Best computer news

We get the feeling that USB turntables have reached the same market saturation point as iPod docks did a couple of years ago. How else can we explain the flow of new products, each crammed with more secondary features than the last? Speaking of iPod docks, the latest entry into the USB turntable field, Numark’s TTi, includes a dock as one of its many recording source options, allowing you to plug in any iPod Video (5th gen. and up) and iPod nano (2nd generation and up) and use it as a portable hard drive to store the audio files created by the TTi’s recording interface.

As with other USB turntables, the TTi includes a USB connection for use with any desktop or laptop with available hard drive space and a copy of EZ Vinyl Converter 2, which is designed to take the legwork out of identifying the tracks you’ve recorded by using wave analysis and Gracenote’s identification database to label tracks. Since the software only runs on a computer, we’re guessing the TTi’s iPod dock is to make file transfer between turntable and computer easier. Until they come up with a portable version of the software that runs in the turntable, you’ll still need your computer to complete the recording process.
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At some point in our lives, we might have come across at least a box of slides or negatives that are of precious value to our families. A problem arises when we want to preserve the memories digitally. The real question is figuring out the best method to do so that easy on our wallets. ION Audio – traditionally known as a company that designs USB turntables – has unveiled a $100 35mm slide and film scanner to come to our rescue.

Known as SLIDES 2 PC, the USB-powered gadget lets you work your way through a sheet of negatives or a carousel of slides. Its five-megapixel scanner with a four-glass optic element won’t give you the results of a professional counterpart but it get the job done in a fraction of the time and money. The unit comes built-in with exposure control and color correction basically minimizes post-scan touchup procedures. At such price, the SLIDES 2 PC isn’t that bad to bring old pictures back to life.
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Kensington is reviving the long forgotten USB data cable which is from the beginning a rather niche networking solution. The Media Sharing Cable from Kensington is touted as a faster file sharing method between PC and Mac than flash drives and external hard drives. That’s largely true since the cable directly dumps files from Mac to PC or vice versa. The USB cable also gets around the problem with 4GB file limitation inherent to FAT32. This type of product is likely targeted at the uninitiated who may not know Leopard’s built-in SMB file sharing, FTP or MacFuse (NTFS support). But wait… you are now informed of these free alternatives.
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A rather grim economy outlook doesn’t stop WUSB advocates from making a big push for Certified Wireless USB. Tomorrow at Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City, WiQuest will be hosting a media event showcasing a number of Wireless USB products – in fact only the ones that are powered by the company’s reference designs. Among them are Dell’s WUSB notebooks, D-link WUSB hub, Kensington WUSB video docking station, and surprisingly, Imation Apollo Pro WX WUSB hard drive.

It would be interesting to see how the Imation performs as it would be first ever retail native WUSB personal area storage device. Anything below 20MB/s would certainly guarantee a wave of bad reviews. Even if the drive is proved to be fast enough for incremental backup, it still needs to boost good wireless range to be of practical use. The drive however could cost in excess of $150 (w/o a drive), at which price would still be a tough sell during the current economic climate.
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A universal truth when it comes to laptops is that the onboard sound systems aren’t that great. Many low-end desktop PCs also lack a decent sound card for listening to music, movies, and games. Logitech has announced a new set of speakers that will work on any system with an available USB port called the Z5.

The speakers are omnidirectional, unlike the V20 from Logitech that are unidirectional, so you get the same sound quality in front, behind or to the side of the speakers. Also included with the system is a wireless remote for controlling the volume and track from across the room. The speakers will work with Mac or Windows systems and have a 6.5-foot USB cable and a 4-foot extension cable. The Z-5 system will be available this month for $99.99.
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Motion control is the rage right now for video games. We have the Nintendo Wii that uses motion controls for everything and you can get motion control for the PC with the Stix controllers. If motion control for games is something you really like, Actiga has announced a new line of Mini-Motion controllers that will be available in several different game categories.

USB controllers will be available for both Mac and PC systems in versions that look like realistic skateboards, RC Cars, baseball, and a futuristic racing vehicle. Each of the controllers will connect via USB and will sell for $19.99. It’s not clear if the controller has games built-in like the plug-and-play devices for TV or if they are simply controllers to be used with other PC games already on the market.
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Sonic Solutions a couple years ago has developed a solution that adds a layer of DRM protection to DVD-R. Basically, this makes it possible for online video service to sell downloadable video that can be stored for permanent ownership on DVDs without worrying the DRM of the content might ever expire. The proprietary technology called Qflix has since approved by DVD-CCA, meaning it also got nod from MPAA. The problems however with this are that it requires new DVD burner as well as special DVD-R media and that Sonic Solutions hasn’t found a single customer… until now.

Dell has just announced it’s selling a private-branded Qflix DVD USB burner bundled with Roxio Venue software for $120 as well as a partnership with CinemaNow which offers 100 Qflix-ready films and counting for $9.95 each. The caveat is you’ll need to replenish the rare copy-protected DVD discs after you have used up the two in the Dell package. Let’s hope Qflix isn’t just some flash in the pan with Dell’s backing, and won’t be wiped out by RealDVD.
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Here’s an affordable streaming music solution that is a snap to install and easy on your wallet – just in time for the recession era. Unlike most other similar products that require complicated settings, TrekStor Wireless Sound Box simply plays back whatever your PC, Mac or Linux is outputting. That means you can’t pick what songs to play from a remote speaker, unfortunately.

The kit comes with a USB stick that acts as a wireless transceiver to send the audio (likely compressed like Bluetooth) over 2.4Ghz to a boxy wireless speaker (up to 20) that still works as far as 25m away. For 50 Euro, you get a starter set that consists of the dongle and two wireless speakers, each of each has a output rating of 0.5W for each driver – an acceptable for such a tiny speaker that measures 70mm on each side. Each additional will cost 30 Euro. TrekStor will begin shipping these sometime in October.
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We have talked many times about the weird USB gadgets we come across on a weekly basis. One of the weirdest that sticks in my mind was the USB Pole Dancer. But one of the strangest devices using our beloved USB port in recent days is the Seamour Sheep Radioactive Edition. The $69 plastic sheep character is made to support the Seamour Sheep comic strip, which we have never heard of.

The sheep essentially is made from translucent plastic and the maker says that the retail versions have better eyes and eyelashes that aren’t seen in the photos here. When you plug the sheep into a USB port, it glows with a sickly green color that goes well with the radioactive symbol on its side. Rather than having to unplug the sheep when you want to turn it off, you do a little sheep tipping. Putting the sheep on its side turns the light off and setting it back on its feet turns it on. Video demo after the jump.
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One of the appealing features of Windows Vista was SideShow. It basically allows the display of certain data in the form of a widget on a sidebar or on a secondary display. SideShow is much more interesting on a notebook where you can get email notification and more without having to start the computer up. Some users may find SideShow useful on desktop computers too and the USB picoLCD 4×20 is a device that will allow it.

The picoLCD 4×20 is a small SideShow capable display selling for only $49.95 and using a USB 2.0 port for connectivity. The LCD has a blue backlight color and when connected to a PC displays the link where you go to download the software needed for the device. It can display stock prices, inbox notification, pictures, weather, and media player info. The picoLCD is smaller than similar devices like the Alphacool LCD and costs less to boot.
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