Paper Thin USB Key Turns Magazines Into USB Distribution Method
- Step 1 – Open magazine and see the ad
- Step 2 – Pop out the webkey
- Step 3 – Connect it to a USB port on your PC
USB Movie Sticks – Starts NOW
Actor Morgan Freeman and his production company Digiboo are trying to break ground with sales and distribution of movies via USB. We love the idea!
USB Movie sticks might become a thing of the future as Digiboo plans to launch over 100 kiosks in Hollywood Video stores next year; the first will roll out in January. People will be able to plug a USB device into the kiosk, download movies to rent or own, and then plug them in to any USB 2.0 or 3.0-compatible devices.
Before you ask, yes, DRM is layered into the movie content so put away your ideas of bit-for-bit USB copies to pirate your movies. However, you now own the content on a portable device which will pug into just about anything including xBox or game consoles, cars, computers and set top boxes. No word on how transferable the format will be to get the rented video from USB to something like a iPhone or PDA for portable playback.
About two years ago we started reporting on the USB music albums and now it appears we’ll see more articles about USB movie sticks.
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USB Registry Cleaner Tool
UPDATE: USB Scrub by Nexcopy now supports Win7, Win10 (32/64bit) and Windows 11
USB Registry Cleaner Tool which is FREE!
Did you know Windows can make over 260 registry entries with a single enumeration of a USB stick? This means for those with multiple flash drives, your registry will get extremely cluttered and bogged down.
With flash drives dirt cheap these days, you’ll find at least a couple dozen going into your computer throughout the year. That would be over 6,240 registry entries.
USB Scrub is a free utility from Nexcopy which performs a deep cleaning of those unused drivers and registry edits.
We gave USB Scrub a try, and it worked great. We went from enumerating a single USB stick in 45 seconds to enumerating that stick in less than 12 seconds.
In addition, if you have a USB stick that doesn’t perform correctly or the Windows OS doesn’t see it, chances are the USB Scrub will clear up those problems and your drive will work once again. This is because a registry entry can become corrupt, and simply clearing it out will resolve your issue.
So let’s take a closer look.
Using RegShot (a free application which takes a snapshot before and after an event and compares only the changed registry values), I took a snapshot before and after a USB stick was connected and ejected. The result was this:
- 78 Registry Keys created
- 183 Registry Values added
- 261 Registry edits in total!
Here is a snapshot. Click the image to get the full text file:
Next, I took a snapshot of the registry before a stick was connected, then ran USB Scrub, then took the second registry snapshot. This is what I got:
- 1 Registry Key added
- 3 Registry Values added
Clearly we have a big difference. Clearly we have a great cleaning tool for USB devices in Windows.
If you have a USB flash drive not working correctly, a slow computer, or you are a heavy user of removable drives, give USB Scrub a try. You’ll see a noticeable difference in USB enumeration.
As a closing note, when the enumeration speed went from 45 seconds to 12 seconds, USB Scrub reported that it cleared over 9,000 registry entries.
USB Scrub is a free utility. There is no malware or spyware.
Unfortunately, USB Scrub only supported Windows XP in the past. The maker, Nexcopy, has now updated support for Windows 7 and Windows 10. (Does not support Windows 8.)
UPDATE: Download link now supports Windows 7 and Windows 10 (32/64bit).
Download USB Scrub. Source: EverythingUSB.com.
AA Battery Charger Via USB Ports – Save 72%
At the time of this article, Buy.com has a set of AA battery chargers which re-powers via USB at a 72% savings. List price went from $24 down to $7 bucks! Great stocking stuffer for the geeky Dad, brother or in-law.
Windows 7 Direct Download Gone For Now
Last week we posted an article for Windows 7 users to download a utility to make a bootable USB recovery stick. Well, looks like that feature is [temporarily] gone. So what gives? It appears Microsoft lifted some GPL code to make their ImageMaster tool for bootable USBs. Interesting. We posted how you could make your own nt60 USB recovery stick. Check it out.
Windows 7 Offers Direct Download For Bootable USB Recovery Drive
There is no doubt Netbooks are becoming more and more popular. The problem with Netbooks if your computer goes south, no optical drive is available to restore your computer. You either have to A) buy an optical drive, burn a bootable backup or B) call the manufacturer and request a disc.
“The ‘Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool’ is used when you buy a down-loadable version of the software from Microsoft’s online store. During the download process, buyers are given the option of creating a bootable USB stick or burning a DVD.”So now the question becomes, should a user be required to Continue Reading No Comments
USB Duplicator Movie Trailer – Say What?
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. Continue Reading No CommentsLaCie Partners with Designer Philippe Starck For New USB Hard Drive
Press Release
PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 6, 2009) Today LaCie, in collaboration with world-famous designer Philippe Starck, announced the LaCie Starck Desktop Hard Drive and the LaCie Starck Mobile Hard Drive. The new products showcase more than just Starck’s iconic signature; there is an intellect revealed throughout each component of the design. From Philippe Starck: “Technological genius explodes exponentially, each time with incredible power whose limits are yet to be known. The power remains, never abating, symbolically characterized by the sculptural magma that one attempts to cleave, to master within this geometrically perfect strongbox. A symbol of strength mastered, of freedom guided, of incandescent magma heeding to the form of its cast. The interpretation is free. But the mystery remains.”
USB Soldering Iron Is One Hot Rod
Thanko is getting us one step closer to computers fixing themselves with the USB soldering iron. The USB soldering iron can heat up to 390F on a single USB connection or 570F with a dual connection so it’ll handle just about any quick fix job you need while out on site.
GetUSB Dealz: Kingston 4GB DataTraveler Only $10
Buy.com has a very good special going right now. The Kingston 4GB DataTraveler for only $10. What’s even better – buy in bulk as your limit is 100 units. Shipping is also free within the US.
Standalone 35mm Slide Scanner
I have mentioned other 35mm Slide Scanners, but today I found one which is 100% standalone, no PC required! This standalone 35mm Slide Scanner allows even the most technologically challenged person easily scan old 35mm slides into digital archives.
Internal USB Expansion Board
iBUYPOWER is best known for their gaming rigs and powerful laptops, who knew they also dabled in USB board components. Well maybe you did, but I didn’t. iBUYPOWER released this sweet little internal expansion board for USB devices. The point of the expansion board is to provide additional power to those growing number of gadgets you’ve seemed to accumulate.