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Pioneer's ultraslim DVR-XD09 burner is more jewel case than drive

by Vladislav Savov posted Jul 29th 2009 at 12:58PM

While ASUS is busy stuffing DVD burners into Eee PCs, Pioneer and others are working hard to make the integrated optical drive a thing of the past. The freshly announced XD09 measures in at 5.24 x 0.58 x 5.24-inches and 8 ounces, or slightly beefier than your average CD case. Pioneer claims that it's the most compact drive design yet. Essentially this means if you can carry your optical media around with you, then you can carry the player for it too. Power comes via the USB 2.0 connection, and all the usual DVD plus, minus, reading, writing, dual-layer mumbo jumbo is retained with top writing speeds of 8x on single-layer and 6x on double-layer media. This inspired minimalism can be yours for $79.99 in August.

[Via Hot Hardware]

Native Instruments' Audio 2 DJ claims to be 'world's smallest' USB audio interface

by Vladislav Savov posted Jul 22nd 2009 at 11:33AM

You know you're living in the digital age when even DJs start ogling capacitive touchscreens with glee and turntables can be replaced by pocket DJ systems. Aiding this trend along is the newly announced Audio 2 DJ, which packs studio-grade 24-bit / 96 KHz Cirrus Logic converters inside an impossibly svelte and stylish package. This USB-powered device can best be understood as a supercharged sound card: two 1/4-inch stereo outputs are amplified to a "pristine" +9.7 dBu, while low-latency OS drivers ensure rapid responsiveness. The best thing about the Audio 2 DJ, though, might just be the price -- at $119, it's reasonable enough to make the product appealing to non-professionals too. Should you care about souped-up sound on the move, there's not long to wait now, with availability set for September 1.

[Via Macworld]

Steorn gives up on free-energy, starts charging for USB-powered divining rods

by Thomas Ricker posted Jun 25th 2009 at 6:55AM

It all makes so much sense now. After conducting an elaborate infinite free-energy ruse from a rented art gallery in London, Steorn's business model becomes clear: get people talking about your name (no press is bad press, as they say) and then use that brand recognition to sell some crap. Meet the €289 (that's $400 mister) USB Hall Probe that turns your $1,000 PC into a $40 magnetometer. It's for "Hobbyist and educational experimentation scenarios," they say with a straight face. Look, we have no idea if this performs any better than the cheap hand-held gaussmeters available on-line. But considering the source, we can only offer an educated guess.

[Thanks, Tekdroid]

D-Link introduces 7-inch USB-powered SideStage monitor

by Darren Murph posted Jan 6th 2009 at 1:55PM

D-Link, the company best known for its workings in the networking space, is suddenly branching out into new territories. Taking a pretty noticeable cue from Nanovision, D-Link is debuting a secondary display today in Las Vegas. The 7-inch SideStage, which rocks a 800 x 480 resolution and can be used in either landscape or portrait mode, weighs just 1.34-pounds and gets all the juice it needs from a powered USB 2.0 socket. Regrettably, the outfit failed to disclose a price or release date, simply saying it would be on display at CES. Why the tease, D-Link?

Crapgadget: Dead Santa edition

by Thomas Ricker posted Dec 17th 2008 at 6:11AM

Nothing celebrates excess like a holiday murder immortalized in 10 bucks of USB-powered plastic. The Mini X'mas Desktop Snowman USB Aquarium Office Gift (really, that's the name) features a built-in motor that keeps Santa's corpse and undelivered package in constant motion. Festive, sure, but only if you share The Snowman's contemptuous glee at becoming the number one pitch man for the holidays. Hurry, only two left.

Thanko USB bear gloves don't inhibit your typing, keep palms toasty

by Darren Murph posted Dec 8th 2008 at 10:53AM

Ah, how timely! Over two years after the USB-powered G-Gloves hit the scenes, in comes Thanko to bring a much needed new face to the niche. These Kumasan mittens both get powered from a single USB port and even have cutouts to allow your fingers to move freely. There's no mention of a price nor any indication that these will ever be released outside of Japan, but this is definitely a must-buy if you're headed to that side of the globe anytime soon.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

4.3-inch USB-powered monitor asks "will the real nettop please stand up?"

by Darren Murph posted Oct 14th 2008 at 6:13AM

So you've just purchased a new desktop that checks in at 1.6- x 2.4 - x 2.1-inches (actual size may vary), and you're looking for the perfect LCD to accompany it. At long last, we finally have a solution for the aforementioned quandary. The Century LCD-4300U is a 4.3-inch LCD monitor that not only provides the convenience of a USB connection, but it also gets every ounce of energy it needs via that same USB cable. The mini monitor touts an 800 x 480 resolution, LED-backlighting and compatibility with Windows XP / Vista and OS X. Now, if only the darn thing didn't cost ¥19,800 ($197), we might have ourselves a runaway winner.

