CES boasted a whole slew of USB-based products. Some made sense, others didn't (I'll spare you the VAPIR portable, high-tech, digital system for aromatherapy and phyto-inhalation. Oh, BTW, I'll be tracking how many of you click on that link!) and a few were pretty darn slick. The SmartThumb falls in the last category.
SmarThumb is a USB flash memory based suite of personal productivity tools. With the SmarThumb 
you can use just about ANY Windows computer with a USB port --- home, work, travel, play, even at your client's office. The device comes with software, 24 different applications, pre-installed so it's pretty much plug and play. Applications include several dealing with security --- eraser, encoder, shredder, and lock, as well as productivity apps like notepad, directory, to do list, clock, wallet, photo album, favorites, address book, calculator, and email. Of course, like all really cool stuff, it's only available internationally, not in the US. And no word on just when --- but you can bet these things will be popping up all over, and soon.
GLL Prediction: We'll begin to see more and more of these as publishers and software developers rush to a [short-term] DRM solution. While I'd welcome ONE SmarThumb-style device I'd want it populated with the programs I chose, not those assembled by some junior executive aggregator. Eventually we may store ALL our applications and data "on the 'Net" and each carry a SmarThumb, or iteration thereof, as a "backup". Security guys would love finally being able to enforce the, who you ARE, what you KNOW, and what you HAVE strategy for network access.
gll
