Instructables has a nice USB LED lantern DIY project. I think the most important part about this project is getting a cool enough looking lantern. Make sure it’s 50s-60s style with some wear on ti.
For the full instructions go to the Instructables page.
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Doing anything to make your product stand out is the only way to get your company ahead. Over the past 3 years, going green has been a very popular theme with many companies. Qmadix is another company you can add to the list. Qmadix introduces a biodegradable USB cable.
The biodegradable USB cable works like any typical USB cable. It is USB-IF certified to guarantee performance speed. It comes in Type A and Type B connector styles. Qmadix also includes HDMI and 30 pin Apple connectors.
The big difference is the coating put on the cable. The USB biodegradable cable uses a plant-based by-product to protect the internal copper. The cable will remain stable during use in the home or office, but once put into a landfill, the degrading begins.
We suspect is has to do with moisture levels, but not 100% sure. The plant-based coating will biodegrade the cable in about
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Now that USB is becoming the standard charging bus for all portable electronic devices [at least in UK], we can truly embrace the wall mount USB charger.
This slick looking wall mount uses one DC outlet from your wall and extends it to the face plate along with two USB charging ports. The two ports can charge one iPad or two iPhones. Of course it will accommodate other USB based devices like Android, tablets etc.
It would have been nice to see some additional logic inside which would send enough current for 4 or 6 devices. I also think if you are going to eliminate one complete wall socket, might as well offer more USB ports.
RCA is selling the charger for $20 retail.
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Roku has a USB looking set-top-box which runs streaming video off the Mobile High Definition Link [MHL] interface standard.
It’s a sweet package all bundled up for portability. As you can see the HDMI connector of the USB device, you click it once to a MHL supported TV and using the TV’s own remote you can steam video without the need of a bulky set-top-box.
Televisions that support MHL will be able to integrate Roku’s streaming TV platform simply by plugging in the stick. With the stick docked, it will be just like having the Roku set-top box: it adds the Roku interface (and the 400+ channels it offers), Wi-Fi connectivity, and local storage to the TV it is used on.
MHL standard is quickly becoming adopted by the major players like
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Helion Microsystems has a quick and simple USB interface board designed for any home project or development project. The PCB features the HU-320 USB interface IC chipset, and exposes all functions to the 30pin connector of the board. The PCB also features a software switchable adjustable linier power supply for powering attached circuitry.
Feature List includes:
All USB interface requirements
Press Release:
NUREMBERG, Germany – TE Connectivity (TE) has expanded its portfolio of industrial USB 2.0 connectors to include latching and circular sealed USB connectors.
The latching version adds retention force to USB connections and features a latching plug and receptacle with standard IP 20 protection. This USB connector adds 40 Newtons of locking strength with an integrated, positive latching mechanism and offers 1,500 mating and unmating cycles. The latching mechanism helps to avoid downtime caused by accidental unplugging and an audible and tactile feedback confirms to the user that the connector is fully engaged. Typical applications are in the mobile segment, such as hand-held devices with a controller-to-peripheral interconnection.
The latching USB connector’s high-speed standard allows the transmission of up to 480 Mb/s data plus up to 5 volts/500 milliamps over one cable. Cable assemblies of 1 to 5 meters in length make it easy to use the latching feature without having to assemble cables. Customers simply need to design-in the latching receptacle to the board side of their product. If more than one USB port is required, a double-row latching receptacle can be used. Versions are available in standard Type A configurations.
Ruggedized USB connections
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I just read this article from PC Magazine about watchdog group SumOf US taking on Apple for poor worker conditions in China.  I’m all for making the world a better place for mankind. I also think some perspective is needed.
One of Apple’s biggest contract manufacturers [CMs] FoxConn has been under fire the last 12 months for employee suicides and a fire in a production facility.
It was reported the suicides are directly related to working conditions. However, it’s important to keep some perspective. FoxConn is an organization which employees well over 100,000 people. I think it very likely a group of individuals from the 100K pool will find a common thread [depression] and lead their way to demise. We’ve seen it before with other cult groups in the US.
I’m not giving Apple a free ticket, but I certainly don’t think Apple is to blame. With the above situation, Time Cook, now CEO made the following statement [for the record I completely believe]
“We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain,” reads his letter; “Any accident is deeply troubling, and any issue with working conditions is cause for concern. Any suggestion that we don’t care is patently false and offensive to us.”
As for the Foxconn fire in one of their production facilities, this type of accident happens all the time. In the US, Europe, Australia and of course Asia.
I fully support the motion which SumOfUs has started, but at the same time, I’m not holding Apple completely responsible for working conditions at FoxConn. Sure they are one element, but not the entire picture.
For those of you who are not familiar with FoxConn, it’s a CM which supplies many major companies in the US, not just Apple.
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USB 3.0 has been slowly making it’s way into the retail space. When you have a new entry from Sony for such a technology I believe it’s safe to say the title wave is about to start.
Enter the USB 3.0 Sony Micro Vault flashdrive. The Micro Vault can transfer speeds at 120MB/s for reading and 90MB/s for writing. Now that is fast! Connecting this same device to USB 2.0 and you can expect around 40MB/s read speeds.
The USB 3.0 Sony Micro Vault is made of brushed aluminum case, pop-tail for expanding and contracting the USB connector along with LED to show status light during activity.
You can expect this product to hit the retail market by February 1, 2012.
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These iPhones run out of juice so quickly. I’m not saying it’s a battery issue, I’m saying the devices are so adictive I use them all day long and drain the battery. From getting directions, to checking status updates, to email, facetime and photo shots, it’s in constent use.
