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Posts tagged USB Devices
USB Drives for Political Campaigns
Dec 7th
Election time is officially here and for many politicians it’s a time of hard work as they are diligently spreading the word about their candidacies in the hopes of getting elected for the first time or re-elected once again.
How can politicians get their message in front of more people without spending thousands of dollars on marketing costs? The answer is simple: USB Flash Drives.
Why USB Flash Drives?
USB flash drives are a hot marketing item right now because, almost everyone uses a computer these days and USB drives are an easy way to save files, pictures or programs without saving them to a computer and “bogging down” that machine.
The average computer user in this day and age finds their USB flash drive so useful that they take it with them wherever they go and this is a huge opportunity for politicians who want to get their message out. A politician’s campaign can have specialty USB flash drives with the candidates name and campaign slogan printed up and then before handing them out, that candidate’s message can be saved to the flash drive in a PDF format.
Are USB Drives Expensive?
No, USB drives are very affordable. There are many affordable online printers in this day and age that can affordably print a few thousand USB flash drives for under $500. The great thing about this type of ad specialty item is that they will be in use again and again so a political candidate can continue to get their marketing message out long after they are re-elected.
USB Drives Vs. Other Online Advertising
Another reason why USB promotional drives are an effective form of advertising is that they are seen by more eye’s than other forms of advertising like online, print or television advertising. Since a USB drive spends it’s time plugged into a computer, the average computer user will see it more often and that marketing message will be “imprinted” on that person’s brain.
Get In Front Of the Customer with USB Drives
Dec 5th
With the state of the economy right now it’s tough for any business to make sales because, more people have their guard up and are not spending money than four or five years ago.
With this situation like it is how can the average business owner get their sales material in front of a potential customer without getting cut off at the front door by the “gate keeper”? The solution to the problem is USB Flash Drives.
How USB Drives Work For Promotion
To use a USB drive for promotion, all a business owner has to do is save their sales information directly to the drive that way when the drive is given away for a gift, the recipient will have no choice but to see that company information or sales material on the drive when they open it.
If the sales process is made as easy and pain free for a consumer as possible, it will be easier to make more sales because, the sale is being made on the consumer’s time and they won’t feel pressured to attend a product demonstration or webinar.
Why USB Drives Vs. Other Forms of Advertising?
With an USB drive, all you have to do is plug it into the USB port on your computer and you can have double or trip the storage capacity that your computer has right now. The great thing about this form of storage is that you don’t have to worry about saving pictures, files, music, movies or games to your computer and slowing down your machine because everything can be stored on the USB drive.
Another benefit of a USB drive is that if a computer experiences a fatal problem and the hard drive has to be re-written or the computer has to be replaced, the computer owner can have confidence that all of their personal files and information are safe and secure.
Why USB Flash Drives Are A Necessary and Universal Tool
Dec 2nd
USB Flash drives are everywhere these days from home office desktops, kitchen computers to computers at work, in the field or on vacation.
Why are USB drives everywhere?
- They offer computer users the freedom and flexibility to save as many files and pictures as they want without bogging down their computers.
- USB drives are affordable and cost as little as $5 for a 2 GB flash drive.
- Unlike other ineffective forms of advertising and promotion, USB drives are a great form of promotion because, any logo or branding information that’s printed on them will be seen every single day.
1980’s USB Flash Drives
One of the most popular and cool uses for USB drives in this day and age is to have them printed up in shapes and styles that mimic things that were popular in the 1980’s.
For example: Quicksilver is now issuing USB drives in the shapes and styles of their 1980’s skateboards and surf boards. These flash drives are hot sellers especially for anyone who skated or surfed in the 80’s and is searching for a bit of nostalgia.
Other popular flash drives from the 1980’s are Transformer and Voltron flash drives, these flash drives are also hot sellers right now thanks to the popularity of the recent Transformer big screen movies.
USB Drives for Company Promotion
If you own your own business or you’re in the sales field and want to make a name for yourself, there’s no better way to promote yourself than by giving away free USB flash drives.
Before giving them away, make sure that you have USB drive printed with your name, logo, phone number and website address because, if a potential customer has more ways to contact you they will be more likely to contact you when they need your service than looking in the phone book to call a competitor.
USB flash drives – How they can benefit your business
Nov 29th
Back in the year 2000 the computer world changed once again when the first USB flash drive was released. Thanks to the USB drive, computer users were able to easily store files and take them anywhere compared to saving files to floppy disks which were still cumbersome and inconvenient.
In 2012 USB flash drives are used almost every single day by computer users who want to store excess files, pictures or games that they don’t want to store on their computers. The excessive use of USB drives also creates a huge opportunity for business owners who want to promote their businesses.
USB Drives and Value
Besides being a device that average people use every single day, USB drives also have a perceived value compared to other promotional items so if someone receives one for free, they are more likely to use it than other promo items.
What Marketing Message Works Best?
