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.
Backyard Brand is looking to coin a new phrase with their FlashHarp USB drive. I’m classifying this under hand crafted USB because it’s a relatively simple mod of a harmonica to include a USB drive.
Granted, Backyard came up with the idea, so props to them.
They do a good job of selling the concept with: “Even if you never master the art of blowing the harp, you’ll never have to throw this harmonica in the back of a drawer. Sweet gift for anybody, young or old, who really likes music.”
If this stick gains any kind of traction we can expect china to knock off a plastic version of this in about 3 months or less. Granted, it’s not your typical custom USB drive, but for those looking to get the original mod, head over to Etsy and grab yourself a 2GBer of sweet soul for $44USD.
USB Harmonica FlashHarp product page [they should spell it FlasHarp]
Continue Reading
I’ve read several articles about how to improve the iPhone, most notable are CNET’s comments and iSmashPhone comments. Both articles have good ideas about improving the iPhone software, but there are five user improvements which I would like to humbly suggest.
To me, these are fundamental improvements for an everyday user. What do you think?
1) How many times have you read an email chain with an attachment? With the small screen of the iPhone even the shortest email requires you to scroll. With a long email you must scroll forever to get to the attachment. Why can’t Apple make a “paper clip” icon at the top to jump directly to it?
2) I’m the type of iPhone user that likes to keep everything clean and up-to-date. So why is it that I can listen to a Voice Mail from a recent caller, but I still need to click the “Recent” icon to remove the notification. It should be removed automatically when
Continue Reading
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.
Windows 7 is addressing this process with the option to burn a bootable USB stick with your on-line purchase. Well, at least that’s the rumor.
“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
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
Now that Halloween is over, it’s time to turn our energy to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Since Thanksgiving isn’t a Brando thang, they’ve got their eye on the biggest holiday – Christmas.
So putting aside that I’m in Southern California, for those in Michigan, Wisconsin, New York…hell anyone East of California could appreciate these USB heating Christmas gloves. Right?
How about your hands freezing and slowing down your reaction when you are playing game? Sure you’d look ridiculous, but you can’t sacrifice your skills. Or how about stuck in an air-conditioned office space because your boss is 400 pounds and needs an ice locker to work in, the USB Christmas warming gloves would help.Â
Continue Reading
GetUSB has been waiting for this announcement for about 8 months now. Super Talent just announced the first [of what we know] USB 3.0 flash drive.
Wow.
Wouldn’t you love to have a USB flash drive that could copy files at the rate of 200MB per second? Using a separate UAS Protocol driver with a USB 3.0 port this SuperSpeed drive can reach up to 320MB/sec transfer speeds.
Wow.
It’s a bit large, but hell, who cares. Size is 95 x 37 x13.5 mm The USB 3.0 USB flash drive will be shipping with 32GB, 64GB and 128GB sizes. No word on price, but let me give you an idea…at the time of this writing, Super Talent offers their USB 2.0 32GB drive for
Continue Reading
Chestnut Hill has long put out their sound systems as a premium product. If you are in the market for a premium iPod player, then consider the George Audio Speaker System – CHS40001. Currently it’s available for $249 and free shipping!
All of GEORGE’s functions are controlled from the remote, meaning you can set an alarm, pick a song, or turn on the radio within a thirty-foot radius of the base unit. Great for desktop or bedside control, GEORGE fits anywhere.
Show off your mixing skills using GEORGE’s Jukebox feature, take requests and build a playlist, without ever leaving the party.
With 24 presets spread across four pages, you can mix your
Continue Reading
If you are old enough to remember those ‘Foreigner’ pre-digital cassettes, you’ll also remember making your “Top 40” by duping the Saturday morning radio show with Rick Dees. That’s why you’ve got a box of C60s collecting dust in the cupboard. So why not set them free with the USB Tape Express.
Utterly ingenious, the sleek Ion Audio Tape Express cassette player lets you rediscover the precious sounds trapped in your cupboard cassettes. Lets take that a step further, Ion Audio uses the Tape Express to convert those “Glory Days” and set them free in digital format. Simply USB the Tape Express into your computer and idiot-proof EZ software will start converting your recordings, so you can burn them onto CD, archive them in iTunes or transfer them to your MP3 player.
There is something Back-to-the-Future-esque about listening to old chart countdowns, forgotten mix tapes and piece-milled favorites. Because the Tape Express functions
Continue Reading
We’ve been talking about USB 3.0 for almost one year now and last week we hear the maker, Intel, is looking to put on the breaks. This isn’t the first time Intel has rallied the industry, gotten chip makers to support it, then corporate shut it down via lack of integration [Wireless USB].
What the general population might not understand is that USB is a fairly inconsistent bus for enumeration with peripherals. Sure, for the average user their USB devices work, but for an engineer or tech savvy user, they all pretty much agree – USB is problematic.
Maybe this is just one reason why Intel is slowing it’s adoption of it…the other is probably the new development of Light Peak. Light Peak is a fiber optical cable which supports up to 10Gbps [now] and expandability to 100Gbps [future]. Light Peak doesn’t use complicated protocols like
Continue Reading
Porsche is shipping a limited number of Panamera USB flash drives and we’ve got the pictures. It’s clearly a drive with a great amount of detail and pristine looking Porches logo on the USB cap.
It’s not clear if this is a marketing piece for Porsche or things to come about how we interface with the cars. Wouldn’t it be nice however, to have a USB key to start your car, upload recent maps, download car statistics and diagnostic information, sync MP3 files with your stereo. Seems to me the term USB key has been accepted quite nicely by everyone BUT the car manufacturers.
We believe the capacity is 4GBs, but has not been confirmed.
Continue Reading