Nexcopy Advances USB Drive Duplicators to USB 3.0 SuperSpeeds
Implementers of VPMs and forensic tools will be able to make great use of mass USB drive duplication systems like the Nexcopy SSUSB160PC duplication system. As the economy begins to pick up adoption of USB 3.0 should certainly be bolstered. SuperSpeed USB 3.0 combined with improvements in MLC flash configurations, like the Super Talent Express RAM Cache and other solid state technologies, set the stage for a revolution in computing. Moving opposite the Utopian move to the cloud, managed data security solutions will continue to focus on physical systems. Similar to their previous models, the SSUSB160PC is able to bulk duplicate 16 flash drives at once. Leveraging USB 3.0 speeds and high speed flash drives or even USB hard disks, just about any image size should be reasonable. Professors and trainers could issue full virtual machines pre-configured with all software and reading materials at the start of each class. Pre-configured remote worker virtual laptops could be distributed, keeping technical support from needing to support user machines past host OS function. The sky’s the limit but if you need it in bulk and fast, you better have a decent budget as the Nexcopy device carries an enterprise price tag of $1499. Available for order on their website today if you can dream up a need.
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U-Socket Signals the Death Knell for USB Wall Adapters
USB wall adapters are great as they allow you to charge your appliances without the need of taking up a free USB port on a system, or even a system at all! The only down side is, while just about every modern appliance uses USB to charge itself (and its batteries) there seems to be darn near zero ubiquity when it comes to wall adapters! If you are like most people you probably have a whole freakin' drawer full of wall adapters that are products that you don't even own anymore! Well that is all about to change (finally) as the FastMac U-socket has been finally released! What this is, is a special wall socket that replaces your typical 120V two 3-prong wall receptacle with a custom one (that has the same form factor). You still get two three prong outlets but you also get two built in USB plugs! Yes, with this bad boy and USB cable will allow you to recharge your appliances without searching for a (or buying separately an expensive) USB wall adapter! Really making this a must have item for any hard core appliance geek is the two USB ports are rated for a total of 2.1 amps so you can even charge an iPad off it! With an asking price of only 29.95 and a pretty straight forward installation (assuming you have even basic electrical skills and don't drool when you talk, etc etc) colour us very impressed!
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First USB 3.0 Carder Reader Breaks Speed Record with SDXC UHS-I
There are good reasons to get a USB 3.0 flash drive or hard drive for backup or file exchange between PCs. Yet neither device can help us speed up the transfer of images or video stored on SD cards to our PCs. Yes, we are thinking of a USB 3.0 card reader; surprisingly, no one has made one last year. Just two weeks into 2011, one SuperSpeed card reader just came from a Japanese company called LOAS. According to the English section of the company's product sheet, their USB 3.0 card reader is compatible with everything from CompactFlash UDMA to Sony Pro-HG Memory Stick Duo and different varieties of SD cards. Since SD is getting increasingly popular among card formats, you may like to know that the card reader can boost SDXC/HC performance by 125% (from 17MB/s to 22MB/s). This however isn't as impressive as the 300% jump to 57MB/s when you pair the LOAS with the all new SDXC UHS-I, which is a format made for camcorders to allow HD video recording while taking high-res pictures. There's no sign if and when the card reader will make it to the States-side. Then again, this kind of stuff will be a dime a dozen when most of us have USB 3.0 ports.
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HiMax Rushes out First USB 3.0 Pico Projector
Pico projectors are impressively compact projectors that can throw a pretty big picture on to any flat surface. Since they are so small, they really are starting to crop up in some of the most amazing products such as camcorders, still cameras and the such. However for the PC version, they did have one major fatal flaw: they relied on USB 2.0 which offered a bandwidth which was equally small. Due to this reliance on an aging interface, pico projectors really couldn't do much beyond "DVD quality" (640x480, a.k.a. "VGA"). Well, it seems all that is about to change! Himax has just announced their all new USB 3.0 pico projector which can do SVGA (800x600) resolution. While this is still a far cry worse than a 720p capable prototype Texas Instruments was showing off at CES 2011, it certainly is step in the right direction and Himax is reportedly working on even better versions which will scale all the way up to 1080p. While that certainly will be interesting to see in the future, all great journeys must begin with a single step and the Himax USB 3.0 pico projector is that: the first step. It really can claim to be the world's first USB 3.0 enabled pico projector solution thanks in no small part to its Evolution Technology USB 3.0 controller chip and its LCOS micro-display all of which can be powered off the USB 3.0 port. More importantly, while Texas Instruments was only showing off a "demonstrator" or "prototype", the Himax model should be available in the near future (no word on pricing or ETA is available at this time). Maybe it is just us but we think we will hold off until they get a 720p or 1080p version out before jumping on this bandwagon.
