Author Archive

Matt Laboff

Administator for GetUSB.info GetUSB.info started in 2004 with the concept of providing USB information for everything USB related. At the time, USB was gaining momentum and every day new products, articles and news became published. Today, the site is focused on bringing technical information, tricks and hacks to USB related products. The site does publish off topic information as well, to keep the variety up. Please visit the footer area of any page if you or your company is interested in article or product placement via purchased advertising.

USB Fashion Continues with PQI i810

Matt Laboff April 3, 2007 Flash Storage & Memory, USB News & Press Releases

Technology fashion continues to hit the USB flash scene. PQI introduces this very girly pink UFD with brushed metal enclosure. Of course dull grey for the guys – not that we’d want something else.

PQI coins the phrase “Intelligent Drive i810” and after reviewing their press release – nothing intelligent about it. It’s a flash drive. I can surmise “intelligent” is referenced to the chick term for smart-n-sexy. I don’t think so. Available from 512MB to 2GBs go grab yourself some chick-tech-bling from PQI. Continue Reading

Automatic and Simple USB Backup Utility

Matt Laboff April 3, 2007 Tutorials & How-To Guides, USB News & Press Releases

I came across this handy USB disk drive backup software utility the other day. Tom Bell did a nice job putting this package together. The program automatically starts when the UFD is connected to the PC. Backing up your thumb drive could never be easier.

USB Backup looks for a specific configuration file – when found – it begins the auto backup. The USB backup will archive the information to a directory of your choice. If the config file isn’t found on your UFD then a simple guide will walk you through setup. Get USB Backup. The utility is in Beta now, so download and give him feedback. The back story for why Tom created this: Continue Reading

Tough Guy Industrial Grade UFD from STEC

Matt Laboff April 3, 2007 Flash Storage & Memory, USB News & Press Releases

So here we go again. Another industrial grade USB flash drive, this time from STEC. Yes it’s tough, yes the STEC will withstand shock, both physical and electric, and includes STEC proprietary flash memory controller. This built-I ECC engine can detect up to 5-byte errors and correct up to 4-byte errors and with advanced write algorithms to guarantee 2 million write/erase cycles. Not sure how they are doing that as I’ve reported before on the life cycle of a flash drive which is based more off the flash memory type not the algorithms used during the write process. None-the-less, we’ll drink their juice for now.

The STEC industrial grade UFD withstands the NEBS Level 3 compliance and passed ESD testing for 8kV and 15kV air. If you don’t know what all that means, well neither do I. With some quick Google searches we have:

NEBS Level 3 – Network Equipment Building System and level 3 means the product meets toughest requirements for fire, vibration and airflow. After reading the spec if you simply threw the UFD across the room onto your stove for 5 seconds and it survives, chances are you’ll pass the Level 3 NEBS test. Wiki NEBS

ESD 8kV & 15kV – Electrostatic Discharge of solid state electronics. A spark is triggered at 30KV so obviously the STEC wont withstand that, but surviving either 8kV or 15kV is above average. Wiki ESD

So it’s clear if you are in the need of an industrial grade UFD for specific applications the STEC key drives are worth a closer look. Continue Reading

Poll Results: How Much is Stored On Your Flash Drive?

Matt Laboff April 2, 2007 Industrial Duplication & Media Management, USB News & Press Releases

So what is the average amount of data someone stores on a flash drive? Well, I asked that question of GetUSB.info visitors and 60% said over 1GB of data and 40% said less then 1GB. The interesting thing about this poll is the spread always stayed about the same. So although just under 100 people voted, it’s probably a good indicator about usage. I’ll get another poll going in the coming weeks to find out how close or how far away the usage number is from the 1GB mark. Continue Reading

Wireless USB Hub from Icron

Matt Laboff April 2, 2007 USB Hardware & Gadgets, USB News & Press Releases, USB Security & Compliance

The WiRanger from Icron is a wireless USB hub making it easier than ever to unclutter your desk and redistribute that crap to the credenza, filing cabinet or your buddies cubical.

“Icron’s flexible ExtremeUSB technology is the engine that enables USB 1.1 or 2.0 connections over any media: wireless, cable, power line or fiber optics.”

so given Icron are experts with USB, jumping into WUSB is a logical move.

