Looking to for a simple DIY project for a school report or class event, this USB charger is it!  Or if you’re just looking to try your hand with some simple electronic wiring to see if you have what it takes.

Well, using some off-the-shelf times, a battery and the simple schematics below you can have a great USB charge for just about any USB product.

The full tutorial is at Instructables, and I’ve also seen a couple good comments in their thread, like:

I don’t think this model has small hands, I think it’s a legitimately large USB mouse.  With a size of 175mm long and 105mm wide, I don’t think you can argue.  Or can you?  Hit our Facebook page and give us some reasons on who or why someone would need a big USB mouse like this…

Source:

In a mad rush, I’ve logged off my computer, shut down the PC and ran out the door.  All the while with my USB stick still connected.  The USB stick with all my photo’s, portable applications and the exe file I promised to give my neighbor.  Getting home, I reach for my flash drive in pocket, and oh Sh1t it isn’t there.

Or some of you may be using USB’s to boot from so there is boot strap code on the device.  If the USB is connected during bootup of your PC, you can get an error message…and for a non-tech person [wife or girlfriend] they may think their computer has crashed.

The only way around all this stuff is making sure to pull the USB out of your computer.

With USB Guard this is exactly what it does, reminds you a USB flashdrive is connected before you log off, or power down the PC.

You can also flag USB hard drives so they too are never forgotten.

Source:  Apple.com.

IronKey has long been known as the ultimate in data storage and security for content loaded on a flash drive.  With hardware encryption, self destruct safety protocols for incorrect passwords and AES 256 data encryption it’s no wonder those who need the ultimate in data security go to IronKey.  Well no longer says Imation.

Under the agreement, Imation will receive exclusive license rights from IronKey for the secure storage management software and service along with licensing to use the IronKey brand for its secure storage products.

While Imation is bringing the IronKey brand to a global distribution channel, IronKey will accelerate their focus on cloud-based security tools and features.  IronKey will support

Microsoft is looking to make their OS more portable.  With Windows8 one of the features the Redmond Washington company is featuring is a bootable OS.  True, we’ve seen both Windows and Linux distro’s bootable off a flash drive, but what makes this a bit different is 1)  being legal and 2)  officially supported.  This seems a very smart move to keep Microsoft positioned to as an option as virtual desktop and thin client systems continue to rise in popularity. Many power users already run virtual laptops off of USB drives enabling them to work on a single consistent environment at both home and work without fussing with a laptop/briefcase. This should cement the concept and help keep MS moving towards more secure OS options comparable to VPMs.

With an official version of bootable Windows OS, IT managers could now use a USB Duplicator to mass produce their installation and/or restore media in a much faster time frame then using an old school optical duplicator.

An additional caveat of the portable Windows system is the speed of the environment.  Granted, there is nothing like running off a hard disk, but running of NAND flash will be almost as smooth…and with memory performance getting better with USB 3.0 flashdrive devices, it will become two of the same.

Video of Windows8 running on a MacBook Pro after the jump

In a jelly battery the jelly would replace the liquid electrolytes currently used in most lithium batteries.  University of Leeds dreamed up a very unique solution to our never-ending-quest for more battery power.

A new prototype of battery, the jelly battery, avoids what the pros call “thermal runaway.”  The thermal runaway is what causes batteries to over heat and [sometimes] catch on fire.

The Leeds research team says their secret to success lies in the blending of a rubber like polymer with a conductive, liquid electrolyte into a thin, flexible file of gel.  That film sits between the battery electrodes.

“Safety is of paramount importance in lithium batteries. Conventional lithium batteries use electrolytes based on organic liquids; this is what you see burning in pictures of lithium batteries that catch fire. Replacing liquid electrolytes by a polymer or gel electrolyte should improve safety and lead to an all-solid-state cell,”

said Professor Peter Bruce from the University of St Andrews, who was not involved in the study.