iPhone and iPod Touch owners can now use their devices as portable memory drives, thanks to a new software application.

iPhone Explorer, as the tool is called, makes it possible to put any kind of digital file, rather than just music and videos, onto an iPhone/iPod hard drive. Files can be transferred using a simple drag-and-drop interface, and the software is available for both Windows and Mac operating systems.

This application potentially eliminates the need to carry small, easy-to-lose USB sticks. Files must be transferred using an iPhone/iPod cable, however, which may be inconvenient for some users.