It took them awhile, but drive makers are finally getting hip to the fact that we would like to see how much disk space is left without having to plug it in. About time. Western Digital’s My Book Elite and My Book Studio drives now feature labels on the outside displaying that always-on info.

That means even when it isn’t plugged in, you’ll get a 12 character label, and a second line that displays how much space is left on the disc. In both gigabytes and a graph no less. Simple solution huh? The USB 2TB My Book Elite is $280, and the 2TB My Book Studio with FireWire 800 and USB connectivity is $300.

If you want to make sure that your personal information is protected, check out the latest from Fujitsu. The Secure USB Memory Device makes absolutely sure your data is secure. If you transport a lot of information from computer to computer it will be very useful.

Think of it as a thumb drive with a battery and a processor built in. You can adjust the security settings on the drive so that data will be automatically deleted after a certain period of time. Whatever you decide. Or if someone else tries t use it on another computer.

This one is a great device for the adventurer, whether you are on the high seas, trekking through swampland, or in the jungle. Bear Grylls will definitely want to get one of these. It’s called the Weather Mate and comes from designer Samuel Jones. It’s an emergency weather radio that will automatically notify you of a flood, high winds, storms, tornadoes and other weather conditions that can potentially harm you.

The device is easy-to-navigate and though it looks alien, features a 6-LED flashlight, a full spectrum of NOAA weather frequencies, LCD Screen, circuit board, radio receiver and a speaker. It can be powered by a battery or it can run off of the dynamo by winding the rear crank handle.

These weird little figures are called Poken. They let you exchange contact details with someone else in a physical way. With high fives. And hey, Poken are cute. Why the hell not? The USB device comes in four varieties: bee, alien, panda and flaming skeleton. Odd combination to be sure, but I’m assuming they all get along just swell.

Just put your Poken’s hand up to your buddy’s, then when you plug yours into a USB port later, your friend’s contacts will automatically sync to your Poken account, which propogates to Facebook, MySpace and other networks. I’m sure it will all work out fine, because surely everyone that you know also has a Poken. Which is a requirement.

The November 1st release of the Nintendo DSi in Japan is approaching quickly. Here’s an “informational video” from Nintendo Japan. It shows off the new UI, camera and voice modulation. The DSi store and the DSi’s revamped UI are also highlighted. But some questions remain. Will it allow you to change game cards and system settings without having to reboot the unit?