Best computer news

CNET put ION’s Desk Rocker USB speakers through their paces, looking to quantify the quality of a $99 set of speakers with RCA, 1/8th inch, and USB input jacks that let you double these bookshelf-sitters into recording devices. Not surprisingly, they found the Desk Rockers do a decent job acting as a jack of all trades (so to speak), but aren’t particularly stellar options for any one usage: audiophiles will want better sound reproduction, gamers will want a surround option, musicians will need more types of inputs (and possibly better D/A converters, if CNET’s statement about higher volume distortion is any indication), etc. However, for anyone getting started in those areas, investing $100 as a down payment towards developing a hobby doesn’t seem like too much to ask.
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Thinking about getting a USB microphone (or four) but have questions about their usefulness – or need recommendations on models? So did EQ Magazine, so they did a feature, available on their online version. We suspect it’s an upload from the print version of the magazine, which probably explains why the article jumps around from general explanation to review and back again, but the technical information is solid. More importantly, it’s written by audio people from an audio perspective, so you’re getting the sort of information you need to make some informed decisions about whether or not to add USB microphones to your recording arsenal. The quick verdict: USB microphones aren’t just for podcasters anymore.
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We know many people who like pranks and gags to play on their friends and coworkers. With the importance of computers today many people choose to play their pranks in some sort of digital form to make the computer user think something is wrong with their system. If you are the digital prankster type your latest prank is here and it’s called the Haunted USB cable.

The cable itself is a dead ringer for that Hacked Flash drive we talked about a few weeks back. Rather than cramming some flash storage in the cable, the Haunted USB Cable adds software that that simulates a problem with the user’s keyboard. The software adds random keystrokes at intervals between 30 seconds and 30 minutes. If the user looks at the back of the computer to see that everything is plugged in correctly, they will see nothing but a USB cable with a frayed end. We will say this, if you use this gag in your office the only person you are rally going to be pranking is the IT guy.If you really want to scare a coworker, just start using the body mouse.
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Evidently, there is a market for computer stuff that doesn’t look like computer stuff. Just consider the Mimobot line of flash drives that look like Star Wars characters rather than the simple flash drives they really are. If you like the idea of the Mimobot and have wished you could get a real hard drive with hundreds of gigabytes of storage that doesn’t look like the average external hard drive – Meninos can hook you up.

Meninos has a line of external hard drives that are inside your typical square-ish USB connected enclosure. If you order the enclosure with a drive in it, you can get 250GB, 320GB, 400GB, and 500GB versions. You can also simply order the enclosure and choose the vinyl stickers that change the drive into a piece of art (supposedly). Some of the cool designs include Pulp, which looks like Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Pulp Fiction, and you can get cereal box designs too. The price for the enclosure alone is $250. Prices for the enclosure and hard drive range from $400 for 250GB to $620 for 500GB.
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I enjoy the Transformers as much as the next nerd, but a 4.5-inch Autobot logo that lights up when connected to your computer may have a tendency to draw the eye. It could also result in a lack of sleep—unless you are afraid of the dark. In that case it may come in handy as [...]

If you have to sit in a chair in front of a computer all day, you know how much of a pain in the back it can be. You could get one of those blue lumbar cushions or try to talk your boss into a fancy ergonomic chair. You could even try to talk the cute receptionist into giving you a shoulder rub, though you might get fired. An alternative is the USB/In-Car back massager that can run from your cigarette lighter in the car or from the USB port of your computer in the office.

The massager has for modes including kneading, tapping, shiatsu, and rolling. You can also control the strength of the massage with low, medium, and high settings as well as controlling the massage rhythm with high, medium, and low settings. An attached remote control gives you control over all features of the massager. The design of the massager fits onto the back of your chair so you should still be able to use your USB butt cooler as well. You can get your massager for £39.99.
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I can’t count how many times over the years I have wanted to take a hammer to my computer for one reason or another. I am sure you have felt the same way at some point. If you like to make people look at you funny while you are looking at your computer; you may well have some odd flash drives like the Hacked flash drive we checked out a while back.

If that was not odd enough for you, Plankton (not the tiny green nemesis of Sponge Bob and Mr. Crab) has a very interesting flash drive that looks like a giant nail driven into your computer. The drive is called Nailed and is made from polyurethane and iron. The drive measures 90 x 34mm, and has 1GB of flash storage. The price to get nailed is 29 euro and I am not sure if you can get one in the US.
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Let’s face it, it really sucks when you are out with your mobile phone, iPod or other electronic device and you run out of juice. If your device charges with mini USB, your days of running out of power could be over thanks to Duracell’s new PowerSource Mini. The device comes in two versions with one designed to power iPods and the other for Blackberry devices. Both have a mini USB connector as well.

The PowerSource Mini uses an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack and has a pivoting mini USB arm for connecting to electronic devices. Duracell says that a second USB port allows you to charge an additional device at the same time. Duracell also ships an AC adapter and DC charger that each has a USB port with the PowerSource Mini. I would rather have something like the IOGear Rescue Charger personally that uses AA batteries. Then I can keep charging as long as I can get my hands on fresh batteries.
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Headsets are a gaming necessity for the hard core gamer and for those who want to game late into the night without being yelled at by other people in the house. USB headsets are nothing new and we have looked at Tritton AXPC and Creative HS-1200 before.

Creative has a new set of headphones that connect to your PC via USB and are powered by its X-Fi technology. The headset is called the Creative Fatal1ty USB Gaming Headset, and it promises positional audio to help gamers tell whether an enemy is behind them or to the left or right from sound alone. The headphones also feature a detachable mic and inline volume control. Drivers for the headphones are 40mm neodymium and the mic features noise-cancelling technology. The ear cups are enclosed and padded for comfort. The Fatal1ty USB Gaming headset is available now for $79.99.
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For the most part, I am a big fan of convergence. I like it when one item can serve more than one purpose, but sometimes convergence goes wrong and you end up with a spectacularly ugly gadget. Case in point is the USB 4-in-1 Webcam from Brando. The device wraps a USB fan and USB light into the same package as a USB webcam.

The USB 4-in-1 Web Cam has a suction cup on the bottom so you can attach it to most smooth surfaces. The fan is a dual blade design and is on a separate and adjustable stalk from the webcam and mic. Around the webcam are six LED lights that can be used as a desk lamp and add light for better video recording on the webcam. The dimensions for the device are 75 x 75 x 228 mm and it retails for $23. Brando says the mic will work with any chat software.
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