Best computer news

Regular data backup is no longer a choice, but a growing necessity, in our digital lifestyle. Unless you want to suffer eternal pain from a data loss, you’ll need something as simple as an external hard drive or a safer RAID1. Configuring a RAID might not be for everyone so Western Digital makes it easy for the uninitiated with its latest My Book Mirror Edition, which is essentially the downscaled version of the dual-drive Studio and World Edition.

Inside the slick looking case is a pair of 1TB WD GreenPower drives or a pair of 500GB for the low-end version. Automatic backup software is included with the drive. The drives are configured as factory default to use RAID mirroring for data security; as for RAID 0 (striped), it’s up to the user to do the dirty work. The My Book Mirror’s 2TB (striped) storage capacity is about as much storage as you will find this side of a fully-loaded Drobo device that can have up to 4TB (4x 1TB) of space. However, the latter is significantly more sophisticated (and expensive) than the My Book Mirror’s $549.99 MSRP when already configured with drives.
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It’s good to know the latest FireFox 3 has already been packaged by the good folks at PortableApps.com into portable USB edition, which allows you to carry around the the latest browser on your flash drives and additionally to allow you to test all the latest features of the new browser without messing around your current perfect FireFox installation. Based on the Gecko 1.9 rendering platform, FireFox 3 is reportedly 3 times faster than its predecessor and offers more than 1500 improvements, including the one-click bookmarking, tag system, smart location bar full page-zoom, Vista parental controls, anti-malware protection and platform-native look. This release weighing at 8MB can be installed alongside FireFox 2.0 Portable Edition under PortableApps suite so the two are completely separated from each other.
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For security experts and the truly paranoid (and the crossover between the two groups): the GoldKey USB token would like your attention. The “gold” plated drive (which appears to be skinned in some sort of titanium alloy) includes all kinds of security features, like heavy-duty 256-bit AES encryption that automatically protects any file put onto the drive; user tokens, a PIN, and an optional finger print scanner for a triple layer of access control; administrative management features that separate out admins from common users and allow the creation of up to sixteen groups, each with restrictable access to certain files; and no batteries that can shorten the life of the drive.

However, the makers of the GoldKey (not related to the folks that brought us the IronKey) would like you to know they went one step further, and made the drive almost completely indestructible, too: they filmed a series of videos where an actress - who seems to be representing the sellers of counterfeit flash drives on eBay - crushes the GoldKey with a car, sets it on fire, and drops it in a fishbowl to try and prove its worthlessness. Her mounting frustration as each attempt fails is funny, but we’re a little confused about the Pidgin English accent: racial stereotyping doesn’t add anything to the product’s value, and we’re not sure why the videos take that approach. Three LOL videos after the jump…
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With laptops fast replacing the desktop computers in business environments the demand for mobile broadband service is growing swiftly. Many laptops still don’t come with mobile broadband modems built-in to the machines by default. This has lead to a proliferation of USB mobile broadband modems. Sony Ericsson announced two new mobile broadband modems today that are designed to operate on HSPA networks providing the capability for downloads of up to 7.2Mb/s and uploads of 2Mb/s.

The two modems are the MD400g and the MD400, updates to the MD300 released last year. The new modems with retractable USB connector are the first to be combined with M2 Memory Stick Micro and microSD slots. The MD400g only differs in the fact that it also integrates a GPS receiver that can link to Google Maps and mark the user’s current location. These modems operate on HSPA/UMTS networks at 850/1900/2100 MHz and EGDE/GPRS networks at 850/900/1800/1900 MHz. Lastly, they are both Windows and Mac OS X compatible.
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Wireless USB hubs haven’t proved themselves to be that useful without USB audio support and adequate transfer rate. After all, printers and hard drives have gradually moved on to wireless one way or the other. Cutting the cables of a USB sound card or a pair of existing wired USB speakers is still an interesting niche advantage WUSB hubs offer.

