Flash Drive And Slot Machine

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Nov 03, 2020 • Filed to: USB Recovery • Proven solutions

I wanna buy a USB flash drive, but I have no idea about it. Are all flash drives the same? How many types of flash drives are there? What is the difference between 2.0 and 3.0 USB? There is too much information and I am so confused. Can anyone help me figure out the difference? Many thanks!

Are all flash drives the same? The answer is certainly not. Not all USB flash drives are produced equally. They are different in many aspects, such as the appearance, the usage, the storage capacity, the speed and ports, and many more.

In this article, we will introduce different types of flash drives based on their usage, looking, and storage capacity. But before that, let's have a snapshot of the flash drive.

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What Is a Flash Drive?

USB flash drive also called a thumb drive, jump drive, pen drive and USB memory stick is a device that can be used to save information on a tiny flash memory chip. Users can read and save data on it. These storage devices have been designed to be smaller than a typical storage disk, with some being the size of a thumb. That is why some people know them as pen drives, while others prefer to call them 'thumb drives'. Whatever the name, they all share one important characteristic, they can be hooked up to any computer. Thanks to their universal serial bus (USB) port compatibility.

1. How Does a Flash Drive Work?

There are 2 types of memory being designed to save and store data on different devices, respectively volatile and non-volatile.

Volatile memory is temporary data storage. For example, the computer hard disk drive takes advantage of volatile memory. It writes and reads data using the moving parts only when the computer is on. And often, you can hear a clicking sound when the computer is working. It means that the moving parts of the hard disk are reading your data. Without a power source, it would be not possible for you to have access to the stored data.

By contrast, the USB flash drive is a non-volatile device. It has to resort to power to save, transfer, and put data onto it. However, it can keep data stored inside it without a power supply. It will transmit a memory command in the form of an electronic signal to the internal circuity. Even if there is no power source for a long time from the connected and powered-off computer, it can retain all the information without any harm and quality loss.

So, how does a USB memory stick work on a computer?

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The Flash memory stick has no moving parts. A flash drive can be compatible across devices through the USB ports. By plugging the pen drive into the computer USB port, the device can start writing, reading, transferring, saving, and storing data. The data inside it will not disappear unless you remove them manually or something goes wrong with the memory stick.

2. Difference Between a USB 2.0 and a 3.0 Flash Drive

The USB port is used to create the interaction between a flash drive with your computer. To meet different needs, there are different types of USB flash drives based on the ports, respectively USB 2.0 flash drive, USB 3.0 flash drive, USB 3.1 flash drive, and 3.2 drive. The biggest difference between them is the price and speed. But the price varies due to the storage capacity, brands, and many other factors. We will mainly talk about the difference in speed here.

  • USB 3.1 and 3.2 ports
    The latest and fastest ones in the world of the thumb drive today, with the write-and-read speed of up to 1250 MB/sec and 2500 MB/sec, respectively.
  • USB 3.0 flash drives
    Anyhow, it is all known that USB 3.0 flash drive is much faster than USB 2.0 in the same condition. 3.0 flash drive can deal with data at the speed of 625 MB/sec. Due to its fast speed in writing, reading, and transferring data, the USB 3.0 thumb drive becomes a more popular choice for most flash memory stick users.
  • USB 2.0 flash drive
    This is the standard memory stick. The transfer rate of the USB 2.0 interface can only reach up to 60 MB/sec. Now, it is commonly used on many computers. And thus, even if you transfer data with a USB 3.0 pen drive, but the speed will be limited to the computer 2.0 port.
    Tips: Can a USB 2.0 be used in a 3.0 port? Yes, 100%. You can insert your 3.0 flash drive on a USB 2.0 port. But as we mentioned, a USB 3.0 thumb drive in a 2.0 port can't perform at the maximum speed.

3. Difference Between Flash Drive and Pen Drive

Flash drives and pen drives are two terms that we use interchangeably today. However, that was not the case 15 years ago.

Flash drives were devices that ran on flash memory. Their sole purpose was to store information and transfer it between the connected computers. The connection takes place through the USB port that is on the hardware.

Pen drives, on the other hand, were bulkier than flash drives and had more length to it. Due to their elongated size, they were given the name Pen Drives. They also ran on flash memory and had a USB interface to communicate with the computer.

Nowadays, the difference in size is no more. All the flash drives and pen drives of today have the same function, the same internals, and the compact form factor. So there is no real distinction you can draw from them. Hence, the pen drives and flash drives of today are essentially the same.