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Designer Combines AA Battery and USB Flash Drive in One
While the idea of combing a USB charger and a standard AA battery is not exactly new (still remember Moxia USBCell), but the idea of making a rechargeable battery that recharges via USB that is also a flash drive is new and very cool! Imagine for a second you have a device that can't charge its replaceable batteries via USB and yet you don't want to carry around a separate charger. This is where the AA / USB rechargeable batteries come in as they literally have removable adapter caps which allow them to be used in place of standard AA batteries; and by removing the end cap can be plugged into a empty USB port to recharge. Now imagine a device which can not only do all that but also doubles as a flash drive and you have the idea behind the all new AA USB concept design. The all AA USB literally is an AA battery form factor flash drive which can also do double duty as a rechargeable AA battery! By simply giving the end a twist a recessed USB port will pop out (or pop in) making this AA battery into a USB drive and vice-versa. Even better is the LED indicator which will tell you how much charge is left in it’s integrated Lithium-ion battery. This really does sound extremely cool and yet we can just imagine the amount of headaches IT security admin are going to have with this! Can you imagine how hard it is going to be to keep these things out of areas where flash drives are not allowed? We can also imagine how short the battery life is going to be as that is a lot of stuff to cram into an AA form factor. Luckily for all you IT staff out there, before you reach for the Tylenol this is still only a concept design and may never see the light of day beyond the drawing board!
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Samsung Full HD "Wireless USB 3.0" Monitor with Auto-discovery Feature
What you see here isn't exactly the latest Wireless USB monitor nor a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 LCD panel. In fact, it's something in between the two. The new Samsung Central Station WLED monitors (CA 550 for 23" and CA 750 for 27") are for specifically designed for those who frequently move in and out of their cubicles. In a nutshell, when a laptop with the special USB 3.0 dongle connected moves within the 1m range, the Samsung monitor will automatically activate along with all the peripherals plugged into the panel. You can probably see how this is extremely convenient in certain scenarios when the user needs to leave in a hurry with his laptop, and then later returns and need to get back to work on the big monitor immediately. This is similar to how those Wireless USB docking stations work except the auto-discovery likely won't work as well as expected. One caveat with this solution is that you likely need to put the laptop literally next the monitor as the effective operating range between the devices is only 1m or 3.3 ft. There are a couple of people who spoke with Samsung PR who confirmed that the link between the Central Station monitor and the dongle isn't based on open-standard. Yet we are impressed that the proprietary link actually manages to transfer USB 3.0 data as well as USB video wirelessly, albeit at a very short distance.
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iRiver Story HD, Hot eBook Reader with High-def e-Ink Screen
Thinking about making an eReader purchase? You might want to wait a few weeks and see what iRiver is bringing to the table. iRiver's Story HD eBook Reader showed up looking sharp at CES 2011. The Story HD lays claim to the highest resolution E-Ink screen we've seen to date. With 1024x768 pixels worth of bragging rights, this eReader should be much sharper and more paper-like than any of the current run of eReaders available. It should handle all of the standard book formats like PDF and e-Pub with some of the fastest page turns available. Under the hood it's packing an ARM Cortex class processor. This may chisel down the maximum battery life but they claim it can still run for 3 weeks on a charge. While adding another hardware eReader to the mix barely muddies the water, there's the modest rumor that iRiver might be partnering with Borders Booksellers to distribute eBooks. That would make a 4th power player in the market now with Sony, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and finally iRiver/Borders. All this competition means even better prices for us consumers. Hinted prices on the iRiver HD should be competitive with the other current 6 inch models around $200. So keep your eyes open for this launch as not only is this a great reader in its own right, it will also likely drive down prices on the rest of the other guys.
