One of the most classic and – yet still perversely prevalent – issues IT staff face is resetting Windows passwords for users who have forgotten them (again). While remote administration has reduced the need to physically reactivate and reset passwords in most scenarios, a copy of L0phtcrack still remains in every experienced admins ‘toolbox’. Of course, having to reboot the system and use a copy of Bart PE or other portable OS’ to run L0phtcrack has a PITA factor all its own.

Well, it seems that entrepreneur Jonty Lovell has done something about it as the all new – and fully funded – Password Reset Key has been designed to take the hassle out of this common issue. In fact, as long as you have physical access to the system even home owners can now reset their forgotten password within mere moments.

The secret to the Password Reset Key is the fact that it combines a key shaped 1GB flash drive – available in black, stainless steel, or ‘gold’ – with a simple OS that auto-loads his custom software upon startup. Just as with L0phtcrack, with a simple click or three, you can scan, reset and even test how secure a given systems login passwords are. Because of its ‘key’ form factor, it will be hard to lose as you can simply stick on your keychain and always have it close at hand. However, be warned that this $15 – $50 device (depending on which option to choose) may get you in trouble with your IT staff as resetting the ‘administrator’ password will greatly ‘annoy’ them if they find out.

The Xpower 2 in 1 Zipper USB cable will support all micro USB and lightning devices.

With its unique zipper design, it allows the cable to become expandable enough to charge more than one device at any given moment. It also supports iOS 7 and android devices. It is conveniently 36cm in length.

The 2 in 1 Zipper USB cable will make multitasking much easier. The design and size make it very practical for transporting with you on the go. Its cable syncsupport is a 2.4A output at max and it has a 30/30 AWG high speed transmission and cable sync with micro UBSs only.

USB zipper cable

Source:  Brando.

We have heard about the USB hand warmer or the USB foot warmer or even the USB eye warmer, but it appears we’ve gone one step further.  I guess if there were ever a line to draw in the sand as to much, is too much, this would be it.  Brando, a distributor of USB gadgets, now has on sale a USB head massager.

For $52 US dollars you can have this goofy looking head bracket which will vibrate at your heads key acupuncture points.

If anyone ends up buying this USB head massager, please post a picture of you wearing it on our facebook page.

Corsair continues their reputation for high speed, high quality USB products.  This year at the CES 2014 show Corsair is showing off their new Voyager Go USB drive.

Two improvements with this device:

1)  The USB includes a standard USB connector and a microUSB connector.  This addition makes it easier to store files from a portable device directly to the flash memory.

2)  The USB cap and USB body include a loop so when connected with a lanyard you no longer have the option to lose the cap.  This is the first that I’ve seen with a cap/body configuration like this…and it should have happened years ago.

The Corsair Voyager Go USB is available as a 3.0 device in 16, 32 and 64GB capacity.  USB 3.0 can boost transfer speeds in excess of 135MB/s however we must realize this spec is not real-world environment.

Source:  Corsair, CES.

It is all over the internet, the universal USB connector; however, it is difficult to find the physical design or look of the connector.  Most websites are posting old style 2.0 or 3.0 connectors.  From reading through the USB.org documentation, we have the following physical design specs.

From the notes in the document, these designs could change, but at least we have an idea.

Is Checksum or CRC better for checking data written to USB flash drives?

This post is to give the general user an idea of what verification method is better for writing data to a flash drive.  There are reference links at the bottom of this post which dive much deeper into the two methods of verification if this simple overview is not enough.

The short answer is Cyclical Redundancy Check or CRC is the best method for checking data written to a USB flash drive.

Many believe a checksum is the best method to verify data written to a flash drive (most popular is MD5).  I believe this is favored because it is easier to understand how the verification works, and also easier to implement.  However, there are flaws in checksum verification and therefore not suitable for verification of data written to a flash drive.

What is the difference between Checksum and CRC verification?  The checksum method uses addition in its math calculations to check whether all data was written correctly.  CRC uses long division in its math calculations to check whether all data was written correctly.  It is worth noting I am talking about binary long division, not the school-yard long division you so fondly remember.

Checksum methods will calculate the total

Alaska Airlines passengers will now be able to use their tablets, book readers, and cellphones all the way from the gate to thousands of feet in the air.

Starting Nov. 9, passengers will be able to use their electronic devices on board the plane, and even use WiFi, at 10,000 feet in the air.  Alaska Airlines will start flying its first aircraft with 110-volt and USB power outlets at every seat next month. Most of the fleet will be equipped by the end of 2014.