U3

infobox company
company_name = U3 LLC.
company_
company_type = Private
company_slogan = Your digital universe in your pocket.
foundation = 2004
location = Redwood City, CA
industry = Computer
homepage = [http://www.u3.com/ www.u3.com]

U3 is a company producing a proprietary method of auto-launching applications from specially formatted USB flash drives. Flash drives adhering to the U3 specification are termed U3 smart drives.

"U3 smart drives" differ from traditional USB flash drives because they come preinstalled with the U3 Launchpad, which looks similar to the Windows OS start menu and controls program installation. The method works with recent Microsoft Windows systems only. Applications are allowed to write files or registry information to the host computer, but this information must be removed when the flash drive is ejected. Customizations and settings are instead stored with the application on the flash drive.

Microsoft and Sandisk are working on a successor called StartKey. It shall be available in the 2nd half of 2008.

The U3 platform

Hardware

U3 flash drives are USB flash drives with a specific hardware and software setup:
* The hardware configuration causes Windows disk management to show two drives:
*# A read-only ISO 9660 volume on an emulated CD-ROM drive with an autorun configuration to execute the U3 LaunchPad, and
*# A standard flash drive (FAT formatted) that includes a hidden "SYSTEM" folder with installed applications.
* U3 compliant applications can be (optionally) preloaded by manufacturers.

U3 Launchpad

The U3 Launchpad is a program manager that is preinstalled on every U3 smart drive, and is set to autoplay on insertion. [https://u3.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/u3.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=85 U3 Knowledge Base: Can I access the Documents directory on my U3 smart drive without running the U3 Launchpad?] ] A partition with the U3 Launchpad pretends to be a CD/DVD-ROM device in order to add USB mass storage device autoplay functionality on pre-Windows XP SP2 systems, or systems whose USB disk autoplay has been intentionally disabled.

The program is made to work with Windows XP and above. for the MAC OS see information at : [http://communities.sandisk.com/sandisk/board/message?board.id=u3&thread.id=1066 MAC U3 Support] or Linux platforms. [https://u3.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/u3.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=68 U3 Knowledge Base: Can I use my U3 smart drive on a computer running Linux?] ]

U3 applications

To be fully U3 compliant, an application has to be programmed to clean up its own data from the local machine. It must also be packaged in U3's special program format. U3 applications will only run from a U3 device.

APIs

The U3 APIs allows U3 Programs lower-level access to USB flash drive.

Compatibility

The U3 Launchpad and U3 Applications runs on XP. The U3 launchpad will work with Windows Vista as of version 1.4.0.2. Data will continue to be accessible from any OS capable of reading from USB Mass Storage Devices, unless the U3 device is password-protected. [https://u3.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/u3.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=68] "If the OS in question can normally see ordinary USB flash drives, then the U3 smart drive removable mass storage area (domain) should still be available for standard file system activities unless it is a private area protected by a password."] Compatibility issues have been noted as late as July 2007 under Windows XP Pro between certain Windows drivers that are associated with high-volume data transfers to CD writers and with certain drivers employed by digital video cameras, resulting in a full crash of the XP operating system. According to Sandisk's community forums [http://communities.sandisk.com/sandisk/board/message?board.id=u3&thread.id=237] , as of Feb '08 many users are still exhibiting Vista compatibility issues with U3 equipped flash drives regardless of the U3 launchpad version. Apparently this is related to specific hardware/firmware versions of the flash drive itself [http://communities.sandisk.com/sandisk/board/message?board.id=u3&thread.id=148] , as removing the U3 software will still not allow Vista to recognize the USB key. While Sandisk has claimed that a patch for the U3 is in the works, Microsoft has released an update to Vista (KB940199) [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=51F0EF25-280B-4613-A600-C61224BACD1C&displaylang=en] , allowing some users to successfully use the flash drive as intended. One of the affected USB Flash drives is the SanDisk Cruzer Titanium series with device numbers 2.17, 2.18, 2.19 and 2.20. By March 2008, SanDisk has released a new Launchpad update for these device versions of Cruzer Titanium that will make these devices fully compatible with Windows Vista [http://communities.sandisk.com/sandisk/board/message?board.id=u3&thread.id=148] . This will allow Vista users to both use the drive for data storage and the U3 functionality as they are used to under Windows XP, including the password protection.New U3 Launchpad version 1.6 - now support all U3 devices and can be download direct from www.u3.com:

* Bug Fix * Support BigFish Games for U3 * Support Pelican Wizard for U3 * Support Titanium Plus Backup for U3

Developer resources

Information on building U3 compliant applications and the U3 software development kit, are available to registered developers at the official U3 website. Individuals must register (as a company) to download the SDK, or participate in the forums. [ [https://u3.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/u3.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=52 U3 Forum registration guidelines] ]

Reformatting the drive will remove some of the software, but not all of it. The virtual CD-ROM drive may not be removed by reformatting, but by using official U3 Launchpad Removal Software, available on the manufacturer`s website.