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SmartFish Engage Ergonomic Keyboard: Exclusive First Look
Our first sample of the SmartFish ergonomic keyboard arrived today and we're putting it through it's first paces today. The ErgoMotion Engage solution takes the traditional keyboard experience and shakes it up a little. Citing the need to reduce repetitive movements, the keyboard aims to have you occasionally adjust the angle of your wrists throughout your day. Every 2500 keystrokes or so, the keyboard will adjust to make you adjust your normally fixed typing position. This subtle adjustment should reduce the the threat of RSI related injuries. But what is it like in action? Read on.
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Thin is in for Freecom USB 3.0 Mobile Drive Mg
Freecom just unveiled Mobile Drive Mg, a USB 3.0 portable drive designed for the Mac market; in fact, the snowy white storage with magnesium enclosure is said to be an ideal match for the MacBook. An interesting question arises: did Freecom have a dream that the next MacBook will mysteriously come with a pair of USB 3.0 jacks? If not, then Apple fanboys will likely find the Freecom Mobile Mg not particularly compelling when there's no indiction that Macs will soon have new SuperSpeed interface. There's however another reason to pick up the Mobile Drive Mg; and that's because the USB 3.0 mobile will house a single-platter 7mm 2.5" SATA drive - the thinnest of its kind. Even with the enclosure, the Mobile Drive Mg has a height of just 10mm. So the aforementioned magnesium chassis accounts for the 3mm thickness. Coupled with USB 3.0, the Mobile Drive Mg also hits a speedy 130MB/s (presumably the read transfer rate). The line actually includes three models: 320GB USB 3.0 slimline (10mm thick); 750GB USB 3.0 (15mm thick); and 750GB USB 3.0/FireWire 800 (also 15mm thick). Expect to see this drive on the other side of the Atlantic as the prices are all in Euro and GBP.
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i.Sound USB Portable Power Max battery Can Recharge Your iPhone 4 10+ Times
At nearly one and a half pounds, it's not exactly dainty. The i.Sound Portable Power Max isn't about petite, it's about power. Fully charged it's about to fill up an average MP3 player more than 20 times. You can keep all that power to yourself for marathon trips with your Nintendo DS or PSP or you can share it with your friends and family. There are 5 total USB ports on the Power Max for charging 5 devices at once. They even include a combo mini+micro USB cable to keep you from having to carry both. i.Sound also claims that their Portable Power can charge an iPad twice holding 16000 mAh of charge. While this is fantastic news if true, the current required to charge an iPad or other high drain devices is very high. 1000mA is about the minimum for getting an iPad or Galaxy Tab to take a charge with 2000 mA being the optimal current. There are quite a few battery chargers that claim to be able to charge the iPad but many of them can't push the current required. Suspiciously, i.Sound hasn't listed the current ratings of either of their Power Max products so 'Buyer Beware'. On the upside, if the Power Max is actually able to charge any 5 devices at once, then it should be able to charge a single device with gusto. We really hope they update their specifications soon as this enticing battery can be found for as low as $84. Bookmark their site and check often to find out if this is actually the great deal that it appears to be.
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MS Arc Touch Mouse Review
The original Microsoft Arc mouse certainly was innovative and ground breaking; but the downside to making such a great portable "laptop" mouse is what do you do for an encore? Well it seems MS what not satisfied with just making a minor tweak to the design and calling it an "Arc 2.0"; rather Microsoft pulled out all the stops and has created a new portable mouse that is just as innovative as the original! The new Arc Touch is not only ultra portable, like the original, but is also has a touch sensitive "wheel"! Does this new Arc Touch have what it takes to be the successor to the original Arc? Read on to find out in my full review.
