usb hub
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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]
Crapgadget: No wonder the economy sucks edition
While we here at Engadget are doing everything in our power to get this philosophical "economy" back "on track," it's items like these that aren't doing anything to help. No innovation. No stimulating capabilities. No utility at all, really. Just a webcam that scans business cards, an MP3 player shaped like a cow and a flash drive that's absolutely not certified for circulation by the Democratic National Committee. Though, we must say that they're all tailor made for Crapgadget, which is (just barely) good enough for us -- drop your vote for the lamest below! Read - CowCow MP3 player Read - 4-Port Soccer Ball USB Hub Read - MSI StarCam Flip Webcam Read - USB Bird Fan Read - Bling Bling USB Card Reader Read - Obama Flash Drive %Poll-29537%
Crapgadget: USB abomination edition (with a pinch of superhero)
Seriously, just listen at this and try to stifle your sighs. "Bling Bling USB optical mouse." "Jewel Necklace USB flash drive." "Turtle-Look USB 2.0 Hub with a tray." "Magic Sensor LCD Alarm Clock." "Insect USB Mini Fan." Yes, friends, this is the type of utter garbage we're dealing with in this episode of Crapgadget. Honestly, we're simultaneously astounded and deeply depressed that anyone would even consider dishing out their hard-earned cheddar for any of this rubbish, but we're doing our darnedest to pretend that these were simply created for us to have a laugh at.The week's strongest contender? Some superhero magnet pixels... and that's saying something.Read - Bling Bling mouseRead - Jewel necklace USB driveRead - Turtle USB hubRead - Sensor alarm clockRead - Insect fanRead - Magnetic pixels %Poll-28983%
Brando delivers gaggle of wacky USB hubs
Oh Brando, will your wonders ever cease? The company famous for making our days with random, wacky, off-the-wall gizmos has just unloaded a small cadre of new USB hubs, all of which are delightfully eccentric and totally destined for neglected desks the world over. From the Clippy-approved USB Happy-Kid 4-Port Hub to the reading light-infused iteration, there's a hub for practically anyone looking to get more USB devices connected to their PC. Check 'em all out below, and don't feel like you have to pick just one, regardless of what your savings account is saying.Read - Clippy hubRead - Folding light hubRead - 3-port clock hubRead - Unreal watch hub
Brando's fun lovin' SATA HDD dock / stereo speaker / USB hub
Brando, known for its zany USB gadgets (and for playing Superman's father Jor-El) is back on the scene with a combination SATA HDD dock / stereo speaker / USB hub. This might not come with the laugh appeal of, say, the Buffalo USB speakers -- and it may not tell you the temperature at your desk -- but if you don't mind one of these ugmos cluttering up your workstation we're sure you'll be able to put it to good use. Features include: compatibility with both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA hard disks, two USB 2.0 ports, USB audio, three watt stereo speakers (with "rich timbre"), and volume control.Yours for a smooth $59.
IOGEAR puts four USB devices on your network with USB Net ShareStation
We've seen a few devices that put your existing USB external hard drives on home networks, but IOGEAR's latest contraption does that crowd one better. The 4-Port USB Net ShareStation (shown left) enables everyone with access to a local network to access four USB devices (HDDs, printers, scanners, drink coolers, etc.), and moreover, that access can be cord-free if the hub is plugged into a wireless router. In other news, the outfit has revealed the 2-Port USB 2.0 Printer Auto Sharing Switch (shown right), which it describes as the "only automatic printer switch compatible with Macs and PCs." Both devices should be scattered across office supply stores by the end of this month for $99.95 and $39.95, respectively.
Rota-Rota USB hub doubles as a thermometer for reasons unknown
You know what's not uncommon on Brando USB hubs? Weird things. You know what is uncommon on USB hubs in general? Thermometers. The Rota-Rota hub takes USB hubs where they've likely never, ever been before (and may very well never return to) by including a trio of rotating USB ports, a multicard reader and dials that read out the current room temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. If those tools sound like the perfect addition to your desk, hit the read link and hand over $15.50.[Via Coolest-Gadgets]
Fish USB Hub looks like something the cat dragged in
It's cute, it's useful, you're totally going to want one! Well, maybe not, but the Fish Shape 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub still could make your life a little cooler if you're in the market for a USB hub. It's purple, the eyes are LEDs, and it's sure to be boatloads of fun -- as long as you keep it out of Heathcliff's way, that is. Really, what more could you ask for? This little dude can be yours for a mere $10.99.