I’ve definitely spent extra money getting Apple 30 pin cables for charging at both home and work. Caseinity has solved the consumer problem of over spending with the cord-on-board product. The product is simple as you can see from this image.
The product is a case with the USB to 30-pin connector attached to the underside of the case. Now we don’t see a width dimension of the picture, but it must be at least 7mm thick to handle the USB connector.
What I like most about this product is the
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Microsoft has made available a new version of “Defender” to ride infected computers of malware, including rootkits which highjack your boot process and corrupt your computer.
The “Defender Offline Beta” is available from Microsoft for free [here] and does require updates as virus definitions are always changing.
Definitions are files that provide an encyclopedia of potential software threats. Because new threats appear daily, it’s important to always have the most up-to-date definitions installed in Windows Defender Offline Beta. Armed with definition files, Windows Defender Offline Beta can detect malicious and potentially unwanted software, and then notify you of the risks.
The Redmond company suggests you make a USB drive with the Defender Offline Beta software from a PC which is not infected. Doing so on a corrupted computer could interfere with the USB and yield the Microsoft tool useless.
To use Windows Defender Offline Beta, you need to follow four basic steps:
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The new Super Talent USB 3.0 flash drive with 4 channels can copy 1GB of data [about 2000 files] in less then 35 seconds. Check out the 2min video for all the details:
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The biodegradable USB cable works like any typical USB cable. It is USB-IF certified to guarantee performance speed. It comes in Type A and Type B connector styles. Qmadix also includes HDMI and 30 pin Apple connectors.
The big difference is the coating put on the cable. The USB biodegradable cable uses a plant-based by-product to protect the internal copper. The cable will remain stable during use in the home or office, but once put into a landfill, the degrading begins.
We suspect is has to do with moisture levels, but not 100% sure. The plant-based coating will biodegrade the cable in about
Continue Reading
RCA is selling the charger for $20 retail.
Continue Reading
Televisions that support MHL will be able to integrate Roku’s streaming TV platform simply by plugging in the stick. With the stick docked, it will be just like having the Roku set-top box: it adds the Roku interface (and the 400+ channels it offers), Wi-Fi connectivity, and local storage to the TV it is used on.
MHL standard is quickly becoming adopted by the major players like
Continue Reading
Feature List includes:
All USB interface requirements
The latching USB connector’s high-speed standard allows the transmission of up to 480 Mb/s data plus up to 5 volts/500 milliamps over one cable. Cable assemblies of 1 to 5 meters in length make it easy to use the latching feature without having to assemble cables. Customers simply need to design-in the latching receptacle to the board side of their product. If more than one USB port is required, a double-row latching receptacle can be used. Versions are available in standard Type A configurations.
Ruggedized USB connections
Continue Reading
I just read this article from PC Magazine about watchdog group SumOf US taking on Apple for poor worker conditions in China.  I’m all for making the world a better place for mankind. I also think some perspective is needed.
One of Apple’s biggest contract manufacturers [CMs] FoxConn has been under fire the last 12 months for employee suicides and a fire in a production facility.
It was reported the suicides are directly related to working conditions. However, it’s important to keep some perspective. FoxConn is an organization which employees well over 100,000 people. I think it very likely a group of individuals from the 100K pool will find a common thread [depression] and lead their way to demise. We’ve seen it before with other cult groups in the US.
I’m not giving Apple a free ticket, but I certainly don’t think Apple is to blame. With the above situation, Time Cook, now CEO made the following statement [for the record I completely believe]
“We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain,” reads his letter; “Any accident is deeply troubling, and any issue with working conditions is cause for concern. Any suggestion that we don’t care is patently false and offensive to us.”
As for the Foxconn fire in one of their production facilities, this type of accident happens all the time. In the US, Europe, Australia and of course Asia.
I fully support the motion which SumOfUs has started, but at the same time, I’m not holding Apple completely responsible for working conditions at FoxConn. Sure they are one element, but not the entire picture.
For those of you who are not familiar with FoxConn, it’s a CM which supplies many major companies in the US, not just Apple.
Continue Reading
Continue Reading
Enter the USB 3.0 Sony Micro Vault flashdrive. The Micro Vault can transfer speeds at 120MB/s for reading and 90MB/s for writing. Now that is fast! Connecting this same device to USB 2.0 and you can expect around 40MB/s read speeds.
The USB 3.0 Sony Micro Vault is made of brushed aluminum case, pop-tail for expanding and contracting the USB connector along with LED to show status light during activity.
You can expect this product to hit the retail market by February 1, 2012.
Continue Reading
The product is a case with the USB to 30-pin connector attached to the underside of the case. Now we don’t see a width dimension of the picture, but it must be at least 7mm thick to handle the USB connector.
What I like most about this product is the
Continue Reading
Microsoft has made available a new version of “Defender” to ride infected computers of malware, including rootkits which highjack your boot process and corrupt your computer.
The “Defender Offline Beta” is available from Microsoft for free [here] and does require updates as virus definitions are always changing.
Definitions are files that provide an encyclopedia of potential software threats. Because new threats appear daily, it’s important to always have the most up-to-date definitions installed in Windows Defender Offline Beta. Armed with definition files, Windows Defender Offline Beta can detect malicious and potentially unwanted software, and then notify you of the risks.
The Redmond company suggests you make a USB drive with the Defender Offline Beta software from a PC which is not infected. Doing so on a corrupted computer could interfere with the USB and yield the Microsoft tool useless.
To use Windows Defender Offline Beta, you need to follow four basic steps:
Continue Reading
