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Elecom's 47-in-1 MR-A005 card reader gains SDXC support, speed boost
Frankly, we've our doubts that this planet is even home to 47 different useful types of flash cards, but if you're Boy Scout instincts simply won't let you leave the house unprepared, there's Elecom's MR-A005. It's a familiar design, sure, but what it lacks in ingenuity it makes up for in compatibility. This is one of the first mega-multi-card readers to support SDXC, and we're told that this model is around 20 percent faster than its predecessor when writing to CompactFlash (not to mention 10 percent faster when writing to SDHC). And hey, it's available in four triumphant colors. Check it later this month in Japan for around 30 bones.
Elecom introduces SDXC-compatible card reader, waits for you to afford SDXC cards
Panasonic's duo of SDXC cards should be shipping out this month, which means that you'll be needing a new card reader on the double. Of course, it's not like you're really about to pay upwards of $450 for 32GB of wicked fast Secure Digital storage (or $600 for the 64 gigger), but hey, it's hard to knock Elecom for being proactive. Said outfit has just released what looks to be the first multicard readers to openly support SDXC, with the MR-A001BK handling ten formats and the MR-A002 supporting a grand total of 32 -- some of which haven't been used regularly since Vikings ruled the north. Both are expected to ship in Japan later this month, with pricing set for ¥1,890 ($21) and ¥2,415 ($27) in order of mention.
Addonics intros two eSATA-enabled multicard readers for the brave and gullible
There's no denying that the two newest multicard readers from Addonics can connect to one's PC via eSATA as well as the conventional USB 2.0 method, but frankly, we've our doubts about the honest-to-goodness speed benefits of linking through the former. The outfit claims that when its (external) Pocket eSATA / USB DigiDrive is hooked up with an eSATA cable, any flash media you insert can be used as a bootable device with read / write speeds of up to 150MB/sec, but of course you'll want to slap the quickest SDHC or CompactFlash card you can find in there to fully take advantage of the extra bandwidth. There's also an internal version for those tired of looking at the gaping hole where your floppy drive used to be, and considering that both retail for $59.99, you'll probably spend the next four or five hours just choosing which you really need.
USB extension cable arrives with inline card reader
You know, sometimes it's just the simple things in life that really bring a smile to one's face. Take this cable, for instance. At first glance, it's really nothing more than a USB extension cable (USB A Male-to-mini USB) with an odd protrusion in the middle. Sort of like a snake that's only halfway done digesting its latest meal. Gross analogies aside, that bulge is actually an SD card reader that's also capable of handling SDHC, miniSD and microSD formats. The whole cord measures 2.43 feet long and costs just $11.99 -- can you say "geek stocking stuffer?"
Marubeni Infotec knocks on wooden input peripherals
While we doubt a vast majority of you have gone and purchased a wooden PC just yet, a natural tower isn't necessary to enjoy the stained goods that Marubeni Infotec was showing off at Computex. While details concerning pricing, availability, and construction were all but nil, AVing's crew did manage to get its camera up close and personal with some of the wares. On display was a USB keyboard (complete with Scrabble-influenced keys), a number of colorful USB 2.0 flash drives, a multicard reader, and a four-port (we agree, the fourth port is hiding) USB hub. Click on through for shots so close, you can smell the sap.
Brando's 55-in-1 multicard reader doubles as Bluetooth, USB 2.0 hub
Leave it to Brando to upgrade its fine line of chintzy multicard readers yet again, this time adding an additional three cards to its mile long compatibility list and throwing in a USB 2.0 hub as well. Of course, we've already seen the unit acquire Bluetooth and rave lights, but the latest edition doubles as a Bluetooth dongle and provides an extra two USB 2.0 ports to daisy chain your favorite USB-powered gadgetry to your PC. Not a whole lot of reasons to upgrade to this one if you're a proud (or shameful) owner of past iterations, but if you've been looking for the least expensive way to convert your non-BT-enabled machine into one that speaks Bluetooth, all while finding a device that reads and writes to T-Flash, IBM MD, MAGICSTOR, and SDHC (just to name a few), Brando's whiz-bang conglomerate will run you just $29.
