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USB News

Custom Flash Drive Industry Price-Watch and General Branded USB Market News – March 15, 2019

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Welcome to 2019.  The post-2016 era of flash drive prices rising upwards of over 40% are a distant memory, and manufacturing plants are pumping out more supply into the market than ever before.  We can’t believe it took them this long to get it right, but 3D NAND fabrication has finally picked up pace, causing a surge in supply which can only mean one thing:  Regularly decreasing prices as 2019 progresses.

3D NAND technology was meant to usher in a new world of faster, smaller, better.  While it has shown great promise in the SSD world, the promotional USB drive market has yet to reap the benefits of the complex architecture within these tiny chips, other than to say that we know for sure most of our supplied product are now coming in using this multi-level structuring.  

So what are we to expect for this year?  Other than a slow and steady decline in USB prices across the board, we are hopeful that access to larger memory and faster read/write speeds, especially within the USB 3.0 category.  This past month there has been a most notable decline in the cost of USB 3.0 chips in the COB (chip on board) sector between the sizes of 64GB and 128GB, and while USB prices usually surge slightly post Chinese New Year Festival, it seemed to have only affected a few specific memory sizes, and only temporarily as things have already settled back to pre CNY prices within those spots.

So be on the look out for some new USB 3.0 models to hit the category, and see some dips in prices by Q3 2019 in most of the USB 3.0 sizes within our custom USB family.  In short, we expect to see a greater number of users switch from USB 2.0 as their standard to USB 3.0, given the more reasonable access, from a price standpoint.

In addition, be on the lookout for new USB type-C flash drives to hit our site in the next couple of months.  Both dual (USB + USB type-C) memory stick sizes as well as USB type-C only custom flash drives, as this type of port comes standard on more and more new computers, laptops and tablets.

Oh, and did I mention we’re moments away from launching our new website?  Stay tuned – it’s going to be awesome!

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Memory Industry News, USB News, USB Technology

The USB memory industry has finally settled from a 2 year long high…

Since the fall of 2016 the NAND Flash and DRAM memory industry saw increases in supply commodities rise over 40% thus raising prices across the board for computer peripherals, portable devices, computer, laptops, and USB flash drives, both retail and promotional.  This was due, mainly to a massive crossover in the manufacturing process of NAND Flash memory as a brand new architecture (3D NAND) was introduced, causing factories to shut down nearly half of all production, as they made room for the new equipment.  What was supposed to be a small adjustment period of 2-3 months turned into a 2 year battle.

 

Early adoption of the new technology was a difficult road to hoe. In late 2014, when 3D NAND architecture was first introduced, major companies such as Intel, Micron, Samsung and Toshiba had announced that this new technology would allow manufacturing of an MLC-like memory chip which could cary as many as 96 layers vertically within the same horizontal (X,Y) space. Companies boasted that this new technology could potentially offer memory sizes to multiply upwards of 10x current limits on a single chip, and perform read/write tasks at over triple (3x) the speed.

 

It took until late 2016 for factories to ramp up their technology to begin the most basic manufacturing of this new transformative technology, which was sure to enhance the USB Flash market, even at entry-level production which was set to use a 48-layer 3D NAND product (Toshiba / Sandisk), but many problems and complications caused an alter-effect with would see prices rise significantly, while supply ran short world-wide.  It seems companies were more focussed on developing further towards the 96 layer goal, with the first 64-layer 3D NAND flash chips being produced in 2017.

 

The race to techno-supremacy is often littered with entire industries serving as cannon fodder. As these companies competed for the fastest and largest laptop sized SSD hard drives, service to the USB flash drive market suffered.  Add to that a silicon wafer shortage which came up only a few short months later, this spelled certain disaster. It’s been a long and arduous road…

 

Fast forward to 2018. 3D NAND flash is now widely used in many multi-layer configurations, account for over 60% of all bit layer production, and most recently Toshiba Memory, alongside of Western Digital have opened an entirely new 3D NAND Flash fabrication plant in China. Prices have been slowly (very slowly), but steadily coming down, the supply chain seems much healthier, and forecasts are good into the first 2 quarters of next year (2019) that prices will continue to remain within this or better ranges.

 

So basically, if you buy USB drives, whether it be for digital media presentation, or for promotional purposes (or both!), now is a much better time to buy than months ago, and the horizon looks healthy. Get your quotes updated today and see.