Benefits

;Portability: Software can be taken with all its personalized settings to any computer running a compatible version of Microsoft Windows (though no other operating system), with no need to install the software if not already there, or to use different settings and options, and no need for administrator access privileges.;Software support: Software is available from the U3 site, including, amongst others Trillian (instant messaging client), OpenOffice.org, FileZilla, Mozilla Firefox, and Skype. Some recent software compatibility concerns have surfaced, including incompatibility of newer Firefox versions with U3. However, updated versions of programs have made an appearance, like in the case of Mozilla Firefox.;Ease of use: Programs are run from the Launchpad, functionally similar to the Windows Start menu familiar to most users of Windows XP.;No need of admin rights: New software can be downloaded to a U3 flash drive without the requirement for administrative privileges on the host computer. However, removal of the U3 launchpad requires administrative rights.;Virus protection: Many U3 drives come with virus protection software which gives protection against being infected by or spreading computer viruses.;Data security: Most U3 drives on the market feature a security lock within the U3 Launchpad. This loads the CD partition first and can be user-configured to require a password to be entered; otherwise the data partition will not load. The drive is supposed to seal itself after a certain number of invalid password entries, requiring a reformat. [ [http://www.everythingusb.com/u3.html U3 Newbie Guide ] ]

Criticisms

Numerous criticisms have been made of the U3 platform. These criticisms are:

;Hardware requirements: U3 software only runs on U3 Hardware, unlike most portable applications.

;Freezing the computer: Strong possibility of locking up or freezing a computer with certain software installed. U3 claims that it is a result of a conflict with popular CD/DVD burning software, though a Blue Screen of Death can occur even without any such software installed. [ [http://www.u3.com/support/default.aspx#CQ1 The U3 Launchpad doesn't run. What should I do?] ] The posted list includes software provided by Nero and Roxio. Even on computers where U3 functions properly, there can be a noticeable delay while the Launchpad loads compared to the time it takes to access a normal USB flash drive.

;Closed platform: The U3 platform is closed, though it is available to anyone who registers (for free) with U3. Sandisk, the rights holders for U3, ask for a 5% royalty from USB flash drive manufacturers who wish to implement the platform on their products.

;Uninstallation issues: The original U3 Launchpad could not be uninstalled by an end-user. U3 responded to this criticism by making uninstall software available on their website [ [http://u3.com/uninstall/ U3 Launchpad Removal] ] . This was largely due to Best Buy's Geek Squad, who in early 2006 raised the issue of not being able to uninstall U3 and got them to first write an uninstaller for the Geek Squad branded drives, and later for all the U3 drives. Since November 2006, all U3 drives have included an uninstaller. However, the uninstaller doesn't work in all casesFact|date=February 2007; and requires installing proprietary software on the computer before being able to remove the U3 features from the flash driveFact|date=February 2007. Although U3 removal disables U3 functionality [ [http://www.u3.com/uninstall/final.aspx U3 USB removal] ] , SanDisk does offer "LPInstaller" to reinstall the basic U3 feature-set. [ [http://www.sandisk.com/Retail/Default.aspx?CatID=1411 U3 LaunchPad Installer] ]

;Insufficient user privileges: Where a user has insufficient privileges, he or she may run into problems getting the launcher to work Fact|date=February 2007. In such a case the launcher might actually prove a hindrance to using the device Fact|date=February 2007.

;Two drive letters: As a work-around to the lack of Auto-Play for Flash drives on older versions of Windows, the U3 software creates two drive letters (one which presents itself as a CD to allow Windows' auto-play to start the launcher, and another for storing user data). Although this is the only way to implement auto-start functionality on pre-Windows XP systems, it could be considered a kludge, and the extra drive letter created can be an annoyance.

;Windows requirement for removal: Users of non-Microsoft OSes that do not have access to a Windows PC are unable to remove U3 from their "smart drives". [The uninstall page for u3.com has a survey regarding the source of the desire to remove U3 functionality. Available responses includes "Mac OS or Linux user" (since the U3 Launchpad does not run on these operating systems). When this option is chosen, however, the removal tool which is offered for download is not, as would seem sensible based upon the user's answer to the question, a Mac OS or Linux program. It is for Windows only.] (However U3 would have no effects on those users because non-Microsoft OSes cannot run U3.)

;Cruzer Red Desktop Icon: If the right click menu is accessed and select the command "Permanently Disable Cruzer Icon" the action cannot be reversed easily and there is no way of reloading the little red icon from the U3 site. If the drive is reflashed by the Sandisk or Memorex installation tools the U3 icon will be available. When the Flash Drive fails to eject and is removed without acknowledgment, the red icon still remains on the desktop and the host computer will not read any flash drive inserted in the USB port until the computer is restarted.

;Slow loading speeds: Many U3 users have complained about how long the USB drive takes to load the software. Some have even complained of data transfer rates being lower than normal although U3 deny that their software affects data transfer rate.

;Lack of true encryption: It has been reportedFact|date=September 2008 that the supposed secure data is actually fully accessible with any application that can read raw sectors, the password system simply being used as a lock on a door (but you can still see through the windows). This security problem can be resolved by using 3rd party disk encryption software such as FreeOTFE and TrueCrypt

;Incompatability with certain platforms: Some host systems – such as photo kiosks, consumer electronics, and other embedded computing devices – cannot correctly mount U3 "smart drives." The problem may arise because the emulated CD-ROM is the first drive presented to the host system. As such, the device is detected as a CD-ROM drive or not at all. Although some newer photo kiosks are U3 aware [ [http://www.everythingusb.com/u3c-15358.html U3 Drives Finally Get Along with Photo Kiosks] ] and can overcome this limitation, it still exists on many platforms. In embedded systems, where program memory is limited, it may be very costly in terms of system resources to make a device U3 aware. In such cases it is far more logical to leave this functionality out.

See also

* Universal Serial Bus
* USB flash drive
* List of portable software
* MojoPac
* PortableApps.com
* PHILM
* Ceedo
* VMware ThinApp, a tool to create portable applications

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.u3.com/ U3 website]
* [http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1861720,00.asp PC Magazine] reviews of the U3 Launcher, and programs (has screenshots)
* [http://www.everythingusb.com/u3.html U3 Newbie Guide]
* [http://www.u3-info.com/ U3 Community] (news, articles, forums, etc.)