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USB-powered drink chiller / warmer keeps beverages happy
If you're the type who spends more time in your computer chair than basically anywhere else, Brando's got a must-have coming your way. While the zany (and numerous) array of USB-powered gizmos we've seen is nothing short of overwhelming, the USB Chiller And Warmer actually ranks fairly high in the utility department. Sporting that oh-so-hip glossy white finish, the device is entirely USB-powered, rocks a built-in fan, and can keep your beverage cool or warm with the flip of a switch. Moreover, it claims to boost the temperature of your drink 29-degrees in 10 minutes, and chills 13-degrees in the same period of time. So if you're already surrounded by a mini fridge and espresso machine, be sure to throw down the $24 required to keep your rear planted (and drink temperature satisfactory) around the clock.
USB shaver keeps facial hair under control
While we actually gave away a shaver not too far back to help the, um, hygienically challenged out there, leave it to Brando to deliver the first shaver geeks will actually use. Joining the gazillion other oddities that sufficiently eliminate the "lonely USB port" syndrome, this bathroom necessity features a floating double-head system, "ultra thin outer foil," low power consumption, snazzy blue LEDs, a revolving USB plug, and an on / off switch. Completely rechargeable via your trusty USB port, this gives a new meaning to "portable shaving system," and gives you one more reason to just spend the night in your office versus fighting that awful rush hour traffic. So if you're looking to drop a not-so-subtle hint to that beastly friend of yours, you can wrap this sucka up for just $22.
Brando's WorkShop 55-in-1 reader, now with SDHC
If you want to be safe, and we mean really safe from the onslaught of memory card formats then look no further than the WorkShop 55-in-1 reader from Brando. We're not going to run down the whole list for you, but you should know that the reader supports not only the new SDHC (SD 2.0) card format, but also the unannounced and likely fictitious (for now anyway) "SDHC 2.0" format. Looks like they're taking their product cues from AData who have been mislabeling their SDHC cards since day 1. It's products like this which remind us just how fractured the consumer electronics business can be. Yours at the end of November for $28.
Brando's Mini Bluetooth Keyboard eases phone typing
Predictive text and alternative keypad arrangements (some bizarre) ease the painstaking procedure of hammering out the occasional email or note on the old mobile, but at the end of the day, nothing beats good, old-fashioned QWERTY (or Das Keyboard, if that's how you roll) for text entry. Brando's new $56 Mini Bluetooth Keyboard takes the old, tried-and-true formula of the foldable keyboard and scales it down a smidge, giving users a device that they can realistically carry pretty much everywhere they're taking their phone. Usability is an open question -- those keys do look mighty small -- but we're figuring a crappy keyboard is better than none at the end of the day.
