Elecom has a couple of new memory card readers available in Japan - the USB-style MR-A001BK as well as the cable-type MR-A002 series. The former is capable of handling up to 10 different types of memory cards, including the latest SDXC format which maxes out at a whopping 64GB, while the MR-A002 series plays around with 32 different types of media including SDXC, alongside the Memory Stick range from Sony sans an adapter. Design-wise, there is nothing much to shout about although we're pretty happy with them in terms of practicality. After all, isn't it better to be prepared than get caught with your pants down?

The MotKey flash drive from Active Media Products was specially designed to resemble that of an actual key, allowing you to use it on your key ring, which means you can carry it with you virtually everywhere you go on another bunch of important keys like that of your home or car. Of course, the downside to this would be losing said set of keys, which means all your information stored there would be privy to other people's eyes when they stumble upon it. It is rather safe to assume that more people lose loose USB flash drives than keys, right? You can choose from 4GB or 8GB capacities with prices not surpassing the $25 mark.

Information and data theft are getting rampant these days, and many a time those incidents could have been avoided if one had implemented more stringent security measures or employed tough-to-crack hardware. Bill's USB concept is one of those devices that fall under the latter category, boasting a physical lock that requires the right combination of turns before you will be able to access the USB connector to plug the device into any computer. Too bad this concept could have done better with software encryption as well as a password protection system. You can't be too safe with mission critical data after all, can you?

Computer performance enthusiasts would certainly welcome the SilverStone HDDBoost into their fold, considering this peripheral touts the ability to boost hard drive performance by up to a whopping 70%! It will hook up from one 2.5" SSD to any 3.5" hard drive. When connected, the hard drive will get to work by creating a mirror of the front end data of the hard drive, copying everything over to the SSD which ought to go a long way in helping your machine access such stored files in a speedier manner. Even better news is there isn't any need for special software to take advantage of the HDDBoost. Currently available in Japan only at the moment, the SilverStone HDDBoost will retail for approximately $50. is required. Just plug the drives in and the hardware takes care of everything automatically. The total price is around $50, although the device is only available in Japan right now. That should change if this thing really does work as advertised. It sounds like the perfect stop-gap between HDDs and SSDs.

There probably won’t be any end to the number of designs for USB flash drives, and next up we’ve got the USB Chinese Sword Flash Drive. It’s available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB capacities, and they’ll set you back $22, $25 and $36 respectively. You certainly won’t be able to intimidate anybody with it, but it’s large size will probably make it a talking point when you whip it out to copy that latest movie from your friend’s computer.

With necessity being the mother of all inventions, Alec who required a way to hook up an IDE DVD drive using USB decided to use the circuit board of an old USB hard drive enclosure, connecting it to his DVD drive instead. The results were almost instantaneous - the cobbled-together device was recognized and was up and running in a snap. Sounds like the perfect weekend project for netbook owners who need an optical drive. If you're an avid DIY fan, then this ought to gain your attention for a while before you look at other interesting projects.

Folks living in Japan who own a Sony PS3 will be pleased to know that the company has given its nod of approval for a couple of 500GB external USB hard drives which are meant for console use only. The two are the Buffalo HD-AV500U2 (as seen above) and the HD-CL500U2, where they will hit other markets outside of Japan next month in order to coincide with the PS3's "torne" DVR hardware/software combo launch. Neither drive comes with special features apart from being officially licensed products for the PS3, as these just come with an external label change and nothing else. Not exactly the way to win fans over to your cause, but if you are willing to shell out anywhere from $130 to $165 for either of each device, then be our guest.

What do you normally do with those X-Ray films that you get after going for an X-Ray scan? Most would just leave them to collect dust at home, but why not use a USB X-Ray Reader and scan them into your computer? Whether you want to share them with the rest of the world is up to you, but at least you won’t have to worry about losing the originals, right? It’ll set you back a good $145.69, so it’s probably not something you’d buy on a whim, unlike the usual USB junk.

Check out this modded USB flash drive that comes in the form of a beheaded blone Barbie doll. Her head can be detached from her body to reveal a USB connector where you can plug it into a computer to access data within. Looks pretty creepy, but it will definitely be a good way to recycle all those old, unwanted Barbie dolls. We can't wait for a Ken version, or perhaps those made out of Transformers, Thundercats or He-Man figurines.

Do you want a really expensive mouse, with a stainless steel, titanium or platinum finish? Well, if you don’t mind the weird ball-shaped design, then the OreObject SPHEREtouch mouse is probably what you’re looking for. It’s touch-sensitive, and handcrafted, so you know it’s expensive. Prices will range from $155 to $255, so you can be sure most people won’t be using this mouse. Despite its price, it isn’t wireless, so you’re still stuck with the boring old USB cable connection, which is slightly disappointing. If you do decide to drop your hard-earned cash for this, you’ll even get free-shipping for orders over $175.

Now here's a new USB flash drive for your to consider - the unorthodoxly named Too Late USB flash drive. Being both practical as well as stylish, these colorful portable storage devices comes with an integrated digital LCD watch alongside a keychain holder, making sure your data remains safe and sound with you all the time. Capacity is limited to just one option - 4GB, which isn't too practical in this day and age considering how 8GB is more or less the norm. No idea on pricing though, but it sure is one unique USB flash drive to tote around if you're a sucker for novelty items.

Can’t think of a thoughtful gift for your significant other this coming Valentine’s Day? Well, if he/she is a geek in need of a speaker, you could always try offering the SpeakWood heart-shaped USB speaker. It’ll set you back $22, allowing you to present a Valentine’s Day gift without breaking the bank. Of course, something expensive would probably be accepted with a much bigger smile, but we’ll leave that decision to you. In case you were wondering, the power output of this speaker is 2.5W, while power consumption is rated at 3W, and it’s obviously powered by USB.

LaCie knows that there is a market for enterprise users, hence announcing the Enterprise Class range that will comprise of the 4big, d2 and the 2big Quadra Enterprise Class drives. All of them come in different form factors, but they will each hold SATA hard drives while boasting 128-bit AES hardware encryption to keep your data within safe and secure. Apart from that, you will also benefit from hardware RAID support, hot-swap capabilities, 32MB of cache for speedier data transfer and a 1.2 million hour mean time between failure (MTBF) rate. All of these new products bear designer Neil Poulton's signature styling cues. Prices range from $300 for the 1TB LaCie d2 Quadra Enterprise Class all the way to $1,350 for the 4TB LaCie 4big Quadra Enterprise Class.

Thanko goes overboard with their 80-port USB charger - that's right, you can juice up to 80 USB-compatible devices simultaneously without missing a beat, although you'll be hard pressed to find that many gadgets in a single average household to accommodate such expansive lodgings USB-wise. No idea on who would pick this up, but right now we've shortlisted either nerds or professionals to lust after the 80-port USB charger. Bear in mind this just charges and is not capable of making copies or transferring data.