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Lexar ships thumb drives as backup solutions

Thumb drives are becoming more viable as backup solutions as their storage capacities continue to grow. On Tuesday, Lexar announced two new thumb drives that come bundled with backup software designed specifically for Netbook and notebook users.

The two drives are the Echo SE and the Echo ZE. Both are flash-based and offer very high capacities for their physical size. The Echo SE is a compact thumb drive that can hold up to 64GB of storage; the Echo ZE is an ultracompact thumb drive that offers up to 32GB of storage space. The Echo ZE is just slightly longer than … Read more

Cure a malware-infected PC with $6 flash drive

Security software gets you only so far. Sometimes a bit of malware manages to sneak through, at which point, well, you're screwed. PC viruses, spyware, rootkits, and their ilk are like kids who move home after college: once they're in, they're nearly impossible to get out.

Today's deal equips you with a tool you can use to cure an infected PC after the fact. It starts with the 2GB Kingston Data Traveler USB flash drive, which Buy.com is selling via eBay for $5.99 shipped.

Update: That deal has ended, but Adorama has the same drive for $7.95 shipped.… Read more

Get an 8GB flash drive for $15.99 shipped

A flash drive is arguably the single most practical computer accessory you can own. They have countless uses (more on that in a bit), and in recent years they've gotten dirt-cheap.

Case in point: Newegg has the Crucial 8GB Gizmo flash drive for $15.99 shipped. (Update: Looks like the price is up to $21.99 today--and the bonus deal is sold out! Gotta act fast on this stuff.) That's not the best price I've ever seen, but it's still a bargain--especially considering that the list price is $29.99.

The Gizmo offers no special features … Read more

Defense Department to partially lift flash drive ban

The U.S. Department of Defense ban on USB thumb drives instated nearly a year ago will eventually be partially lifted to allow authorized people to use official flash drives for mission-critical functions, according to a top military official.

"In the future, we expect that a government-owned and procured USB flash media, that is uniquely and electronically identifiable for use in support of mission-essential functions on DoD networks, will be permitted for use by authorized individuals," Robert Carey, chief information officer for the Department of the Navy, wrote in his blog recently.

"We are working on upgraded … Read more

USB wristbands scream, 'I'm a nerd!'

I once saw a homeless teenager with piercings all over his face standing on a San Francisco corner, and I asked him about the meaning of those little pieces of metal. Misinterpreting my genuine curiosity, he barked, "To shock people!" and refused my dollar.

Well, while I personally don't believe in self-expression via extreme piercing, I trust these bracelets I got here are gonna scream to the world that you identify as a nerd. In a good way.

They're the USB wristbands from USB-Hub. Basically, they're regular USB drives, up to 4GB in capacity, in … Read more

Photo organizer

Arclab Thumb Studio provides users with an advanced program for sorting, resizing, and viewing their computer's digital photo collection. With smooth direction and well-planned design this will help a lot of people get organized.

This program's professional interface was a big plus for us. Users are shown a wizard-like tool featuring screens containing various project options, all in a smooth, easy-to-use flow. The screens are so simple to navigate that most users will not need to look at the User's Manual PDF that comes with the program. Actually designing a photo album, slideshow, or batch processing job … Read more

OLED screen on USB drive not entirely useless

With USB flash drive prices hitting rock bottom, the devices have become a cheap commodity item with little, if any, technological difference between brands. Ennova's new ION flash drive, however, stands out from the crowd with its integrated OLED (organic light-emitting diode) touch screen.

Though details are scant, Ennova said the display will allow users to select files and initiate to-be-announced functions. The OLED touch screen can also double as a biometric fingerprint sensor that changes color to indicate if the print is authorized. A hinged cover is designed to protect the screen and USB port.

The company expects … Read more

Tool to tackle touch typing

Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor is a touch-typing tutorial that uses fun games, adaptive lessons, iTunes accompaniment, and a goofy Viking character to help make learning to type more fun. This application takes a holistic approach to typing instruction, starting with basic good habits (such as how to sit for maximum comfort and efficiency) and following with timed lessons that adapt on the fly to give you more practice with any problem areas.

Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor provides a lot of feedback on your progress, and two different games (Brick Factory, in which you build the Eiffel Tower, and Safari Park, … Read more

Tool to tackle touch typing

Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor is a touch-typing tutorial that uses fun games, adaptive lessons, iTunes accompaniment, and a goofy Viking character to help make learning to type more fun. This app takes a holistic approach to typing instruction, starting with basic good habits (such as how to sit for maximum comfort and efficiency) and following with timed lessons that adapt on the fly to give you more practice with any problem areas. Ten Thumbs Typing Tutor provides a lot of feedback on your progress, and two different games (Brick Factory, in which you build the Eiffel Tower, and Safari Park, … Read more