Toshiba’s TransferJet adapter does high-speed video transfer from micro-USB, smartphone chip coming next year

Toshiba's TransferJet adapter offers highspeed video transfer from microUSB ports, builtin chip for smartphones coming next year

Toshiba’s TransferJet has kept relatively quiet since we got the full explanation (spoilers: high-speed data transfer over very short distances) on stage at CES 2013. Finally, several Toshiba products are now ready for launch. Alongside a compatible SDHC card, there’s also has a new micro-USB adapter that plugs into your (Android-only, although Toshiba are in discussions with Apple) smartphone, enabling those much-faster-than-Bluetooth data speeds over a distance of a few centimeters. It worked without a hitch on the show floor here at CEATEC, and the TransferJet duo is set to go on sale this December.

Toshiba’s spokesperson added that pricing for the pair of adapters will come in at around 10,000 yen (around $100), although it was the tiny chip sat next to it that really piqued our interest. Toshiba is planning to get its TransferJet tech embedded within smartphones and other products in the future, which could make a far more convincing argument for the file transfer technique. One module chip has been given a December production date, although the company wouldn’t spill the beans on exactly which devices we’ll see it in.

Darren Murph contributed to this report. %Gallery-slideshow99600%

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The Pint-Sized ‘Fuel’ Phone Charger Is As Useful As It Is Adorable

fuel-charger

Most of us have faced that sense of dread that comes when our phones lay drained and dysfunctional right when we need them the most. Sure, we could beat ourselves up for not charging them as long as we should have (or perhaps making a bad choice of phones), but that’s where this particularly cute Kickstarter project comes into play. Devotec’s Fuel micro charger is a terribly tiny rechargeable external battery for when a smartphone’s charge goes south at an inopportune moment.

How small is it? Think “clip it to your keychain small.” And it’s shaped like a little gas can! How quaint.

As you could probably guess from its size, there’s only so much juice you’ll be able to squeeze out of this thing. The Fuel’s internal battery is only capable of holding about 220mAh worth of charge, which Devotec figures will give your smartphone up to a half hour of extra talk time — more than enough to fire off a few frenzied emails or to make a brief emergency call or two. I’ve come to appreciate bulkier fare like Mophie’s PowerStation Duo, but folks looking for a pint-sized lifesaver that won’t weigh down their bags will find something to like here.

For this first production run, Devotec is focusing mostly on churning out Fuel chargers with microUSB connectors, but the team is also plugging away on Lightning versions for the iPhone 5s in your life. There’s still no ETA on when to expect them though, so iPhone 5 owners may want to look elsewhere for now — after all, the first-party microUSB-to-Lightning adapter costs nearly as much as the Fuel itself.

Devotec’s Kickstarter campaign launched less than a week ago and the team has already blown past its $20,000 funding goal, but you can still lock in your order for a microUSB model for around $18 at this point. The final retail version will cost $25, so the cheapskates among you may want to jump on this now (like I just did).

FUJITSU – “ARROWS Tab Wi-Fi AR70B” – Android 4.0 Wi-Fi Tablet

FUJITSU’s new tablet “ARROWS Tab Wi-Fi AR70B” launched with 10.1 Full HD screen (1920 X 1200), Android 4.0 and 1.7GHz Quad core processor. Also, this slim tablet is dustproof and waterproof. With 10,080mAh high-capacity battery, you have to try to make your battery run out.
The “Style Switch (Sutairu Kirikae)” functions allows children and elderly people to be able to use the tablet easily by offering display options for the home screen. Running your fingertip over …

Apple’s Lightning to micro-USB adapter now available in US, not just Europe anymore

Apple's Lightning to microUSB adapter now available in US, not just Europe anymore

Just in case you thought the Lightning to micro-USB connector was Europe-only (to stave off that pesky European Commission), Apple has decided to sell it stateside as well. The tiny choking hazard recently made its way to the company’s online store in the US for $19 each (over in Europe, it’s £15 / €19), and brick-and-mortar locations will probably get them too — if they’re not in stock already. We’re not sure if there’s a huge demand for this, but if you’re a recent iPod, iPhone, or iPad (Mini or 4th gen) owner with a plethora of existing micro-USB cables, an adapter like this could help lighten your nest of wires.

