Nokia is leading the way in accepting the fact that USB is the end-all connectivity. The new Nokia 8600 Luna has only one external socket; a microUSB port. Since China set the standard for all charging to cell phones be via USB, this would be Nokia’s answer to the call.
So with Nokia on board for 100% USB charging and connectivity on this model, I would expect a quick adoption to other models.
You can see the microUSB port at the bottom of the picture; this micro port is our interface to the computer, charger and any audio devices. Amazing. The Nokia 8600 comes with microUSB adapter for audio connection as we haven’t seen audio devices with microUSB support as of yet.
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Why give someone a single still framed picture when you can give them an entire slide show? The MF-575 is an inexpensive hi-tech digital photo, MP3, and video player with a bright, high-resolution 5.6-inch color TFT screen and USB connectivity.
When I bought my first MF-575 picture frame, I got it as a gift for a family member who liked to complain that I never send them pictures anymore. The problem is, I have a digital camera and haven’t gotten any pictures developed in several years. So now, whenever I go over to their house for a visit, I just bring an extra memory card from my digital camera full of new pictures. If you don’t have an extra memory card, the MF-575 has an easy-to-use MD/SD/MMC memory card reader that plugs into any computer with a USB port. So you can just plug the entire picture frame into your computer and copy the pictures onto the card that way if necessary.
This year on Christmas morning, I was thinking about taking a series of pictures while everyone is opening their gifts. Then I’ll take the memory card out of my digital camera and pop it into the MF-575 picture frame for an instant slide show for everyone to enjoy on Christmas afternoon. Good idea right? The number of images you can put into your MF-575 slide show is only limited by the capacity of the memory card being used.
Here’s the full review: MF-575 Digital Picture Frame
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Virgin America planes are coming to the US. With it, comes purple hue cabins and high tech services. Every seat has a 110 volt port, Ethernet and USB for charging iPods, phones and other gadgets.
The Virgin line includes computer servers which hold 3000 MP3 songs and the ability to create your own play list which is available the next time you fly. Nice. The Virgin system, called “Red” includes in-house IM chat both public and private along with standard offerings of movies and TV channels. I can see it now: IM chat: “I farted, can anyone tell?”
We’ve seen iPod mixers before but none like this with over sized dials and clean layout design. The iBuddy and iSpin from Sergio are two devices that let you do your music your way. Both iPod DJ systems let you run iPods or MP3 players from the dock stations simultaneously.
The iBuddy center dial is used for flange and autophase between songs on the two iPods and the iSpin center dial is used for spinning between MP3 players with jog wheel for cross over fades. It would be nice if both features where in one – but they’re not.
The iBuddy and iSpin accept all iPod models and have a couple pre-program settings along with ability to route a mic through the effects, if you want.
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So the grandparents have the Ion Audio USB Turntable for converting vinyl records to MP3 and now Ion introduces the TAPE2PC USB cassette archiver for the 40 Somethings.
With a dual dubbing cassette deck and advanced software to convert directly into your iTunes library, those old cassette tapes will never feel left out again. Ion Audio left no stone unturned with a “metal” or “CrO2” tape selection feature – if you even remember what its for.
The TAPE2PC connects via USB therefore no drivers need – yet another plus for the technically challenged middle aged. Price is around $100USD.
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Update: The Tengu is now available from ThinkGeek for only $45ish.
SolidAlliance might be on to something with their USB Tengu, self talking USB gadget. At the size of a cigarette box this guy comes to life upon USB connection. The LEDs turn bright red into a friendly face, then reacts to music and sound – ideal for those looking for anonymity and in need of a front man (Jeffrey Skilling could have used this a couple years ago).
Not on sale yet – but will be in Japan mid August. Price tag – about $40USD. Now Available! YouTube video below will make you laugh, worth the look – if you have IE6 click here.
The Tengu is now available from ThinkGeek for only $45ish so shut down that YouTube video and click over to grab your Tengu today. After all, everyone needs a front man.