What I like about this solution is no software is needed for configuration so Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac users can benefit from this product. The hub uses a USB dongle from the host computer which communicates with the remote hub. Using the 802.11g radio frequency the WiRanger can transfer data up to …well, Icron just says high speed. Speed will be determined by the peripheral product and radio frequency output of about 58Mbps – not the performance of the hub. The range is about 30 meters from base unit to hub unit.Â The WiRanger is a 4 port hub and has a set MSRP of $395. Icron said the WUSB hub to be available this spring, which should be any day now. Icron also eludes to other high-end WUSB solutions coming to market for the military, pro-sumer and medical markets in the coming months. Continue Reading

AppleTV Video Review: A First Look by Father Bill

Matt Laboff March 30, 2007 Flash Storage & Memory, USB Hardware & Gadgets

Father Bill does an excellent job of showing you what’s under the hood of an AppleTV. If you are thinking about buying an AppleTV, this is a great review with real world examples. If you cannot see the AppleTV video review, click here. Continue Reading

Make the Most of Your Desk Grommet

Matt Laboff March 30, 2007 USB Hardware & Gadgets, USB News & Press Releases

Let me help Belkin help you with their latest product announcement the In-Desk Grommet USB Hub and In-Desk Grommet iPod Dock Station. Every now and again, a real great idea comes along and I believe this is one of them. What I like about this solution are the side spaced so you can still fit your other cables, like monitor and keyboard connections down through the desk grommet.

At $39 the Belkin In-Desk USB iPod dock station and hub are a fair price. Belkin also has two other “flat” models available. Grommet size solutions are standard 2 inch and 3 inch holes. I was going to click the Buy Now button, but Belkin is just prepping the market, nothing is available just yet. Continue Reading

The Magic Jumping USB Shoe

Matt Laboff March 29, 2007 Flash Storage & Memory, USB Hardware & Gadgets

There is really nothing to say, just watch the video. Fricken crazy.

How the hell did he get the shoe to jump that high? If you can’t see the magic jumping USB shoe, click here. Continue Reading

Stop Watch Time Machine Blind Camera

Matt Laboff March 28, 2007 USB News & Press Releases

It doesn’t use a lens. It doesn’t take a picture, but it is a camera. So what am I talking about? The blind camera “Buttons” simply marks a place in time, upon connection to the internet, it searches for other pictures taken at that exact same moment. Whatever “Buttons” finds, it will download for your viewing.

I’ll admit, not the most interesting of ideas. After all, who cares what others did at a specific moment. But, with the popularity of Flickr, Shutterfly and the likes it would be a fun social experiment. So with the help of Buttons the blind camera, you can build a snapshot of time, from every corner of the globe. Continue Reading

Lexar is Ready with Readyboost

Matt Laboff March 28, 2007 Flash Storage & Memory, USB News & Press Releases

Yesterday Lexar announced their full line of USB flash drives are Windows Vista Readyboost compliant. I’m starting to believe that being Readyboost compliant should be a standard for any flash drive. Then again, the specification from Windows is very general that any additional flash memory can be flagged for use with Readyboost.

None the less, welcome Lexar; welcome. If you’re interested in seeing what kind of boost Readyboost gives, check out the video. Continue Reading

Get Your iPod-Mix-On with iMultiMix 8 USB

Matt Laboff March 27, 2007 USB Hardware & Gadgets, USB News & Press Releases

Alesis has a new compact mixing station that does a little more than mix. What’s great about the iMultiMix 8 USB, is that you have the ability to record directly to iPod. So this direct-connect ability puts those 28-bit studio grade digital effects and recordings ripe-n-ready for podcasting.

For ultraâ€“clean live recordings of nearly any performance, including home studios, musicians, podcasters, and houses of worship, the iMultiMix 8 USB is an ideal solution.

I reported on the iPod DJMixer from ION Audio, but that was just a mixer for playing from your iPod, the iMultiMix gives you professional quality mixing, 3 band per channel EQ, guitar/line inputs, built-in FX and iPod recording in a single, smart package. This should run about $500. Continue Reading

Largest Memory Stick Micro at 4GBs, The SanDisk M2

Matt Laboff March 27, 2007 Flash Storage & Memory

Today SanDisk announced their largest Memory Stick Micro card the M2. At convenient 4GBs it’s the largest flash memory card for any mobile phone. The M2 was designed, in partnership, with Sony and their line of Ericcson mobile phones.

Norm Frentz, director of marketing believes, â€œthis is the threshold at which mobile phones provide enough capacity to become the userâ€™s all-in-one portable music player, camcorder, photo album and video player.â€

And I for one believe him. At 4GBs you can do just about anything and carry just about anything you could imagine. Continue Reading