Hasta La Gadget!

Don’t call it a docking station. Toshiba’s latest Dynadock is classified as a USB port replicator, but what makes this one a wee bit special is the integrated DisplayLink DL-165 chip that enables 1080p content to flow from a USB port and onto a DVI monitor. Put simply, this device acts just like a typical USB docking station, but with minimal bulk; as for inputs, you’ll find four USB 2.0 sockets, a single DVI port, mic in, headphone out, a power port and support for resolutions as high as 1,920 x 1,080. It’s available now in Europe for an undisclosed amount, but who knows if it’ll ever head Stateside.

Toshiba introduces DisplayLink-enabled Dynadock V10 USB port replicator originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now that HSTi’s Wireless Media Stick is official, we decided to drop by its CES booth to see what the deal was. Essentially, these Canadian sticks are WiFi dongles covering 802.11a/b/g/n, but the magic lies in their ability to let your computers appear as one USB mass storage device for devices like gaming consoles, digital frames and hi-fi stereos. You start off by plugging a stick into a PC, install the software (installer pre-loaded on the stick), and once connected to the wireless router you choose which folders to share (which is pretty easy, as we saw). You can do the same with more computers but each will require its own stick. From there onwards, plug in another stick into a device that accepts USB mass storage devices, and you’ll be able to wirelessly access all the shared files on the network as if they are on one thumb drive. Pretty sweet, huh? And yes, this thing does in fact do exactly what Infinitec’s IUM claims to do. For now, HSTi only promises smooth 720p video streaming and Windows-only compatibility, but a future firmware upgrade should make things even more groovy. You can grab one starting January 15th for $119.99 each — sooner and cheaper than the IUM, but double that figure as you’ll need at least two to get things going. Still, it doesn’t hurt as much if you think of it as a thumb drive of up to one terabyte (and two in the near future).

Update: Whoops! We’ve just been told that only one stick is necessary — use the stick to run the configuration wizard on the PCs, then plug it into a media device for use.

HSTi Wireless Media Stick hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pure’s WiFi-enabled radios are making their US debut here at CES, and we’ve gotten to grips with the top trio on offer. The Oasis (pictured above) is a weatherproofed, rubber-rich unit, which can resist splashes of water and go on for between 10 and 15 hours on a single charge. We agree it looks like a durable machine, but — while it can reach some pretty high volumes — the sound itself was predictably lacking at the furthest ends of bass and treble. Moving up in the world to the Sensia delivers a snazzier touchscreen interface with built-in Facebook and Twitter integration, but we clashed with some deal-breaking lag while using it. Finally, the top tier Sirocco 550 offers a more conventional styling to go along with a CD player (those still exist?) and an iPod / iPhone dock. Priced at $249, $349 and $449, respectively, these should all find American shelves to sing from by the middle of this year.

Pure Oasis, Sensia and Sirocco 550 internet radios hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another day, another Bluetooth headset. Well, not exactly. This futuristic accessory rocks a capacitive volume control, meaning you can turn it up to 11 with just a swipe of your finger on its outside. If that hasn’t got you stoked, the Aura EQ has also collected a CES Innovation Award, which should reassure us that the built-in six-band equalizer and dual mics do the job they promise. Unfortunately, we can’t offer any corroboration or dispute to their claimed usefulness since no functional units were on hand. What we can say is that the earpiece that enters your ear canal is quite threatening looking and never really fit us very well — though there will be multiple adapters in the final package. Finally, there’s a cool audio enhancement feature, which collects sound from up to five feet in front of you and amplifies it should you need to focus in a noisy environment. The Spracht Aura EQ is coming out within the first half of the year when you’ll be able to grab one for $79.

Spracht Aura EQ hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jack of trades, master of none: that, friends, is the Sungale Smart Info Engine. There’s very little this breadbox-sized hunk of B-grade electronics can’t do — but what it can do, it does with the elegance and ergonomic grace of a tank. In the off chance you figure out a good place to set it in your home, you’ll be able to watch YouTube, awkwardly read e-books, get driving directions (heaven forbid you put this on your car dash), connect memory cards, and even check the time — but considering that it’s too big for an alarm clock and too small for a TV, we wouldn’t blame if you if you simply opted to do none of the above.

Sungale’s Smart Info Engine is none of the above originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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