Laptops rejoice! Sewell is spinning out a very inexpensive USB to DVI adapter to offer high quality video displays for those tiny notebooks displays. The process is simple. The external DVI video unit has a USB port which you connect to your laptop (or PC) and a DVI port you connect to you external monitor, turn everything on and you’re done.
The $120 price tag might seem a couple dollars high, but considering there is 128MB of flash memory used for buffering and processing the video signal you wont be disappointed. Sewell claims the USB to DVI adapter drove a 20 inch DVI screen with no visible differences what-so-ever.
The USB bandwidth is more than enough to transfer the necessary video data to the USB to DVI adapter, and the 128 megs of onboard RAM does the rest to bring you perfect performance every time.
With this unit you can turn any laptop into a three monitor system: 1) Laptop screen, 2) use DVI output of laptop 3) use Sewell DVI adapter for monitor #3.
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This SATA/IDE to USB converter kit would be the easiest way to clone your hard drive and finally upgrade your laptop storage space. However, the combo kit isn’t limited to just 2.5 inch hard drives but includes connection support for 1.8, 3.5 and 5.25 inch hard drives along with CD-ROM drives, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD blah blah blah – anything in 5.25 inch size.
The USB to SATA/IDE combo kit is fully compliant with USB 2.0 so you can expect maximum transfer speeds of 480Mbps (yet that never happens) and plug-n-play connectivity with hot-swap support. For the techie, the chipset used in this guy is JMicron-JM20337.
With $3 shipping for any order this converter kit to go from USB to SATA/IDE (product page) puts you back exactly $32USD. Takes about 7 days to receive anywhere in the world.
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Several weeks ago I ran an article on running WordPress from a USB stick. That tutorial uses the same utilities as this USB Web Server product BUT since I received 11 emails about the WordPress post – I think a version which can be purchased is worth posting.
WebServUSB is a full featured web server programmed into flash memory a USB device. It features HTTP and FTP web services, plus a companion email server program which provides POP3 and SMTP mail services. By plugging WebServUSB into any PC with a USB port, it can enable that PC to become and Intranet (LAN) or Internet based web server.
I love labels. I label folders, tools, lunch boxes (for the kids), miniDV tapes, flash cards – you name it. I currently use a Brother label printer but I don’t like using the small alpha-numeric touch pad. I like this Casio USB label printer because I can design the text on my PC and print directly to the label maker via USB.
The USB Egg shaped thermal label printer uses any TrueType font so you can print in any language. The USB printer uses a thermal print technology – yet I don’t know how long the roll of paper is…(email into manufacturer now) the roll is about 2 meters (6 feet) long and the replacement thermal ribbon is a standard Casio part number which can be obtained from most supply stores (so they say).
At just $29, which is half the price of a Brother label printer, I will definitely purchase this if the replacement rolls are easy to get and affordable. Update to follow. Purchased and awaiting arrival for review.
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Looking for a little color on your desk along with some utility, this color chromatic USB hub should make the top of your list. Not that you need a colorful USB hub to connect your USB gas mask, USB aroma drive, USB fart fan and Coca-Cola flash drive, these hubs just make it that much more fun. Never again could someone else take the crown of most cheezy USB guy at your office.
USB hi-speed compliant, 4 ports, self powered, $7 bucks – great addition, great addition.
The good folks at AppleTVHacks just released a way to use an external drive via USB for additional storage. Here comes the 1TB AppleTV! So here’s the high-level summary, the AppleTV hack allows the system to boot normally from the internal drive of the AppleTV then allows for digital content to be stored, pulled and played from an external drive. Unfortunately this AppleTV hack is only working on Max OSX at the moment, but a community call to action has been made to incorporate this hack to support other opperating systems. Ahh, how nice.
This year on Christmas morning, I was thinking about taking a series of pictures while everyone is opening their gifts. Then I’ll take the memory card out of my digital camera and pop it into the MF-575 picture frame for an instant slide show for everyone to enjoy on Christmas afternoon. Good idea right? The number of images you can put into your MF-575 slide show is only limited by the capacity of the memory card being used.
Here’s the full review: MF-575 Digital Picture Frame
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
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