I’m sure many of our readers have come across a situation where they’d have liked USB to carry a bit more power to their devices. Your phone or iPod, charging ever-so-slowly, or perhaps an external drive that only works on “powered” USB ports — or must be plugged into a wall socket. A wall socket, in this day and age! I ask you!
Fortunately, the SuperSpeed USB group (or whatever shadowy illuminatus it is that truly controls USB) has decreed that the next generation of the USB 3.0 standard will include support for a shocking 100 watts of power. That’s enough to keep ten drives running, or an LCD, or even an entire laptop. And believe it or not, it uses the same cables and ports we’ve already got. → Read More
This is a bit silly, but OK. Tokyo-based accessory maker Thanko has developed a very special gadget that’s supposed to help you fight the summer heat: a necktie clip [JP] that’s attached to a mini fan, which is powered via USB. → Read More
Have you ever wanted to shoot video while you were out diving in the ocean? But using a waterproof video camera isn’t for you? Then you should consider Thanko‘s newest product, underwater video camera goggles [JP], which is waterproof to a depth of 5m. → Read More
We will see more of these devices coming in the next few years, I am sure: Panasonic today announced [JP] the BG-BL01, a portable and solar-powered LED light that doubles as a charger for USB gadgets. The device is sized at just 152×104×24mm, weighs 150g, can house two AA batteries and is splash proof. → Read More
Do you like your beverages cool in the summer and warm in the winter? Are you one of those computer users who think it’s too cumbersome to walk to the fridge whenever you’re in need for a drink? Then the so-called USB Hot Cool Box [JP] from Thanko might be the right thing for you. → Read More
Temperatures neared the 40 degree Celsius mark around Tokyo over the weekend – reason enough for Thanko to start selling the so-called USB Hinyari Cushion Ver. 2 [JP], which essentially is a USB-powered cooler/cushion for your butt. The Tokyo-based crap gadget maker has offered a very similar item last summer, and apparently that cushion sold well enough to be updated this year. → Read More
It’s nice to have a few hundred gigabytes in your bag and when the first guys to the wireless hard drive party, Seagate, released the Satellite, they piqued my interest by allowing those gigabytes to be streamed onto iOS devices as well as almost any laptop or cellphone. Now, however, Hitachi seems to have hit the sweet spot with their wireless drive with built-in access point and, interestingly, no battery. The $199 500GB drive can run off of USB power or any external source. It allows up to five devices to stream content to multiple devices and it includes iOS apps for the iPad and iPhone. It is also DNLA-complaint so it will show up on your network as a media playback device and it also serves music up as a share iTunes drive. The best part? The drive features public and private folders so you won’t have to share all of your deepest, darkest secrets with your friends and family. The drive will ship in July. → Read More
As an adult man, you have many responsibilities and one of those responsibilities is to look great. How can you look great? By carrying a USB key with exposed traces shaped to look like a Piranha Plant, that’s how. And how much does this magical product cost? $9.99. Just cheap enough for today’s man to look really classy and not force said man to skip lunch at the Pizza Hut buffet. → Read More
Tokyo-based USB accessory maker Thanko has updated one of its coolest spy gadgets, the so-called Slim Video Pen HD [JP]. As the name suggests, it’s a pen that houses a micro camera to shoot video in HD, namely in 1,280×960 resolution (and at 30fps). → Read More
Intel now says it will support both its Thunderbolt interface, which first appeared on the recent MacBook Pro revision, and USB 3.0 sometime in 2012. Presumably if it supports USB 3.0 then it will support all previous versions of USB. → Read More
It took them 1.5 years, but it’s out now: Tokyo-based USB gadget maker Thanko finally released an update to their spy necktie [JP] with built-in micro camera. Just wear the tie (you’ll even get a fitting handkerchief and cufflinks) and press the button on the mini remote to start shooting video. → Read More
Today, Toshiba put out a new portable USB-powered monitor. It’s a pretty cool to be able to carry around a second monitor that runs purely on USB power; that’s like a blogger’s dream. The carrying case even unfolds into a stand. Wow!
Read on to check the specs. → Read More
Powerline may be one of the most underrated wireless technologies available for the home. Basically, it’s a home networking setup that uses the electrical wiring in your house to connect different devices. And now, Devolo is expanding its line of Powerline AV to include a USB extender, a world’s first. → Read More
We haven’t covered anything coming from Tokyo-based crazy accessory maker Thanko in a while. But yesterday, the company started selling its newest super-silly USB gadget: an allergy mask [JP] that not only will make the wearer look like a “cat” (well, kind of) but also comes with a built-in mini fan (see picture below). → Read More
Are you suffering from cold hands while using your computer? You don’t think heated, USB-powered gloves are a dumb idea? Then Thanko’s so-called “Ninja Gloves” [JP] might be the right solution for you. → Read More
Japan-based accessory specialist Sanwa Supply started selling the so-called USB Hub Robot [JP] yesterday. As the name suggests, it’s a USB hub (with two ports) that’s shaped like a cute robot robot. → Read More
What you see here is part of an art project called Dead Drops. USB drives are stuck into walls around New York City and users are encouraged to connect and upload and download whatever they want. Knowing New York these things will soon either be coated in slime or filled with chork porn it’s definitely a fun project. → Read More
The Quirky Contort is basically a four port USB hub with a trick: it also acts as a cable organizer so after you plug in all your goodies you can keep them all wrapped up and neat. The device costs $29.99 for pre-order ($35 when it comes out). → Read More
Scosche announced the latest revision to their home and car USB chargers, the reVIVE II. Based off off the same design as the original reVIVE product line, the reVIVE II still has two USB ports, but one has a 2.1 amp output (for charging an iPad) as well as the traditional 1 amp output (supports everything else). The car version has an MSRP of $24.99, and the home version sells for $29.95. → Read More
One can never have too many USB ports. If you think 80 ports are overkill, this new 13-port USB 2.0 hub [JP] might do the trick for you. Made by Japanese accessory maker Ainex, the so-called HUB-03 can be built into your desktop PC’s 5-inch bay. → Read More
