Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Peripherals

The reams and reams of spam found with every check of our inboxes here at Engadget HQ have quashed the surge of emotions we used to experience when that new-mail notifier started blinking. So, we went looking for something to help get our e-mail groove back, and we’ve found it: the USB webmail notifier. It’s a little box with the iconic envelope design on the front that lights up in green, blue, or red when you receive mail. The color indicates either the location of the received message, for those of you who rock Outlook for work and Gmail for personal, or the volume, for those who need some encouragement to clean out that inbox. It is somewhat less useful than other multi-purpose USB indicators we’ve seen, but its simplicity, and its $17 price tag, make it our choice to bring back that lovin′ feeling.

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Original post by Tim Stevens

Filed under: Peripherals

We know, the minuscule magnets adorned on this 4-port USB hub aren’t technically strong enough to have any severe effect on your data, but seriously, why would you chance it? In what has to be one of the worst ideas in low-end technology to ever grace our eyes, the magnetic 4-port USB hub enables users to stick their hub on any nearby file cabinet, metal plate or refrigerator door, though we can’t figure out why that’s such an awesome benefit. If you can, however, feel feel to show off your carefree side by handing over $13.99.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Let’s be straight: nothing says “I’m a successful businessperson” quite like a dock for your smartphone. You know, smack in the middle of that solid oak desk of yours — the one in the corner office. What, you say your fancy new BlackBerry Bold doesn’t have connections for a proper dock? Well, hell, you′ve got hair plugs, spray-on tan, and a house in the Hamptons you can’t afford, so why not take the charade to the next level? USB Fever’s fabulously generic $20 cradle for the Bold will at least charge the thing, but if you want to get all crazy and sync up with your PC, you′ve got to suffer the indignance of a USB cable (coiled for your convenience) flopping off the side. Should look real professional next to the red Swingline and that stupid “Teamwork” perpetual motion rowing thing of yours, sport. You know what we’re talking about.

[Via Gear Diary]

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Original post by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Peripherals

Targus is making a big deal about how it’s launching its first-ever line of Mac accessories, but we’re not seeing much here that’s particularly platform-dependent — just a lot of gray and white plastic. The $70 Bluetooth Laser Mouse, $50 Wireless Mouse, and $80 Bluetooth Presenter all feature an interesting touch-sensitive scroll nub that switches to cursor control on the presenter and offers four-way scrolling on the mice. There’s also a $50 USB file-transfer cable that offers direct file transfers between PCs and Macs, a $30 four-port compact USB hub with wraparound cable, MacBook and MacBook Pro privacy screens that range from $50 to $80, and a $50 dual-fan cooling pad with a slight ergonomic tilt. All this should be available now — PC owners, you′ll just have to find something else to do with your useless, useless money.

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Original post by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Peripherals

Come on, the picture tells the whole story, does it not? The $14 Super Kid 4-port USB hub gives you four of the funnest USB 2.0 ports you’ll ever have, and the arms / legs are totally pliable, too. Just don′t overload him with USB-powered lamps and cooling devices — a boy can only handle so much.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals

Some things just shouldn′t ever be plugged into your USB port. Not even that dusty, never-to-be-used socket in your 16-port USB hub. The gadgets you’ll see below are among the worst of the worst, with some being so awful, they almost deserve a purchase just to give you a laugh live and in-person. Seriously, just listen: an actual “thumb″ drive, a USB key doused in cabbage, a mousepad that doubles as a Lars Ulrich-approved drum kit and a USB Hollywood Film Kit for those still in denial over that acting school rejection letter. There should really be laws against some of this rubbish, but since there isn′t, we’re putting it to you — drop your vote in below to let us know which of the following gizmos reeks the most. Good luck down there.

Read - USB “thumb” drive
Read - Cabbage drive
Read - Hollywood Reject Kit
Read - High heels phone
Read - Finger drum mousepad
Read - Finger skateboard

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Wireless, Storage

We knew wireless USB would eventually rise up and become more than a pitiful excuse for not plugging in your digicam to transfer photos, and lo and behold, it has done just that. Imation′s latest Apollo drive packs a lot of promise, thanks in huge part to the integrated WiQuest WUSB solution tucked within. Put simply, the Apollo Pro WX can begin to backup user data as soon as the machine in question comes “into range.” Without any wires (save for that pesky AC adapter), this one no-touch backup system can ensure that your most precious 1s and 0s aren’t lost for eternity when unforeseen disaster strikes. There’s no word on price just yet, but expect these to sell like hotcakes when they ship in Q4.

