Sharkoon’s USB 3.0 SATA HDD dock doubles up, now handles two drives

We tell ya, these HDD docks… they sure know how to keep pace with the latest and greatest of technological innovations. Shortly after Sharkoon busted out a USB 3.0-enabled version, along comes this fellow: a dual-drive version of the same device. Packing a pair of SuperSpeed USB sockets and room for two 2.5- or 3.5-inch hard drives (or a combination, if you prefer), this device makes it dead simple to clone drives and ready a new one to supplant your existing platter. It’s available now for €59.90 ($81), but if you wait a fortnight or so, we’re almost certain the next iteration will be out to take its place.

Sharkoon’s USB 3.0 SATA HDD dock doubles up, now handles two drives originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Everything USB  |  sourceTweakTown  | Email this | Comments

Active Media Products serves up Aviator-2 external USB 3.0 SSD

You know what’s better than a new solid state drive? An Olympic gold medal. You know what else? A USB 3.0 SSD, of course! Active Media Products has just dished out details on its latest device, the Aviator-2 external USB 3.0 solid state drive. Available in case-only, 64GB and 128GB flavors, this one promises transfer rates as high as 4.8Gbits/sec (that’s ten times the rate of USB 2.0, just so you’re well aware), and considering the 3- x 5-inch size, you should have no issues slipping this into the chest pocket of your Members Only jacket. We’re in no place to comment on the difficultly of slipping $34.95, $259.95 or $449.95 (in order of mention) out of your wallet, though, which is essentially required in order to take one home. That’s the breaks, kid!

Active Media Products serves up Aviator-2 external USB 3.0 SSD originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Corsair’s Padlock 2 offers 256-bit AES encryption inside a rugged body

Our British readers will already be painfully familiar with the comical propensity that government officials (even spies!) have for losing sensitive data while on the move. It might be an idea, therefore, to give your forgetful local representative a break with one of these new Corsair USB drives. The Padlock 2 features OS-agnostic password protection via the keypad you see above plus 256-bit encryption of the data stored on the flash inside. So even if someone is tenacious enough to pry the case open, he’ll have a hard time getting anything useful out of it. Oh, and don’t worry about forgetting the passcode, there’s a procedure for wiping the drive clean and generating a new one. 8GB units are available immediately, and we’ve spotted them online priced at £46 in the UK and $59 in the good old US of A.

Corsair’s Padlock 2 offers 256-bit AES encryption inside a rugged body originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Hexus  |  sourceCorsair  | Email this | Comments

Atlona’s VGA to HDMI adapter ditches the brick, does 1080p on USB power

Atlona's VGA to HDMI adapter ditches the power brick, does 1080p on USB power

Laptops or desktops stuck with only VGA output often need a little help to get their content onto an HDTV, and Atlona is there for them. It’s introducing another in a storied line of HDMI adapters, this one taking VGA input and turning it to HDMI output. That’s not particularly special, but that this one does it powered only by a single USB port is. It’ll also pull in analog audio over a 3.5mm plug and add that to the mix, then pump the results at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1200. Of course, all that functionality is going to cost you: $120 for the adapter, but it does at least include a six-foot HDMI cable. They’re up for order now ahead of a date with the postman next week, and there’s another picture waiting for you after the break if you’re really into the orange and black scheme.

Continue reading Atlona’s VGA to HDMI adapter ditches the brick, does 1080p on USB power

Atlona’s VGA to HDMI adapter ditches the brick, does 1080p on USB power originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: Best USB / secondary monitor?

We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Corey, who needs a secondary display to run widgets, IM boxes and squashed YouTube clips while the real work goes down on the main screen. If you’re looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

“My laptop’s screen is feeling cramped these days, but since I mostly use it at a desk, I’m thinking of getting a USB monitor instead of a whole new rig. I know Mimo has a bunch of options, but has anyone used them? Are there any other companies out there making these USB-connected secondary displays? I know it’s a new industry, but hopefully someone has a first-hand perspective to share. Thanks!”

No worries Corey — we’ll point you to our own Mimo impressions, and then we’ll ask the readers to contribute from there. Any tips on which USB monitor is best? Any horror stories that we should all be aware of? Chime in below!

