Multifaceted adapter combines 3-port USB hub with iPod / iPhone connector
By Darren Murph 
posted December 3rd 2009 5:49PM
posted December 3rd 2009 5:49PM
Multi-purpose adapters aren't anything new, but it's often the simplest of the bunch that prove most useful. Take this bugger for instance, which is little more than a vanilla 3-port USB hub connected to an iPhone / iPod dock connector port. The purpose for its existence? To prevent you from having to haul Apple's flimsily built charging cable and a USB hub with you each time you scurry out, and to just generally make your time on this planet entirely more enjoyable. Now if only it could recharge our prototype Volt that we've secretly got hiding in the Engadget Garage, we'd really be able to extol the $14.99 asking price.
Perfect, especially for notebooks like the Macbook Air, that have ony a couple USB ports.
I really wonder how much stuff you are using if you need a USB hub every time you "scurry out".
@Uncontrol
I always carry my iPrinter and iScanner....don't you ?
@ChillyCat I only take my iBrator
@Broderbund Oh yeah, I got one of those, how good are they?? Expensive though
Lovin' the description on the website:
USB Hub is a common product!
iPhone is a hot products.
We have a re-invention, we combine the USB Hub and the USB Hub in 1 and you don't need to have one USB Hub and a spare USB Socket for your iPhone / iPod.
Notice:
- You may not use the USB Hub while you are Syncing your iPhone / iPod with your Computer
www.sadhorns.com
Now make one with Zune connector and then I will buy it.
@Dking7 forget it, unless I cannot use USB ports and the Connector
@Dking7 U NO MAKE SENSE BRAH.
@va jj If you read the description it says you cannot use usb ports and connector at same time. Then there is no use for me.
"Notice:
- You may not use the USB Hub while you are Syncing your iPhone / iPod with your Computer"
holy crap . $15 bucks is dirt cheap. considering it's a 3 port USB hub AND an ipod connector.. I'd love to get this.
Hm this would work awesome with my car usb charger and iPhone.
Slow news day?
I didn't know you had a garage.
Hidden secret is that you can't use the hub while your iPod is syncing. =/
@Jeff Kibuule
That kind of sucks but it's really not that big a deal. You don't have to sync every time you plug the phone in, and in my case syncing only takes 15 seconds anyway.
Is this a crapgadget article?
Great idea, but I would prefer that the USB cable be a little longer so that I could set the hub more than 3 inches away from my machine. That would keep all the cables and devices plugged into it off to the side and out of my immediate workspace.
Or you could simply buy a USB hub and get a 3in iPod cable and do the exact same thing!
It's almost useless if it can't sync and do the USB ports at the same time.
When I first saw it I said, holy crap I could stick three chunky USB memory sticks on it, but then I woke up.
Awesomeeeeee.
My 2nd generation iPod Shuffle will not sync when connected through a USB hub, which is the configuration this "Multifaceted Adapter" appears to have...
my laptop has 5 usb ports and whats sad is when its being used as a desktop in my bedroom i can fill all 5 without using the same general
printer
usb 5.1 audio
netgear adapter
usb wireless mouse
and the last port is for any storage device which i have a few of
this device can definitely help
One of the ugliest things I've ever seen -- this should go in that top worst USB devices ever made. The idea is good -- but can we get a little bit better design?
Thank god the iPod is the only MP3 player on the market. Otherwise the in built connector would be pretty useless to a large chunk of the population.
I love how they try to give it that apple white stylish look but it looks totally like some cheap monstrosity bought in the backstreets of china.
But hey if it does what you need, great.