Best computer news

While everything surrounding U3 has stopped, here’s a webmaster who keeps all the U3 apps coming. This guy – not affiliated with Sandisk and U3 – basically repackages high-profile software titles to U3-compliant software that allows users to run them on their U3 drives on the go. After checking the site out, you can find quite a large number of titles ranging from the latest OpenOffice (2.4) to FireFox beta (3.0), Safari (3.1.1), Microsoft Office 2007, PS2 Emulator, PhotoShop and even Halo Combat Evolved. Even though we don’t know the reactions when the publishers find out their titles are being ported to unauthorized platform without permission, the website is indeed the most populous U3 community out there. If you are still interested in the whole U3 idea, check out MS’ StartKey which is fundamentally based on U3 except MS will do all the hard work of making software portable.
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EVGA – the company that traditionally manufactures overclockable GeForce cards – has ventured into the low-end market with two external GPU-less USB video cards. Belonging to EVGA’s UV Plus+ family, the stackable UV12 and UV16 DVI graphics adapters are based on none other than DisplayLink’s USB video technology that also powers Samsung 940UX 19″ monitor, IOGear USB VGA card and Kensington USB Video Dock.

The UV16 is the high end model supporting a maximum resolution of 1600 x 1200 (1680 x 1050 widescreen) while the low model UV12 tops at 1280 x 1024 (1440 x 900 widescreen). Like all other DisplayLink products, the UV12 & UV16 support Vista’s Aero 3D and Apple Leopard. Both adapters will go for well below $100, at which price point should appeal to workaholics maximizing productivity across multiple monitors.
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CuPhone “Echo Free” USB Phone Adapter – available as platform independent – is for those who already has a preferred choice of their regular phone that they would like to use Skype with. In one end, there’s a USB plug, and the two RJ-11 ports connect to wall jack and a standard telephone. Basically this lets you to accept both landline and Skype calls from the same phone. It can also automatically route incoming Skype calls to your cellphone or any pre-specified number, and supports three-way conferencing. Other similar products provides call-waiting feature for switching between Skype and landline calls, yet the CuPhone may lack this function.
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Those making a living as a gamer or a programmer are the reason why SteelSeries 7G Pro gaming keyboard exists. Targeted specifically at the world’s fastest typists, the professional gaming tool has the most powerful buffer-system, effectively eliminating “anti-ghosting” by simultaneously storing as many keystrokes as there are keys on the keyboard.

The 7G Pro durability has been greatly enhanced with a switch lifetime of 50 million operations, which compare with 1 to 5 million keystrokes in a lifetime of a typical membrane keyboard. Carrying a weapon-grade $149.99 price tag, the keyboard also has the largest removable hand rest we’ve seen to date. It would certainly interesting to see the 7G Pro compares with the Logitech G15 and Razer Lycosa that cost only half as much.
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This pair of so-called spy camera sunglasses lets you to take snapshots of chicks sun tanning in the beach without getting noticed via a RF remote control. While ThinkGeek heavily touts the stealth mode of the 1.3MP camera, the lens actually is pretty exposed. The sunglasses themselves are made with lightweight frame material, and come with UV400 polarized flip-up lens.

The hybrid also doubles as a 1GB MP3 player with built-in ear buds but you have to share the storage with the camera. A embedded polymer li-ion rechargeable provides up to 9 hours of battery life, which is about 1 photo per minute in perspective. A mini-USB port takes care of the re-charging and data exchange.
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Here’s another Transformers USB hub except this is in the form of Optimus Prime’s head. Like the All Spark version, this one also talks, spouting off classic phrases like “Autobots, transform and roll out!”, “This is Optimus Prime – do you read me?” and “It’s time to stomp some Decepticons!” when you connect a USB gadget. A on/off switch is included so the sound doesn’t have to go off. It also looks like it has individual control for the 4 USB ports.
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Arguably the most secure flash drive in the world just got bigger. Ironkey is now available in 8GB in addition to 4GB ($149), 2GB ($109) and 1GB ($79). Features that appeals to government and corporate alike are tamper resistance that provides physical protection of the memory chip; cryptochip that boosts 128-bit AES hardware encryption; and self-destruct capability that destroys the data after 10 times of failed login attempts. For road warriors, Ironkey ships with a special edition of FireFox that takes advantage of what it calls the Secure Session Service (aka Tor) which enables surfing anonymously on the Internet. And there’s also a password manager for storing login info so you don’t have to fear keystroke logger when borrowing a net cafe’s PC.

While all these security measurements are quite assuring, $299 for a 8GB drive might turn a lot of people away. We guess it’s better to lose a costly thumbdrive than to risk falling victim to identity theft.
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It’s a pleasant development that more companies have shown interest in bringing IM emotes into physical forms, which react to emotions in IM messages. P.C. Gizmo from Blue Box is an evolution of i-Buddy and Availbot. Whereas the latter two are targeted at MSN Messenger and AIM users respectively, the egg-shaped buddy has some new tricks up its sleeves. Besides supporting the big three IM clients (AIM, MSN & Yahoo), it doubles as a visual cues for incoming emails and Skype calls. The gizmo flaps its ears, rocks and turns depending on the responses; its chest also illuminates in different LED light pattern to reflect emotions from the messages. Last but not least is the built-in speakers for all the audible alerts. Video demo after the jump.
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It’s considered a safe practice to make incremental backups to an external hard drive in case disaster strikes. The same goes for road warriors, many of whom already make it a habit of backing up regularly on the go. However, who’s to guarantee the backup drive won’t fail on you when you most need it? The safest way to go is a RAID1, but there isn’t any portable version yet… until now.

ACARD ARS-2212 Mirror Smart Mini can accommodate two 2.5″ SATA drives that are bridged to a hardware RAID 1 chipset, free CPU loading and providing seamless data mirroring. You can also set it to normal mode so the system sees the drives as two external disks. The ARS-2212 – measuring at 163 x 16 x 163mm – isn’t bad at all only if USB 2.0 can provide more power so we can all carry this around leaving the AC adapter at home.
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If you have always wanted to own a Porsche 911 Turbo S, but the six-figure price tag doesn’t quite fit your budget Fanatec’s new racing wheel may be as close as you ever get to owning your own Porsche. The Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel is a replica of the real wheel licensed by Porsche.

Other than the looks, the wheel has some very interesting specs as well. It can work with both PC and PS3, uses wireless connectivity between the pedals and the wheel and the PC / PS3. The racing wheel itself does require AC power to operate the three force feedback motors, but the pedals run off AA batteries. The wheel also includes a shifter with a real H pattern to go along with the clutch pedal like the Logitech G25 has. Fanatec lists the wheel for availability in early May at $349.99 making it actually cost more than the G25.
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