Flash drives up to 16GB by Christmas

Toshiba U3 drives mean portable apps as well as data

Toshiba will be selling 16GB USB Flash drives by the end of the year and has promised to deliver more high-capacity models. 

The new device is one of a family of TransMemory U3 USB drives in 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 16GB capacities announced by Toshiba. 

U3 drives can store data and personal and security settings, and enable applications to be launched from the drive when used with a PC running Windows XP or 2000. 

U3 Launchpad software integrated into the memory automatically launches on insertion, presenting the user with a list of programs to choose from and files to work with.

U-Safe password-based security protection software is also built into Launchpad. When the user removes a U3 USB device no personal data is left behind.

While the lower capacity TransMemory devices will be widely available from November, the 16GB version will be available from the end of December exclusively through Toshiba Direct.