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J5Create's USB 3.0 KVM Doubles as 4.8Gbps Direct Connect Network
The all new J5Create Wormhole Station certainly is an interesting product, as it combines most of the functionality of a KVM switch with the power and flexibility only a USB 3.0 hub can provide. Heck, it even adds a 3-port card reader (SD/MMC, mini SD and Memory stick cards) in for icing! Now to be honest, the J5Create Wormhole Station is not a true "Keyboard / Video / Mouse" switch. In your typical KVM, you can use one mouse, one monitor and one keyboard to control numerous systems but each of these systems are separate and do not interact. Tthe J5Create Wormhole Station however cannot do the "video" aspect of your typical KVM; rather it can control a keyboard and mouse across two systems. Helping make for this minor loss is unlike a KVM, you can use the USB 3.0 bus of the Wormhole Station to quickly transfer files from one system to another so the loss of video abilities is not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things. To use this svelte tub looking device all you need do is plug in one of the systems (looking at the styling this most likely will be a laptop) to one system and then simply plug in a second USB 3.0 cable to the other system. Presto-changeo and you can then start controlling the second system using only the one mouse! This does sound perfect for anyone who not only uses two PCs a lot during the day but wants to quickly and easily swap large chunks of data between the two systems. The J5Create Wormhole Station certainly is not going to be for everyone, but it looks like for people who fall within its narrow market niche may just out and out love this odd little duck! No word on pricing or availability.
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DisplayLink 22.5" USB 3.0-powered Monitor Now a Reality (on CES Show floor)
DisplayLink USB-based monitors certainly are handy little devices, but the operative word is "small". While the video technology can do a lot, when it is hobbled by an ancient interface, certain limitations just could not be overcome. These limitations are of course solely the fault of USB 2.0 as the aging interface just cannot provide the bandwidth for a big monitor, nor the power those big brutes need. Thanks to the advent of USB 3.0, both of these limiting factors has been removed and USB monitors are about to get up-sized! It appears that 22.5" monitors (with full 1080p resolutions) are about to hit and boy we can not wait! The idea of simply plugging in a second monitor to a free USB port and not having to worry about video cards and all that jazz really is enticing to say the least! Even better, is the with such a wide bus at its disposal there should be very little data compression happening; but if your USB 3.0 bus is being heavily used, it will simply compress the data more and not make a pig of itself. 2011 really is shaping up to be one heck of a year on the technology front! Check out the video for the DisplayLink USB 3.0 monitor demo at the CES 2011 show floor after the jump.
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NZXT Bunker USB Locking Device Deters Gadget Thieves
As anyone who has ever gone to a LAN party knows, you need to watch your stuff or else something is just as likely to go missing! It really is a sad state of affairs, but the truth of the matter is you don't bring any expensive peripherals to a LAN party unless you are willing to keep them on your person at ALL times. Well, it seems NZXT engineers must have had their favorite gaming mice or USB headphones "five finger discounted" on them as they have just released the NZXT Bunker. This bad boy basically turns a free 5.25 bay into a sophisticated USB peripheral ant-theft device. What it is, is a four port USB expander that you plug your USB goodies into, flip down the lid over the ports (with just enough of a gap at the bottom for cables) and lock the lid in place via the integrated lock! Simply stick the key in your pocket and then when you are not around you need not worry about your USB gear as no one will be able to unplug it without first cutting the USB cable. With an asking price of $24.99, this really is one of those "must have" items for any serious LAN party enthusiast!
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Sony Bloggie Duo HD Pocketcam is True to its Name with Two LCD Viewfinders
When everyone thought one LCD viewfinder is adequate on digital imaging devices, Samsung put two in its pocketcam and Dualview still camera. Now Sony has borrowed a page from Samsung and installed two screens on its latest Bloggie Duo HD Camera. True to its name, the dual-screen handheld camcorder has a 2.7" 230k-dot LCD viewfinder on the back as well as a smaller front-facing 2" screen under the lens for self-recording. Compared to the Bloggie Touch shipping just a few months ago, gone are the big 3" touchscreen and the slimmer profile. The new Bloggie Duo is a tad larger and heavier, but not by much. Most people probably won't miss the touch interface as you intend to shake the camcorder a bit when you tap on the screen. While there's auto-focus, you won't find optical image stabilization nor optical zoom on the Bloggie Duo, but at least you get a handy LED light for shooting in low-light situations. Like all Duo's predecessors and siblings, the camcorder has a mini-HDMI and a flip-out USB arm for video uploading and re-charging. You can shoot up to 1080p30 or 720p60/30. Interestingly, there's no standard def. video mode. If you are into video blogging yourself, the $169.99 Bloggie Duo HD maybe something to look forward to.
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