Things have certainly changed a lot since the first USB flash drive was introduced to the market more than 20 years ago.
Here are some interesting facts you may not know about these handy devices that have become part of our daily lives.
- The first USB flash drive was sold in 2000 and had a storage capacity of 8MB.
- The first 1GB USB flash drive was introduced in 2004, now some memory sticks are available in 2TB capacity!
- USB flash drives are also known as thumb drives, pen drives or jump drives.
- USB drives use flash memory, a type of non-volatile storage that retains data even when power is removed.
- The original USB 1.0 specification had a maximum data transfer rate of 1.5 Mbps.
- USB flash drives are more durable than traditional hard drives because they have no moving parts.
- The USB 3.0 specification introduced a new connector called USB Type-C, which is smaller and reversible.
- USB flash drives can be used with devices other than computers, such as smart TVs, game consoles, and car audio systems.
- USB flash drives can run portable applications or store software for use on the move.
- USB flash drives are resistant to magnetic fields, making them safe for use around other electronic devices.
- USB flash drives are more energy-efficient compared to traditional hard drives, making them ideal for use with laptops and other portable devices.
- USB flash drives can be easily partitioned, allowing you to create multiple drives on a single device.
- USB flash drives can be used as a temporary RAM extension, such as ReadyBoost on Windows.
- USB on-the-go (OTG) drives have 2 or more USB ports, so they can also be used in mobile phones and tablets.