Hagiwara Sys-Com today introduced the FlashGate CompactFlash Reader/Writer USB, an advanced USB-based peripheral that transfers data from Type I CompactFlash cards to Macs, 60 to 160 times faster than serial connections. This compact, hot-swappable device interfaces easily to any standard USB port, allowing users of digital cameras, PDAs, and other CompactFlash-equipped devices to save valuable time when moving captured images to either desktop or portable computers.
FlashGate features a flexible design architecture that enables it to support CFA-compliant CompactFlash cards from all manufacturers in all capacities, making it ideally suited for use by the rapidly growing installed base of CompactFlash-equipped digital cameras, personal digital assistants (PDA), voice recorders, digital music playback devices, bar code scanners, and more. It requires no external power supply to operate, and in addition to an eject button, FlashGate also uniquely includes LEDs for both power (READY) and status (ACCESS).
The unit's status LED in particular flashes continuously whenever a read/write action is in process, thus helping to ensure that users do not damage the card by accidentally ejecting it. In addition, FlashGate's power LED changes its color from green to red whenever it detects a damaged or defective CompactFlash card.