USB Duplicator by Nexcopy Makes Content Loading a Breeze

Matt Laboff March 19, 2008 Flash Storage & Memory, USB Duplicators, USB Hardware & Gadgets, USB News & Press Releases

Update: Nexcopy reports the USB duplicator will duplicate 30MBs of data to all 20 flash drives in about 40 seconds. The USB duplicator will copy 250MBs of data in about 3.5 minutes. So the USB duplicator has good performance on data copy speeds.

Nexcopy announced earlier this week their USB200PC USB Duplicator is available for purchase. This unit appears to be the easiest and most economical way to load content to USB flash memory. The USB duplicator is a PC-based system which copies from a master location to 20 slave ports. I would think this an excellent product for those looking to produce interactive product information, sales presentations or even USB music albums on flash memory.

usb duplicator, nexcopy, usb data loading

Granted this could all be done on CD or DVD, but the idea I like about USB flash is its extreme portability, greater durability than optical media (no scratching or damage from direct sun), and the ability to be reused again and again like a big, fat floppy drive.

The USB duplicator concept seems to be a great method to manage an arsenal of flash memory, whether it be content loading to a new set of flash drives for a trade show, or updating a rotation of information to a group of USB drives (say for sales force or medical applications).

The Nexcopy USB200PC USB duplicator has some interesting features. The software will not only duplicate data, but has an option to duplicate only new and newer data. Meaning, if you don’t want to overwrite current data on the device, selecting the Copy New and Newer means it will only add data to the existing drive. This function also updates an old file with the newer version. This feature in itself makes USB drive flash management extremely easy and convenient.

The Nexcopy USB duplicator is priced at $1,299 for a 20-target USB copier, so the solution won’t kill your budget (like some $10,000+ systems I’ve seen).

Nexcopy USB Duplicator product page.

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The Virtual Sphere is Ultimate Gaming Peripheral

Matt Laboff March 17, 2008 USB Hardware & Gadgets

The VirtuSphere could be the ultimate gaming peripheral.Â The oversized ball allows a person to immerse themselves into a 3D world without obstacles or obstructions. A person would use a motion-tracking headset to project the visuals while the ball serves as your virtual terrain.Â The ball allows the user to jump, roll, run, crawl for an unlimited distance without encountering real world obstacles.

virtual gaming sphere

At over $23,000 for the VirtuSphere I doubt you’ll see this in your local Dave & Busters or arcade, but I could see a less expensive version coming out to satisfy the masses. I could also see the VirtuSphere being used in other applications besides games, such as unique exercise or simulation experience for the military, government or law enforcement. Although this news might be new to you, Continue Reading No Comments

LP 2 CD Is A Direct To CD USB Turntable

Matt Laboff March 17, 2008 USB Hardware & Gadgets

Ion Audio has continued development of their ever popular USB Turntable to now include a direct-to-CD model version. Forget about connecting the USB turntable to your PC and forget about burning CDs through your computer too.

LP 2 CD, Ion Audio

The LP 2 CD is your one-stop shop. This is the fastest and easiest way to convert your vinyl records to CD. Simply place your record on the turntable, insert a blank CD and record your album. ION Audio includes EZ Vinyl Convert 2 for the PC user and EZ Audio Converter for the Mac in case you are still interested in compressing the audio to MP3 so you can dump it into iTunes. I would think ION Audio created the LP 2 CD unit for Continue Reading No Comments

A Living Room of Devilish USB Furniture

Matt Laboff March 14, 2008 USB Hardware & Gadgets

I’m not talking about a room full of gadgetry, but how about a couple USB stools with devilish horns and a color matching book shelf to hold all your USB Gear? I found the contempo-slash-corny furniture while digging up some info about a USB bomb. Apparently the designer, Joel Escalona, who made the USB bomb also did a design prototype for a USB drive. He thought to top it all off with a room full of USB furniture.

usb furniture

It’s fair to say this wouldn’t make it into anyone’s living room, except maybe mine, or as the lobby furniture for the USB Implementors Forum. So what does “guarda todos tus demonios” mean? How about Continue Reading No Comments

USB Smart Bomb – Sure To Be A Blast

Matt Laboff March 14, 2008 USB Hardware & Gadgets

Are you ready to get blown away, USB style? Well Joel Escalona is…and this prototype design yields some interesting insight and reflection. The USB bomb is designed to store your digital content with a visual of deterring anyone from attempting to steel your digital gold. Looks like Joel has some serious content worth protecting.

usb bomb

Although the USB gadget isn’t in production, there are plenty who want to see it made and with such a unique shape and design, an interesting add-on to your work space. If Joel could team up with some security software or maybe use some open source code and incorporate a total self-destruction mechanism for unauthorized users – well, that would just top it off and blow us all away. Wouldn’t it? Continue Reading No Comments

