Learn Insight About USB Flash Drive!

Last Updated: 2022-05-13
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Summary: A USB flash drive comprises a flash memory data storage device with an integrated USB interface. Compared with an optical disc, a USB flash drive is smaller, removable, rewritable. It can store different files, including photos, videos, music, and so on.

USB specifications

The most commonly seen specifications of USB Flash Drive:

  • USB 1.0/Low-Speed: 1.5 Mbps

— The USB 1.0 specification was introduced in January 1996, with a defined data transfer rate of 1.5 Mbit/s.

  • USB 1.1/Full-Speed: 12 Mbps

— The USB 1.1 specification was the first widely used version released in September 1998. The 12 Mbit/s transfer rate was designed for higher-speed devices.

  • USB 2.0/Hi-Speed: 480 Mbps

— The USB 2.0 specification was released in April 2000, and a high-speed rate of 480 Mbit/s was introduced in 2001. This maximum data rate is shared among all the attached devices.

  • USB 3.0/SuperSpeed: 5 Gbps

— The USB 3.0 specification was published in 2008. It is mainly aimed at increasing the data transfer rate and power output. It includes a new, higher speed bus in parallel with the USB 2.0; thus, it is also called SuperSpeed.

  • USB 3.1/SuperSpeed: 10 Gbps

— The USB 3.1 specification was launched in July 2013. It effectively replaced USB 3.0 as the new and high-speed USB standard.

Advantages & Disadvantages:

Advantages:

  1. Small but with large storage capacity.
  2. With no moving parts — sustained and portable
  3. Affordable and well-performed
  4. Suitable for a variety of computer systems
  5. Convenient for data transformation
  6. Available without batteries or external power supply

Disadvantages:

  1. Easy to lose for its tiny size.
  2. Without a write protection function to defend viruses spread.
  3. The possibility of data loss because of physical damage

Like other flash devices, USB flash drives have limited times of total reading and writing.

Application

1. Store and transport data

The most common application of USB flash drives is to store and transport files and data, including images, videos, music, etc. Users also store emergency information on USB flash drives for instant use.

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2. Secure data and software encryption

With the extensive use of flash drives, data and information security becomes essential. Biometrics and encryption equipment becomes the norm for protecting data. Secure USB flash drives use a hardware-based encryption mechanism to encrypt data strongly.

3. Make a Backup

As USB flash drives can store data, more and more users use them to make a backup of their essential data. On the one hand, the USB drive is small and convenient to be carried off-site for safety. Its capacity is large enough for the backup of critical files.

4. Carry various Applications 

USB Flash drives can also carry applications that run on the host computer without installation. Applications that are free and can run off a computer running Windows storing nothing on the host computer’s drives can be portable software.

5. Support Audio players

Many companies nowadays are producing USB flash drives with sound output with a simple user interface. Then the USB flash drives can be used as music players. Besides, other applications, which require storage, can also be combined with USB flash drives functionality.

6. More Information

Like other digital devices, the USB flash drive is also a fragile device. Here we have summarized several common faults of USB flash drives and solutions, click the article link below to read if interested:

3 Useful Solutions to Fix ‘Flash Drive Not Showing Up Mac’ Error

Best Effective Solutions To Fix USB Flash Drive Not Formatted Error                                   

How To Fix The Parameter Is Incorrect On USB Flash Drive In Windows 10

With continuous development and updating, USB flash drives are becoming part of people’s life. With the advantages of being small-sized and convenient to carry, they are often used for storing personal files, backing up data, transferring computer applications, and so on.

 

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