Samsung wants to apparently buy off flash memory makers Sandisk. Such a move would consolidate its share of the flash memory market. Samsung is currently the main chip supplier for Sandisk so a relationship is already there. According to Sandisk spokesmen:

Sandisk periodically has conversations with multiple parties, including Samsung, regarding a variety of potential business opportunities. We evaluate all of these opportunities, but maintain a policy of not commenting on market rumors or speculation.

So does this mean “yes, we are going to be bought out by Samsung but we don’t want to tell you guys” or what?

To further strengthen rumors it appears that J. P. Morgan has been hired as an adviser for the deal as Samsung would want to close the purchase within six months.

Manufacturers are trying to get more environement friendly gadgets. We’ve seen phones made of wood, corn or recycled parts. We’ve seen a bamboo case for a mini desktop PC. It’s time we found an USB eco-friendly drive to go with all that. (more…)

Does your job involve secretly sneaking in corner offices around the world for certain secret spying missions? Do you happen to work in an enforced and heavily controlled environement? Or are you just paranoid about your data and its security.

With this watch you don’t need to worry anymore. Did I say watch? I meant USB flash drive. It sure looks like a watch but besides telling the time this watch secretly stores a 4GB USB flash drive. The watch itself is fully functional. It has a “plastic case covered by stainless steel mask with brushed silver finish and convex mineral glass with shiny raised index”. Or so they say in order to mask its simpleness.

Inside the watch there’s a compartment fitted for the flash drive itself. And 4GB is not so bad for a tiny flash drive. This watch/flash drive duo is available for $60. But what if I hate wearing watches?

I wonder who came up with this tool and what was s/he thinking? Is this a tool for elegant business people? You have 2GB of storage for your presentations, a laser to point out the most relevant things on a slide and, uhmm, a knife, to persuade your boss to give you that raise? And how would you slip this one through security? What about when going on those business trips by plane? Think you can get it to your first class seat?

I know! It was designed for that dangerous in-the-hood life. You know, you have the knife that comes in handy on the streets, the memory stick so your friends think you are smart enough to need it, and the laser pointer to burn out someone’s retina? If you know what a retina is of course!

Well there’s no point analyzing this creation and getting a scape goat to take the fall if it’s not going to be that successful. After all this is a SwissMemory Pocket Knife with Laser. This complicated Swiss Army memory stick retails for $148. If you don’t want all the tools, you can get the USB memory stick and laser for just $140. This looks better and better now. I don’t want the tools! The 1GB version will retail for $105 and $97 accordingly.

For whatever reason, man has started to make smaller and smaller things. When it comes to electronics and gadgets that’s a good thing. Smaller means easier to carry around, easier to use at all times. It also leads to efficiency as better time management as one would be able to perform his duties at any time.

After I showed you a Wester Digital external HDD that can easily be added to your key chain, now we have a flash memory which can get lost in your coins jar. When I think of memory solutions, I think SanDisk even if there are others out there quite as good or better. They have announced today the availability of SanDisk Mobile Ultra, microSD, microSDHC and Memory Stick Micro (M2) flash mobile memory cards. They come in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB depending on your needs. SanDisk will enhance your smartphone’s performance by allowing you to add more memory space for your documents, maps, videos and music. And they look good.

But what I like most is the extra MobileMateâ„¢ Micro Reader that plugs directly into your USB 2.0. Just plug your microSD in and then your new stick goes into your USB for fast download. Oh yeah, that’s what I almost forgot. Download and upload speeds have been significantly improved or so they say.
Tell me if you find it anywhere for a price lower than their suggested $119.99.

Intel unveiled the new Z-P140 Parallel ATA solid state device (SSD), a tiny storage device for handheld devices. The device, smaller than a penny, can store 2GB and 4GB of data, is fast and consumes very little power. Using flash memory to store OS and computing data, the Z-P140 emulates a hard drive. The PATA SSD is optimized to enhance Intel-based computers, and it is slated to be an optional part of Intel’s Menlow platform for mobile Internet devices that will be unveiled in 2008.

The smallest SSD in its class, the Z-P140 can store not only an operating system but also supporting apps and data. It is even extendable to 16GB. With read speeds of 40 MB/s and write speeds of 30 MB/s, the active power usage is 300 mW, and only 1.1 mW in sleep mode.

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