usb hub
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Targus kicks out a slew of Mac-focused accessories
Targus is making a big deal about how it's launching its first-ever line of Mac accessories, but we're not seeing much here that's particularly platform-dependent -- just a lot of gray and white plastic. The $70 Bluetooth Laser Mouse, $50 Wireless Mouse, and $80 Bluetooth Presenter all feature an interesting touch-sensitive scroll nub that switches to cursor control on the presenter and offers four-way scrolling on the mice. There's also a $50 USB file-transfer cable that offers direct file transfers between PCs and Macs, a $30 four-port compact USB hub with wraparound cable, MacBook and MacBook Pro privacy screens that range from $50 to $80, and a $50 dual-fan cooling pad with a slight ergonomic tilt. All this should be available now -- PC owners, you'll just have to find something else to do with your useless, useless money.
Super Kid 4-port USB hub makes peripheral swapping fun again
Come on, the picture tells the whole story, does it not? The $14 Super Kid 4-port USB hub gives you four of the funnest USB 2.0 ports you'll ever have, and the arms / legs are totally pliable, too. Just don't overload him with USB-powered lamps and cooling devices -- a boy can only handle so much.[Via Coolest-Gadgets]
Griffin intros Simplifi iPod dock / card reader / USB hub
Griffin may occasionally help out those that like to complicate their lives, but it also thankfully caters to those of us that prefer to keep things simple, and it looks like its new, appropriately-named Simplifi dock should appeal to quite a few in the latter camp. As you can see, it'll not only accommodate a single iPod or iPhone, but your media cards of choice, and a pair of USB devices (the ports are on the back). It also includes an AC adapter for devices that required a powered USB port, which can be conveniently ditched if its not needed. You will pay a bit of a premium for clearing all that clutter though, as the device sports a somewhat hefty $70 price tag.
Rotary phone 4-port USB hub is impossible to hate
At first glance, we figured this heap was a dead-ringer for the next episode of Crapgadget, but after a few delicate moments of gazing at this amazing piece of retro-styled kit, we just had to let it pass. The $15 USB Telephone 4-Port Hub explains itself pretty well -- it's a non-functioning phone that doubles as a 4-port USB 2.0 hub. And it's really cute. And awesome.[Via Pocket-lint]
Crapgadget: pathetic peripherals on parade
Seriously, our hands are trembling at the mere thought of having to actually use any of these shameful peripherals. A camera that takes the good with the (mostly) bad? A star-shaped mouse guaranteed to accelerate the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome by 409%? A USB fan that blatantly lies about purifying the hot air coming from that clogged up tower of yours? All present and accounted for, sir, and that's not even the half of 'em. We have all ideas you too would want to keep your digits far, far away from any of the disasters linked below, but give the list a look and let us know which one you think is the most pitiful of all.Read - Mouse pad / USB hub / micRead - USB Whack ItRead - Yang Ying CameraRead - Star MouseRead - Key-shaped USB keyRead - Totally original touchscreen MP3 playerRead - USB fan with super-secret germ killing powers %Poll-19184%
USB-powered desk fan doubles as 4-port USB hub
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]
Brando's 4-in-1 desk lamp completes your workstation
Oftentimes, Brando's assortment of "must-have" doohickeys don't actually do much for your productivity level. This particular gizmo, however, bucks that trend in glorious fashion. The $23 USB 4-in-1 Web Cam is a fairly standard desk lamp with built-in LEDs that also acts as a webcam, voice input device and fan. Best of all, this one's USB-powered, though that could spell disaster (or "USB hub") if your sockets are already occupied with other Brando gear.
Nyko's Media Hub for PS3 inelegantly adds USB ports, multicard reader
Nyko's got a knack for delivering some of the ugliest, most preposterous third-party peripherals on the planet, yet -- for whatever reason -- we can't help but love 'em. The latest abomination from the outfit that begins to grow on you almost immediately is the Media Hub for PlayStation 3. For those that went cheap on the 40GB PS3 and missed out on a multicard reader and the full array of USB ports, this here adornment presumably connects to one of those USB sockets and adds three more while tossing in the card reader you've so dearly missed. Thankfully, Nyko's only charging $19.99 for this, so you should be okay even if your ship has yet to come in.[Via Joystiq]
Video: Darth Vader and R2D2 hubs fulfill your dork destiny
Put down that Lego nerd, it's time to give your (only?) other interest a poke. Meet the $68 animatronic Darth Vader and R2D2 USB hubs. Just stuff a USB Princess Leia into Darth's neck and watch the dark lord's eyes glow red as he scans side-to-side for the pretentious scowls of your contemptuous co-workers. Sounds effects? Oh you betcha, listen in after the break.[Via Oh Gizmo!]
Crapgadget: revolving USB hub, revolting MP4 watch, lavish amounts of lameness
Consider yourselves fortunate. You've had well over two whole months without an episode of Crapgadget, but today, that grace period ends. The most recent laughable load includes an absolutely vile wristwatch that supposedly plays MP3s / MP4s if you can manage to glance away from the bezel and band. Furthermore, we've got a TV tuner and webcam -- in one -- alongside a way-too-expensive WiFi sniffing pen that doesn't do 802.11n. Bringing up the rear is Connectland's 180° X2 Revolving USB Hub, which clearly raises the bar in USB hub design stupidity. Per usual, we're begging for your vote on the crappiest below, but we'll understand if you just can't bear the thought of spending another moment thinking about these pitiful creations. %Poll-15846% Read - Golden MP3 / MP4 watchRead - Plustek TVcam VD100Read - Revolving USB hubRead - WiFi sniffing pen
Brando's four-port USB hub comes with on / off switches
This four-port USB hub cube from Brando almost makes sense. You see, the top two ports have on / off switches which, if you use USB to charge things, may be a useful feature. But then we gotta wonder what kind of USB device doesn't either shut down automatically or stop charging once it has gotten all the juice it needs. That all said, if you're looking for a 4-port hub with on / off switches, this could be yours for $12.
