Auto Run – This is when files on the USB Flash Drive can be set to load on the user’s computer automatically soon after the USB Flash Drive has been plugged in. This is useful for loading up presentations or websites straight away.

Data Loading – Files can be loaded on to your USB Flash Drives by us at the production stage. This means that each USB Flash Drive will have your files already loaded on to them. This is handy if you want to hand your flash drives out to your customers with brochure or presentation files for them to view on their computers.
Drive Labelling – The ‘Name’ of the flash drive which computers will recognise and show up in My Computer. For example instead of saying “Removable Disk F:”, you could have it read as “Company X Brochures” so the user knows what to click on.

Drive Partitioning – splitting up one flash drive into two (or more) virtual drives. When the user opens My Computer, they will see a list of drives plugged in to their computer, including the flash drive. Drive partitioning means that the flash drive can be split up to appear as two (or more) separate drives. This way, you could have one part of the flash drive to store your presentation files and the remaining part could be used for personal storage.

Embossing –A method of stamping in logo or text into some of our flash drives. A stamp is created and applied using pressure.

Encryption – Password protection of your files
Full colour printing – A photo-like image can be printed on some of our flash drives. See ____ section for more details.

Lanyard – a fabric-like necklace which connects to your flash drive so you can keep it around your neck. We offer lanyards as an optional extra.

Laser Engraving – method of etching a logo or text on to some of our flash drives using a high intensity laser beam. See ___ section for more details.

Mockup – A mockup design is an example picture that we send to you so you can see what your flash drive will look like. This stage is very important as it is the time where you can tell us of any changes you want.

NAND – Not-And Gates. Electronic term which describes the way data passes through transistors in flash drives.

Pantone® - An industry standard for colour production. Pantone® codes are used to make sure the exact same colour is matched. We offer Pantone® colour matching as standard if you can provide us with the Pantone® colour codes. You need to give us Solid Matte Coated codes. See www.pantone.co.uk for more information.

Proof – We will send you a design proof for your approval. You need to look at this carefully as it is the final stage before production begins. Check for things such as spelling because we can’t make changes once production has started.

Silk screen printing – the most common method of logo printing. Each separate colour of the logo is ‘exposed’ on to a mesh screen. Then each colour of ink is applied to each screen and pressed through each screen on to the flash drive separately. The ink is then heated at a high temperature for it to set.

USB – Universal Serial Bus. This is an industry connectivity standard which means an array of devices can be connected to computers across the world using the same connection method. For example, your iPod connects to your computer’s USB port via a USB cable.

USB 2.0 – the enhanced version of USB connectivity. USB 2.0 is much faster at transferring data than USB 1.0. USB 2.0 is capable of transferring up to 480 Mbit/s, that’s around 57mb per second. However flash drive memory is not capable of handling this speed so transferring data to flash drives is slightly slower than this. There’s now a USB 3.0 standard which is capable of up to 4800 Mbit/s!

USB Flash Drive – The most commonly used term. Also known as USB Drives, Memory Sticks, Pen Drives, Thumb Drives, USB Sticks, USB Storage Drive.