There is definitely an Altoids DIY underground. I bumped into an article on how to make an iPod charger from an Altoids Tin yesterday at Chris DiClerico’s website. After doing a little research I see there is a big following for Altoids Tin do-it-yourself projects. So, to service my reader group, herezzz the how to:
It’s a very easy project and a great one for beginners looking to tweak something. The goal is to make a charger from two 9V batteries and two AA batteries which should juice your iPod for another 10 hours. Then house that charger in a clean looking Altoids Tin. Couple things you’ll need:
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Ion Audio released their iTTUSB USB Turntable several years ago and has since introduced the product with dust cover, the iTTUSB10. But isn’t the dust coming off those old records?
Once you get the convert vinyl to MP3 process down, grab the portable iPod PA system and head outdoors. The iPA03 is from Ion Audio and is built for outdoor abuse with the roadie looking case, wheels and handle. With microphone included this might be
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So… things are a little bit slow this morning with USB so jumping over to YouTube I found this 1min 27sec video on Vista booting up using the USB Readyboost technology. Although it’s not an official test using multiple machines and configurations, I think you’ll conclude that if you’ve got an extra 512MB flash drive laying around, use it for Readyboost. If you want the money shot without video, read the end of this post:
Sorry – Video off Youtube but the point was the benefit isn’t all that great using Readyboost to speed boot process
Results: Without Readyboost – 43 seconds to boot. With Readyboost – 14 seconds.
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With all the Windows Vista buzz flying around on the internet, I asked myself how could USB fit into this, besides the Readyboost power-up feature Vista provides. I found this forum post, via EverythingUSB, and wanted to share it with my USB clan. So here it goes:
Why install Windows Vista from a USB flash drive?
As any tech savvy would answer: Performance. Installing Windows Vista from a high speed USB flash drive is, most likely, the easiest & fastest way to complete a Windows Vista install. This is much faster than using a DVD, gigabit Ethernet, or external USB hard drives because the differences in access speed & transfer rates.
Play-by-play guide to installing Vista from a USB flash drive:
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The Logitech USB MX3200 is a stylish wireless keyboard, loaded with hotkey options and built in LED display features. Our Across-the-Pond friends at Gadget Centre did a nice review and it’s worth a read if you’re shopping for a wireless keyboard.
The Logitech MX3200 is a sleek black HID (human input device) that connects instantly via the secure USB receiver supplied, using Logitech’s SetPoint software to configure a range of hotkeys to work within Windows.
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EPOS introduces a revolutionary twist on the digital pen. This next generation digital pen will automatically scribe any writing to the USB flash drive. The key, is an EPOS chip on the flash drive which receives communication from the EPOS embedded chip on the digital pen.
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We’ve seen wireless iPod speakers before, but Hammacher made a slippery twist with their wireless iPod speaker system to include water proofing. Never before has it been this easy to become American Idol while in the shower. Or maybe just get the party started while pool-side.
The water-resistant iPod speakers have a range of 150 feet and house 3 inch 6-watt speakers. The dock sends juice to the iPod while docked and is compatible with all models. Other basics include AM/FM, clock and easy-to-read display.
Runs just under $200. Here are alternate iPod speakers.
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Now that Wireless USB products are starting to ship we’ll see a lot more of USB-IF certified chips and controllers. Take the LucidPORT L800 WUSB Device Controller.
This is an 8 or 16 bit memory mapped DMA slave chip to provide wireless connectivity to 31 devices. The L800 supports all the drivers offered by USB spec such as Mass Storage Device, Printer, Scanner and Video Classes and will auto switch between wired USB and Wireless USB connections.
So what does this mean? Here’s an example, the LucidPORT L800 would be integrated into a PC, either onto the motherboard or an adaptor card, from there the L800 can pick up
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EISST or Enterprise Information Security Systems & Technologies introduced their 100 percent encrypted web browser, the e-Capsule, the first of it’s kind. We’ve seen countless warnings of Internet Explorer being hacked and e-Capsule could be your answer.
E-Capsule is a zero footprint internet browser because the application launches from a U3 USB or UFD drive. The elegance of e-Capsule lies within the code as security and confidentiality of online sessions and transaction are embedded in the application design.
It’s nice to see the continued growth of U3 software for flash drives. Take my latest find, an educational music package for kids, MusiCan. The music is clearly aimed at children and my little one loves MusiCan and the animated screens which go with it.
There are various levels of learning in each collection from identifying animals to learning your way around a keyboard. Here are a couple screen shots:
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WUSB is Wireless USB a high-bandwidth wireless extension to USB which is short-range so also known as WUSB. WUSB combines the speed of USB 2.0 of 480Mbit per second with the convenience and ease of wireless technology. WUSB is the most common terminology used for Wireless USB but the Implementers Forum or USB-IF would rather you say Certified Wireless USB, but who’s got time for that.
WUSB is based off the WiMedia Alliance’s Ultra-WideBand (UWB) radio platform which means WUSB will work at the 480Mbit/s speed up to 9 feet away and then slow down to
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Here is a Zune hack video tutorial on getting the Zune to appear on your desktop or file browser thus allowing you to use the Zune as a mass storage device.
Sorry folks, the video got pulled from YouTube. Please visit this Zune as mass storage device tutorial.
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