To use USB flash drives as promotional items a business should always have their company logo, name, website address and 1-800 phone number printed on the USB drive because, the more ways a customer has to contact a business, the better.
Personalize It
Instead of choosing a flat black or generic USB flash drive, a business should personalize the drive to match the businesses products, services or solution. In today’s world it’s possible for any business to get a personalize flash drive that best represents the products that they offer.
If a flash drive is cool and also fun, it will be used more regularly than a boring old flash drive.
Return on Investment
If you do any online research you will see that ad specialty items like personalized USB drives offer a higher return on investment than other forms of advertising because they are seen by more eyeballs on a daily basis and the owner is more likely to call a business owner when they need their help.
A USB Battery?
Dec 15th
USB technology is phenomenally versatile. This is probably the reason why it has taken the place of some many other, similar technological options, coming to dominate the market even as it grows more sophisticated. So when it comes to USB, if you can dream it, it’s probably been done. The gamut of USB devices runs from artificial pets to networking devices to hard drives to simple power cords. It should not come as a surprise then, that there is now a USB capable battery on the market.
A “Green” Battery Option
USB Cells are rechargeable batteries that have been designed to recharge via a USB connection rather than a wall socket. It’s a fascinating new approach to making batteries more environmentally friendly. Of course, there have been rechargeable batteries on the market for years, what makes these unique is their USB technology. According to their makers, these batteries are the solution to the over fifteen billion alkaline batteries that are used and thrown away each year. By contrast the USB Cells can be used and then recharged many hundreds of times without needing to be replaced.
A Simple Battery Solution
In addition to being green, these batteries are also convenient. They allow you to travel with a renewable power source that doesn’t need any peripherals of its own, no cords or any other paraphernalia. Instead, you simply plug them into a USB capable device and allow them to recharge. If you have a hand help game player, for example, you could charge one set while using another to power the machine. When the set in use has drained, you simply switch them out for the newly powered pair.
The Future of USB Battery Technology
Currently, the batteries are available in AA cells, but the product has been so well received that there are now new options in production as well. These include:
- AAA USB Cell Batteries
- C/D USB Cell Batteries
- 9V USB Cell Batteries
- Prismatic USB Cell Batteries
- Phone and Device USB Cell Batteries
- Fashion USB Cell Batteries
Look for all of these USB Cell Batteries to be available in the near future.
Have Questions About External Hard Drives?
Dec 13th
Let’s face it. Technology today is a confusing and changing whirl of ever-changing products and capabilities. Its not surprising, therefore, that you may have questions about external hard drives. But everyone with a computer should know some basics about peripheral devices and external hard drives are some of the most powerful peripherals around. Take a little time to learn what they are and what they can do and you’ll be glad you did.
What is an External Hard Drive?
An external hard drive is just that. It is designed along the same lines as the hard drive that keeps your computer running day in and day out. The main difference? It lives outside of a computer’s shell. Instead it is a peripheral device, but one that is incredibly powerful. It connects to your machine, or any other machine that you choose to connect it to, via a USB port. That connection allows the hard drive to talk to the machine it is connected to. Essentially, it can share data.
The Benefits of an External Hard Drive
An external hard drive is more powerful than some of the other drives you can connect to your computer. It is also more stable, although it does need to be cared for and protected in roughly the same way as an internal hard drive. The unique qualities of an external hard drive will allow you to use it in a number of different ways. For example, you’ve probably encountered the external hard drive already if you’re searching for storage solutions for your data. Many people use them to create long-term back-ups of their most important data. But they can also be used to store and run applications and even an OS. This can be particularly useful if you need to run an application of your own to perform work on someone else’s computer. Alternatively, you can store a snapshot of your entire computer system on an external hard drive and use it to restore your computer if you are attacked by a virus. In the end, there are many different uses for this technology, almost as many as there are for the hard drive inside your computer.
Think All Flashdrives are Created Equal?
Dec 11th
USB flash drive technology is currently the most common method for the storage and transfer of digital information. When you’re buying a flash drive, it may seem like they’re all the same—aside from their exterior design. You can get flash drives that are shaped like legos or colored with neon patterns, but in all likelihood, you expect the technology inside the case to work the same way. Strangely enough, however, picking out a flash drive is not all about choosing the best or most attractive design. Not all flash drives are actually created equal and if you intend to buy one, it would behoove you to do a little thought and research before you make a decision.
Choose the Right Size
Most people will tell you that you should begin your considerations with an honest look at your budget and your memory needs. Flash drives are becoming capable of handling more and more storage in smaller and smaller packages almost daily, but more is not necessarily better. Consider the type of use you will be making of your drive and calculate whether you really need 250 GB to move your word documents around. Ideally, you should shoot for a size just a bit over what you really think you’ll need during the lifetime of the device. You can always upgrade if you need to, but you’ll feel like you wasted money if you spring for a super expensive device with a capacity you never even begin to tap.