 

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USB News, USB Technology

Credit Card USBs (and other flat models) are now available in USB 3.0

Most of us have used universal serial bus technology at some point. Whether using a flash drive to store files or a USB adapter to transfer files from one device to another, they allow us to work more efficiently and communicate with ease.

There have been a number of innovations in this area of technology, and we’re here to offer credit card USB’s and other flat models in USB 3.0. Before we get into the specifics on the various models available, let’s review a few facts to help you better understand your requirements as you shop for the one to best meet your unique needs.

· USB drives have two forms: regular full-sized and UDP (USB Disk in Package).
· UDP is much smaller, thin, and flat. It is also very durable – dust, moisture, and shock resistant
· UDP combines all the components of a normal USB drive (memory, controller, etc.) into one compact unit.
· All of our mini-flat USBs use UDP chips (e.g. Credit Card Drives).
· USB 3.0 is a newer version of the USB standard that allows data transfer at up to 10x the speed (referred to as SuperSpeed).
· Up until recently, USB 3.0 was only available in the full-sized form of USB drives.
· USB 3.0 is now available on UDP products. This means all of USBDirect.ca’s smallest drives can use SuperSpeed technology. This affects our entire Mini-Flat category including many popular USBs such as: Credit Card 01, Flat Key 01, and Mini-Me.
· Previously available USB drives remain unchanged and can still be produced: Swivel 01, The Titan, Jetsetter, etc.

Mini Flat Stick USBs

While USB sticks are capable of holding a lot of data considering their standard size, advancements have allowed for them to be made more compact than ever. Although our mini flat stick USBs are small, they are able to hold all the largest memory sizes. These products come with a five year warranty, and, when properly cared for, can last a lifetime.

Credit Card 3.0 USB

You can now store your USB with your credit cards in your purse or wallet! The credit card 3.0 USB allows you to enjoy full colour photos on each side, making it easy to spot when you need it. Within it, you have access to the fastest USB memory. It fits easily in your wallet and is available in:

Flat Key USB

Keep track of your USB on your keychain with our flat key USB. You’re able to customize your storage with options ranging from 1 to 64 GB, and it’s even great for promotional efforts as the surface of the key-shaped product has room for your logo. This can impress colleagues and clients alike.

Mini Me Circle USB

There are many new shapes and sizes of USBs on the market, and the Mini Me Circle USB has a unique design. It’s very small and made of metal, and this helps ensure good durability. Its high-tech look and rounded tip makes it an impressive way to store your data and save space in your laptop bag.

Swivel 01 USB Drive 3.0

We’re all unique, and the Swivel 01 USB drive 3.0 is available in green, red, blue and classic black. Its surface is very broad and brushed metallic, and this makes it simple to effectively add your logo for promotional campaigns. Whether you want to offer someone a unique and thoughtful gift or impress new potential clients, this can be a great way to shine. Data storage capacities range up to 64 GB depending on your unique needs.
custom usb flash drive

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USB News, USB Technology

Shopping For Custom USB Drives

If you use a USB drive in your life, and chances are that you do, you know just how much easier they can make life. They are convenient and reliable and very inexpensive, making them an almost essential office supply. Whether you use the drive for work or home, or you simply want to give one as a gift, you have plenty of options to pick the perfect USB drive, for the perfect occasion, and the shopping can be fun.

Work

Businesses like to promote themselves. Why wouldn’t they? The fact is that if no one knows about them, how can they gain any customers? Well, if you want to provide potential customers with a product that they will use and will remind them of your company every time that they do, a USB drive is a great way to go. The great thing is that USB drives have become so widely used, that you don’t even have to look very hard to find a great deal, for some custom drives. As a matter of fact, it is possible that you could even order them from your local copy center or office supply location. By putting your company name or logo on drives that you plan to hand out, you can spread your business name very quickly and it’s very likely they will be calling you next time they need the service you provide.

Home

USB drives have just as many, if not more, uses at home as they do at the office. Children can use them to prepare reports that they will present in school or share files with their friends and adults use them for the same reasons, and more. Finding custom USB drives to bring home is easy and fun. The drives come in all shapes and sizes and you can find one that is perfect for you. You can find drives shaped like characters from plenty of books, movies, cartoons, and television shows, musical instruments, there are even some drives on the market shaped like fruit and vegetables. If these choices still aren’t enough for you, you can always find places online to create exactly the drive you are looking for.

