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Install Windows 7 From Custom USB Flash Drive

Rich Gates USB Tutorials

With the backlash and failure of Vista, Windows is quickly moving to Windows 7.  This OS is focused on correcting all the Vista short comings, while providing a faster operating system and speedy USB enumeration. However, upgrading or installing Windows 7 from a DVD takes a long time.  You can speed up the process by putting the Windows 7 ISO file on a USB stick and install from there.

install windows 7 from usb

The guys at Think Computers, put together a nice tutorial.  The USB tutorial covers the placement of Win7 on a custom USB flash drive, then doing a complete install from the UFD. Windows 7 is about 2.5GBs so make sure you have a 4GB flash drive before you think about starting this process. Continue Reading

Mobile Phones Adopt Micro USB For Charging

Rich Gates microUSB, Power for USB

America takes comfort in the fact we lead technology, but with mobile devices we are the exception.  Europe is way ahead of us and so is China.  In fact, back in Dec 2006, China made the decision to standardize cell phone charges to have a micro USB port.  The reason, to reduce waste.  Back then, you purchased a phone and you’d get a new wall charger.  The charger was loaded with lead, plastic etc.  Today, you simply get a USB cable.

micro usb connector

Last week 17 mobile phone companies officially made the plung to accept micro USB as the connection for recharging cell phones.  This decision was based on the same reasons as mentioned above. Continue Reading

Power Packed USB Wall Charger

Rich Gates Power for USB, USB Fever

USBFever has a 5 port USB wall charger for those a bit light on USB ports, yet need something to charge those iPhones, iPods and PDAs. The USB SuperTravel has 4 standard USB ports and one miniUSB port.  It’s no longer required to haul around your laptop just to power up your gadgets while on the go.

usb wall charger

The kit includes world voltage acceptance with plugs that cover you in US, UK, AU and EU.  The charger will auto detect the voltage and adjust accordingly so no mess with figuring out which fuse or setting is needed in different countries.

usb charger

USBFever is offering the USB wall charger for $26. Continue Reading

Track Your Laptop With USB GPS Device

Rich Gates GPS with USB

The individual user wouldn’t need this, but a GPS dongle for the corporate world would have it’s benefits.  For this reason, I-O Data released their first USB GPS key.

usb gps

Now team this device up with Google Maps and any control freaked boss could track your where-a-bouts 24/7 [or is the new term 31].  Anyway, the USB GPS unit will cost you about $175 USD.  That seems a bit steep as you could furnish your employee with a Blackberry or iPhone for $199, and have the same benefits with loads more features. But, for those on-site job descriptions this would also fit the bill. Continue Reading

GetUSB.info On Facebook

Rich Gates Off Topic

getusb facebook

GetUSB.info now has a page on Facebook. Become a fan and you’ll get bennies.  First off, you can get our daily articles streamed to your Facebook page [if you have one].  Second, you may comment on the bits of technology news we through out each day.  Lets us know if you like it, hate it, or it’s just BS. By choice, GetUSB.info has keep our comments Off for years.  To much spam.  To many link baiters.  However, with GetUSB.info on Facebook everything changes.  It gives you the ability to post notes on articles and let your voice be heard.  Finally. If you subscribed to our RSS feed, or get our our news in your email InBox, please click the link [or picture] and become a Facebook Fan. Kindest Regards, Gmo – GetUSB.info Editor Continue Reading

exFAT – No More Limitations For FAT32 – USB Rejoice

Rich Gates USB News

USB stick manufacturers will rejoice with this news.  No longer will their flash memory be limited with the FAT32 file system, but rather an unlimited size of storage space.

Up to this point FAT file systems had a limitation of 4GB for a single file size and up to 32GBs for an entire volume.  But no more.  Microsoft has released a new exFAT file system.  This means our USB sticks will become supersized and no longer need to worry about dynamic file structures of NTFS.  With USB memory getting bigger each year, this is great news for mobile storage.

exfat logo

On January 27 2009, Microsoft released their new exFAT file system.  Or extended File Allocation Table [exFAT]. Here is some information off the Microsoft website:

The exFAT file system is the successor to FAT32 in the FAT family of file systems. The exFAT file system is a new file format system to address the growing demand and size of mobile storage like USB sticks, PDAs, and solid state hard drives. What’s nice about the exFAT file system

Continue Reading

Let The Depositions Begin – iPhone Mini Microphone

Rich Gates Apple / iPod, Audio

One of the great things about an Apple iPhone are the abundant number of free or cheap applications you can download.  These applications make your life much easier.  From Shazam to ID that song playing on the radio, to AroundMe which helps you find things around you like gas stations, coffee houses and hospitals, yet sometimes you need a physical upgrade to make your iPhone a bit better. Today, USBFever introduces the mini microphone for the iPhone.  This small attachment makes it possible to record conversations, depositions, meetings or interview conversations for you live bloggers.

iphone mini microphone

The iPhone is truly becoming your single device for mobile travel, work and communication.  I’m mean really, what else do you need?  Maybe video capability… Continue Reading

Make Your iPhone a USB Storage Device

Rich Gates Apple / iPod, Flash Storage

What is more economical:  Buying a 2GB flash drive or downloading a $0.99 cent application to get 2GBs of free storage on your iPhone?  Don’t answer.  We know. MiDisk is one of those great iPhone applications.  The app gives you the ability to create Directories on your iPhone for storing files, documents etc.  It’s great because you don’t need the iPhone sync app – you can use the iPhone as a mass storage device. So how do you make the iPhone a mass storage device of 2GBs? Turn on the application (while in Wi-Fi), point a web browser to the link that it gives you, and there you go. You have full access to all information stored within this application. The information held inside the application is protected by a PIN number. To turn on access to the files within the application, your PIN number must be entered. You can also view your documents with the built in documents viewer. You can view image, text, PDF, and many more types of files. Wi-Fi is required to use this application. In situations where a Wi-Fi network is not available, if the computer supports Ad-Hoc, you are set. Store your information in multiple directories to keep organized. Easily remove and add new files as you need. Here is the step-by-step: Continue Reading

Ion 35mm Photo Negative Scanner – Not a Single Negative

Rich Gates USB Gadgets, USB Input Device, Video

Ion Audio, the guys known for their vinyl record ripper, expands their analog conversion product line, with the Ion 35mm Photo Negative and Slide Converter. Quickly and easily transfer slide film or 35mm film into beautiful, high resolution, digital images with the Ion unit.  USB 2.0 connection and USB 2.0 port. There is fixed focus range and auto exposure/color balance with high-quality 4 glass optical element to bring you the best quailty of digital copies.

35mm photo negative scanner

Although you wont get the very best image quality the Ion 35mm converter is definitely an economical solution for small jobs or home transfer projects. The product is available at Amazon for well under Continue Reading

Custom Flash Drive With Post-It Note Dispenser

Rich Gates USB Tutorials

This should really be a post about a DIY project.  This custom flash drive stores your data and gives you a post-it note dispenser to write down what’s on the drive. You can buy the official version for about $30 overseas [here] or you could spend a few hours this weekend and create your own.  What you need:  Flash drive, wood, post-it note pad.

post it note custom flash drive

Step one.  Shape some wood to about the size you’d like to make the USB stick and post-it note paper.  About 3/4inch wide and 3 inches long. Step two:  Cut out a part of the wood block to place Continue Reading

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