Kingston introduces first second first 256GB thumbdrive to U.S.

Okay, what’s going on here? This is the headline of Kingston’s latest press release:

Kingston Digital Ships First 256GB USB Flash Drive in the U.S.

Right. What’s this, then? Commenters were reporting buying that thing, here in the U.S., months ago. But I guess it wasn’t actually released here, maybe only imported? Is this like how companies won’t let me review gadgets that are out in other countries but not my own?

And why would they replace a good-looking drive with this butt-ugly-Transformers-duffel-bag-style one? They both use the cheapest flash storage out there, and I doubt the interface tech has changed much in the last few months. Man, I’m never going to understand this industry.