Next, we will go over the different types of USB flash drives. Please note that they can be categorized according to their uses, or physical characteristics. We attempt to find a balance between the two.

Different Types of USB Flash Drives Based on the Usage

Looking back to history, USB flash drive has developed varied application scenarios result from different needs. In this section, we will learn some types of USB flash drives that you may not hear of.

1. Security Flash Drive

This is a normal USB storage device with a major twist in terms of the steps taken to protect your data. It is fortified with physical or logical security ways to ensure that the data is not compromised.

An example is the flash drive from Cryptex, which has a combination lock before you can access the USB disk embedded within. Others, like those from IronKey, come with an internal mechanism like password protection and encryption for added security.

All in all, these devices provide added security for the protection of all data. However, you will have permission to add or remove write protection to keep the flash drive more secure.

2. Music Flash Drive

This is a flash drive that can be used to save or transfer music from one device to another. They may vary by fancy designs and different flash drive types, such as this one from SONY.

However, most of them are designed to be miniature and to enhance portability. The reason for this is because most people who want to carry their music files around in a flash drive want them to be easy to reach, while also to be out of the way.

3. The Boot Flash Drive

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A boot flash drive is a normal USB memory stick that has been enabled to install an operating system. The process of dedicating an external storage device to serve this purpose is called 'making bootable”.

Whenever you have a computer that won't start because of a missing operating system, simply use a boot flash drive to fire up the computer. If you don't have one currently, get one for standby reasons.

Different Types of Flash Drives Based on the Appearance

After knowing the different types of USB flash drives based on its usage, a USB device can also be categorized by its appearance -- Despite the core function of storing data, it can be highly customizable items that highlight personal characteristics.

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1. Credit Card Hard Drive

As the name suggests, this is a USB flash drive that has been customized to look like a credit card. Some of these flash drives can even be further tailored to display the name of the owner and have a matching fake credit card number.

People have different reasons for getting such a flash drive, but one thing is for sure, you will never forget it at home again because you can fit it snugly into a wallet.

2. Keychain USB Flash Drive

There is nothing fancy about this type of flash drive. Besides, the fact that it has been designed to be carried around like a typical key chain. However, this does not mean that it is overrated in any way. On the contrary, this type of USB flash drive can come in handy for people who are forgetful and lose their flash drives frequently.

Because they are beautifully designed, you can shop for an ornate one to avoid the common problem of looking old-fashioned and to add to your car keys.

3. Wristband Flash Drive

There is not much to say about this flash drive type because the name says it all. You should consider that it may not be waterproof; - hence, you shouldn't take it into the shower room. Other than that, it looks 'tres' posh!

4. Branded USB Flash Drive

If you are a die-hard fan of a particular brand, it may be time to show your love by getting a branded USB disk. There are tons of these USB storage devices out there, waiting for you to discover them. Here are the samples.

5. 'Dummy Head' USB Devices

If you have a funny bone, here are some of the props you can use to decorate your desk. These are funny flash drives. There are miniature dummies of popular figures like football players and movie stars. Depending on your preferences, you can choose from the different selections available out there.

Different Types of USB Flash Drive Based on the Storage Capacity

This is where things get a little saner. Device manufacturers manufacture USB flash drives in different looks or designs. But they all are made to standard storage sizes. Commonly the flash drive memory can range from 128MB to 2TB, based on its application scenario. We will discuss the storage sizes down below.

128 MB: These are the lowest capacity USB flash drives that you can find today. The top players in the industry have stopped making such low capacity USB flash drives due to the low demand.

256 MB: The 256 MB USB flash drives, like the 128MB, are slowly phasing out. This is because of the low capability and the decreasing demand.

512 MB: These USB drives are much more common because they were the most popular option from the late 2000s to 2005.

1 GB: you can still buy 1 GB USB flash drives today as they are still used thanks to their very small form factor and reduced costs.

2 GB: With a very slight price increase, you can get double the data capacity.

4 GB: Again, you only need to pay a small increase in price for double the storage. There are many 4GB variants available today supporting both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 standards.

8 GB: These are more common nowadays thanks to their above-average storage sizes. You can have multiple movies, quite a collection of music, etc.

16 GB: The 16 GB of storage flash drives are kind of the standard nowadays. You can find them from different manufacturers having the latest USB standards and additional features like USB-C or USB Micro- A connectors.

