August 10th, 2011

New USB Spec Calls For Up To 100W Of Power, Thinks “Thunderbolt” Is A Cute Name

doc_brown

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

July 14th, 2011

USB-Powered Necktie Clip Cooler

necktie-top

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

July 5th, 2011

Thanko Sells Underwater Video Camera Goggles

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

July 5th, 2011

BG-BL01: Panasonic's Portable Solar Light Doubles As A USB Charger

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

June 30th, 2011

Hot Cool Box: Thanko's USB Mini Fridge Doubles As Heater

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

June 27th, 2011

Thanko Starts Selling The USB Butt Cooler Cushion (Ver. 2)

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

June 22nd, 2011

Hitachi Releases G-Connect Wireless Storage For iPad

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

May 18th, 2011

This Is A Piranha Plant USB Keychain For Today's Stylish Man

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

April 15th, 2011

Thanko's Spy Pen Shoots HD Video, Detects Motion

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

April 14th, 2011

Intel Calls USB 3.0 & Thunderbolt ‘Complementary,’ Will Support USB 3.0 in 2012

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

April 8th, 2011

Thanko's USB Video Necktie With Built-in Spy Camera

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

March 22nd, 2011

Toshiba Releases A Mobile 14-inch LCD Monitor Powered By USB

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

February 24th, 2011

Devolo's dLan 200 AV USB Extender Is World's First Powerline USB Extender

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

February 4th, 2011

Thanko Sells USB-Powered Cat-Face Allergy Mask

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

December 20th, 2010

Thanko's USB Ninja Gloves Warm Your Hands

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

December 7th, 2010

Super-cute USB Hub Robot

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

October 30th, 2010

Dead Drops: An Art Project That Puts Memory Where Your Mortar Is

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

October 30th, 2010

Quirky Contort Keeps Your USB Cables Looking Sassy

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

August 10th, 2010

Scosche reVIVE II USB Chargers Now Support the iPad

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

August 9th, 2010

Use This 13-port USB 2.0 Hub In Your PC's 5-Inch Bay

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

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