives change a lot, calculate $50~$80 for this one at the time this was posted. You can get more information at the Cruzer official page. A very cool and strong drive. Recommended.