32 GB: Again, one of the most popular storage range out there. You can slowly see the industry moving towards 32 GB pen drives and phasing out the lower storage ones.

64 GB: The prices of 64 GB USB flash drives have come significantly over the years, making them much easier on the pocket while giving respectable storage spaces.

128 GB: Nowadays many prefer buying 128 Gb USB drives because it feels like the perfect balance between price and storage space.

256 GB: From this point onwards, we see the number of buyers for high capacity flash drives slowly decline. This is because of the rising costs.

512 GB: 512 GB and above flash drives see the higher costs and are bought by people who have a genuine use for it.

1 TB: 10 years ago, the possibility of a 1TB USB flash drive was just a dream. But now you can get 1TB flash drives from reputed brands across the world.

2 TB: The absolute highest capacity of flash drives available today. As we get into 1TB to 2TB territory, the size of the flash drive increases quite a bit, no matter how modern they are! With the newer silicon manufacturing process, we can expect to see the size shrink even more while the capacity keeps on rising.

Conclusion

There are countless designs of USB flash drives out there. These can be categorized by use, functionality, or even level of security encryption. As more people move to the cloud for storage, you can get your personalized flash drive for offline use. It is time to move away from your comfort zone and start experiencing the various designs.

If you lost the data, unfortunately, don't worry! You still have the chance to get lost data back. To recover files from a USB flash drive, you can have a try Recoverit Data Recovery, which is secure, well-recognized, and professional USB recovery software.

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Few will argue that dynamite comes in small packages. But not many of us are fully aware of just how well this concept applies to the standard flash drive. This small, unassuming gadget is capable of far more than we may give it credit for.

Not yet convinced? Take a squizz as these 26 seriously epic flash drive hacks.

1. Power a hotplate

Never deal with cold coffee at your desk again. Convert an old (dead) CPU into a USB powered hot plate for your coffee (we’re not even kidding). See these step-by-step instructions on how to perform this flash drive hack and put an end to cold desk-coffee forever.

2. Shed a little light

Further proof that old school is cool, one of the oldest USB flash drive hacks of all time remains amusingly impressive today. Create a USB reading light using an LED and some wire. See how to create your own here.

3. Build a typewriter with a twist

Paying homage to the steampunk era, modder Jack Zylkin has taken alternative uses for USBs to the next level and has modified an old typewriter, adding a digital twist. The typewriter translates the key punching into digital numbers and letters. Customised PCBA, a USB connection as well as some code are required to make this magic happen. See how it all works here.

4. Use it as a portable web server

Get work done on the run using a flash drive as a portable web server. To perform this flash drive hack use XAMPP Lite and this step-by-step guide.

5.Play (epic) practical jokes on colleagues

A pre-made USB flash drive hack of sorts, the USB Keystroker is a phantom keystroker that can be used to have some fun at the expense of an unsuspecting colleague. The device randomly locks a victims computer CAPS buttons, performs keystrokes or causes random ‘uncontrollable’ movement of the cursor (or all three at the same time). Available for purchase here.

6.Use it as a password reset disc

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Never get locked out of Windows again. If you run Windows Vista or a more recent Windows system, your flash drive can be used as a virtual password reset disc. See how to make this happen, here.

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7. Store games

PC games can consume large amounts of space on our devices. Rather, install games on your flash drive and run them directly from your flash – saving you space and speeding up your device in the process. (A disc may still be required to play depending on how the game’s title was coded.)

8. Act as a digital time capsule

Take a digital snapshot of your life via flash drive. Create a telling collection of files to illustrate different eras of your life to show your children, grandchildren, or simply for memories sake. Important pictures, work documents, music and even movies can produce a fantastic holistic cross section of your life right now.

9. Protect your sensitive information

If you are storing things like important / sensitive documents (for example, passports or contracts) on your flash drive, you’re able to encrypt this information so that nobody else is able to access it. This flash drive hack can be completed using Windows on board tools or by installing a free app like TrueCrypt.

10. Save a virus ridden computer

If your PC is starting to resemble one large virus hub, and booting has become a mission in itself, install AVG Rescue CD Software on your flash drive. This allows you to scan for viruses and recover files from your flash drive. See exactly how to do this here.

11.Expand mobile phone memory

A USB specification referred to as USB On-the-Go makes it possible to create additional storage space on an ‘un-expandable’ Android mobile by inserting a flash drive. To do this you’ll need a USB OTG cable and this tutorial.

