Staff Techdrunk Imation has unveiled the Atom Flash Drive, a 1.5-inch long tiny portable storage device which is no larger than a paperclip and can store up to 8GB of digital files. The USB mobile storage device which will be available in different versions that can store 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB of data.
Weighing less than one ounce and measuring a half-inch wide, the Atom Flash Drive is the smallest USB flash drive from the Oakdale, Minnesota.-based storage vendor. The Atom Flash Drive drive is currently available at prices ranging from US$18 to $100 based on its capacity.
Analysts say that “as the prices of USB flash drives drop, the easy-to-use portable storage devices are gaining popularity among mid-size and large corporate customers to store, transport and share digital files among co-workers, business units and partners”. However, they also note that “the technology can pose significant security risks if they are lost, stolen or are handled carelessly by employees.”
It is because recent surveys such as the Ponemon Institute LLC survey of 691 IT professionals last December found that “only 25% of workers would report a lost USB flash drive, compared to 78% who would likely notify IT departments about a missing laptop.”
But the best thing about the Imation’s Atom Flash Drive is that it provides password protection and drive partitioning capabilities to secure data on the portable device. The tool supports Microsoft Windows Vista and is also compatible with Windows Vista ReadyBoost technology, which enables the USB flash drive to serve as an additional memory cache.
The Features of the ultimate data storage portability can be summed up as follows:
- Enhanced for Windows® Vista ReadyBoost
- Password protection and drive partitioning software included
- No software installation required
- Five-year limited warranty
