Microsoft patents self-destructing USB key

[DLSS]

Microsoft patents self-destructing USB key

(and u thought the hacksaw and switchblade were bad :P)

Microsoft patents self-destructing USB key

Our mother always used to tell us, "you'd lose your head if wasn't screwed on," but we're sure that had she grown up in this decade she'd say, "you'd lose a USB key carrying sensitive data if Microsoft didn't patent a technology to counteract the problem." Or something like that. As you might've guessed, Microsoft has a new patent, and this one is to help that hapless soul charged with setting up a wireless home network, who, Microsoft admits, "faces a daunting task" at such a prospect. See, Windows can load network set-up details onto a CD or other form of removable storage, but if the user loses the item, they also compromise their network security. We figured this could be solved by some sort of "don't be an airhead" message on the box, but Microsoft put its brain to the task and came up with self-destructing USB memory keys, with enough juice in them to power the key for one hour, after which the data disappears fuhevah. The keys are brightly colored so the user doesn't slap anything important on them, but it seems like an interesting solution to a completely ridiculous interesting problem.

source : http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/20/microso...orgetful-types/

patent sheet : *click*

[Sparda]

I don't need it to self destruct. That's just a fucking retarded thing for it to do. I want to have volume encryption... which is achievable using Trucypt and the like.

[Guest ABC]

your scret mission if you to choose it .......

this will self destruct in:

5

4

3

2

1

[VaKo]

Do you get the picture that somewhere in the bowls of Redmond there is a group of designers frantically searching for last years April Fools Day project designs?

[cooper]

You guys are missing the point here.

Aside from the fact that this is patently unpatentable (James Bond, hello?!?), the goal here is not to patent something to protect an invention. The point is to end up with more patents, however trivial they may be, than the other guy, so it looks good when people sign a patent deal (Novell anyone?).

Strength in numbers. That's all there is to it.

[SomeoneE1se]

dude I've had this idea for years... I Really need to start getting patents for my ideas

[Guest ABC]

is it like the new audi addvert:

NASA has filed 6XXX (cant remember numer) paitents to date.

AUDI filed 9XX (cant remember number) paitents makeing the new A6

so its like that?