This one goes out to the same folks who buy bullet hole stickers for their whip, hang stuffed arms from their tailgates and have those half-baseballs suctioned to their windshield -- all in the name of garnering attention. HACKED! is a user creation-gone-commercial that features a severed USB cable with 2GB of internal capacity. For those not in the know, it looks as if you had a nasty encounter with a vicious canine (or a hacksaw), but in reality, it's simply a 2GB flash drive in disguise. This has success written all over it.

[Via MAKE]

Before you start having a complete panic attack, let us inform you that this whole fiasco actually took place last year, but as these things have a way of going, it's just now coming to light. Reportedly, a 33-year-old captain in the Ground Self-Defense Force ganked a USB flash drive (along with ¥2,000 [$19] and a ¥10,000 [$94] airline coupon) and proceeded to "dump it." Aside from the laughably small amount of cash and prizes this guy accepted, the unfortunate part of all this is what resided on the flash drive: troop deployment maps used in Japan-US military exercises. Worse still, we get the idea that said USB key is still out there somewhere undiscovered (or unrevealed), so if you happen upon one with all sorts of undecipherable schematics on there, now you know what's up.

[Via The Register, image courtesy of University of Texas]

Imation's Atom Flash Drive may not be the most capacious USB key you've ever seen -- heck, it's probably not even the smallest -- but it is this company's most diminutive of all time, and that just has to count for something. Available in 1/2/4/8GB sizes, these units feature Vista ReadyBoost compatibility and support for passwords while measuring less than 1.5-inches long and .5-inches wide. Slip one of these sub-1-ounce drives into your pocket today for $17.99 to $99.99, depending on capacity.

We know how you Transformers aficionados roll -- you'll spend your very last dollar just to ensure your collection stays complete. That being said, we'd probably recommend skipping right over this Autobot 1GB USB flash drive, unless you dig (likely) non-licensed gear cluttering up your pristine heap, that is. If you're still letting your heart cloud your mind, riddle us this: what legitimate piece of Transformers kit requires you to purchase 12?

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

Not that 32GB flash drives are revolutionary or anything, but they're pretty far from being old hat. Thankfully, Corsair is readying a new pair to be unveiled at CES, both of which will boast USB 2.0 connectivity and fairly reasonable price tags considering the capaciousness. Both the Flash Voyager and the über-rugged Flash Survivor will be bumped to 32GB, and both should be able to withstand the desert heat with ease. The pain? $229.99 and $249.99, respectively, and both units should be making their way out as we speak.

Make no mistake about it, there's a couple of 32GB flash drives out there to be found if you look hard enough, but Buffalo reckons one more alternative won't hurt a thing. The capacious SHD-U32GS features USB 2.0 connectivity along with the company's heralded Turbo USB technology, which mysteriously promises up to 16-percent faster transfers than similar drives. Additionally, the unit weighs in at just 20 grams and measures 19- x 14- x 91-millimeters in size, and it can be yours in a matter of days for around ¥33,768 ($302).

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Nah, J. Lo won't go down as the first artist to sell an album via flash drive, but she's certainly raising the bar concerning price. Apparently, Gresso has landed an agreement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment that allows it to distribute Lopez's "Brave" album on the Adam&Eve flash drive, which features 1GB of storage and is crafted from African Mahogany or African Blackwood. Word on the street has this one landing later this month for around $70, and while it's only a supposition, we could definitely see this thing selling better without the musical connection. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via Luxist]

Looking to scratch that retro itch? If so, you'll likely find oodles of satisfaction in the MIXA USB tape, which not only weds the modernness of a USB flash drive with the old school flavor of a cassette, but also bows down to your funky fresh customization skills. You heard right -- those interested can select a black or white 1GB tape, add on any design they choose and cough up £19.99 ($41) to have it shipped anywhere in the world. Finally, the perfect complement to your shoulder-mounted USB boombox.