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Apple’s Lightning to micro-USB adapter now available in US, not just Europe anymore originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Nov 2012 02:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mophie’s $40 Juice Pack Reserve Micro charges your smartphone, fits on a keychain

Mophie unleashes $40 Juice Pack Reserve Micro, charges your smartphone and fits on a keychain

Last we heard from Mophie, it revealed its upcoming Juice Pack case for Samsung’s Galaxy S III. While there’s still no further info for that model, the company recently took to its Facebook and Twitter accounts to announce it’s new $40 Juice Pack Reserve Micro. The palmable battery pack is nearly identical to the 30-pin friendly Juice Pack Reserve, but, as the Micro in its name implies, this one charges Micro-USB devices. The unit features a key chain loop and stores a total load of 1,000mAh, which gets re-filled via its secondary USB 2.0 plug. There’s more info at the source links below — here’s to hoping for a Lightning variant soon.

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Mophie’s $40 Juice Pack Reserve Micro charges your smartphone, fits on a keychain originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Gizmodo (AU)  |  sourceMophie, (Facebook), (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

Apple appeases European lawmakers with Lightning-to-microUSB adapter

Apple appeases the EU, announces Europeonly Lightning to microUSB adapterWe do love products that only exist to circumvent the finer points of legislation (hello there, Aston Martin Cygnet), but even better are the ones that actually serve a purpose. To comply with the European Commission’s insistence that all smartphones must have a microUSB connector, Apple is putting out a Euro-specific adapter for its new Lightning standard. It’s turned up in the UK and French stores so far, setting you back £15 / €19 ($25) — and we imagine it won’t be long before some entrepreneurial soul starts buying them in bulk to sell to microUSB users Stateside.

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Apple appeases European lawmakers with Lightning-to-microUSB adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 04:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechnoBuffalo, 9to5Mac  |  sourceApple Store (UK)  | Email this | Comments

TomTom launches new hands-free dashboard mount for smartphones (video)

TomTom launches new handsfree dashboard mount for smartphones video

TomTom is busting out a pair of new smartphone cradles to ensure your handset sits snugly on the windshield of your whip. The Hands Free Car Kit is available in both iPhone or microUSB (for all other smartphones) versions and comes with a built-in two watt speaker, extendable microphone and fast charging. Both editions are available for £80 ($125), while an iPhone-specific bundle that comes with the company’s navigation app will set you back £130 ($204).

Continue reading TomTom launches new hands-free dashboard mount for smartphones (video)

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TomTom launches new hands-free dashboard mount for smartphones (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tiny Charging Cable Keyring Juices Androids and iPhones Alike [Cables]

Carrying around a charging cable is a fact of life if you use your smartphone for more than just the occasional call. But instead of packing the bulky cables that came with your iPhone or Android handset, just slip this tiny USB adapter onto your keychain for emergency battery top-offs. More »

VESA’s Mobility DisplayPort standard links smartphones to PC displays, jabs MHL

VESA's Mobility DisplayPort standard links smartphones to PC displays, jabs MHL

If you own a modern Android smartphone, there’s a reasonable chance you’re familiar with MHL for video out to a TV. The format saves the trouble of adding an extra port, but it’s really only intended for HDMI-based destinations and occasionally runs into compatibility issues. VESA is hoping to settle all that with its newly available Mobility DisplayPort standard, or MyDP. Existing micro-USB ports will still serve as the output, but you’ll have the option of plugging into DVI or VGA displays with the right adapter, in addition to HDMI and full-size DisplayPort. Picture connecting to an older projector and you’ll see why that might make sense. The new spec will charge up your device like with MHL, but it also has about 1Mbps of bandwidth for input, such as keyboards and trackpads in some future lapdock. Video still tops out at 1080p and 60Hz, so there’s no hooking into a 4K display here. The real advantage, for many, is simply in having a broadly-adopted standard in the first place: VESA backing sees 180 companies tacitly endorsing the idea, producing a big improvement over the patchwork results that we’ve seen from MHL’s much smaller alliance. The chief obstacle is the wait for the first smartphones, Ultrabooks and tablets with MyDP, which could be months or more away.

Continue reading VESA’s Mobility DisplayPort standard links smartphones to PC displays, jabs MHL

VESA’s Mobility DisplayPort standard links smartphones to PC displays, jabs MHL originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 03:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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