U3 4 USB
What is U3 technology and what sets U3 flash drives apart from the rest?
In simple terms, its because their extra feature allows to run software and personal settings independent of the host computer. Previously, a USB drive was limited to store and transport files. But with U3 technology the same can be done with games and applications now. All under password protection and without leaving a trace! The only thing you do depend on is that the host computer runs Windows since U3 is only compatible with Microsoft’s operating system (from Windows 2000 SP4 upward).
Flash drives equipped with this functonality are called U3 smart drives. Once they’re plugged into a computer, the U3 launchpad starts and enables the user to run pre-installed software as well as download compliant applications.
U3 Technology explained with the U3 Launchpad
The scope of U3 software is quite impressive. You can browse the internet with Firefox and take care of your emails with Outlook or Thunderbird. You can chat with your friends via Skype and send files via YouSendIt (up to 2GB). You can also run anti-virus programs like McAfee or Avast. Or you can use RoboForm to automatically fill out forms with your pre-stored information. Back-ups and photo editing are possible too.
But best of all, there’s a wide variety of U3 games you can play, including Big Fish Games. There’s puzzles like Sudoku or The Rise Of Atlantis, action via Fizzball or Monkey Business and various forms of Mahjong. Also board, card and word games.
Here are detailed lists of U3 software:
Companies that are marketing U3 smart drives are Memorex, Verbatim and Toshiba. The biggest distributor is SanDisk as almost all of their Cruzer flash drives feature U3 technology. But that’s no surprise as they co-invented it, together with M-Systems.
Flash Drives enhanced with Software: U3 Smart Drives (@ 
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Since most of these flash drives are pretty cool by themselves it’s also possible to remove the U3 and use them as regular storage devices. This may actually be a vital option in case your system has problems handling the extra functionality. Luckily it’s easy to remove as the uninstall utility is included.
Let’s conclude with an interesting question. What gives U3 technology its odd name? According to the inventors, it represents three “you” statements. “Simplified for You”, “Smarter about You” and “As mobile as You”.
For more information feel free to check the U3 website.
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February 9th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
U3 looks promising! This serves as the vital missing link with USB drives all these years. Wonder when U3s will hit the market!
computer maintenance´s last [blog post] ..Update Device Drivers
February 21st, 2010 at 5:30 pm
This is excellent information. I have been looking for such things a long time. I guess I could install an antivirus program to run on machines when I drive around fixing them, right?!
- Ray J.
March 1st, 2010 at 5:39 pm
Felix, sure. If you click on the software central link you can see that there is antivirus as well as antispyware offered.
March 24th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Cool DT. Thanks a lot. I will certainly check it out.
March 25th, 2010 at 11:55 am
I cant believe that the U3 is bidding off at such a low price! pretty amazing! am i too late to bid now? because I know ill never get it at this price ever!
March 27th, 2010 at 1:55 am
Aaron,
If you cant bid now, just keep checking back.
Im not sure what auction caught your eye but usually Ebay listings have a re-occurring nature, high or low prices.
April 6th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
I love the smart techy looking ones, 8GB would be just right for me! thanks DT
April 29th, 2010 at 9:50 am
This is a great gadget. Instead of buying software CDs now I can just buy one of these babies and use it as a storage device after I no longer need the software. Sweet
May 12th, 2010 at 10:39 am
What a brilliant idea the U3 flash drives are. This would be a great pressie for my son who spends every waking moment on his laptop. After college anyway!
May 17th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
I like the way you can remove the U3 and use the flash drives as regular storage drives. Love the sound of the U3 games too!
May 25th, 2010 at 4:08 am
Wow! U3 is indeed better than an ordinary USB. One of my major concern with USB is that I have certain files that run on specific programs; but with U3, i don’t have to worry about this anymore. I have the software with me, wherever I go.
June 2nd, 2010 at 7:40 am
Thank you for sharing,this is excellent information,I can just buy one of these babies and use it as a storage device after I no longer need the software
June 4th, 2010 at 12:43 am
It’s interesting how they just keep getting smaller and smaller.. I can’t wait for the terabyte thumbdrive. My only question is what the hell would you store on it?
JR @ franchise info´s last blog post ..-
June 6th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
A Terabyte? Hmm, let’s see…the history of the world? No, that would be Terra-byte.
July 6th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
These look decent…I’m waiting for them to get up to a terrabyte!
July 22nd, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Yeah, a terabyte flash drive would really come in handy alright! i’m sure we’ll see it coming sometime soon!
July 27th, 2010 at 6:10 am
I bought an expensive passport drive as I was concerned about the durability; and guess what? It got dropped off my hand only after 15 days and its media got corrupted
Wish I saw this post earlier and bought a 16 GB U3.
August 11th, 2010 at 12:58 am
I miss my 4GB usb that was borrowed from me and was not yet return until now. I wanted to have a 16Gig usb so I can store lots of thing on it
August 11th, 2010 at 11:51 am
If you already have access to windows, just download the U3 removal tool from U3… http://www.u3.com/uninstall/. It removes the software and repartitions the flash drive. The only annoyance is the web page telling you what a horrible thing you are doing by removing the software that you are sure to need.