[Via OhGizmo]

USB-powered desk fan doubles as 4-port USB hub

by Darren Murph posted Aug 21st 2008 at 1:44PM

Any halfway dedicated nerd already owns at least one desk fan that's either USB-powered or features some sort of dual purpose, but if you're a budding star in the kingdom, this might be the one to get you going. The way-too-loudly-colored Cute Green Desk Cool Fan plugs into any spare USB port, moves a small quantity of air around and doubles as a 4-port USB hub. There's even an On / Off switch for the fan for those times with stagnancy is preferred. Not too shabby for $14.99 delivered, we say.

[Via Protein OS]

USB Heated Shawl: great for the geriatric, cold-natured sets

by Darren Murph posted Aug 20th 2008 at 8:11AM

USB blankets are old hat (for better or worse), but the USB Heated Shawl takes an aged concept and makes it relevant again with the addition of a single clip. Clearly designed for elderly folks who aren't kept warm enough by the bottoms of their laptops and for the billions of cubical dwellers who freeze in silence each and every day, this $28.95 device is a godsend. Just plug it in, wrap it around and enjoy the warmth. Oh, and ignore the haters.

USB-powered HEAT ME stirrer: a coffee addict's dream

by Darren Murph posted Jul 17th 2008 at 7:36PM

We'll go ahead and squash your hopes before you waste time pulling out the plastic -- this thing's just a concept, at least for now. From what we can glean, the HEAT ME is a fantastic device just waiting to be snapped up by Brando (or similar) and turned into the next must-have USB-powered gizmo. Put simply, the metal ends of this here stick warm up when plugged into your USB port, thus giving you a toasty wand to keep your hot tea / coffee at the proper temperature even when colleagues pull you away momentarily. Really though, is there any doubt this won't go commercial within the next six months?

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

USB-powered infrared pad heals road warrior's aches

by Darren Murph posted Nov 3rd 2007 at 10:07AM

It's not often that we see a USB-powered gizmo claiming to "relieve tiredness, muscle strain or even pain," and considering that we can't leave our posts even for a moment to see an actual doctor (a non-robotic one, at least), we couldn't be happier about this development. The USB Far Infra-Red Pad gets all the power it needs from a spare USB port, and apparently emits infrared light onto your weary arms, back or biceps in order to leave you feeling completely revitalized. Interestingly, the manufacturer warns that leaving it on one spot for over 15 minutes can cause all sorts of problems, so yeah, there's that. Anyways, those who spend the majority of their time slaving over a keyboard can snap this (likely worthless) thing up for $21.99, but don't expect any miracles, alright?

[Via EverythingUSB]

USB-powered whack-a-mole annihilates productivity

by Darren Murph posted Oct 1st 2007 at 10:22PM

We've seen plenty of desk distractions over the years, but the USB-powered Whack It game definitely has the potential to be a productivity killer like no other. This relatively small device simply plugs into a powered USB port and challenges workers to smash the critters as they light up. Reportedly, the game boasts 30-second and one-minute gameplay modes and a wee LED scoreboard, too. Of course, figuring out how to slam down on this thing without drawing attention to yourself is another battle entirely, but if you're up for it, you can grab the game now for £14.99 ($31).

[Via Technabob]

LG launches ultrathin USB-powered external DVD burner

by Darren Murph posted Aug 29th 2007 at 4:14AM

For those not quite ready to take the high-definition plunge, LG is looking to make burning those vanilla DVDs a whole lot easier whilst on the road. The uber-slim GSA-E50N (and LightScribe-equipped GSA-E50L) measure in at just 6.14- x 6.5- x 0.84-inches and weigh 0.84-pounds, come in black or white motifs, and play nice with Windows Vista. Moreover, the unit is powered completely via USB, and can burn DVD+R / RW, DVD-R / RW, and DVD-RAM discs at up to 8x speeds. Both units are slated to hit the streets soon, and while the GSA-E50N will ring up at €89 ($122), the GSA-E50L will demand an extra €10 ($14).

[Via The Inquirer]

USB necktie with built-in fan keeps you cool, single

by Nilay Patel posted Aug 10th 2007 at 8:31AM

Ain't nothing classier than a clip-on tie...except one with a built-in USB-powered fan in the knot. We're not certain how this thing keep you cool, or why you wouldn't just use any of the million other USB-powered fans that don't increase your dork factor by 1000, but the people in the photos look so blissfully content we're actually a little curious.

[Via The Raw Feed]

Brando intros beefed up USB can cooler / warmer

by Darren Murph posted Jul 14th 2007 at 5:19AM

Brando's previous attempt at cranking out a sufficient USB drink chiller / warmer was certainly commendable, but the excessive amount of exposure to the air left us desiring a more effective solution. Not one to disappoint, the company has indeed unveiled a new edition, complete with a wraparound design that totally submerges your canned beverage in a world of heat (or cold). This USB-powered gizmo even sports an in-line toggle switch to determine the temperature, and for just $32, how can you not consider this a road warrior must-have? More pics after the jump.

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