Sony Debuts Tiny USB Drive

Sony on Tuesday introduced one of the smallest USB drives on the market Tuesday, launching the Micro Vault Tiny drive in capacities ranging from 256MB to 4GB. The drive measures about a half-inch wide and just over an inch long. The Micro Vault Tiny is color-coded to allow the user to easily identify its capacity.

The Tiny is no thicker than a quarter, Sony said. A clip-on case for the USB drive would be provided to enable the drive to attach to just about anything. It also comes with an application called Virtual Expander, which would automatically compress data and enable the device to store up to three times its size in data.

"In line with our Micro Vault concept, the Tiny is designed to deliver a user-friendly storage solution that appeals to fashion-forward consumers ranging from trend-setting students to style-conscious professionals," said Mike Lucas, director of marketing for Sony Electronics' Media and Application Solutions Division.

Lucas also said that the market for these USB drives continue to grow, as they become as ubiquitous as digital cameras and MP3 players. He credits this to their versatility and ease of use.

The Micro Vault Tiny will come in five capacities: 256MB in orange, 512MB in violet, 1GB in blue, 2GB in green and 4GB in purple. The drives are available immediately and priced from $29.99 to $199.99 USD.