I had doubts putting this post up today.  Honestly it’s just for the pure novelty of it all.  Brando has a USB Ferris Wheel for your office.  Yes, that’s right, a ferris wheel to make your work day just that much more fun.

The problem is how annoying the USB toy really is.  You’ll either throw it out the window or you’re co-workers will.  I’m not even sure if kids would enjoy this after 3 or 4 seconds.

I can’t post the video of the USB Ferris Wheel working, but click over to the Brando site and check it out yourself.

I really shouldn’t have posted this useless USB novelty.  [$30 + shipping]

Converging technologies collide.  At first, I thought this to be just another MP3 player, but it does more than just play music.

The USB MP3 cassette player also works as a car stereo adapter to connect your iPod or iPhone, CD player or a different MP3 player.  Or simply insert a loaded SD card with MP3 files and your car will play that too.

If that isn’t enough, connect the USB cassette player to your PC via USB cable and turn it into a SD, micro or miniSD card reader.

It may seem over simplistic or gimmicky to you, but to me it’s a nice mix of converging technologies.  Believe it or not, I’m buying one right now.

Brando product page.

Brando sent out an email with their latest USB flash drive and the images immediately caught my eye.  I must also admit, the USB key isn’t solid gold either, Brando doesn’t sell expensive stuff.

This day in age, even a USB stick that looks like a gold bar should make you feel better.  We all know how the stock market has been treating us.

As with all USB keys, it’s plug-n-play, works on all OS’ and is made of a metal gold case.  Size is 55 x 22 x 11mm.

Priced just right at

So what are some basic elements you need to overcome to use the USB spy camera packed up as a cigarette lighter?  First, you need to be someone who smokes…or looks like someone who smokes.  It wouldn’t be easy to use this product on your friends, if they know you don’t smoke.  Second, you need to be willing to let the world know you’re a smoker.  This probably isn’t a big deal for most people in the world, but being from California, it’s something no one approves of.

So if you’ve gotten past the stigma, then the cigarette lighter spy camera is a viable option to bust your best friend, wife or boss with suspicious activity.

With 2GB of built in memory, you’ll never have a shortage of memory for audio or video surveillance.  In addition, the video quality is fairly good at 640 x 480 pixels and a respectable 16 frames per second [respectable given the size of the device at just 5.3 x 3.7 x 1.2 cm].  Once your mission is complete, and you feel something good was caught on tape, simply download the content via USB and make your case.

In the old days a fast car and leather jacket would get a ladies attention.  From there it’s up to you to close the deal.  Well, today some might want to try ubergeek gear to get a girls attention.  To that end, consider the USB butterfly flash drive.

The USB butterfly flash drive has a  bronzish, gold butterfly logo on the front and Cubic Zirconium center piece to finish it off – then polished silver body to give it shine and luster.

Attach the USB butterfly to your BMW key chain and you might just get the attention you need from that girl you’ve been eying…but make sure the BMW logo is well seen.

Take it a step further and tell her the USB drive has a VVS1 diamond encrusted on the front, but don’t tell her it’s your Dad’s Beemer.

Truth be told, the 8GB drive will only set you back $32.

Source.  Brando.

The desk drawer to my left is full of card readers, USB sticks, cables etc.  It’s just too much.  Last week Brando sent me an email with their latest idea to reduce the clutter and global waste of all these connection devices.  It was a USB cable with an SD card reader built; in-line.

Take away the fact that it’s ANOTHER cable I will have, the idea of putting connectors in-line a USB cable is brilliant.

There are two versions to you can buy, but really only one is needed.  Brando offers the full size SD card reader and the microSD card reader version.  Simply buy the full SD card version and get a microSD adapter and you are set.

USB sticks come in many different sizes, shapes and colors, but today is the first time we’ve seen a custom USB drive with the look and feel of RAM memory.  The Segon Turbo drive is another release from Brando on unique USB shapes.

Brando claims it’s ingenious and exquisite, which I think is a bit too much on credit, but definitely a different look.  Too bad you can’t use the PCI looking slot to boost your real RAM needs.

The Segon Turbo drive includes a push-pull design for the USB connector making it a good portable product with protection to the connector.

Some notable software functionality comes preloaded on the IC controller chip, such as:

1. Security Manager
2. Boot Manager
3. Flash Mail Manager
4. PC Lock Manager
5. Bookmark Manager
6. Security Folder

Available in a 2 and 4GB sizes, starting at just $12.