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Gadgets New USB Drive Features "Infinite" Storage
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - February 18, 2010 12:53 PM
Print 37 comment(s) - last by Davelo.. on Feb 24 at 10:55 AM

Infinitec IUM with Game Consoles  (Source: Gizmodo)
A USB storage device that has no actual storage space

The USB port is one of the most ubiquitous computing interfaces ever designed. The port in its various sizes and guises is found on all manner of computers, game consoles, TVs, cable boxes, cameras, and more. The number of uses for USB is simply staggering.

A company called Infinitec has announced a new Infinite USB Memory Device or IUM. The company describes the IUM as the next generation of USB flash drives. The drive promises media streaming capability and claims to remove worry about how much space is left for storage and removing data before you add new data to the drive.

The IUM allows the user to share an entire HDD along with servers, external storage, and any other storage that your notebook has access to. That effectively means you will never run out of storage space, as long as your PC has space anyway. How much data from the drive is shared can be determined at the file level allowing the sharing of an entire drive or a single image on that drive.

IUM supports all file formats and if lost or stolen none of the files go with the drive because it relies on storage in other locations for actually storing the files. Infinitec also claims that the drive can stream media from a laptop to any device with a USB port including TVs, DVD players, game consoles and more. The IUM is specifically said to support the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360.

To operate, the IUM has to be paired with a computer and can only be paired to a single computer. This allows multiple IUMs to be used in a location without interference. The downside to the IUM is that since the device uses your laptop or desktop HDD for storage you will need to have the computer with you on the road to access files. One interesting use for the device is to send the digital photos from your PC to a digital photo frame.

Pricing and availability are unknown.

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By Smartless on 2/18/2010 1:23:43 PM , Rating: 3
I dunno, what's the point of having it on the road? The article says you need to have the computer its paired with around you. So, basically you plug it in to one laptop and have it data stream to another laptop? I guess I have the same question as original post, what purpose does this serve again?


By therealnickdanger on 2/18/2010 2:02:47 PM , Rating: 2
Exactly. If the "server" (that the device is paired with) must be within wi-fi range in order to access its files, then how is this any different than just using 802.11 or BT connection to said "server"? Guaranteed that this will come with custom software that needs to be loaded and set up on the "server" - which is probably more involved and complicated than using Windows' own "connect to a network" wizard.

I'm interested to see how the shipping product fares, I'm just confused/skeptical at this point.


By GaryJohnson on 2/18/2010 2:16:40 PM , Rating: 4
The way I'm reading the Endgadget comments (some of which are from infinitec) it really is targeted at devices with USB memory stick reading capability, but no built-in wifi.

This is definately a niche market, but there may be enough of those early PS3s and 360s without built in wifi around to make this a useful product.


By therealnickdanger on 2/18/2010 2:37:35 PM , Rating: 2
I suppose if someone is really that opposed to running an ethernet cable to a device, then this would be their only option... other than using a cheap external USB HDD. haha

This thing just sounds worse and worse the more I think about it... unless it's $5.


By cmdrdredd on 2/19/2010 2:28:29 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
This is definately a niche market, but there may be enough of those early PS3s and 360s without built in wifi around to make this a useful product.


Learn your technology. The PS3, ALL PS3s have WiFi built in. NO Xbox 360 models at all come with it standard and you need an adapter.


By Pudro on 2/19/2010 5:34:57 AM , Rating: 2
No, YOU learn your technology. The 20 GB launch PS3s did NOT have wifi built in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ps3#Model_comparison

He was talking about these early PS3s, and all 360s (not just early 360s). That may have been worded awkwardly, but it isn't hard to figure out if you actually know your technology.


By christojojo on 2/20/2010 8:40:04 AM , Rating: 3
You know, once, I put two technologies together and they had puppies.


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