Imation on Wednesday announced that its new 2GB Micro Hard Drive, which is shaped like a padlock and offers 128-bit file encryption, will ship by the middle of this month. The Micro Hard Drive, which will sell for US$159, features a locking USB 2.0 cable that enables users to hook it to a belt loop or carrying case. It uses Toshibais .85-inch drive, which is smaller than a quarter and is in the 2005 Guinness Book of World Records as the worldis smallest hard drive.
The Micro Hard Drive uses Imation Security Manager software, which synchronizes and encrypts files on Windows or Macintosh computers. The application is a free download from the Imation Web site. Mac OS X v10.2 or higher is required. Imation said that in the fourth quarter of this year it will ship a 4GB Micro Hard Drive that will sell for $189.
Toshiba said in a separate press release that it is working on Perpendicular Magnetic Recording, technology that it claims will enable it to create 6GB and 8GB .85-inch hard drives by 2006.
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