Arrive In Style – USB Cuff Links

Matt Laboff March 7, 2008 USB Hardware & Gadgets

I doubt you’ll see these on The Red Carpet anytime soon, none the less, a true tech lover would appreciate these USB cuff links.

usb cuff links

It’s unclear what material these are made from, but IS clear it’s not real USB.Â Sure it had something to-do with size, but if you’re going to put in the effort… These ubergeek USB cuff links will set you back $25 which is a tall order for some cash-depleted geeks. Source:Â GeekAlerts. Continue Reading No Comments

DIY: New Term For Video iPod (Hint: Projector)

Matt Laboff March 7, 2008 Tutorials & How-To Guides, USB Hardware & Gadgets

I enjoy the Instructables weekly email about DIY projects. Occasionally you see one worth trying or sparks your interest enough to consider trying. This week we found an instructable for a DIY iPod Video Porjector. To turn your dream into a reality, you’ll need an iPod, mirror, lens and flat wall for projected image. Here’s the DIY video for the iPod video projector…and sure you could get a dock station and connect your iPod to your TV, keep the lights on and enjoy the latest Jon Stewart download…but where’s the sizzle in that?

Source and full tutorial: Instructables video iPod. Continue Reading No Comments

Hand Crank and Walk Away MP3 Player With USB

Matt Laboff March 7, 2008 USB Hardware & Gadgets

Seems everyone is going green these days.Â I don’t mind – let the grandkids live longer, better design on products and less impact on the environment.Â Veiro applied this philosophy to their new hand crank MP3 player.

veiro wind up mp3 player, usb

I’ve seen hand crank music players before, they where specifically design for [lack of better terms] 3rd world countries where batteries are hard to find or too expense.Â I would think the Veiro is going after the same consumer base…but with solid state memory.Â Why? The products I’ve seen before where Continue Reading No Comments

NCAA Could Live Without USB Desktop Dunk – But Could You?

Matt Laboff March 6, 2008 USB Hardware & Gadgets

The catch phrase from Firebox for the USB Desktop Dunk is “Shoot hoops without breaking a sweat.“Â Not bad – and looks like a great little gadget gift for the young ones. Complete with 4 mini basketballs the goal is to bounce them into the hoop.Â You can put the USB Desktop Dunk to good office use in “competition mode” which is 2 minutes of pure stress trying to get the high score.Â Or, if you need to sharpen those virtual hoop skills, chillÂ in “continuous play” mode.

usb desktop dunk

For added stimulation, the USB Desktop Hoops game throws out some audio fanfare with every 10 points scored (it scores 2 points per shot). Continue Reading No Comments

USB Desktop Multi-Tasking Organizational Gadget

Matt Laboff March 5, 2008 USB Hardware & Gadgets

Here is an eclectic set of USB gadgets which I think would be ideal for Frank’s Cubicle. I found the USB desktop multi-tasking organizational gadget over at ThinkGeek [via OhGizmo] and what kind of organization are we talking about? Based off the lightening fast USB speed of 1.1 you get:

1 – USB cup warmer 1 – USB mini desk lamp 1 – USB mini vacuum 1 – Open USB port (still 1.1) 1 – Pen cup holder as center base with no USB connectivity. The USB multi-tasking device does make a good gadget gift and with the recent price drop from $30 to Continue Reading No Comments

USB Privacy Mouse Is Porn Friendly

Matt Laboff March 3, 2008 USB Hardware & Gadgets

It’s obvious there is one primary use for this USB mouse:Â adult content and hiding your “habits.”

usb privacy mouse

The Politically Correct term would be the USB Privacy Mouse, here is why.Â Along with the traditional mouse configuration of left, right buttons and center scroll tool, there is a side button used for specific hot-swap configuration.Â What do we mean by hot-swap configuration?Â Well, since a picture can tell a thousand words, consider this: Continue Reading No Comments

Give Your iPod Some Wood

Matt Laboff February 26, 2008 USB Hardware & Gadgets

Okay, so that’s a cheezy headline, but here’s the deal – Vers Audio has this all natural cherry-veneered wooden speaker cabinet to add that classic look/feel to your office.Â Personally, I think there’s nothing better than the sound coming from a wooden speaker box.Â I still have some solid cherry-wood Bang&Olfsen speakers from 20 years ago – that sound absolutely awesome. Although the Vers 2X isn’t Bang&Olfsen, the 3 inch full-range speakers backed with 20-watts per channel should livin up your space.Â At just 11.5″ x 5.6″ x 5.6″ the Vers 2X wont take up much room either.

vers 2x

The Vers 2X supports the entire Apple i-stuff line (including iPhone) and comes with a brushed aluminum remote for the armchair music enthusiast. Continue Reading No Comments