Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory products, today announced the Lexar JumpDrive S73 USB 3.0 flash drive. The new Lexar JumpDrive S73 leverages SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology to empower users to step up to the next level of personal storage performance by transferring photos, videos, and files up to three times faster than standard USB 2.0 flash drives. Offering read speeds up to 45 MB per second and write speeds up to 20 MB per second, the Lexar JumpDrive S73 is available in 8GB (blue), 16GB (purple), 32GB (orange), and 64GB (green) capacities.

Verbatim, the global leader in data storage technology including portable hard drives, USB flash drives, CDs, Blu-ray discs and memory cards, announces its new Store 'n' Go Micro USB Drive Plus, a rugged portable solution perfect for storing music, videos, school projects or photos that conveniently clips onto key chains, binders, notebooks and more.

"The new Micro USB Drive Plus is an eye-popping way of carrying files while on the go," said Mark Rogers, Verbatim Product Manager, Flash Memory Products. "Whether you are a student, businessman, photographer or road warrior, Verbatim's Micro USB Drive Plus is the perfect USB for you - just clip it on your key ring and carry your files with you."

Japanese company I-O Data launched its latest TB-PW series of secure USB flash drives, that feature native 128-bit AES data encryption. The drives use USB 2.0 interface, and comes in capacities of 4 GB and 8 GB; and color options of black and blue. The drives stick to the "slider" form-factor, leaving you with no cap to lose. They are slated for availability in early 2012. I-O Data did not give out pricing information.

Toshiba Japan has this week announced the TransMemory-EX, a new, USB 3.0 flash drive which is set to ship in February and will deliver read and write speeds of up to 220 MB/s and 94 MB/s, respectively (34/30 MB/s read/write speeds when on USB 2.0).

This speedy drive makes use of a low-power SuperSpeed USB controller, it measures 68.8 (L) x 21 (W) x 10.5 (H) mm, and will be available in 32 GB and 64 GB capacities. Toshiba didn't reveal the drives' prices but a report says the 32 GB TransMemory-EX will go for around $102, while the 64 GB model will cost $150.

Taiwanese company PQI (Power Quotient International) has this week announced a new flash drive, the compact and sleek i817L which features a capless design with a little twist. The twist is the spring-like mechanism which pulls the USB connector inside the drive's casing as soon as the device is disconnected from a PC or Mac.

The i817L makes use of chip-on-board (COB) technology so it's also waterproof, dustproof, and resistant to (most) shocks. This drive measures 48.63 (L) x 13.4 (W) x 5.6 (H) mm, has a USB 2.0 interface, is backed by a three-year warranty, and comes in three colors (spray white, ocean blue, coral pink) and four capacities (4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB). Unfortunately PQI didn't announce any prices.

PNY Technologies, Inc., is considered a leading designer, manufacturer and a worldwide leader in DRAM Memory and Flash Memory products, and authorized partnership with HP since 2008. December 2011 PNY has introduced its popular line-up - the HP v240b/v240g, which is a tiny but elegant designed drive targeting mainly business people. The drive comes in no-nonsense plastic casing in classic blue and green colors. The clean design is meant to symbolize tidiness and a coherent professional feeling at the workplace.

The drive comes with a cap to protect the USB plug from dust and water. In fact, the drive is not only rugged, it is also dustproof and waterproof, with the strong polymer lending it durability and resistance to shock. The cap has a keyhole to attach a lanyard, useful to attach it to your purse, keychain, belt, etc. The COB packaging helps achieve such a small dimensions of 7 mm x 16 mm x 31 mm and just 4.2 grams, thus giving it ultra-portability.

Kingston released its newest line of ultra-compact USB flash drives in Europe, the DataTraveler Micro. Available in capacities of 8 GB and 16 GB, the biggest selling point of these drives are their dimensions of 256 x 167 x 84 mm. That aside, they use the older USB 2.0 interface. The drives use a capped design with shortened body. The outer body is a hard plastic shell. There's provision to strap in a lanyard. The 8 GB variant is priced at 8.50 Euros, and the 16 GB one at 16 Euros.

KINGMAX, a world renowned leading brand of DRAM and flash memory, announced the KINGMAX latest model UI-03 in the urban series. What would surprise you when you choose a USB drive? Whenever a new style of flash drives comes to the marketplace, of course we look for speed, capacity and the latest technology, but nowadays we also consider its added values, and where added value is concerned, for most people, it is a case of whether it is attachable or waterproof.

KINGMAX latest model UI-03 in the urban series, which really has got the "wow" factor! What is unique is its "paper-clip" design hook, making the UI-03 not simply a storage drive but also a handy USB drive that can also be used to attach pieces of paper together. It can even be attached to your collar as a discrete pendant.

Big words are being thrown around today as PortableApps.com and CustomUSB claim to be offering the world's best flash drive. No, unfortunately this drive doesn't have a built-in lighter, it won't cut soda cans and doesn't come with the phone number of your favorite actor/actress but it does feature a USB 3.0 interface, a durable aluminum casing that can be engraved, it delivers read/write speeds of up to 85/44 MB/s (37/28 MB/s via USB 2.0), and is pre-loaded with the PortableApps.com platform.