Ask Engadget: Best USB / secondary monitor? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kingston ships 256GB DataTraveler 310 USB flash drive to affluent Yanks

No matter how you slice it, having 256GB on your keychain is pretty rad. For those living in various regions of the world not named America, they’ve had access to the DataTraveler 300 for just under a year. Thankfully, the Kingston finally realized that Yanks love capaciousness as well, and the DataTraveler 310 is the solution that very sect has been longing for. Hailed as the first 256GB flash drive to ship in the States, the DT 310 is capable of holding up to 54 DVDs or 51,000 JPEGs of your undercover lover, and it’ll function just fine with Windows, Linux and OS X-based systems. We’re told that it’ll sport data transfer rates of 25MB/sec (read) and 12MB/sec (write), but chances are you’ll never get the opportunity to put those claims to the test. You know, given that astronomical $1,108 MSRP.

Kingston ships 256GB DataTraveler 310 USB flash drive to affluent Yanks originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEC manages 16Gbps, tries to put a dimmer on Light Peak (updated)

If you didn’t know it, there’s a brewing interface war between the effortlessly backwards compatible USB 3.0 and the decidedly fresh break offered by Light Peak. Most people are fans of new stuff that works with their old stuff, but so too do people like stuff that’s really fast, and USB 3.0’s 5Gbps just can’t match Light Peak’s 10Gbps. Or can it? NEC says it can, indicating that its USB 3.0 NEC has demonstrated a new chipset managing a whopping 16Gbps (2GB per second) over a single cable, finding a way to overcome that standard’s signal interference problems to more than triple the USB 3.0’s held ceiling. It remains to be seen whether NEC’s technique will be integrated into the still young 3.0 spec, but that would certainly be the logical thing to do.

Update: TheLostSwede commented to point us to an English version of the press release that, in Japanese form, seems to have led to the Electronista story we used as a source. Apparently something previously got lost in translation as the release actually talks about a wholly new inter-chip serial interface offering 16Gbps speeds, not an extension to USB 3.0. This could provide the system internals to shovel bits to whatever new external interface reigns supreme.

NEC manages 16Gbps, tries to put a dimmer on Light Peak (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceElectronista, NEC Japan  | Email this | Comments

Infinitec details Infinite USB Memory Device functionality ahead of launch

Surely you remember Infinitec, right? You know — that Dubai-based startup that first showcased its so-called Infinite USB memory device (IUM) at CES? Now that we’ve jogged your memory, we’d like to point out some new information on the product. We’re told that the company is gearing up to officially launch the stick soon, promising ad hoc streaming from any Windows-based PC to just about anything you can think of: Blu-ray players, media streamers, printers, and practically any other gizmo with a USB port. New details provided to us by Infinitec ensure that game consoles are supported, as is high-def video content. The company has also laid out a number of use scenarios for those curious about how this thing could improve your daily life, all of which are just beneath the break. Stay tuned for more in the coming days — pricing and release deets should be headed our (and in turn, your) way soon.

Continue reading Infinitec details Infinite USB Memory Device functionality ahead of launch

Infinitec details Infinite USB Memory Device functionality ahead of launch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hanwha Japan’s tube-powered USB dongle promises DTS audio on-the-go

If you’re of the persuasion that likes to get their DTS surround sound from a pair of headphones (and we ain’t), the kids at Hanwha Japan have just the thing for you. The X-Tube is a USB dongle that contains a vacuum tube-shaped headphone jack that glows blue when in use. When combined with its Windows-only software and compatible headgear (both included) this bad boy promises DTS Surround Sensation (DTS’ surround sound effect from 2 speakers), and looks really cool to boot. See for yourself after the break. On sale now in Japan for $45.

Continue reading Hanwha Japan’s tube-powered USB dongle promises DTS audio on-the-go

Hanwha Japan’s tube-powered USB dongle promises DTS audio on-the-go originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceCrunchGear  | Email this | Comments

Buffalo Kokuyo reveals 4-port USB 3.0 hub, leaves you little choice but to upgrade

Oh c’mon, that 80-port USB 2.0 hub served you well, and frankly, it owes you nothing. With USB 3.0 upon us, it’s only a matter of time before every last external HDD, scanner and printer you own is cruising along the SuperSpeed highway, and while that’s obviously a gross exaggeration, we’ve always been one for proactiveness. If you’re worried about having the bandwidth to handle the next generation of USB, Japan’s own Buffalo Kokuyo has just the thing: a 4-port USB 3.0 hub. The BSH4A03U3 supports Windows and Mac platforms and promises to handle speeds up to 5Gbps, though the ¥8,000 ($89) asking price does feel a wee bit steep.

Buffalo Kokuyo reveals 4-port USB 3.0 hub, leaves you little choice but to upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Engadget Korea, Akihabara News  |  sourceBuffalo-Kokuyo  | Email this | Comments