SmartDisk Corporation has announced a new Universal Serial Bus 1.1 (USB)-based flash media reader that reads CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard and IBM Microdrive media cards, all from a single unit.

The company said this allows owners of digital still cameras, digital video camcorders, handhelds and other digital appliances that require different media cards to use just one reader to transfer digital files to a computer or the Internet.

According to the SmartDisk, for convenience in installing the unit on desktops or for use with laptops, the new SmartDisk Universal Reader features a detachable USB cable. It is also a "Mass Storage Class" device, which means it does not require driver software to be installed on most computers prior to use.

The SmartDisk Universal Reader is scheduled to be available mid June for $49.95.