USB For Kids – Construction Site
GetUSB.info has a category called “Useless Novelty” and it’s used for those gadgets that really don’t make sense, or just ridiculous. Scrolling through just the first two pages we have items like: USB Breast Warmers, USB Volcano or USB Cabbage.
iPhone Custom Flash Drive
Gizmodo did an interesting post today, it’s as though they knew I purchased an iPhone over the weekend. Yes, I’m part of the “cool kid crowd.” Giz did a post on a new iPhone custom flash drive. It’s a cute little thang, with two eyes, a red dot mouth where the home button is and two munchkin feet.
USB Buffalo Speakers
Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam. Where the deer and the antelope play. Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day.Might be the perfect song for this USB buffalo speaker system by Gadget4all. With freaky looking blue LED lights to illuminate the eyes and horns, you’ll be impressed with these speakers even in the dark. Not the strangest USB powered gadget, but it’s up there.
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Estimated 9,000 USB drives Lost or Left at Laundry Mat
A recent study was just released that suggests over 9,000 USB drives are left, lost or forgotten at laundry mats. The study was done to show consumers how easy it is to have valuable information fall into the hands of a stranger.
Even on our best day, accidents happen. A similar study was done with PDA and cell phones left in taxi cabs. That number is close to 6,200 per year.
Given this information and each of us knowing we are not perfect, it is wise to put some encryption on your USB drive or password protect the device. Many times the manufacturer will supply a utility free with the device…don’t try and format it off, rather use it!
David Porter, head of security and risk at Detica, explained that there was only so much that experts and computer systems could do to thwart identity fraud. According to Porter, final responsibility rests with the consumer. “Identity fraud attacks succeed largely because of human fallibility; however there are simple steps that people can take to avoid being caught out by fraudsters,” said Porter.So take a moment and protect yourself from the accidents of everyday life. Continue Reading
USB Drive Is Double Take of DDR RAM Memory
USB sticks come in many different sizes, shapes and colors, but today is the first time we’ve seen a custom USB drive with the look and feel of RAM memory. The Segon Turbo drive is another release from Brando on unique USB shapes. Brando claims it’s ingenious and exquisite, which I think is a bit too much on credit, but definitely a different look. Too bad you can’t use the PCI looking slot to boost your real RAM needs.
- Security Manager
- Boot Manager
- Flash Mail Manager
- PC Lock Manager
- Bookmark Manager
- Security Folder
USB Birthday Cake – Best Surprise Ever
Engadget reported on this just a few minutes ago, “USB cake design worst birthday surprise in history” but I beg to differ…at least for a guy like me.
USB Hack: Turn a USB Stick Into a Hard Drive or Local Disk
USB Tutorial: Turn a USB stick into a Hard Drive or Local Disk
NOTE: The original article can be found at the bottom of this page — jump there now.
UPDATE (2025): USB “Local Disk” without the XP-era driver hack
The old method on this page uses an XP-friendly INF/registry trick to flip the removable bit. It was clever, but on modern Windows 10/11 it’s brittle (driver signing, updates) and many tools/policies now check the device’s hardware class, not a label you force with a file edit.
What changed
- Windows storage stack + signing tightened; spoofed drivers are fragile after updates.
- Backup/imaging/installers increasingly verify true fixed disk at the controller level.
- Enterprise policies often block anything enumerating as “removable,” regardless of UI text.
What works now
Use hardware that natively enumerates as a fixed disk. The device tells Windows “I’m a hard drive,” so Disk Management, BitLocker, and picky installers behave accordingly—no per-PC driver editing.
Product we tested
Nexcopy USB HDD Fixed Disk appears as a Local Disk on any host (controller/firmware set). No utilities, no INF edits, just plug in. It’s suited for tools that require “Local Disk,” imaging, BitLocker, or multi-partition workflows.
Quick self-check
- Just need multiple partitions? Windows can create multiple partitions on many USB sticks. They won’t enumerate as “fixed,” but the partitions work—standard USB is fine.
- Need true “Local Disk” behavior? Choose fixed-disk hardware (e.g., Nexcopy) for installers that refuse “removable,” full-disk imaging, BitLocker parity, or corporate environments that block removable-class media.
Bottom line
The legacy hack is useful history, but for real-world deployments start with hardware that already identifies as a hard drive. For a full, modern walkthrough, see our new article covering 2025-ready options and workflows.
Original Article Starts Here
This is a very valuable tutorial, especially if you are looking to partition a USB stick. Another application for turning a removable drive into a local disk, is that now many software programs can be loaded directly to a USB drive. The first program which comes to mind is iTunes. I know you need My Documents and a Local Disk to install it, so after this tutorial, I’ll try installing iTunes and share the results.
The process of turning a USB stick into a hard drive is fairly easy. However, there are limitations. For example, this works best with Windows XP operating systems. You also need to update the drivers for the device for any computer you are going to use. Typically, this isn’t a big deal as you can easily do this for your work and home computers. However, this isn’t a great solution if you are trying to create a partitions USB stick for distribution to many possible users [say trade show give-away].
Couple of items you’ll need:
- USB_LocalDisk.zip files [download here]
- Windows XP
- USB stick
What we will do, is connected the USB stick, find the driver code, update the driver code and re-connect the device. Simple.
Here are the details:
Make Your Move: USB Breast Warmers
Ladies, a question: For years I have offered my services as a breast warmer out of what I must now admit was a desire not for the comfort of your more prominent glands, but instead an attempt to put my mittens on your kittens. But unlike my campaign to make sure your bosom is extraordinarily clean by barging into your shower with gallons of frothy soap — motivated purely by Christian hygienic charity — I was not entirely positive that your mams got, you know, chilly. Do they? That Thanko has created a USB-powered breast warming system has turned my world upside down. In fact, I’m getting a bit dizzy. If only there were some warm, soft place to lay my head.Source: BoingBoing via Thanko. Continue Reading
Decompress With USB Stress Ball
These are trying times. Everyone I talk with seems to be going through a rough time. Whether it be work related stress, finances or personal challenges – life these days is tough.
USB Powered Mini Monitor from D-Link
D-Link introduced a sweet little 7 inch LCD display powered by USB. The SideStage, which I think is a great name, is a 800×400 resolution monitor which extends your primary screen. It’s great to stream stock quotes, or run IM applications or other small utilities you don’t want to use on the main monitor. Yet not the first one we’ve seen.
The SideStage would also be ideal for Photoshop users and such who want to move the toolbar out of the main screen.
The SideStage from D-Link is expected to sell for about $100, although no price point has yet been announced. The other piece of info we didn’t get is launch date. Set to be summer time, which isn’t soon enough.
According to D-Link’s representative Les Goldberg, the SideStage is compatible with virtually all CRT and flat-panel monitors, has standard and wide-screen aspect ratios, 32-bit True Color depth for high-quality images, and ultra-low power consumption, which is consistent with the D-Link Green initiative.
Continue Reading
Goofy USB Photo Frame Brightens Your Day
USB Fever is looking for some fun with their new USB photo frame shaped like a person and a bobble head type photo frame. The cute little frame will spin 360 degrees and rotate forward and backward by 60 degrees.