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HP debuts a clutch of new, eco-friendly displays
Companies love to fly their "green" flags, regardless of whether or not manufacturing (or, indeed, operating) consumer electronics can ever truly be eco-friendly. That said, HP is quick to remind us that "white is the new green," in this case the low power, mercury-free, solid state White LEDs featured in the HP Compaq LA22f (22-inch) and HP Compaq LE19f (19-inch). Otherwise, the HP ZR22w (21.5-inch) and HP ZR24w (24-inch) are LCD displays with integrated 4-port USB hubs. All of these bad boys feature HDCP compliant DVI inputs, VGA, and optional USB graphics adapter for up to six simultaneous displays. Pretty sweet, right? No word on a price or release date, but you'll know as soon as we do -- promise. PR after the break. %Gallery-81607%
HSTi Wireless Media Stick nixes the need for dedicated storage drives
The banners aren't even officially up in Vegas yet, and already we're catching a drift of what all will be unveiled in the days to come. Take this Wireless Media Stick for example, which is HSTi's way of telling you that a dedicated storage drive beside your Blu-ray player or media player is completely unnecessary. Put simply, this device (and the accompanying software, we presume) plugs directly into any USB-enabled disc player or media streamer that's connected to your television; from there, you can easily stream media that's already shacked up within your main PC to your TV-connected device(s), which cures the problem of having your media fragmented between varying drives. We're still waiting to hear exactly what kind of technology this thing relies on (we're guessing 2.4GHz), but hopefully we'll find out more (along with a price and ship date) real soon.
Multifaceted adapter combines 3-port USB hub with iPod / iPhone connector
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.
Elecom's simplistic multicard reader mounts nicely on walls, desks
Still using that heap from 1999 that shipped sans a multicard reader? We know, it's tough. As does Elecom, who has just pumped out a foursome of new flash card readers for those less fortunate among us. The token one, however, is the sticky guy pictured above, which can actually be mounted on one's wall or desk side in order to maintain your precious desk space up top. You know -- 'cause all that paperwork scattered about is so critical. Mum's the word on a price or release date, but if we had to guess, we'd say "cheap" and "soon enough." [Via Akihabara News]
Crapgadget: "That's actually kind of offensive" edition
We'll be honest -- most Crapgadget roundups consist of a litany of patently absurd, but totally innocent USB-related input peripherals. We aren't exactly sure what the Universal Serial Bus did to deserve such treatment, but evidently it slighted someone important along the way. But this time, things are... different. Oh sure, there's the jewel car necklace flash drive that inexplicably combines a "jewel" and a "car" on a "necklace flash drive," but it's the USB banana charger and USB aroma diffuser that really has our politically correct radars on high alert. Amazingly, the aforementioned atrocities are just the beginning, so feel free to visit each and every one of this week's losers and vote for the most disgusting down below. Choose carefully!Read - Jewel car necklace USB flash driveRead - USB banana chargerRead - Finger flick punching bagRead - USB digital microscope, Part IIRead - Big nose shower gel dispenserRead - Glitter ball alarm clockRead - USB panda speakerRead - USB aroma diffuser %Poll-33377%
Crapgadget: "Oh yeah, they're totally serious" edition
Every so often, we come across a gadget (or five) that's so offensive, so absurd that we simply can't help but stick it in our back pocket and show it to the general public. Today, we're rounding up the worst of the worst once again, proving that there literally is no end to the spewing of gadget-related garbage that comes from unknown caverns in undisclosed corners of the universe. We mean, just listen to these products: "fried eggs night light," "Bic lighter spy camera," "hungry caterpillar USB hub," and "half-eaten chocolate mouse." Does those even sound like kit that any partially sane individual would purchase? No, no it doesn't. Have a gander while shaking your head furiously below, and feel free to drop a vote for the king of the crap while venting in comments below. Trust us, it's therapeutic.Read - Half-eaten chocolate mouseRead - USB Penguin 4-Port Hub Read - Fried Eggs Night LightRead - Spy camera Bic lighterRead - USB Bulb Flash DriveRead - Hungry caterpillar USB hub %Poll-33032%
Cambrionix 49-port USB hub for professional nerds
It's designed for professional test labs or even businesses where host-rigs must be protected against faulty USB devices. But there's nothing stopping you from decorating a living-room wall with this second-generation 49-port USB 2.0 hub from Cambrionix. Unless you consider the cost -- £399 / $657 (plus tax) -- or the fact that it requires an ATX-2 power supply to push 500mA across all 49-ports significant deterrents. [Thanks, dontcrossthestreams]