[Thanks, Earl]

Cramming 2GB of storage space into a device no larger than a standard postage stamp isn't exactly unheard of, but SiliconSystems has done just that with its new SiliconDrive USB Blade. Hailed as the "industry's first ultra-small solid state drive for embedded storage applications," this wee device feels most at home when shoved into incredibly tight quarters on any flavor of PCB. Additionally, the USB 2.0-compliant device is designed to handle shock, vibrations and extreme temperatures, and it features read / write rates of 10MB/sec. The firm plans on releasing these in 512MB and 1GB flavors as well, and while we've no idea when to expect 'em on store shelves, evaluation units and host developer tool kits should be available in December.

[Via SlashGear]

32GB USB drives are certainly not new, but considering the astronomical pricetags they tend to sport, they haven't exactly caught fire with budget-conscious gadget lovers. EDGE Tech is apparently hoping to change that by offering up its capacious 32GB DiskGO for "just" $399.95. Granted, it's not like our bargain alerts are going haywire over that figure, but we suppose it's not too unreasonable considering the alternatives. Ah well, at least you won't have to worry over this thing attracting the ever-wandering eyes of gadget thieves -- you know, considering how the unadorned exterior hides its true value and all.

[Via MobileMag]

As with most late-Septembers, we're beginning to see a few pinked gizmos roll out in support of the impending National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This go 'round, we've got a special edition of ATP's Petito USB flash drive that touts a "Pink Ribbon" motif and comes in 512MB, 1GB and 2GB flavors. Aside from being fairly tiny, each drive sold will help fund breast cancer research and support "education, screening and treatment projects" around the globe. The trio is available now at a variety of retailers starting at $19.99.

Neither 32GB USB keys nor 32GB SSD ExpressCards are anything new, but wedding the two ideas into a swank dual interface drive is a commendable twist. Notably, InnoDisk has done just that, as its 32GB Flash Disk plays nice with both ExpressCard slots and USB 2.0, touts a read speed of around 30M/S, a write speed of 20M/S, and also arrives in a few smaller capacities for those not needing all 32 gigs. Unfortunately, there's no word on price at the moment, but we'll keep our eyes peeled.

While we've seen USB-based peripherals that aim to keep your youngsters in a safe and innocent PC environment, Bandai and Buffalo have teamed up to make kid-friendly computing a bit more bearable. The duo has crafted a unique USB key, which is slated to be available in Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh versions, that simultaneously locks the PC into "Kid Mode," password protects the parent's session in the background, and opens up a world of mom-approved fun for the little ones to enjoy. The software that resides on the key includes a dedicated browser for safe surfing, a time regulator to keep them from growing addicted, and options for parents to select precisely what apps their offspring can / can't access. Reportedly, the units are expected to land in mid-September over in Japan, and while pricing has yet to be confirmed, we're hearing it'll run you around ¥3,480 ($30).

Sure, we've seen USB drives that shun water like it's their job before, but Iocell's iteration of the waterproof flash drive comes in a nearly irresistible package. This ultrathin drive makes for an excellent keychain adornment, and the Taegeuk pattern -- reportedly honed for this device by Young-Se Kim, CEO of INNO Design -- leaves no doubt that this sucka is aimed squarely at South Koreans. The MDrive is reportedly set to launch this week, and while the 1GB edition will run you ₩39,000 ($42), the 2GB flavor will ring up at ₩59,000 ($63). Click on through for a couple more looks.

If that Pasha De Cartier USB drive is getting a bit stale these days, why not replace it with yet another grossly overpriced, albeit totally fashionable one from S.T. Dupont? This designer flash drive, dubbed the Lacquer and Palladium USB Key, sports that trademark diamond head pattern and a vividly colored cover. Apparently, these gems are available in turquoise blue, soft pink, palladium, and black, and while we personally feel that 2GB of data should never be worth the $480 asking price without some pretty confidential documents already loaded on, those with more money than sense can have at it. More colors after the break.

[Via Sybarites, thanks JW]