A cable has to have a certain something to cause optical interrupt to these trade-show weary eyes. Then this comes along, the Plug It USB adapter. We doubt it's the "world's smallest" USB charging and data cable as they claim. Nevertheless, it's definitely convenient and small enough to be slung from your keys or even that eyelet found on many mobile devices including most cellphones. At the moment, it's available in a handful of proprietary models for connecting to a wide range of Samsung and Nokia devices. A mini USB version allows it to connect to just about everything else including BlackBerrys, cameras, PMPs, MP3 players, etc etc. Well, except that iPod in your pocket. Available now for about €8/$12 -- video demonstration after the break.

Nothing too earth-shattering here, but it seems that those in the market for a dual band Wireless-N USB adapter could benefit from holding off just a wee bit longer. Netgear's forthcoming WNDA3100 has found its way into the FCC's doors, and while it doesn't look to speak with aliens or any other fancy stuff, it does support WEP and WPA / WPA2. Way too excited about this thing? Hit up the read link for test photos and a preliminary user's manual -- that ought to quell your inexplicable curiosity, right?

We know how it is to finally break down and buy an SSD, multicard reader, HSDPA modem, or an entire expansion dock just to have something filling the void in your ExpressCard slot, only to find a superior alternative the next week. Fret not, as SIIG has rolled out a handy new solution to your "too many ExpressCard gizmos, not enough slots" quandary with the JU-000012-S1 USB-to-ExpressCard adapter. As the title implies, this here adapter simply enables any USB 2.0 port on your lappie or desktop to play nice with an ExpressCard, boasts a maximum transfer rate of 480Mbps, supports hot swapping, and works on nearly every edition of Windows and OS X 10.3+ sans a driver. The only real dig here is that it's only compatible with USB-based ExpressCard devices, meaning PCI-Express based cards won't function via this device. Nevertheless, you can start cramming more ExpressCards than you ever imagined into your machine right now for about $32 per adapter.

[Via EverythingUSB]

It looks like the long wait is over for Guitar Hero fans impatient to get their thrash on with the currently Hero-less PlayStation 3, as a new USB adapter from Pelican promises to succeed where others have floundered and enable controllers from both PlayStation 2 versions to work on the newest console. As you may recall, the compatibility problem arises from the guitars' lack of the PS button required to start PSone and PS2 games on the PS3; Pelican's adapter addresses this issue by sporting a PS button of its own, along with three LEDs to indicate whether the unit is in regular, Guitar Hero left, or Guitar Hero right mode. Sounds pretty snazzy, and if it works as promised, may allow you to finally retire the old PS2 once and for all.

[Via Joystiq]

What's better than TRENDnet's pre-802.11n gear? How about an 802.11b/g-compliant device that you can actually rest assured works with basically every other piece of WiFi kit out there? The TEW-445UB is a 108Mbps-capable wireless USB 2.0 / 1.1 adapter which sports a fairly small 2.8- x 2.1- x 0.7-inch enclosure and plays nice with Windows only. Aside from supporting "Super G" technology and WEP / WPA encryption, it boasts a high power output for up to 23dBm of range, a detachable 2dBi antenna, and claims to cover "50 to 100" meters indoors while blanketing "150 to 300" meters outside. While nothing here is particularly revolutionary, the respectable $72 pricetag fits the package quite well, and it should be showing up in stores real soon.

Not afraid of the big bad (somewhat uncertain) upgrade path? More 802.11n-draft wireless networking gear, coming through today, this time from Belkin. Say hello to their N1 line of gear based on Atheros XSPAN chipsets, which come in the form of a $99.99 PC card (sorry, no ExpressCard yet), $119.99 PCI card with antennae (F5D8001), USB adapter (F5D8051) later this year, and pleasantly affordable $149.99 router (F5D8231-4). Of course, we're making no claims whatsoever that you should run out and grab these if it's 300Mbps wireless you're after; but if you're ready to take the plunge these could be as good as any, and seem to stand an equal chance of actually being compliant with 802.11n when it's approved by the IEEE some time in 2015.