12. Revive the mixed tape

Give the gift of old-school with a modern version of the 90’s ‘mix-tape’. Save a playlist on a flash drive and give it to somebody as a thoughtful gesture. Alternatively, simply save your favourite music of the moment and use these playlists as memorabilia – taking you back to specific time periods or significant events in your life.

13. Lock your computer

Your flash drive can act as a personal virtual key to your computer. Install one of many free programs like Predator on your flash drive, and enable your flash to act as a password would. If anybody tries to use that locked device sans flash drive key, an ‘access denied’ message will be displayed.

14.Run an additional OS

Have your cake and eat it by running an additional operating system of your choice purely on your flash drive. This allows you to keep the current version of your existing OS on your actual computer, while trying out an updated version (or different OS altogether) before you install it on your PC. (Not advisable unless you have a minimum of 16GB of free space on your flash drive.)

15. Set up a portable DropBox

A useful flash drive hack for traveling, flash drives are able to run Dropbox as a portable app. Simply install DropboxPortableAHK – an AutoHotkey script that supports this, and follow the step by step guide here.

16. Act as a boot disk for an OS

Use an old flash drive as an install disk for Windows, Linux or Mac. To do this you will need to create a bootable USB drive, and then copy the contents of an operating installation disc onto the drive. See more on how to do this here.

17. Speed up your computer

Run more programs simultaneously and without sacrificing speed, simply by using a flash drive as extra RAM to help your system function optimally. Any flash drive is capable of this, and details on how to do this can be found in the tutorial here.

18. Recycle it for electronic parts

For those with a passion for DIY of the electronic nature, flash drives (especially if you own a surplus of them) are an excellent source of inexpensive electronic parts. This 5 minute tutorial will show you how to use a USB host shield to hack USB devices – enabling them to be used with MIDI / game controllers as well as other devices.

19.Connect it to a custom length extender cable

Turns out, the composition of USB and Ethernet cables are frighteningly similar. As a result, it’s entirely possible to transform an 8-wire Cat5 (Ethernet) cable into an extension cable for 4-wire USB signals. See how here, and thank us later.

20.Run WordPress on a stick

This particular feature can prove extremely useful for those who need to do work on the go or travel a lot. Install and run WordPress on your flash drive, and enjoy working on your blog, anywhere, any time, while offline. See these detailed instructions on how to perform this flash drive hack yourself, here.

21. Store documents digitally while traveling

This one is fairly self explanatory. Keep a small USB on your key ring or in you purse containing saved copies of all your travel documents (passports, booking confirmations etc.) in digital format. If anything unfortunate happens to your hard copies, life will be made significantly easier with digital versions at your fingertips to refer to.

22.Run an iTunes library on the go

One of the many useful apps flash drives are able to run is Apple’s iTunes. A crafty solution for when traveling or accessing your iTunes music library from many different computers is to download iTunes to a flash drive as an app, and to operate it only from the drive (side-stepping the ‘no more than 5 devices synced to this iTunes account’ policy). In order to do this, you will need to create auto-run files for auto launching iTunes from the flash drive, as well as install iTunes on the flash drive itself, amongst a few other things. For a comprehensive guide on how to do this, see this tutorial.

23. Boost wireless reception

Improve your USB wi-fi reception drastically. Create a make-shift ‘satellite dish’ using a spaghetti strainer, metal colander or a tin can, and your USB wi-fi dongle.

24. Build a ‘plug & play’ Angry Birds slingshot

Bring real obsession to real life by creating a USB peripheral in the form of an Angry Birds slingshot. Take gaming to the next level and opt for the physical use of the sling shot over the mouse. Build your own with using these step-by-step instructions.

25. Run apps

Flash drives are capable of running apps / full programs on their own. Download the app and run the program on your device through flash, or boot it directly from your drive.

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26. Do your downloading while your PC is in standby mode

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Another pre-made USB flash drive hack ready for purchase is the modified USB flash drive named Somniloquy (which is the name given to the action of talking in your sleep). This USB device enables your computer to continue downloading while in standby mode. It was originally designed to help reduce the carbon footprint left by computers, knowing that many people leave their PCs on overnight so that it can sync, download, backup or update.

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If all you need now are flash drives themselves, feel free to browse our extensive (and equally as exciting) range of flash drives here.