So, that’s what WiQuest gives us today - Windows Isochronous USB Audio support over WUSB. This is absolutely essential not just for completing device support for currently shipping DWAs and native hosts, but also paving way for a new breed of native Wireless USB surround speakers and docking stations. If you have a WiQuest-powered WUSB product (eg. Belkin & D-link WUSB Hub, Lenovo T61/61p, Dell XPS notebooks), you should be able to take the software upgrade path as soon as the manufacturer posted the version 1.4 driver (Windows XP and Vista only).
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USB switch has been around for quite a while, yet there’s still a huge demand for peripheral sharing devices. After all, who would want to buy the same scanner for each of the 4 PCs in the household? The idea of Kensington’s ShareCentral isn’t new, but it’s perhaps the most innovative (low-tech speaking). The switching is exclusively handled by hardware - no software installation.

At the press of a button, USB device access is instantaneously handed over to the other PC. The ShareCentral allows individual sharing of up to five different USB gadgets, whether it be scanner, printer or hard drive, between two Windows machines. For printers particularly, you don’t need to hit the button since ShareCentral can automatically detect which computer is trying to print and give it the printer access. This feature is available only on Windows XP and Vista. To top it off, the wall mountable ShareCentral comes with interchangeable magnetic keycaps for personalization to your devices.
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If you are in a desperate search to find yet another phallic symbol of your geekiness to place alongside your plasma tube you are in luck. Brando has a new clock that screams geek to anyone who walks by your cubicle, desk or your bedroom in your mom’s house.

The USB Tube clock is just what it sounds like, a USB powered clock that has a digital display with each digit sealed inside of old school looking vacuum tube. Details are sketchy but the clock counts down the hours, minutes and seconds in red numbers and is powered by a USB port. Something called a USB booster is included, though exactly what it does is unclear. Our money is on boosting the power from the USB port to run the 10.5 x 28 x 7.5cm clock. Price for this much geeky goodness is $70.
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Those of us tied to our computers all day may find that a convenient excuse to not get any exercise. Despite the fact that you have to get work done you can get some exercise without having to leave the computer. This may be bad news to some of your computer jocks out there, but a new device called Gamercize PC-Sport promises a workout while at the computer.

The device connects to your PC via USB and is basically a small stepper that can burn up to 400 calories per hour. To put it in numbers you can understand, that’s enough to burn about two cans of Coke an hour. The device also includes three months of access to GZ Personal Trainer software to keep track of your workout progress and goals. The Gamercize doesn’t appear to work with any games or software already on your computer so if you want a more active method of playing WoW the FPGamerunner is more what you want.
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AMD and nVidia claim that Intel is holding back on the specifications for the open host controller for USB 3.0. Intel denies that it is withholding the specification and says that the reason it hasn’t provided the specs to rival CPU and chipset makers is that they aren’t done. nVidia and AMD maintain that Intel has working silicon for the host controller, and that means the specs are done. Intel posted a blog last week to try and clear the situation up a bit.

Today nVidia announced that SiS has also thrown in with it and AMD. Now AMD, nVidia, VIA and SiS are all working together on their own open host controller for USB 3.0. That means that every other chipset maker is aligned to make their own specifications, which would effectively leave Intel in the dark as the only chipset maker with an open host controller specification that might not be compatible. This could work in nVidia and its partner’s favor, if they can get to market first with USB 3.0 products. If Intel beats them to market significantly its open host controller specification still could become the standard. nVidia says it has already staffed the project and is moving ahead with its open host controller specification.
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When the original Das Keyboard hit market it was most notable for lacking any labels for the keys on the keyboard. If you weren’t very comfortable as a touch typist it was far from the ideal keyboard. One of the other notable features of the keyboard was that it came with the old school IBM model M-style mechanical key switches.

These mechanical switches were preferred for their tactile feel by many users. In July, the Das Keyboard line will get an update with models featuring markings on the keys for those who want to see what they are hitting and to allow non-touch typists to use the device. The keyboard will feature the same mechanical switches as the original and has an N-key roll-over that allows users to press 12 keys at once. Gamers may find that the new labeled Das Keyboard works well for gaming, though some will prefer macro recording capability like the Logitech G15, which the Das Keyboard lacks. The new Das Keyboard will retail for $129.
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