USB drives are efficient and practical, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun shopping for one! Finding the perfect drive can be a lot of fun, if only to see all of the available drives out there. It is understandable why we depend on these devices so regularly, considering all that you can do with a USB drive. Finding a custom USB drive can set you apart from those around you and show the world just how much of an individual you are.

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USB News, USB Technology

A USB Drive Can Be a Great Gift

Have you ever noticed that it seems everyone around had gone digital? From music to movies, books and games, we have a world of entertainment and information at our fingertips. While the information we can obtain is almost limitless, the memory on our electronic devices is not. Since we are all plugged into the digital world, USB drives make a great gift for anyone.

Music and Movies

If you have converted your old music or video library to digital format, you know exactly how much memory each item can take up. Even if you aren’t converting your old libraries and are just downloading movies and music you find on the internet, your hard drive can quickly become too full to function properly. Having a USB drive as extra storage can provide you with twice as much room, giving you the chance to fill another library with portable entertainment. USB drives are perfect storage houses for those files that you don’t need to use immediately but want the ability to access anytime you need to. Not to mention, a USB drive can give you the opportunity to share your media with friends in an easy, convenient way.

Books

Even books have gone digital and physical books have given way to e-books. There are few people these days who don’t have an e-reader of some kind. Even most of today’s cell phones come with e-readers. While these files aren’t generally very large, if you are the type of person who enjoys reading anything and everything, your e-reader’s memory can quickly get full. Having a USB drive to store the books that you aren’t going to be reading soon can clear your e-reader’s memory, helping it to run even more efficiently.

USB drives are wonderful storage systems that don’t take up much space at all. You can find them pretty much anywhere, from convenience stores to bookstores, even dollar stores,making them a convenient gift to grab on the go. If you have an opportunity to hit an electronics store, however, you will have more options, making your gift even that more suiting.

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USB News, USB Technology

How Portable Are USB Drives?

USB drives or “flash drives”, as they are commonly known, have become an important part of our day to day lives.  It doesn’t matter what your profession, there is always a need for one of these ingenious pieces of technology.  As a matter of fact, even if you never need to use one for your profession, which is unlikely, you likely will have a use for them, in your personal life.  If you have somehow missed this portable invention, it is time to step into the 21st Century and find out what they are all about.

Small But Mighty

A USB drive is a portable device that has memory on which to store information. The concept is simple – you can copy files directly from your computer to the device, making it easy to work on the same project from any computer or to share the files with anyone you would like to share the files with.  These devices can range in memory size, from a few megabytes to hundreds of gigabytes, and range in price. You can even get the devices with less memory for five dollars or less, generally speaking.  While a USB drive can’t take the place of your computer’s operating system, you can definitely back up your entire system on a big enough USB drive, making them an essential part of your electronic arsenal.

Portability

The main purpose of a USB drive is to make the information on your computer as portable as possible.  Since this is the purpose, the manufacturers of these drives continue to make them more and more portable, by reducing the size and durability of the drives. The majority of these devices are small, pocket size pieces of technology that can even be attached to a key chain, in many cases, and are able to withstand a bit of the abuse that would come with being in your pocket, for most of the day.  Even the drives with more memory, a terabyte or two, for instance, are only the size of a large smart phone, making it simple to take all of the information you could ever want with you, wherever you go.

USB drives are one of the more ingenious and affordable inventions of recent years and for many, they have become an everyday part of life. Whether you are giving a presentation, sharing a book with your best friend, just want someone else to see something you are working on, or a hundred other such scenarios, a USB drive is the answer. They are portable, small, durable, and can truly make life easier for you. Considering how complicated life gets sometimes, it’s nice to know that technology can keep things simple for us.

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USB Technology

Purchasing USB Drives In Bulk

thumb-driveGetting your company’s file system and data transfer system down can always be a challenge if you are new to using USB drives. Anytime you are thinking about making a major purchase, you need to have a checklist of things that need to be done before you make any major decisions or purchases. If you are the manager of a company, then obviously you will need clearance from the CEO or CFO of the company you work for.

