Extra Information
The drive's memory holds NAND memory and it's manufactured by SanDisk. Integrated into the design is the USB controller, also manufactured by SanDisk. Aside from these normal components, this drive also has 2 new technologies to offer: U3 and LiquidMetal. I did some research and was able to find this on the internet.
"Liquidmetal® alloys are a revolutionary class of materials that redefines performance and cost paradigms. The superior properties of Liquidmetal alloys are made possible by revolutionary scientific and technological innovations. Liquidmetal alloys represent the first enabling materials technology since the creation of thermoplastics and possess characteristics that make them superior in many ways to other commercially-viable materials. First, they have an "amorphous" atomic structure, which is unprecedented for structural metals. Second, they include a multi-component chemical composition, which can be optimized for various properties and processes. Finally, they lend themselves to process technology similar to that possessed by plastics."
"One of the most unique characteristics of Liquidmetal alloys is the availability of its superior mechanical properties in as-cast form. This is in distinct contrast to conventional metals where the as-cast forms have inferior mechanical properties compared to their wrought and forged forms, which limits the fabrication of intricate and sophisticated designs. "
From what I gather from their website, LiquidMetal is the best of both worlds in terms of metals and plastics. The metal lends the alloy its strength while the plastics allow a variety of chemical properties that can be used for many reasons. Applied to the Cruzer Titanium, they have used the strength of the metal and easy molding process that plastics have. A very cost effective way to create the casing for this drive; it's virtually in destructive, yet easy and relatively cheap to produce.
"U3 LLC. is a joint venture that is backed by SanDisk and M-Systems. U3 is responsible for the development of a proprietary application design specification created for Microsoft Windows operating systems so that applications can be executed directly from a specially formatted USB flash drive. Applications are allowed to write files or registry information to the host computer, but this information must be removed when the flash drive is ejected.""USB flash drives adhering to the U3 specification are termed "U3 smart drives" by U3.com. "U3 smart drives" differ from traditional USB flash drives because they come preinstalled with the U3 Launchpad, which emulates the Windows OS start menu, and controls program installation."
This exurb of information pretty much sums it all up, the theory at least. Notice the last line of the first paragraph: "Applications are allowed to write files or registry information to the host computer, but this information must be removed when the flash drive is ejected." This is crucial in terms of how it works. It does still use your computer to write some information but it has to clean up afterwards. To do that correctly you have to use the Launchpad and choose to eject the drive. When the eject command is giving, all applications clean up after themselves and you are able to remove the drive.
Of course not every application needs to write to your computer. All of the application data itself is stored on the drive and accessed there and simply interacts with the operating system. U3.com has a big store where you can browse and find software to add to your flash drive. Some of the software is free; others are trial versions and most packages you have to buy to be able to install it.
To give you an idea of how it works, we've borrowed a marvelous presentation made by U3 them self. It clearly demonstrates the real power of U3 and its application of it. This demo can be viewed when you enter the homepage of U3 and this is simply a link to that same demo.
We have some more in-depth information about the company U3 and the platform in an interview we recently did with U3. Check it out here.
If you would like to read about USB drives in general or about the components themselves you can use the links I have used to research this information. Check out the links below to find the information.
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