Crapgadget: "USB, meet animals; animals, meet USB" edition
Hey, real quick -- are you a registered member of the Sierra Club? What about PETA? If you answered yes to either, we're going to kindly ask that you continue scrolling down the page while whistling heartily and "looking the other way." This week's roundup of horribly crappy gadgets involves far too many innocent animals, from a USB-infused tortoise that doubles as an ashtray to a tank of jellyfish that only receive their nutrients when the USB cable is connected. And then there's the Elmo that's forced to do sit-ups while your data transfers onto his feeble brain. It's sick, really. Once you're over the shock and horror, feel free to cast your vote below for the lamest of the lame -- and feel free to consult and / or hold a friend if necessary.Read - USB tortoise hub / ashtrayRead - USB jellyfish tankRead - Panda USB hubRead - USB Crunching ElmoRead - USB Chocolate Popsicle drive %Poll-31999%
Crapgadget: 'Gee... thanks?' edition
If you need a flash drive or USB hub there are many useful and, more to the point, tasteful options out there. But if you want to saddle a hapless co-worker or relative with a silly, embarrassing, or just plain crapulant gag gift suitable for the current technological moment? Look no further than the following assortment of crapgadgets. Your illustrious Engadget eds have hand-picked a wonderful assortment of devices tailor-made to evoke awkward responses at office birthday parties and the like. So, without further ado...Read - No Green Thumb Required: USB Fever 4-Port Flower Pot HubRead - USB Airplane Hub with built-in fan Read - Robot USB Drives would make a cute gift Read - USB Artillery HubRead - USB Octopus Hub%Poll-31510%
Elecom keeps things simple with U2H-TC410B wall socket USB hub
While there's a place for USB hubs that double as a mousepad and calculator, it's sometimes best to just keep things simple, which is what Elecom has thankfully done with its new U2H-TC410B "wall socket" USB hub. Contrary to what that name might suggest, however, this one doesn't actually plug into a power outlet, but is instead designed to be mounted on a wall or the side of the desk and become a wall socket of sorts itself. Apart from that, it's basically just your standard four-port USB 2.0 hub and, as you can see above, it's available in your choice of black or white. Unfortunately, it's not priced like a run-of-the-mill USB hub, with this one running a somewhat hefty $39.99.[Via OhGizmo!]
Seagate introduces FreeAgent Go Dock+ with powered USB hub
We have no idea why Seagate buried this in a warmed-over press release touting rehashed FreeAgent for Mac drives, but there's a new $40 FreeAgent Go Dock+ that doubles as a powered three-port USB hub. Pretty convenient if you're into the whole FreeAgent Go lifestyle, we'd say, but we're sticking with our versatile bareback SATA docks.
Behold: the illuminated calculator / mouse pad / USB hub
Sure, you may have seen plenty of calculators / mousepads / USB hubs in your day. But how about a calculator / mousepad / USB hub that lights up? Didn't think so. Head on past the break for a glimpse of that magic, and hit up the link below to get one of your own for just $17.99.[Via Engadget Chinese]
Buffalo BSH4A02 USB hub loves switches, hates vampires
Vampires don't just inhabit the night and your AC power strips. They come in USB flavors, too, and so far only Buffalo seems to be doing anything about them and their wasteful ways, introducing the charmingly-named BSH4A02 four-port USB hub. It sports one switch per plug, making it easy for you to put a stake in your smartphone's battery maintenance cycle, comes in three colors, hits Japan this October for ¥3,885 (about $40), and includes an AC adapter to power itself -- making us wonder if this thing doesn't have a bit of the undead in it as well. Perhaps Buffalo will call it "Blade" and give it some cool sunglasses before a US release. [Via GadgetReview]
Crapgadget: Tacky USB knicknacks edition
When the fine folks of the USB Implementers Forum put together the specs for USB 2.0 some nine odd years ago, they certainly never dreamed that this technology would be the standard connectivity option for the tacky knickknacks of the 21st century. We know you won't be lining your mantelpiece with any of these things (the space being reserved for your Franklin Mint collector plates depicting the cast of Gone With The Wind) but maybe your cube could use some gussying up? We have 2GB thumb drives for you that almost-not-really pass themselves off as cat's ears, a USB hub that comes with "chocolate" balls of dubious provenance, a hub that might look at home next to your skull bong, and lastly, a USB powered fan with a fetching Spider-Man motif. Do any of these sound good to you? We didn't think so. But feel free to hop on past the break for a good laugh.Read - USB Chocolate 3-Port Hub Read - USB Memory Cat Ears Read - Wacky Skull and Potato Polyresin USB HubsRead - USB Spider-Man Fan