Investigating Pricing

Research is always going to be highly recommended when you start to shop for USB drives in bulk. You want to be sure you can lower the unit price of each USB drive, because many companies that sell USB drives will want to make a deal with you, so that they are able to sell their inventory. You also want to be sure the product you are purchasing is quality and it has a good reputation. You might even think about reading reviews to see what other consumers think of the products.

A Leader Among USB Drives

The great thing about purchasing USB drives in bulk from USBDirect.ca is you are able to not only get a special deal, but you will be able to purchase in bulk at a lower unit rate and you are also getting a great quality of USB drive. That is a great thing for your company, because you are going to get the products you need for your company, but your company is also going to save money. Two things your CEO is going to love about your choice going with USBDirect.ca.

When it comes to anything you decide to purchase for your company, always be sure you price check before you purchase. Making smart purchases can save your company a great deal of money.

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USB News

A Portable File System

portable-fileWhen you first start working out the kinks in your business, it can be tricky. You are trying to figure out how to better manage everything, but you are also trying to find a way that all of your employees can share files and information really fast. For some business’s getting information and beating the competition is the most important thing, therefore you need to find a way that you are able to help all of your employees share information fast.

USB Drive Education

One way that you can help your employees share information even faster is by having them all put the information and files that other employees might need directly onto your USB drive. It is fast, easy, and the drives are very small. That alone is a terrific asset. You can be anywhere, and all you have to do is simply pull out the USB drive, and insert it into the laptop or computer. From there the files can be transferred. All of your employees need to get issued a USB drive, and then you can start working out the kinks, and getting your file system down better.

Ordering Your Drives

You will need to figure out how many USB drives are going to be required for your company. You will then need to contact USBDirect.ca to see what options you have to choose from. USBDirect.ca has the best selection of drives at a great prices. Any questions you might have can be answered by USBDirect.ca too. The website will be very impressive, and you are going to enjoy working with them.

After you have received your USB drives, you need to have a meeting with all of your employees, so you can go over all the details and learn how to use your new devices.

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USB Technology

Why USB Drives Are So Convenient

usb-drive-convienentFor many people storage is something that is very important for many reasons. People that own computers and other electronic devices store important information on these devices, therefore having a USB drive is something many people own. However, there are some folks that are not the best at the newest technology and might be missing out on something that would make life so much easier.

Education About USB Drives

Many of us that use computers get by on the basics, just because trying to keep up with today’s life is hard enough, let alone trying to figure out how to use a new gadget. USB drives are something that might seem intimidating, but they are actually really easy to use, and fun. The cool thing about using a USB drive is you can save all of your information on these little tiny devices that are smaller than a cell phone.

Picking Out A USB Drive

Once you are ready to try something new, you need to find a reputable website that sells USB drives, but can also give you advice and answer questions you might have. USBDirect.ca is a great site to use for information, but you can also go to the site and shop for a USB drive that you feel would look great. That is another perk of buying a USB drive is you can choose a cool new look for your storage for important files and photos. After the arrival of your new USB drive, you are going to find the device is very easy to use, and very user friendly. That is another perk of these cute little gadgets.

After you learn to use your USB drive, you are going to really enjoy all of the different options you can do with your USB drive. If at any time you have questions or concerns you can always contact USBDirect.ca for assistance.

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USB News

A Great Office Gift For Women

business-woman-giftThere are millions of women in the office world all over the world. Women are often very polished, well organized, and always have creativity when it comes to their office. You can always tell when you are in a female office, because the office has a great vibe, and it is well put together. If you are looking for a gift for a co-worker that is a female, you are in the right place for the perfect gift.

Useful Office Gifts

Something that is so cool, but also affordable is a USB drive. However, not just any USB drive is going to work if you are planning on giving the UBS drive as a gift. You have to think outside the box and find a USB drive that is unique, but also really cool, and feminine enough that it will go great with the office decor. USBDirect.ca is a great site, but this site also has the perfect female office gift. Getting your co-worker a USB drive that is a pen is the perfect gift. You can’t go wrong with a gift like that, and your co-worker is going to love the gift.

Buying Gifts In Bulk

Something that many people do when they manage an office or business or the owner of a business is buy gifts in bulk and store them for all of the different occasions that can arise when you are a business owner. Customer service and building relationships is one of the most important things a business can do.

Anytime you are getting ready to give a gift, always be sure you have the gift in some type of a gift bag along with a nice card. That little bit of personalization is all it takes to make a co-worker or business partner feel good about the business relationship.

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