Choose the Best Drive
Picking a storage capacity will help to narrow the field. Your next considerations should be the manufacturer and brand as well as any useful features you might want. Picking a well-known and established brand will help you to feel that you are getting a quality product. You may also want to look for a drive with a good warranty. Most flash drives take a lot of abuse after all, you will want to know that your device is protected. When it comes to features, look for write protection switches that will keep a computer from wiping or overwriting the drive without your permission. Another feature to look into is password protection.
USB Slippers And Other Technological Oddities
Dec 7th
The extreme flexibility of USB technology has given rise to a number of unique and interesting USB devices over the years. These are the kinds of devices that can be used with a computer or other USB controller, but really have very little to do with actual computing. Instead, they use the technology to make these quirky and fun gadgets possible for you to use anywhere you have a computer.
- USB Slippers-These slippers are designed to plug into your computer’s USB port and are made of wool with a built in heating pad. Once you plug them into the machine, they begin to warm up and so do your feet! They’re perfect for cold feet when traveling.
- USB Kitty-This little pet plugs into your computer and uses sensors to respond to your petting with an appropriate meow. It can also bob its head and play a whole repertoire of kitty songs. Its less feline functions include a timer and an alarm.
- USB StealthSwitch-This device is actually slightly more practical than the above. When plugged in, a simple push of a button will switch your computer screen from its current application to a previously programmed application of your choice. This means that if you don’t want a boss, parent, or spouse to see what you’re up to at any given time, your StealthSwitch will have your back.
- ScreenSmasher-This device looks like a foam axe and has a USB sensor inside. Take out your frustrations with the computer (or anything else) by hitting the screen with the axe and watching it generate an accurate cracking pattern without damaging a thing. It also has sound effects.
- USB Alarm Clock Air Purifier-Just as it says, this device plugs in and has a clock face in front as well as an air purifier in back. A little something to freshen up your space and keep your schedule on track.
- USB Posture Reminder-This device sits atop your computer monitor and senses the location of your head in relation to its own position. It will flash a little light at you when you are too close or too far from the machine in order to remind you to correct your posture.
USB and Your TV- What You Need to Know
Dec 5th
The explosion of USB devices has not been limited to the personal computer or the smartphone. These days, even televisions are being designed and sold with USB capabilities. As this technology becomes more and more common, there will be more and more devices designed to take advantage of it. In fact, there are quite a few ways to do so already. Your television’s USB capability has made it possible to connect it in numerous different ways as well as to use it in ways you never thought possible.
USB Connects You to an Updated Television
One of the most important uses for your television’s USB port is to provide you with a way to update the machine’s firmware. These days, televisions that develop known issues can be easily updated with a downloadable patch. Simply download the patch and put it on a flash drive. When you plug it into your television, it will automatically be updated. Be careful not to update your machine unless instructed to by the manufacturer though. Unlike computers, televisions don’t have factory default settings and if something goes wrong, you may not be able to fix it.
USB Connects You Aurally and Visually
Some more entertaining ways to use your television’s USB capabilities are to take advantage of its unique features in to enjoy media in new ways. If, for example, you happen to have a movie on a flash drive, you can plug it into your television and enjoy it on a larger screen with better sound than what your computer offers by itself. You can also plug in your favorite music and take advantage of the television’s superior sound system. This is a great way to listen to your music without a dedicated stereo system and still reap the benefit of high quality sound technology.
USB Connects You to Programming Control
Of course, the most common way to use your television’s USB capability is with a tivo or other video capture device. This allows you to take control of your television viewing time rather than being at the mercy of having five hundred channels and nothing at all to watch.
What Are YOU Looking For In A USB Drive?
Dec 3rd
Choosing a USB drive might seem easy in this day and age. Technologically speaking, there has never been a better time to get a hold of the best technology on the market. Drives are smaller, faster, and more stable than they have ever been before, after all. Still, all this advancement has come at a cost. There are also more brands than ever to choose from, as well as more silly bells and whistles. It can be difficult to make an educated decision between all the options on the market. You can’t just buy any drive on the market either though, as this is the device you will be using to store your information. You need to take the time to pick the best USB drive for your intended purpose.
The USB Flash Drive
This is by far the most common type of drive used to transfer information these days. A flash drive is removable and rewritable, it generally weighs less than an ounce and can store up to 256 GB. These drives can have a 10-year data retention cycle and may allow as many as a million write or erase cycles. These drives are great for temporary storage and portability, but there are some drawbacks to them as well. For one thing, though you can get a flash drive in nearly any design you like, they are small and easy to lose. They’re also easy to forget and send through the wash with your favorite jeans. In addition, you will find that after a certain number of write or erase cycles, the drives become unstable and are no longer useful. This type of drive is best used with information that you are interested in moving between machines rather than information you plan to store forever.
The External Hard Drive
External hard drives are set up much like the drives that run your computer. This means that they do have some fragilities, but they are different than those of the flash drive. An external hard drive is a much better choice for your critical system back up than your flash drive, but don’t expect to use it to carry music or projects from the home computer to a computer at work or school.