LaCie intros Core4 and Core7 USB hubs, various HDD bags
LaCie is outing a few new wares today, and despite your best wishes, they ain't hard drives. Up first, we've got the Core4 and Core7 USB hubs, both of which are modeled after the Sam Hecht-designed LaCie Little Disk. As the model names indicate, the Core4 includes four USB ports and a built-in mini-USB cable, while the Core7 packs six USB sockets as well as a built-in extractable mini-USB cable. Both devices are shipping now in Warm Gray, Blue and Orange for $9.99 and $19.99 in order of mention. In related, somewhat less titillating news, the company is also introducing three new lines of mobile and desktop hard drive bags: the LaCie Cover, LaCie Coat and LaCie Cozy. The trio arrives in a rainbow of hues and models for 2.5- and 3.5-inch HDDs, with prices starting at $8.90. Huzzah?Read - Core4 and Core7 USB hubsRead - LaCie HDD bags
Transforming Qosmio laptop is actually less than meets the eye
Still looking for something else to go with that transforming mouse and USB drive? Then you may want to try to get your hands on this seemingly official Qosmio laptop, which transforms into everyone's favorite cassette-playing Autobot, Blaster. Unfortunately, this particular Blaster can't actually play cassettes, and the laptop isn't actually a laptop either. It is, however, a fully functional four-port USB hub, which makes... sense? Not surprisingly, such wonders are a bit hard to come by 'round here, but folks in Japan (or those willing to go the importing route) will apparently be able to pick one up for ¥3,980, or about $40.[Via Coolest Gadgets]
Crapgadget: USB embarrassments shame Intel's rock stars
Seriously, Ajay here would be downright ashamed. His Universal Serial Bus has found some seriously awesome uses over the years, sure, but the latest torrent of USB-equipped garbage is looking to do more harm than good to the venerable connector. In our latest roundup of crap found 'round the web, we see yet again that it's the USB-infused devices holding down the fort. From a flashlight-packin' USB SD card reader to a USB Parrot, our heads hurt from just imagining who among us is actually spending cold, hard credit on this rubbish. Feel free to inflict the same pain upon yourself by visiting the links below, and then cast your vote for the worst of the worst. Good luck, brave souls.Read - USB SD card reader with flashlightRead - Sparkling USB bracelet with no purpose or dreamsRead - USB Notebook Pocket Cooler puts 'Huffing' and 'Puffing' out of workRead - Pepe, the USB ParrotRead - 4-port USB hub gains a mirror... because it canRead - Jewel Rose Pin USB Flash Drive: perfect for Great, Great, Great Grandmother's DayRead - USB U-Shape i-Speaker just looks disturbing %Poll-30429%
Latest USB gadgets light up your life, fill up your wallet
Intel's Ajay Bhatt indeed deserves rock star status. Without his hard work we might not today have such a wondrous bounty of USB devices, like the hub pictured after the break. It not only sports a light for illuminating your keyboard or helping you find that last Skittle that skittered away into the dark confines of your desk, but it also has a rechargeable battery, meaning you can use it as a rather unwieldy reading light. New, too, is the Lego-themed (though not Lego®-branded) USB hub shown above, which enables you to elegantly add USB devices to your setup in blocks of four. Oh, and then there's the newfangled USB wristwatch ($26) which packs a connector at the end of the strap. Hot stuff, we tell ya.Read - USB Hub with a built-in flashlightRead - USB wristwatchRead - Lego-themed USB hub
Dexim MHub mixes up an iPod dock with a USB hub
We're actually sort of surprised that we haven't seen many more iPod dock / USB hub / card reader hybrids, but the Dexim MHub here is the only one we can recall seeing apart from the Griffin Simplifi. At a steep $70, it's certainly not the cheapest way to add three USB ports and an SD card reader, but it certainly does look nice. Should be on sale now.[Via Gear Diary]
Elecom's USB hub shares devices, not feelings, with your spouse
Here's a 7-port USB hub for the hardcore-singles or corporate-couples amongst you. The ¥7,035 (about $71) AC-powered U2SW-B27SBK hub from Elecom lets you share up to seven USB 2.0/1.1 devices simultaneously across a pair of USB connected computers; Mac or PC, makes no difference to Elecom. While it'll share a USB keyboard and mouse between machines, there's no video-out so it's not a true KVM. It does, however, include a little change-over switch that's supposed to allow for a nag-free swap-out of computers. A welcome solution for couples toting laptops back and forth from the cubicle farms. At least it will be when it begins shipping in Japan starting mid-May.[Via Impress]
