AirTame Wireless HDMI Dongle: I Stream, You Stream, We All Stream

Most computers nowadays have HDMI ports that let you beam your display to a TV, monitor or projector using an HDMI cable. But what if you could do that wirelessly? And what if you could send media not just to one display but to multiple displays and computers all at once? That’s the idea behind AirTame.

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AirTame works by beaming video from one computer to an HDMI device using a dongle. It works with Windows, OS X and Linux computers and even works without an Internet connection. If you have multiple AirTame dongles, then you can send a stream to multiple HDMI devices at once. You can ask AirTame to mirror what’s on your computer screen or to use an HDMI device as a secondary display. The latter is great if you want to keep using your computer or if you don’t want others to see what’s on your computer.

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AirTame also has three settings depending on what you want to do. If you want to watch videos, you can set AirTame to prioritize buffering and stream quality. If you want to play games, AirTame can focus on minimizing lag and frame rate drops. If you’re just sharing static images – e.g. pictures or a Powerpoint presentation – you can set AirTame to lower the stream’s frame rate and increase its bit rate instead.

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As I said, AirTame’s basic functionality works even if there’s no Internet connection. But if there’s a local Wi-Fi network available, you also have the option of sharing your screen to other computers in the same network without using the dongle. You can password protect your streams so only the right people can see your screen.

Pledge at least $89 (USD) on Indiegogo to receive an AirTame dongle as a reward. Assuming it really is dependable and easy to use, the only drawback to AirTame is that the dongle is powered via USB, so you need a nearby USB port (which old HDTVs don’t have) or a USB charger. It would also be great if it could also mirror to and from mobile devices like AirBridge.

[via CoolThings]

Thanko USB head massager makes cubicle dwelling workers more comfortable

Thanko is a Japanese company that is famous (or infamous?) for making some of the strangest USB gadgets out there. The company has a full line of odd gadgets to keep you warm, keep you cool, and to massage away your mundane life in an office cubicle. Thanko offers a USB powered air purifier to […]

New USB Type-C Connector Announced, Will Be Smaller And Reversible

New USB Type C Connector Announced, Will Be Smaller And ReversibleWe’ve all heard the running joke where there is a 50% chance of plugging in a USB plug the right way, but most of the time we tend to get it wrong on the first try. Well it looks like that could soon be changing as it has been announced that work is being done to create a new generation of USB plugs that will not only be compatible with current connectors, but will be both smaller and reversible, meaning just like Apple’s Lightning connector, you will be able to plug it in regardless which side is up (or down). The new connector is currently known as Type-C and will be an addition to the existing USB 3.1 specification.

While it is unclear as to what the final design will look like, it is expected to be around the size of a Micro USB plug and will be finalized in 2014. The goal of this new design is said to improve ease of use as well as allow for thinner devices, which in a way is what Apple did when they introduced the Lightning connector for its iOS devices, allowing the company to create even thinner devices than before. In order to ensure that USB chargers out there are rendered completely useless, the USB 3.0 Promoter Group will include a specification for adapters and cables to ensure compatibility, at least for now until it becomes the new standard.

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  • New USB Type-C Connector Announced, Will Be Smaller And Reversible original content from Ubergizmo.

        



    There’s Going To Be a New, Reversible USB Plug

    There's Going To Be a New, Reversible USB Plug

    Holy mother of all things long overdue. After years of subjecting us to fumbling and rotating cables blindly behind devices around the world, the powers that (US) be have decided to make a Universal Serial Bus plug that is reversible.

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    USB Type-C connector in development with slimmer design

    The next generation of the ubiquitous USB is in development, according to the USB 3.0 Promoter Group. The upcoming version will feature an all-new design that is intended to meet the wants and needs of the modern market, namely being slimmer and smaller than present standard USB connectors to allow for slimmer devices overall. If […]

    R2-D2 Car Charger: A Droid with the Power of the Force

    Every pilot needs a faithful companion. Even if you’re just driving a 1990 Geo Metro, it’s good to have a personal droid on board, just in case you get into trouble. R2-D2 is up to the challenge – plus he’ll charge your gadgets while he keeps you company.

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    This portable R2-D2 USB charger sits in your cup holder, and plugs into your car’s 12 volt outlet to charge up two smartphones or tablets at the same time, thanks to a pair of 2.1 amp USB ports.

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    But like any good maintenance droid, this R2 unit doesn’t just sit there, no. When you start to juice up your gadgets, his dome turns, lights up and he lets forth a series of beeps and bleeps. Now if only we had 3PO around to translate for us.

    This is most definitely the droid you were looking for. Head on over to ThinkGeek right now, and plunk down your $49.99 (USD) if you want one in time for the holidays.

    There’s No Better Use For Cup Holders Than This R2-D2 USB Charger

    There's No Better Use For Cup Holders Than This R2-D2 USB Charger

    Your dream of cruising around your local galaxy with your feisty astromech droid by your side simply isn’t going to happen in your lifetime. It will be years before robots can even pick up a wrench and remove a bolt by themselves. But ThinkGeek’s got the next best thing. It won’t fix your warp drive, but perched in your cup holder this tiny version of R2-D2 will keep your phones and tablets charged.

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    Palette Modular Hardware Interface: Control Your Controls

    The ol’ keyboard and mouse combo have proven nearly as versatile as personal computers themselves, but there are still cases when a more responsive or intuitive physical interface is needed. For example, many musicians today use MIDI controllers and sequencers. Palette aims to be that alternative interface to computers, and one that adapts to your needs.

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    Palette is a nearly infinitely expandable control interface. It has a power module that connects to computers via USB and control modules – buttons, knobs and sliders – that connect to the power module and to each other. Each module has two RGB LEDs that shine through its perimeter, and you’ll be able to customize the way those LEDs light up. Speaking of customization, the power module also has an OLED screen that displays the profile you’re currently using for your setup.

    When it launches, Palette will support only OS X and a few programs – the Adobe Creative Suite, DJ software like Ableton and Traktor plus a few “basic web apps” – but its inventors are working on an SDK so that developers can make their programs compatible with Palette. That will be crucial to the success of this system. And if Palette does take off, we can expect more modules to come out, such as joysticks, jog dials and more. I think this has the potential to be revolutionary. It can help not just professionals but non-techies and perhaps even disable people as well.

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    Pledge at least $89 (CAD) (~$84 USD) on Kickstarter to get a four module Palette kit as a reward. Higher pledges get you more control modules, and there’s even a reward tier for modules with wooden cases. I’d love for Palette to be compatible with mobile devices. Imagine playing a light DJ set using only your tablet and your Palette setup, or playing Spaceteam with real controls.

    [via Digital Trends]

    Samsung SE-B18AB portable DVD writer slot loads to save space

    Samsung has announced a new portable DVD writer designed for users of ultraportable and notebook computers that don’t have internal DVD drives. The new Samsung portable DVD writer is called the SE-B18AB. It has a metallic finished surface that looks like brushed aluminum to match with many of the notebook computers on the market today. […]

    Mydlink Camera Video Recorder DNR-202L records and manages network camera video

    D-Link has announced a new product that is designed to make it easy to record and manage video from network video cameras. The new product is called the mydlink Camera Video Recorder DNR-202L. D-Link designed the video recorder to record video to any off the shelf USB drive making it easy for users to expand […]