Sharpen your tech skills with my USB Hacks which range from physical device modifications to software & firmware hacks to make your gadget run just the way you want.
« Previous EntriesSome guy in Germany had a bit too much time on his hands and modified a Nerf gun into a electromagnetic USB stick stun gun.

This gun is by no means subtle and was modified from an old Nerf N-Strike Recon CS-6. Added to the mod was an MP3 player and amp for sound effects, a flash unit and 50-turn copper spool. The completed gun, including accupack, chips, LEDs, paint, and primer, cost around $75 to construct and still works as the original N-Strike gun.
The video shows several RFID products killed so the signal no longer works, and the author also claims it will destroy USB sticks, and I would assume, many other electronic gadgets.
Clearly a fun and interesting product for the hobbiest, but very little particle use.
Source: Pocket-Lint.com
Windows XP Home edition requires a different method to turn off the USB autoplay function than XP Professional [which we reported on earlier].
It’s not difficult to turn off the USB autoplay, just a couple easy steps.
Note: We are going into the Registry so be careful not to do anything other than what we suggest.
Got to> START > RUN > type “regedit“
Navegate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER
+ software
+ Microsoft
+ Windows
+ CurrentVersion
+ Policies
+ Explorer
**The “+” are the registry hives you must expand.
Now click the + Explorer directory just once so it is blue. On the right side you will see “NoDriveTrypeAutoRun“
Right click that and Select “Modify“

Here you most likely have b5 listed in the “Value data” field. Simply replace that value with 95.
Click OK.

Close out of the Registry and reboot your machine. Done!
Last week we posted an article for Windows 7 users to download a utility to make a bootable USB recovery stick. Well, looks like that feature is [temporarily] gone.
So what gives?
It appears Microsoft lifted some GPL code to make their ImageMaster tool for bootable USBs. Interesting.
We posted how you could make your own nt60 USB recovery stick. Check it out.
From eWeek here is a bit of detail: (more…)
Backyard Brand is looking to coin a new phrase with their FlashHarp USB drive. I’m classifying this under hand crafted USB because it’s a relatively simple mod of a harmonica to include a USB drive.
Granted, Backyard came up with the idea, so props to them.

They do a good job of selling the concept with: “Even if you never master the art of blowing the harp, you’ll never have to throw this harmonica in the back of a drawer. Sweet gift for anybody, young or old, who really likes music.”

If this stick gains any kind of traction we can expect china to knock off a plastic version of this in about 3 months or less. Granted, it’s not your typical custom USB drive, but for those looking to get the original mod, head over to Etsy and grab yourself a 2GBer of sweet soul for $44USD.
USB Harmonica FlashHarp product page [they should spell it FlasHarp]
In most cases, the cigarette lighter inside a car is used for nothing more than a charger outlet. This is why Rosenberger31 updated his outlet with a USB connector. It’s a nice USB hack.
There is no data connection here, just a regulated port to provide a nice stream of 5v to your USB Powered Gadgets.

He removed the access door on the console where the 12v lighter was located. A Dynex 12-volt to USB adapter was piggy-backed onto the power lines and the USB connector was then fit into the blank accessory plate next to it. What he didn’t mention was a much needed switch to insure juice wasn’t flowing to your USB device while the power is off.
I think Rosenberger31 did a nice job on the dashboard mod. What do you think? (more…)
Here at GetUSB.info we are a fan of the USB key logger technology. After all, what better way to find out what employees, girlfriends and such are doing with their spare time. Especially with all the social network, it’s important to know what is, or is not, being said about you.
We have reported about USB key loggers before, but this one is especially nice with the old school PS/2 connector. Great for the older machines.
The device comes with 2MB of internal memory, but check it often as that amount of space will be filled quickly.
Pricing is a bit different depending on the connection type you need. $60-$75.
Here is the USB key logger product page.
Reminder from UberGizmo.
In the beginning of July Engadget posted an article about a new release of Star Wars USB drives, not that we need more, but it was a fun little gallery - yet, not impressive enough to make you buy. Today that changed with this artist’s rendition of what he thinks a Star Wars USB drive should look like.
It should look like Luke Skywalker’s hand just got cut off.

That’s right, to gain access to your portable storage you need to sever Luke’s hand.
What’s more impressive is the detail of this home-brewed USB stick and the agony you can see in Luke’s eyes while you detach his hand just to store the latest collection of Tera Patrick photos.
No price as I don’t think these are for sale, but definitely a sweet little project for some bored teen. (more…)
Sharpen your tech skills with my USB Hacks which range from physical device modifications to software & firmware hacks to make your gadget run just the way you want.
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