We’ve seen the first step in USB 3.0 which is the USB host controller.  This gives motherboards the opportunity for USB 3.0 devices to connect.  Now we are starting to see other system support peripherals such as the USB 3.0 hub.

VIA announced their USB 3.0 four port hub this week just days before CES 2010.  We fully expect others to make a similar announcement during the CES show, but VIA, thus far, has beat everyone to the punch.

The USB 3.0 hub supports 4 downstream ports and one upstream port.  The board is powered via AC and VIA claims to have improved the power management in the USB 3.0 hubs to allow attached devices to enter into a lower power state when not being used. The chip itself is based on advanced 80nm CMOS technology which makes it a more power efficient USB hub controller.

VIA did indicate the USB 3.0 hub is not only backward compatible, but also supports the full 5Gb/s transfer rate USB 3.0 calls for.  No word on price, but I’m forecasting a 50% increase in price over traditional USB hubs.

VIA press release.

If Nexcopy where to make a movie about USB duplicators and data loading USB flash drives, this would be the movie trailer to draw in attention.

Clearly, it would be ‘the most boring’ movie in the world, but I’ll have to admit the movie trailer is quite impressive given the mundane product.

Nexcopy did a good job of putting a unique spin on their product announcement for the new 40 and 60 port USB duplicators via a movie trailer.  The 1 minute video gives you just enough information to peak your interest, yet doesn’t bore you enough to click away.

The high definition version is posted on youtube, but you’ll get the point from this:

Click to learn more about the Nexcopy USB duplicator and SD duplicator solutions and their all new 40 and 60 port solutions.

Source: Zedomax.

Nexcopy just released two large USB duplicator systems that are 40 and 60 ports.  Geared towards in-house USB duplication from fortune 500 companies, schools, universities and service bureaus, the Nexcopy units offer the largest PC based systems on the market.

It would be interesting to know how they got past the Windows drive letter limitation to reach the larger capacities.  The two new USB duplicator systems are modular in design.  Meaning you can start with a 20 port duplicator and expand it to 40 or 60 ports by simply adding more boxes.  I like this feature because it allows the user to grow as their duplication requirements increase.
Nexcopy also mentions their new Data Collection feature.  This is an interesting concept as it does the reverse of what you would think a USB duplicator is designed for.  The Data Collection feature allows you to suck data OFF the USB stick and put the content to the host computer. (more…)

Wouldn’t it be cool that whenever you plug in a USB device your computer would make an awesome artillery sound?  I think it would - for at least the first 30 times - and so I found a solution for you.  The USB hub artillery gun.

This hub looks very cool and plays a three second sound effect upon connection of a USB device.  This really had me…until I read it was USB 1.1 compliant.  I didn’t know China was still cranking out USB with ONLY 1.1 support…especially with USB SuperSpeed just around the corner.

The 1.1 spec means this USB hub artillery gun is really only good for mice, keyboards and other slow input devices.  Meaning you wont get the awesome sound effects all that often.  Still, it might be worth the (more…)

A UK based company [Cambrionix Limited]  has mapped out a single PCB board to house 49 USB ports.  Using the typical cascading style of USB typology, the main 7 port hub is then wired to another set of 7 hubs with seven ports…giving you 49 total.

The device is originally designed for testing USB devices in bulk, which is fine, but I see a fundamental flaw in all this.  If one Hub chip goes south, the entire board [or portion of it] goes bad as well.

Typically a cascade style is fine because if one hub goes bad you simply replace that one hub, but in this case it’s not so easy.  With an entire PCB board, you need solder rework - that takes time and expense.  It’s a great concept, but I don’t think it’s very practical.  Here at GetUSB (more…)

USBFever rolled out a Gothic looking Skull shaped USB hub.  Almost good enough to be a prop for CSI, the skull hub includes a tray for collecting your cr&p.

Nothing too extraordinary except the shape…you have 4 high speed USB ports, two on each side making it easy to connect your cables, USB sticks and other gadgets.

The Skull USB hub retails for $35.  Shipping is just $3 from Hong Kong.  GetUSB.info has received plenty of items from USBFever and you get the shipment within 5 business days of placing the order.  Not bad for $3 shipping cost. (more…)

It’s about “time” someone came up with a USB hub that looked like a watch.  What better way to suggest to your boss it’s time to leave then prop up your USB hub just before quit’in time [like that would happen].  This should fair particularly well for those clock watcher types.

There is not conformation, but from the look of the images at USB Fever, the 4 port USB hub really does tell time.  It connects via miniUSB with 4 port type A connectors.

The watch also illuminates blue if for some reason you are working in the dark.

Watch Style USB 4 Port Hub - only $14.

More USB Fever products.