TWENTY YEARS AGO, THIS GADGET WAS A GAME CHANGER. THE FACT YOU think nothing of how commonplace they are today just goes to show what an impact they've had. It goes by many names, including USB flash drive, USB stick, USB flash disk, flash drive, pen drive, memory stick, and thumb drive, but, whatever you call it, it is a portable way of storing and transferring data.
Its seemingly simple design is a clever combination of two technologies: flash memory and the Universal Serial Bus (USB). Flash memory, which was developed in the 1980s, was an innovative alternative to traditional hard drives and floppy and stiffy disks.
Unlike these storage options, however, flash memory didn't have any moving parts. This meant it was less likely to break and could transfer data faster.
The USB connector was created to make using a PC simpler. It replaced a bunch of different cables that you needed just to use your mouse, keyboard, and printer with one type that could transfer both data and electrical power.
At the turn of the millennium flash memory chips were affordable and USB ports were on almost every computer.
Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av Tech Magazine ZA.
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Denne historien er fra July 2024-utgaven av Tech Magazine ZA.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A SMART SUSPENSION
Shock mounts, which protect microphones from mechanical vibrations, can take all sorts of forms, as this vintage device illustrates.
GROOVING - TO AN ALIEN RHYTHM
In Groove that Goob you need to dance through dozens of levels by sticking to the beat of the music.
FINDING JOY DOWN THE LANE
This whimsical street-management sim is a terrific addition to the cosy-game genre.
ROUND 8 FIGHT!
Tekken 8 is a blend of nostalgia for fans and a pair of welcoming arms for newbies.
ELECTRONICS × INSTRUMENTS × INNOVATION
The invention of electricity opened a whole new world for the design of musical instruments, resulting in all sorts of fascinating experimental devices in the early days and innovative consumer products for us to play with today.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BASS
Unless you're a basshead you probably won't like that.
AN INCREMENTAL UPGRADE
The base model of the new versions of Samsung's flagship series offers some slightly better features.
IMPRESSIVE ALLIN-ONE SETUP
Offering audio clout without the massive cost, the \"LT\" represents KEF's \"lite\" pared-back version of the LSX II system and very capable it is indeed.
INSIDE A HARD DISK DRIVE
Learn the basics of what's inside that mysterious metal box in your computer.
BLOCKING OUT NOISE
THE WORLD IS FULL OF SENSORY STIMULATION AND SOMETIMES YOUR brain needs to shut some of it out to tackle the task at hand.
