Developers, graphic designers and just about anyone that needs to frequently Alt-Tab between windows could stand to use a second monitor connected to their PC or notebook. Unfortunately not all computers have the extra connection, especially notebooks. Or maybe you just don’t want to mess with another video card on your desktop PC.

Either way I-O Data has a solution aptly called the USB-RGB. This dongle allows you to connect a second monitor to you computer through your USB port, ending the single-monitor constraint you’ve been living with for so long.

The USB-RGB dongle runs about $87 (10,600 yen) which isn’t a cheap solution, but it will get you there.

via AkihabaraNews

Yoggie has announced the unveiling of its new Pico USB stick used to protect your PC from incoming data through mediums such as your wireless adapter, LAN or Bluetooth. Similar to the Gatekeeper series, Pico is a Linux based software running on the small thumb-sized device with a built-in 520MHz processor and 128MB of RAM to keep those protection-processing resources out of your computer and in the device.

In an enterprise network, most of the protection for computers is provided by separate appliances protecting the whole network. At home any type of spam protection or firewall software usually runs directly on the computer, taking up memory and processing power. With the Pico this is all taken care of within the stick which simply plugs into your USB port.

The Yoggie Pico runs 13 different applications providing protection from …

This tiny desktop refrigerator is a definite step up from the USB Beverage cooler “cold plate” we wrote about last fall. With the ability to cool your drink down with a running temperature of just over 8 degrees C, this USB Mini Fridge can hold and cool exactly one standard 12 ounce can. It’s powered solely by USB via your computer which makes it a fairly portable personal fridge that can sit on your desk and keep your drinks cool, one at a time.

The design resembles a tiny refrigerator and even has a little LED light inside when opened (we have a feeling that this refrigerator light really does stay on all the time). We’re not sure how long it would take to actually cool down a can of …

Similar to peanut butter and chocolate a money clip and a USB Flash drive each on their own are not too bad, but combine the two and now you’ve really got something.

One of the better Father’s Day gadget gift contenders I’ve seen this year, the Memorex Money Clip Flash Drive connects to both a Mac and PC via USB 2.0, has a 1GB capacity and is getting $34.99 at Target stores. It’s a little on the thick side as far as money clips go, but convenience should more the inconvenience of size.

You can see it listed at Target.com but you’ll have to find a brick and mortar to actually buy one.

There are quite a few webcams available these days for everything from simple communications to security monitoring, but most of these focus on the macroscopic world. Bodelin Technologies has a USB device that can deliver images to your computer on a little smaller scale.

The device they’ve created is called the ProScope HR and is a digital microscope that connects to your computer via a USB 2.0 connection. The device is compatible with Windows and Mac’s and has software for each. Depending on the attachments the ProScope HR can focus in on items from 50x to 400x magnification.

Bodelin has a gallery of examples taken with the USB microscope such as a fly eye, and earthworm at 400x and our personal favorite, a sweaty finger at 50x where you can actually see the sweat pores.

Along with still images the …

For all of you heavy duty survivor types out there that need dependable technology for your spelunking, deep-sea diving or any other fun pastimes, Corsair claims to have created the world’s toughest flash drive.

The Flash Survivor sounds like it could survive a boat sinking or building detonation: it’s water resistant to a depth of 200 meters (or 20 atmospheres), encased in durable industrial grade aluminum, protected by a ring of rubber molding and surrounded by a metal tube with two end caps. In short, if you’re taking this USB drive anywhere where you really start to question whether it will come back in working condition you’ve probably got a death wish.

The Flash Survivor comes in 4 GB ($59.99) and 8 GB ($129.99) models, has a 10 year warranty and also has a 256 bit AES security encryption application pre-loaded to further protect …

We’ve had the toys, the breakfast cereal, the clothing, the drapes, the carpets, the cars and sooner than you think there may very well be a “Star Wars” product for everything. Mimoco is doing their part by offering four very funky USB flash drives done up as classic “Star Wars” characters Darth Vader, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and the always anonymous Imperial Stormtrooper.

Every model is available in 1 GB ($69.95), 2 GB ($99.95) and 4 GB ($149.95) versions and come with appropriate bonus content already flashed on the drive like “Star Wars” avatars, wallpapers, soundbites and trailers. They’re 2 3/8-inches high and for an extra $5 you can pick up a protohoodie to keep it snug and safe while it dangles from your car keychain. Mimoco is saying that this is just the first series of SW USB it will offer so keep …

If the thought of owning a tricked out speaker system for your PC but not wanting to shell out for a expensive sound card excites you, Altec Lansing has a plug and play audio system that should sound sweet to your ears.

The FX5051 Powered Audio System has four satellite speakers, a base unit and a center speaker that delivers 5.1 surround sound by connecting directly into your PC’s USB port, then streaming out 6 channels of sound. You also get a headphone jack for those times that you don’t want to share your “Supreme Commander” gaming sessions with the rest of your housemates and jacks to connect to your iPod, MP3 player or CD player. There’s also a wireless remote and control pod which gives you complete command over three volume levels, the bass and treble.