4-port USB Revolving Hub is simply useful
It's actually pretty amazing what you can do with four extra USB ports. For instance, you can chill a Coke Zero for you and three buds. You can power four sets of warming gloves. You can cover the family in USB-heated blankets. Whatever you choose to do, you'll likely have a much easier time hooking things up if using the 4-port USB Revolving Hub. Two of the sockets remain flat, but two can rotate up to 90-degrees each to provide ultimate plug-n-play flexibility. Claims yours in black or white for $12.[Via Coolest-Gadgets]
Brando offers up laptop cooling pad with built-in hard drive dock
Brando's many peripherals certainly attract their fair share of derison, but it looks like the catch-all retailer may win over a few of the doubters with its new laptop cooling pad / USB hub / hard drive dock, especially considering its $33 price tag. That'll get you two fans that promise to keep your laptop from melting whatever surface it's on, plus three USB ports and, most interestingly, a slot that'll accomodate any 2.5-inch hard drive you might have laying around. Of course, there's always the slight chance that things could go completely haywire (or simply fall apart) but, if you want to give it a go, you can get your order in at the link below.
Earth Trek offers up VGA webcam with 2-port USB hub
It's not often that you find a webcam that's multifaceted, but Earth Trek's webcam is just that. Dubbed the "hottest webcam" this world has ever seen (um, no), this unit packs a 1.3-megapixel camera, VGA capture abilities, auto focus / auto brightness and the real kicker, a 2-port USB hub. Probably still a ripoff at $45, but if you need those extra peripheral ports bad enough, who knows what you'd be willing to do.[Via Pocket-lint]
Roll-up mouse pad encloses a hub, speakers, and our hearts
While our minds know that today's mice, particularly those with lasers, work just fine on virtually any (non-moist) surface, that doesn't stop our hearts from missing the soft, forgiving feel of our home mousing surface while on the road. That's partly why the traveler-friendly Roll-up Mouse Pad caught our eye. Sure, just about any pad can be made into a tube and stuffed into a carry-on, but if you pack this one you'll also get a 4-port USB hub and dual, side-firing speakers out of the deal. Sure, the build quality may be sub-par (check the jagged plastic after the break), but for $22 this could make that hotel suite a little bit more inviting for you and that special peripheral you'll be cradling all night.
Mitsubishi's RDT201WDL DisplayLink monitor now available
Laptop user looking for some dual-display action? Mitsubishi's new DisplayLink-equipped RDT201WDL WIDE LCD is a 20.1-inch wide-format monitor that features a USB hub, built-in Ethernet and WSXGA+ (1,680 x 1,050) resolution. Energy-conscious consumers will enjoy the on-screen energy meter and three levels of power usage, and we can all appreciate the fact that this monitor uses up to 36 percent less juice than a traditional LCD (in addition to the traditional savings DisplayLink provides by skipping the discrete graphics card). This item is currently available in Japan, and there's no word yet on a Stateside release date.[Via Business Wire]
Nyko's Media Hub+ now available for shameless PS3 owners
Let's be honest here -- you skimped by snagging the 40GB PlayStation 3 back in the day, and now you're in need of a few extra USB ports and a multicard reader. Thankfully, your fortunes have changed since the days of your original purchase, primarily due to your drunken decision to bet the farm on Seth Petruzelli over the weekend. Whatever the case, Nyko's unsightly Media Hub+ -- which adds a trio of USB sockets and a multicard reader to the 40GB PS3 -- is finally available, and it's just $19.99 for those with no shame in adding it to the face of their console. So, who's tossing a brown grocery bag over their head and picking one of these up?[Via IGN]
Magnetic 4-port USB hub: for brazen daredevils only
We know, the minuscule magnets adorned on this 4-port USB hub aren't technically strong enough to have any severe effect on your data, but seriously, why would you chance it? In what has to be one of the worst ideas in low-end technology to ever grace our eyes, the magnetic 4-port USB hub enables users to stick their hub on any nearby file cabinet, metal plate or refrigerator door, though we can't figure out why that's such an awesome benefit. If you can, however, feel to show off your carefree side by handing over $13.99.
