DeviceForge has published an intriguing story about a next-generation USB Flash drive standard being co-developed by arch-rivals M-Systems and SanDisk. The standard appears to be an API enabling applications to use the embedded controllers found in USB “thumb” drives such as the M-Systems DiskOnKey and other USB Flash devices.

Both SanDisk and M-Systems sell USB storage devices, although M-Systems products are often marketed under other brands. The companies plan to launch the new standard in January at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Once finalized, the standard is expected to be used by third-party hardware and software vendors to implement things like encryption and DRM within applications that will be distributed on USB keys or other USB flash drives.

Find out more about the standard in the complete DeviceForge article.

Read about the new SanDisk/M-Systems standard

 
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