Albeit U3 claims no trace of U3 software remains on the host PC it doesn’t hurt to run a registry analyzer package just to make sure. While in the midst of doing this USB gadget research, I found the following free utility.

Ntechnologies has a U3 specific reg analyzer to aid in the registry clean-up process.

Whenever hardware or software is added to a PC there are registry changes. The registry also provides a window into the operation of the OS kernel, exposing runtime information such as performance counters, currently active hardware, software and utilities.

Even using the U3 uninstall software might not leave your PC 100% clean. You can download the Registry Analyzer for U3 here.

If I’m sending my kids off to college and they don’t know how to use the internet for spelling…well that’s money poorly spent.

On the other-hand, it’s always nice to load up a flash drive with 140MBs of data so you can spell check on the fly. Wait…doesn’t every program, including Photoshop, include spell check these days? Ya I thought so. I’ve never understood the USB dictionary.

Centon has the 4GB for $65 and 2GB for $43.  BUT I just found a similar USB Dictionary off Amazon for $36.

Open Cellar is a wine software management program which is now available from BeWine Connected on a USB drive shaped like a wine bottle.

The USB drive includes the Open Cellar software along with mobile phone ring tones, screensavers, wallpaper and a guide to the Grand Cru wine from Bordeaux.

The advantage with the novel Open Cellar software is understanding what a wine tastes like before making the purchase. In addition the Open Cellar software allows you to track, comment and classify the wine you like.

Emmanuel Etcheparre told me via email:

…discover the secrets of a Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé from the heart of the Medoc and the registered designation Pauillac. Watch the renowned Michel Rolland taste some of the most recent vintages of Pontet-Canet.

The USB wine bottle is available for about $45.

Check out the video for highlights:

The UPEK Eikon Digital Privacy Manager now supports Mac. But those PC guys didn’t make it that easy - you still need to download the Windows version than download the Mac version for a working “preview” version.

The Eikon USB finger scanners allows log-in during power-up, after awaking from sleep and can be further configured at the admin level settings. The UPEK offers all this from the swipe of a finger.

The PC version of the Eikon Digital Privacy Manager started shipping earlier this year for $39.99 with the current Mac version available as beta with full suite to follow.

Is that a PC in the background… Interested?

Is your UFD stuffed with portable applications? Do you find yourself constantly exploring the USB drive to launch your program? If so, forget about it. Use PStart.

I while back I wrote an article about 55 Portable Applications to Make a Super Stick - well that list is nothing without the PStart tray tool. (PStart is apart of that list too).

Pstart is a simple tray tool to start user defined applications from their flash drive. Designed to run portable applications you can start anything without actually opening up and exploring your flash drive - do it right from your desktop tray.

Of course Pstart is as portable as your applications and will work on any PC system.

PStart has four useful tabs to help in your daily routine. Items, Search, Notes and Info. Here’s a break down: (more…)

Sure Notepad is basic and free for a text editor, but if you’re a webmaster worth your salt, Notepad wont do. UltraEdit has been around for years and is now available to launch from your U3 flash drive.

Running UltraEdit U3 Software from a UFD is ideal because this powerful program installs once, doesn’t mess with registry files and is 100% portable.

UltraEdit is a text editor and offers much more…

…configure it for your favorite preferences like syntax highlighting, code folding, basic or advanced menus/toolbars, add your macros, scripts, user-defined tools, and/or FTP/SFTP account information—all in a “digital briefcase” no larger than the size of a stick of gum.

The trial version is 45 days and full price of the software is $49. A small investment for the web guru.

Grab the free trial at U3 headquarters or click the publisher IDM Computer Solutions. Not sure what U3 is? Read this.

IOCELL introduced their version of the U3 launch pad - I like the name better - very direct with “USB Computer.” U3 might have gotten more traction with that name.

IOCELL created a launch pad to provide the user with an easy-to-use interface for launching portable applications. Really, the same thing as U3, the difference being IOCELL gives you the ability to make any application portable for storing and running off your UFD.

It appears IOCELL (like U3) uses a micro-controller (chip logic) to confirm the drive is a “USB Computer” version and thus launches the IOCELL interface without seeing the default Windows screen “What do you want Windows to do?” question. IOCELL is calling this COB Technology (Chip-On-Board).

To get the IOCELL with COB Technology look for the Castella brand name. Available from 1GB to 4GB sizes.

Looking to install U3 on a regular flash drive? It won’t happen and this is why…

Source: IOCELL