[Via EverythingUSB]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

The Korg nanoSERIES line of miniature USB controllers we had a look at a few months back has finally seen the light of day, and much to our chagrin, reviews are mixed. MusicRadar singles the nanoPAD out for praise, saying the twelve drum pads feel good and the X/Y pad is a useful addition, but they seem less impressed with the nanoKONTROL and nanoKEY. The site says the faders on the former feel “short and decidedly plasticky,” while they compare the keys on the latter to those of a QWERTY keyboard. If you’re still interested, the nanoKey will run you £49 ($90), and the nanoKontrol and nanoPad will be £59 ($109) each. Look for these guys starting in October, and hit the read link for more details and pics.

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Original post by Joseph L. Flatley

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

Compared to other cellphone charging pads out there, Connectland’s USB Multi-Cellular Phone Charger is mighty minuscule. The box gets power via a USB plug and then pipes it to eight different connectors that fit into mobiles from Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, etc. We dig that Brando throws in a “foam rubber” to keep this in while traveling, but honestly, would it really take more than two unanticipated jaunts to break every last prong from this thing? She’s $18 if you’re shaking your head from left to right.

[Via Gadgets-Weblog]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Peripherals

Oh Brando, what will you think of next? On second thought, we’re just going to do our best to soak up the awesomeness that’s beaming from your latest concoction, the Super Tiny Keyboard. This palm-sized (or so they say) input peripheral measures in at just 6.7- x 2.8- x 0.6-inches and features a mini-USB port and a retractable cable. We’d expect this would only be good for typing emergencies, but for $25, it might not be a bad backup to have around.

[Via OhGizmo]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

Hey, remember that tiny power adapter you got with your new iPhone? Well guess what? It could get a little dangerous — so Apple wants you to swap it for a newer, less dangerous one. Apparently, the adapter’s metal prongs can break right off, thus creating a “risk of electrical shock” and general mellow-harshing. The company issued a recall today for any of the “Ultracompact USB Power Adapters” which came with iPhone 3Gs in the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and “several Latin American countries” (don′t worry, they’ve got a list). Check the read link to figure out if you’ve got the bad kind of adapter, and for goodness sake, be careful when unplugging that thing!

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

Not too certain what brainiac reckoned that “DaScratch” was a suitable name for Stanton DJ’s new touch-sensitive controller, but if we had our way, we’d have that guy / gal promoted on the double. Nomenclature aside, the device you see above is the outfit’s newest member of the SC System family. The USB-MIDI controller was designed for mobility and to allow Funkmasters and Beatslayers alike to use “traditional performance motions and gestures on a touchpad style surface.” Scratching, scrubbing, and navigating through digital audio files can all be handled with just a few flicks of the fingertips, and there’s even support for multiple-finger gestures to “prompt quick kills on EQ’s or transform effects on volume.” Not a bad spin for $299, huh? Full release after the jump.

Continue reading Stanton DJ intros touch-sensitive DaScratch USB-MIDI controller

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Storage

If you’re anything like us, you probably cringe every time a new USB flash drive is announced, but then the guilty pleasure takes over and you just have to look anyway. At first glance the “Recycle″ from INF Import isn’t much to look at, but then we figured that’s kind of the point. After all, what better way to hide all your most precious and/or illicit data than in a totally bland enclosure that looks like something that chipped off your wall in the last earthquake? — which isn’t far off seeing as how it’s composed of recycled newspaper. Oddly enough no storage capacity is mentioned, so lets hope your stack of worldly secrets doesn′t run too large, or you may have to tile your walls with these babies.

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Original post by Stephanie Patterson

Filed under: Peripherals

At first glance, we figured this heap was a dead-ringer for the next episode of Crapgadget, but after a few delicate moments of gazing at this amazing piece of retro-styled kit, we just had to let it pass. The $15 USB Telephone 4-Port Hub explains itself pretty well — it’s a non-functioning phone that doubles as a 4-port USB 2.0 hub. And it’s really cute. And awesome.

[Via Pocket-lint]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Now here’s something that’s hard to understand. Basically, you stick the USB EyeCandy into your mouth, on top of your tongue, and you’re supposed to “see” images in your mind, based on the info the gadget somehow transmits to your taste buds.

Some weird relaxation technique? A new experience that’s worth paying an undetermined sum for? Also, what’s the proper of cleaning this baby up, if it’s to be shared among multiple tongues? (likecool.com)

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Original post by Rico