With the sharp …

Remember how cool flash drives were when they first came out a few years ago? As the storage capacity of the drives gets bigger and the technology needed to make one gets more miniaturized, there is now room for adding more features to the standard pocket-sized driver.

Enter eNECESSITIES, a company that will brand your slogan or message to their line of products so you can hand them out as company Christmas gifts to the employees or tech swag to clients that visit your firm’s convention booth. eNECESSITIES’ latest novelty is the USB Sound Flash Drive, a little innovation that could drive you insane if it falls into the wrong hands. Plug this USB into your computer and an audio message (up to 20 seconds) is played from the unit’s integrated speaker. Some people will load on their favorite song or a cute message …

This tiny 1 inch hard drive is interesting to see in light of recent industry advances in flash memory, since the Pocketec Nano is actually a spinning hard drive.

The small USB 2.0 device is powered and transfers data through a USB interface and saves data onto the tiny plates of a hard disk at a rate of up to 480Mbps. The HDD has a capacity of 12GB and is in an enclosure measuring only 38mmx38mmx15mm. The tiny USB interface drive is compatible with Window 98/SE/ME/2000/2003 server/XP/Vista and MAC OS 8.6.

More information can be found about the Pocketec Nano at the Korean Pocketec website, and will be retailing for around $210 USD.

Source: Aving via Engadget

This IDE to USB adapter from Vantec is a really handy tool. Whether you are trying to retrieve data from a hard drive or looking for some simple external storage, this makes the connection very simple.

The IDE to USB adapter had a 140cm cable that has an IDE interface on one end and a USB 2.0 interface on the other; pretty simple. The IDE interface is a 3.5″, but the device has a small adapter that brings it down to the 2.5″ models as well. When the cables are connected and the hard drive is powered up, the computer automatically detects the external HDD hardware and you can start transferring files. No software is needed for Windows XP or 2000, and the device is compatible with Windows 98/ME/XP/2000 as well as Mac OS 8.6 and above.

Powering the …

It’s a well known secret; I guess then that it’s not really a secret, that you can get HDTV broadcasts over the airwaves. That’s right; if you have an HDTV tuner you can pick up many of the local stations that broadcast in High-Def. If you’re a mobile type and travel a lot and you want to watch HDTV broadcasts anywhere with an HDTV signal, you are in luck. AutumnWave’s OnAir HDTV-GT lets you connect an HDTV tuner to your laptop or PC with a USB connection.

The HDTV-GT features a remote control and DVR features so you can record and watch your High-Def shows any time you want. A rather surprising feature is that the HDTV-GT allows you to receive QAM signals, the unencrypted cable signals that cable companies sometimes use to broadcast local stations. …

Buffalo is a worldwide company that provides network solutions for home and work, including wireless networking and storage to memory and multimedia devices.

The company recently released a wireless LAN adapter to improve WiFi signals for your PC. The wireless adapter is designed for use by PC’s that do not currently have WiFi built in, or in situations where the wireless signal is poor due to distance.

The WiFi adapter from Buffalo connects to a PC via USB 2.0 and states that in improve signals up to 210% of the average WiFi adapter at distances up to 170 meters (about 1/10th of a mile). This adapter could be a good solution for working with a notebook outside your home, or in a motel or conference center in places with weak WiFi signals.

The downside is that the non-direction antenna is not very small…or particularly attractive. …

LaCie announced the release of its new external Blu-ray capable DVD Burner. Named the “LaCie d2 Blu-ray Drive,” it supports external connection via either USB or FireWire. LaCie made the announcement at CES 2007. The company is claiming that the d2 is one of the first of its kind.

The d2 is capable of writing 25GB of data to a normal Blu-ray disk and 50GB of data to a dual layer disk. There is also built in capabilities to burn DVD’s and CD’s. Burning speeds for Blu-ray are 2x, normal DVD at 8x, CD-R at 24x and CD-RW’s at 16x.

The unit is compatible with either Mac OS X or Windows XP. Support for Vista hasn’t been announced at this time.

The unit comes bundled with Easy Media Creator 8.2, Cineplayer 3.4 (HD playback) and Toast 7.1.1 …

This 4-port USB hub is split into 5 different sections that each rotate independently 180 degrees to help avoid tangled up cords, and allows multiple items to be plugged in that may otherwise cover up adjacent ports.

The USB Twister Hub supports USB 1.1 and 2.0, and has an optional AC adapter (extra $4) to increase power output to high power consumption USB devices such as printers. Transfers speeds are up to 480Mbs.

The Twister Hub is cased in aluminum, weighs 46 grams and is 106mm long. The hub is available from Brando for $22 USD.