Move over U2, U3 is coming to the Mac via SanDisk
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Sep 22, 2005 at 2:55pm
A recent press release from SanDisk revealed that the U3 smart Cruzer Micro will work as a standard flash memory drive on PCs including Macs. U3 was founded in December 2004 and is backed by M-Systems and SanDisk.
In the first of a three part flash demo, called Work Smart, it’s apparent that the developers wanted to convey the message that their product would in fact work with Macs, as you’ll see in the first seconds of launching this demo. In fact, SanDisk makes it no secret that their microSD Cards are used in the Motorola ROKR phone with iTunes.
Why M-Systems and SanDisk came together to form U3
USB flash drive market leaders M-Systems and SanDisk envision a transformation for USB flash drives, from simple storage devices into USB smart drives that people can use not only to carry data, but to launch applications on a PC wherever they go – adding personalization and security to existing plug-and-play mobility. To make this vision a reality, the companies formed U3 LLC, an independent company that is uniting the industry around best-of-breed technology.
U3 enables you to launch applications on the desktop without the applications actually being installed on the computer. Applications are stored on the U3 powered smart drive rather than on the PC, and can be launched directly from the drive onto the PC when needed.
A U3 powered smart drive hosts a “personal workspace”—not only a person’s data and files, but software programs, personal preferences, passwords and settings, and the means for managing them—all in a highly secure environment. When the smart drive is removed, the computer remains unaltered and no personal information is left behind.
A confluence of trends make now the perfect time for the U3 platform to emerge. Mobility is a necessity. Drive capacities are increasing exponentially – up to four gigabytes today. Security is a mandatory element in every aspect of computing. Personalization is pervasive—from the iPod to PDAs to smartphones to the desktop, everyone wants their computing environment to be personal and represent the way they work and play. The U3 platform is at the intersection of all these crossroads, unifying these requirements into the USB smart drive.
Macsimum Notes
It should be noted that that Samsung and others are supporting a rival approach through the USB Drive Alliance. In the long term it’s nice to know that Apple is working with both SanDisk and Samsung to provide multiple options for future products.
If you’d like more information, you could visit the U3 Site and/or review this in-depth report by PC Magazine.
Hopefully Apple will find a way to launch a cool PowerBook nano in the future, but until then solutions like the U3 platform may be the next wave of innovation for flash technology to keep an eye on.
What’s your take on this development?
neo@macsimumnews.com
News2Me Says:
The report was on the press release that mentions the Mac. Obvious this was a heads-up announcement as nothing formal has been released. Of all the U3 drive OEMs, only SanDisk mentions that their product will be available for the Mac.
You could also go to the home page of PortalPlayer, who works with Apple on iPod and see only MSFT and nothing of Apple. It’s called non-disclosure.
Marvell Technology is another case in point. Yet, Apple clearly works with them as well:
http://www.investors.com/yahoofinance/2004w51/storyA01.asp
Posted on September 24, 2005
Kevin Says:
I have already been using a usb flash drive for firefox and thunderbird between work and home. Can’t wait to see other apps become cross-platform and portable.
See the following link....
http://www.theplaceforitall.com/portablefirefox/
Posted on September 28, 2005
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
al Says:
Did you guys go to the main (non-flash) page at the site? If so, did you read it? Cuz it says Windows all over it for any functionality beyond a common flash drive.
Posted on September 24, 2005