U3: run the application right on the USB drive

A new technology for you to run applications on any PC without touching the hard drive.

The USB drive is very compact, convenient for carrying data here, it is even smarter: the company's new technology called U3 allows USB drives in addition to storing data, when you plug it in. Any PC, USB can run well without having to copy any files to the PC. Applications (must be U3 compatible), data and personal settings, everything is contained on a USB drive, allowing you to turn your Windows 2000 and XP system into a personal workstation without fear of impact to privacy.

Experiment with U3

Trying with one of the first U3 USB drives, Memorex TravelDrive 256MB, comes with software that syncs with PC Migo, Mozilla Thunderbird mail / receive tools, and a version of McAfee VirusScan. When I plugged the USB drive into a PC, two new drives appeared in My Computer: one for the standard USB drive, and the other for the U3 System, which functions as a virtual CD-ROM drive, allowing chapters U3 program automatically runs like applications on a regular CD.

There is also a U3 icon that appears in the system tray. Clicking on that icon will take you to U3's menu on the desktop, which looks a bit dull with the Windows XP Start menu, displaying a list of available applications in a column and several utilities to open and manage the drive in a column. other. In the lower left corner of the screen there is a Download Programs icon linked to U3 Software Central website, where you can browse and download additional software.

When you're done, press the button on the menu to get the USB drive in a safe way (although if no application on the drive is open and you're not copying any data to the drive, you should also use the French removal, in this way to ensure safety). As promised, the USB drive left no trace of the applications on the test PC, in addition to the device serial number stored in the Windows Registry when you plugged it in.

Using a USB drive to run mobile applications is not new. For example, the M-Systems XKey drive lets you carry Outlook with you, and when you plug that USB drive into an Internet-connected PC, it syncs data with an Exchange server. But so far, such functions are based on proprietary technology. Company U3, founded by M-Systems and Sandisk, will grant the platform license to any developer who wants to release an application on a U3-compatible USB drive. At the time of writing, several other companies also released U3-compatible software such as America Online, Arcsoft, Cerulean Studios (the father of Trillian messaging applications), McAfee, Nullsoft (music software developer) WinAmp) and Skype. In addition to the list of M-Systems and Sandisk, there are also several manufacturers including Kingston Technology, Memorex and Verbatim that also offer U3 drives.

According to an expert, running the application from a USB drive means that all PC performance can be controlled via this portable drive. And he also predicts that in early 2007, there will be more USB drives sold with software included.

Of course, the capacity of the USB drive will limit the ability to store data and applications. Most of the first U3 drives launched are 512MB or 1GB and cost between 42 USD and 100 USD, only Memorex currently offers 256MB ($ 30) and 2GB (180 USD) drives.

The bundled software is also very different: in addition to Migo, Thunderbird and VirusScan, the first U3 applications also include PreClick's PhotoBack image editing software, Skype's VoIP software and USafe password protection tool.

The target software

According to U3 experts, this technology is designed for use with portable storage devices such as CompactFlash or SD memory cards. U3 is also negotiating copyright with more than 30 hardware and software manufacturers. U3 software aims to include secure browser, e-mail, finance .

PC World USA 12/2005