Universal USB controlled 'Power USB' strip turns on when your PC says it can
By Darren Murph 
posted July 13th 2010 10:23AM
posted July 13th 2010 10:23AM
Needlessly annoyed by how much energy is being wasted in your home thanks to vampire draw? Regrettably, it looks as if you'll have to just tough it out for the remainder of summer (or winter, depending on hemisphere), as the device you're peering at above won't be on sale until August. The USB controlled "Power USB" power strip is a rather unique device, housing a grand total of four universal power sockets (hello, travelers!) and a single USB port; as you may expect, the USB port links the strip to your computer, giving it the power to turn a given socket on or off. Two of the plugs are actually on at all times (a good thing -- trust us), while the other two can be turned on automatically when triggered by a software program or a print job, for example. There's no mention of a price just yet, but even more alarming is the omission of a 12 socket version for the hardcore users among us.
I'm risking getting fired for reading engadget for stories like this?!
come on engadget....
@oldpass56
Your risking getting fired and this is the article you open, read and comment on?
I hope you weren't hired for your intellect.
@oldpass56 Risking ones job over visiting a website? I'd be browsing some other sites, if you know what I mean.
If you don't know what I mean, I'm talking about porn.
@TheAmazingWJV
Thanks for clearing that up! I thought you meant Gizmodo! (The horror...)
Via Wired
XD
great for campers huh? bring your laptop and your hdtv around to have 30 minutes of joy
@annoynimous
Not powered by USB, just controlled. The power is still supplied by a wall outlet
Aren't their surge protectors out there that do the same thing automatically?
I have had one similar like this for around 5 years by now :S
From the site:
Four Outlets. Two always on and Two controlled through USB interface
They should all be controlled.
@yaksplat
I think the point is that you plug your PC and monitor into the two that are always on, otherwise you have to use a separate socket and power strip for those.
It would be nice to have some sort of option though, like a switch flipping them between controlled or always on.
There seems some here misunderstanding. ("hello travelers" and the anonymous qoute on campers). i see two cords, power will come from regular power socket and usb is there only to control the switches. really a cannon to kill a fly if you ask me!
This can hardly be news... come on!
May not really be news, but I didn't know there was such a thing. Now where can I buy one of those in Germany?
@simonbroenner a low profile spanish manufacturer has been selling this stuff for years in Europe in cheap electrical outlets.
It is probably done in China, and that makes me wonder how hard can it be to copy. Since I have seen this thing coming from unknown brands many times in the past, my suggestion to you is to start looking more thoroughly when you do your electrical shopping or simply buy new prescriptions
http://www.grupoenergy.com/de-en/web/products/soyntec/electrical_protection/78518-powem_600
I asume you haven't seen either the belkin "conserve" stuff sold in Mediamarkt in your "deutschland uber alles"... surprise!
@notung Thanks, I've found a few :)
I like Vampires - and Zombies.
Plus $20=a couple of hipster coffees.
An AC Outlet USB controlled four plug surge protector? Pfft. Right. I have a handful of AC plugs that go beyond four. Plus this has been out with a hundred other variations that you can plug your PC in as the prime turn-on with 6+ power controlled.
They can do better than this. This brings it back to the first generation of power controlled surge protectors.
There are two different brands of this type of plug strip available from Amazon. I recently purchased two mfg by Globe, one for my computer, the other for my TV. These do not require USB as they turn on or off automatically whenever the device plugged into the main plug is turned on or off. So if I turn off my computer the other five ports turn off, the two always on are available. Why would I need a USB unless this plug strip was to be removed by a distance from my computer?
Still, I applaud this kind of device and hope there will be more in the future, until such time as the government sets a firm standard that vampire wall-warts do not draw power when the device is turned off. e.g. My ipod is charged, stop sucking power you stupid white box.
And the USB controller itself is a power vampire...
Useless gadget/foolish waste of money #65,536
@Zhuzhu Surely you mean #-65,535? :)
@Phrank
I'm rolling over in my binary grave.
@Zhuzhu *squints* I think I can almost see it...almost..aha! I see what you did there!
what if i plug my computer into it and plug it into my computer
@oldpass56 Risking ones job over visiting a website? I'd be browsing some other sites, if you know what I mean.
If you don't know what I mean, I'm talking about porn.
If all four ports were software controlled, this would be great for remote power control.
Attach it to a sheevaplug, use it to remotely control power to my hardware at home. Never worry about a blue screen while being weeks away from home again.
Isn't this better?
http://www.oneclickpower.com/store/gbu0-splash/KHXCseo.html
What's the point of saving power if you have to leave your PC on to control this thing.
@guruck I think the idea is you use it to control your printer etc (example mentioned in the post) and turn it on only when you need to print something, no idea what kind of software needs to run though. Seems unlikely anything will be compatible and the use cases are rather limited.....
Great idea. Next version should have wifi or bluetooth.
@Pies no HDMI out? lame.
Universal USB??! It's about time!!
I've seen something similar already on the market that turns on the aux sockets automatically when your USB port powers up. Not as fancy, but enough for most people and available now.