More usb Stories

wifi-cufflinks

The next time you struggle to buy a gift for the man with everything, consider a $250 set of cufflinks he likely doesn’t have. These aren’t just any old ones; how about a pair that doubles as a 2 GB flash drive and Wi-Fi hotspot? Read more »

cotton-candy-usb-computer

I doubt mobile computing will evolve to computers on a USB stick for most people, but this prototype is intriguing. Thanks to an HDMI port, the stick — which has the guts of a smartphone — connects to a monitor for standalone computer use. Read more »

bbc-inflight

Wireless Internet access on planes is helping to make those long flights bearable, but so too are the influx of personal media devices such as smartphones and tablets. Pretty soon, you’ll be able to buy content in-flight and take it with you after landing! Read more »

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asus-eee-pad-slider-keyboard

After debuting at January’s Consumer Electronics Show, the ASUS Eee Pad Slider is nearing a release. An Australian blogger has one of the first units and shares his impressions. I’m not sold that many folks will want the extra weight and bulk of an integrated keyboard. Read more »

apple-tv-back

The latest Apple TV has a built-in update function that downloads and installs new software, accessible via the device’s Settings menu. But if you’d rather not update over-the-air, you can always do it via USB through iTunes, and restore your device, too, if you’re having problems. Read more »

ipad2-usb

While many were busy filling faces with turkey, and filling malls to the brim on Friday, some new, interesting rumors about the iPad 2 came to light. The rumors included some obvious claims, but one seems out of left field: a built-in USB port. Read more »

loading external resource

I’ve been on the road a lot lately, and much as I like my Overdrive hotspot, its battery life is limited. So I decided to buy the ZAGGsparq 2.0, which acts as a backup battery charger for USB devices. Read more »

Laptop computers are awfully useful, but they’re not easy to use ergonomically. The new LapDawg Pug is a portable table that’s designed to help us use laptops more comfortably. Read more »

AirStash

The USB flash drive is so useful that it can’t be improved. That’s what I thought, anyway, until seeing the AirStash in action. Add wireless connectivity to a USB flash drive, along with a memory card slot, and you have the AirStash. Read more »

Chargepod V2

One of the biggest hassles with traveling is carrying the power adapters for all the gear I bring. That includes a laptop, one or two phones, possibly a headset and a MiFi. If only one charger could handle them all. Enter the Chargepod. Read more »

whybuynow_thumb

The simple if unsatisfying answer to the question of when to buy a new Mac is when you need one. There’s nothing a Mac bought a year ago can’t do today, and nothing a Mac bought today won’t be able to do a year from now, […] Read more »

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Users of Lexcycle’s terrific iPhone e-reader app Stanza (which was acquired by Amazon last year) are expressing their disappointment over a recent update that removes the ability to sync and share your book library over USB from the program. When pressed as to why exactly the […] Read more »

In techno-tourism terms, I’m fairly well-traveled. Mostly because I’ve visited the mecca of gadgetry, Japan, but I’ve also stopped at quite a few other places as well. During those travels, I’m on the look out for one thing in particular: Flash drives. Read more »

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Most modern Macs, except for the MacBook Air and some MacBook models (such as my late 2008 unibody, alas), offer both FireWire and USB connections, so when shopping for an external hard drive you have plenty of options for something that will work with your Mac, […] Read more »

Last week at the IDF 2009 Conference in San Francisco, Intel unveiled a new next-generation data transfer technology dubbed Light Peak. It’s basically an optical subsystem comprised of lasers, modules and probably the odd Flux Capacitor here and there. The outcome is transfer speeds of up […] Read more »

Some of the biggest hardware efficiency boosts we can get are either completely free, or nearly so. Sure, a maxed-out new laptop would be great to have, but these are tough times. If you spend a little time with the hardware you have or pick up […] Read more »

DisplayPort got a big boost as a video connection standard when Apple decided to use it across its entire notebook line. Of course, being Apple, they couldn’t use it as is, and instead introduced the Mini DisplayPort version, which was more compact, and, sadly, would also […] Read more »

There’s pretty universal consensus in the Mac portable community that Apple jumped the gun in dropping FireWire support from the new unibody MacBooks, with nothing adequate to replace its full functionality. Sure, you can transfer and backup files reasonably efficiently over a USB 2.0 connection, but […] Read more »

Today, Creative announced yet another addition to their venerable Sound Blaster line of products. The device had its debut not at Macworld, but at CES, which, I might remind some of those with Apple tunnel vision, is going on right now in Las Vegas. While desert […] Read more »

Apple’s decision to not equip the new unibody MacBook with a FireWire port has been as popular as the proverbial skunk at a garden party, at least with seasoned Mac users. Aside from the MacBook Air, which suffers from manifold deficiencies in the I/O department, the […] Read more »

Targus, a company more popularly associated with its extensive line of laptop cases, also markets computer accessories. One of their newer introductions is the Targus USB 2.0 4-Port Bend-A-Hub, a modestly-priced, useful add-on and an excellent gift suggestion or stocking stuffer for computer users on your […] Read more »

My enthusiastic use and promotion of Growl should come as no surprise to regular readers of The Apple Blog. While some dismiss it as an annoyance reminiscent of the Windows notification popups, others — like myself – view it as a way be informed without stopping […] Read more »

Apple’s decision to axe FireWire from the MacBook line is not sitting well with many users, to say the least. For high-quality audio and video transfers, FireWire is the standard for professionals and hobbyists alike. Though USB is technically capable of faster transfer speeds than FireWire […] Read more »

One of the ports included with all the new (and previous generation of) MacBook Pros is an ExpressCard slot. Having never had this type of expansion before, I’ve decided to have a look around and see what uses it can serve. This article will give a […] Read more »

Much is being made of the lack of FireWire in the new MacBooks. Seems like everyone’s weighed in on this topic, myself included. Even more recently, an email response to one irate customer set off more controversy. In this email, Steve Jobs himself is alleged to […] Read more »

If you’re not familiar with “netbooks”, you’re missing out on a potentially great little web-working tool. And I do mean little as these are small, fully-functional notebooks that are easy to use on the go. They tend to offer long battery life as well, due to […] Read more »

CBS is bragging that when it acquires CNET, as it announced it would do this morning for $1.8 billion in cash, it will instantly become “one of the 10 most popular Internet companies in the U.S., with a combined 54 million unique users per month, and […] Read more »

Indirect VoIP play, Audiocodes (AUDC) seems to be winning big because of increase in VoIP spending. The company reported 1Q 2005 sales of $26.9 million and EPS of $0.07. Even though carriers are being as stingy as Billy Beane, they are still willing to spend on […] Read more »