OCZ Trifecta SD card pulls triple duty
Although it's far from being the first USB-enabled SD card to grace store shelves, we're giving OCZ a bit of a break considering that its rendition of the multi-faceted flash card also handles microSD on the side. The aptly-dubbed Trifecta purportedly functions as any standard SD card should in your camera, PMP, or toilet, but it also acts as a flash card reader or USB thumb drive without any extra fuss. The three-in-one device will be shipping in both 1GB and 2GB flavors before any additional expansion via microSD, will sport a 66x read rate, and will be covered by a five-year warranty to boot. Unfortunately, we've no idea when to expect these little guys to actually arrive, nor how much they'll run when that day comes.[Via EverythingUSB]
Wolverine's ESP 5160 PMP hits 160GB, stays bulked up
X-Men fans wouldn't want their Wolverine any other way than pumped up and ready to dominate, but PMP fans aren't exactly looking for the most inflated device on the block. Still, Wolverine's multifaceted ESP 5160 retains the rather bulky 5.3- x 2.8- x 0.9-inch enclosure of the previous (and less capacious) models, but bumps the internal storage capacity up to 160GB. Photographers will still be gawking at their offloaded JPEG, RAW, BMP, or TIFF files on the 3.6-inch 320 x 240 display, and users can also zoom, rotate, and view EXIF data in slideshow mode with tunes jamming in the background. Aside from offering up on-the-go slideshows, this hero also maintains its solid media playing functionality, handling MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC, WAV, and CDA on the audio front while tackling Motion JPEG, MPEG1/4, XviD, and WMV9 on the video side. Furthermore, you'll find a built-in speaker, NTSC / PAL video out, USB 2.0 connectivity, FM radio, a 7-in-1 flash card reader, integrated microphone, audio line-in, and the ability to record directly from a TV or camcorder if utilizing the optional docking cradle. So if you're looking for just about everything a non-internet-enabled PMP / photo storage device could offer, the 5160 isn't a bad option save for the size, but (literally) deep-pocketed consumers can snap this one up now for $549.99.
ASKA's 20GB Tripper Light: autonomous HDD for photographers
We're fully aware that digicam sensors are getting incredibly large (sometimes unnecessarily so) these days, and it seems like alternatives to carrying around an assortment of flash cards are popping up everywhere. Even if you aren't shooting with a camera that produces 78MB RAW files with each shutter click, high quality images can churn through megabytes with ease, and ASKA's 20GB Tripper Light is looking to lighten the load on your poor memory card(s). Similar in function to Polaroid's autonomous HDD, Axxen's renditions, and SavitMicro's HyperDrive, this device handles your CF, SD, MMC, MD, MS, and MSPro cards and copies all files to the handy drive with the press of a button. It boasts 20GB of internal space, on / off button, Mac and Windows functionality, USB charging capability, 2.49Mbps transfer rate, and USB 2.0 connectivity. So if you're frustrated with carrying around oodles of half-filled flash cards, you can pick up the Tripper Light for ¥19,950 ($165) and save yourself the trouble.[Via AkihabaraNews]
SavitMicro HyperDrive SPACE 2.5-inch HDD enclosure backs up flash cards
If you're the type who'd rather lug around a 2.5-inch HDD enclosure instead of dozens of easily mixed up flash cards, well, you're probably not alone, and SavitMicro has just released a device to make prolific shooters all the merrier. The company's USB 2.0 HyperDrive SPACE may look like your average Korean-bound DAP at first glance, but actually houses your choice of 2.5-inch hard drive, and can automatically transfer pictures or media from a smorgasbord of flash memory directly onto the HDD to keep your card ready for more. Aside from touting a blisteringly fast 1Gbps transfer rate (maximum), the rechargeable Li-ion purportedly lasts long enough to fill up a 100GB internal HDD, and it even sports a 1.8-inch LCD to control the action. This bad boy plays nice with CF, MicroDrive, SD, SDHC, MMC, xD, MSDuo, MSPro, and nearly every other proprietary format that Sony has kicked out. Although pricing details weren't readily available, the HyperDrive SPACE should hit webstores within the month.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Pretec unveils "world's smallest" microSD reader: i-Disk Micro
Hmm, looks like we've got a bit of a conflict here, as we've now got two companies claiming that its microSD reader is indeed the world's smallest. Of course, Pretec doesn't bother giving us the dimensions, so its crown will have to remain in pending for the time being, but the i-Disk Micro Reader is ridiculously small nonetheless, Capable of holding microSD cards from 32MB all the way up to 2GB in capacity, this bantam device comes in a transparent case to give users easy access to the size of the microSD card within, sports a curvaceous design to purportedly prevent scratches when carried around with your mobile, includes a nifty keychain attachment, and connects via USB 2.0. There's no mention of pricing nor availability, but just in case this whole "world's smallest" claim doesn't pan out for ole Pretec, at least they're also releasing a SDHC-friendly 20-in-1 flash card reader which it can boast about while eating its words.[Via MobileWhack]
Elecom rolls out MR-C11 / MR-C10 flash card readers
If you're hunting for an unmistakable way to transfer your flash data to the PC, or just need something handy to transfer files between two separate cards, Elecom's newest pair of card readers can lend a hand. Sporting an ultracompact 61 x 34 x 8mm enclosure, the MR-C11 11-in-1 card reader can handle MMC, SD, SDHC, MS, MS Pro, MS Duo, xD, miniSD, microSD, and a couple more (when you toss in adapters, of course). The device has just a single slot where any card is apparently inserted and correctly read, removing the presumably strenuous guesswork involved in matching up basic squares and rectangles. The even smaller sibling, dubbed MR-C10, plays nice with the same card formats, but ups the ante by providing dual slots for PC-free data dubbing directly between SD / SDHC and MS cards. Both flashy (ahem) readers will be available in Japan later this month, and the MR-C11 will run you ¥2,520 ($22) while the MR-C10 demands ¥2,400 ($20).[Via Akihabara News]
