NB-mate USB hub / speaker / power source / charger

The font of gadget goodness that is Thanko just keeps on giving, with the Japanese manufacturer now trotting out its NB-mate multi-function device to make our lives a little easier. A USB 2.0 hub that doubled as a portable speaker system would have been sweet enough, but Thanko takes things even further, with the NB-mate also able act as a power source for any USB-powered device by popping in couple of rechargeable Ni-MH batteries, which themselves can be recharged by plugging the NB-mate into an AC outlet. It's the circle of life, man -- and it'll only cost you fifty bucks.

[Via Engadget Japanese]

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2006 5:16PM]

wtf? completely useless piece of shit with shitty speakers for 50 bucks?
I'll wait for the chinese to make a 5 dollar version of it.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2006 6:18PM]

i dont care about the speakers, but a usb hub that doubles as a charger for usb devices that uses rechargables (and can recharge those rechargables) is pretty cool.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2006 7:01PM]

Why not let you charge the batteries over usb - should be easy as I already have a stand-alone USB battery charger

[Covert Posted Sep 7th 2006 6:59PM]

The portable USB charging could be convenient, but I don't see the use of the speakers, and I'm sure there are cheaper alternatives lacking that unnecessary "feature."

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2006 8:05PM]

unnecessary feature?? speakers are there so you can play your ipod or other mp3 player!! it is perfect for travel!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2006 5:12AM]

What a great accessory for the GP2X! Now if only there was a version with a built-in card-reader/PCMCIA slot (so we could add 20gig CF disks, etc..)

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 9th 2006 4:23PM]

This is an awesome idea, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.