USB hub brings Japanese exit sign to your desktop
We love exit signs in Japan. They frame just about every door and hallway: guy with briefcase freaking out and bolting out an open door. This is clearly not the first USB hub in an unusual form factor, but Donya has fed our love for the panicky icon. Complete with ports on the little guy's feet and briefcase, he's available for about $10 or ¥999.
All Spark Cube gets turned into a talking USB hub
That USB missile launcher you had to have is one thing, but a giant 4 port USB hub in the likeness of the All Spark cube the Transformers movie? Did we mention it talks, spouting off classics like "We must protect the All Spark Cube," every time you plug in a device? This surely-authorized product will run you about $35 US, although the toll on your dignity may not be calculable.[Via Everything USB]
Zoltrix PMP smells like a USB hub
Nah, Zoltrix Technology didn't actually merge a 4-port USB hub with a PMP, but quite frankly, it may have been more worthwhile if that were indeed the case. As it stands, this totally unsightly unit merely plays back MP3, WMA, MPEG, AVI, ASF, WMV and VOB files, rocks a built-in image / text viewer and includes an FM tuner for whatever it's worth. Apparently, the unit can be had in 256MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GB sizes, but seriously, don't be caught dead with this one.[Via PMPToday]
iMONO 4-port USB hub rocks individual on / off switches
These days, it takes some serious differentiating to set your 4-port USB hub apart from the rest, but iMONO's latest actually doesn't do a half bad job at standing out. This alternative arrives in a trio of colors, sports 5 LEDs, weighs 30-grams and offers up four individual on / off switches in order to power up / down each socket separately. Sure, not everyone would find such a feature immediately useful, but why would you want to waste energy on that USB seat cooler when those G-Gloves are what's necessary to keep you from slipping into hypothermia? Grab yours now for $18 -- we're sure you'll figure out some clever use for it.
Five-port USB hub does SATA and eSATA, too
Brando, e-tailer of products that you didn't even know existed -- and some that probably shouldn't -- has just released a new USB hub capable of handling SATA and eSATA drives to boot. That's right, along with hooking up five USB peripherals of your choice, you can also use the combo hub as a quick and easy way to swap out external hard drives without dealing with enclosures, RAID controllers, and the like -- at the expense of transfer speeds, of course. Available immediately, the mutant hub is going for a mere $33, or $43 if you want Old Man Brando to bundle in a power cord, too.
Synchrotech ships 13-port USB 2.0 hub
If you've been wondering how you'll use all those USB-powered gizmos you've been collecting at the same time, ponder no more. Synchrotech is now shipping its 13-port USB 2.0 hub, which barely falls short of the 16-port alternative we peeked earlier this year. Notably, this creation boasts a much smaller, sleeker design that isn't likely to attract too much attention (until all those ports are filled, that is), but the baker's dozen is (obviously) backwards compatible with USB 1.1 and will cost you just $45. Oh, the possibilities.[Via MacNN, thanks RD Skeels]
LaCie Hub gets reborn, goes USB-only
No need to fix something if it isn't broken, right? Apparently LaCie is feelin' said mantra, as its latest version of the Hub differs very little from last year's iteration in the design department, but it certainly shows preference for the tried and true Universal Serial Bus. The revamped Hub sports a totally round base for maximum wobbling, but maintains the white polycarbonate finish and strung out ports just like last time. If you'll notice, however, each of the seven cables are some form of USB 2.0, and no, there's not a production line snafu to blame. LaCie is betting that some of you out there would actually prefer an all-USB Hub, and if you just so happen to fit that mold, you can grab one now for $79.[Via Electronista]
Xbox 360 Rock Band USB hub revealed
While we're already fairly well acquainted with most of the Rock Band kit, the much-need Xbox 360 USB hub has so far been kept under wraps, leaving the amount of clutter soon to be occupying many a living room entirely up to the imagination. The folks at 1Up have now changed that situation, however, posting a slew of pictures of what they say is the finalized four-port USB hub. As you can see above, it's a powered-hub, meaning you'll have yet another cable snaking its way to your power outlet and, for those curious, it's apparently made by a company called ViPowER. If that shot above isn't enough to whet your appetite, you can find plenty more by hitting up the read link below.[Via Joystiq]
Medusa Hub provides ports galore, doubles as conversation piece
Far too many peripheral hubs are cranked out without a single thought given to design, but thankfully, the creators of the Medusa Hub realized that aesthetics do matter. This interesting piece, which is sure to claim a section of prime real estate on your desk, boasts a trendy white finish, four USB 2.0 sockets, a pair of FireWire 400 connectors, a fan and even a light. All of the strands are connected to your PC / Mac via an upstream USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 jack, and the unit is available now for a lofty (but respectable) $79.99. Click on through for a few more snapshots.[Via Engadget Japanese]Update: Yeah, look familiar? Seems a lot like these guys swiped LaCie's Huby images or concept to us. You be the judge.
