Best computer news

Remember back in the days when everyone was looking for a USB 2.0 CardBus for his/her laptop. Now, early adopters are searching for USB 3.0 ExpressCard, and StarTech will be shipping one – powered by none other than NEC uPD720200 – very soon. StarTech ExpressCard / 34 with a huge dongle sticking out of a slot houses two vertically stacked USB 3.0 ports. A auxiliary port is located on the let side of the dongle.

There are a few inherent problems with this card or USB upgrade cards for that matter. For starter, these SuperSpeed USB ports won’t have juice to supply a full 900mA for each port. An optional AC adapter will be needed which adds to the bulk for road warriors. The dongle itself obviously is another problem. It’s simply too vulnerable when laptops are dropped and landed on the side of the ExpressCard, instantly breaking it. Treat it like a $50 early adopter toy, and you should be fine. Should you run into any problems with the USB 3.0 ExpressCard, Startech guarantees lifetime (of the company) warranty.
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Two technologies that were meant to come together finally have, Blu-ray and USB 3.0, in Buffalo’s BR-X1216U3. This self-powered external burner (look here for bus-powered Blu-ray) can burn a 25GB disc in 11 minutes at 12x, 50% faster than other offerings. Buffalo suggests using at least 6x media which is all that’s available currently. Not all Blu-ray discs may be able to burn at this rate, but the faster discs are definitely worth it if your time is valuable. This could save you up to 30 minutes over 2x speed BD-R burning. The Buffalo player also comes with upscaling software for your standard-def. DVDs. With this software you can turn your SD videos into high definition compatible Blu-ray discs. This won’t result in much better quality, but it will allow you the option to phase out your old stuff onto Blu-ray if that’s something you need to do.

Buffalo’s BR-X1216U3 still works with USB 2.0, but you just won’t get the same speed boost. 7x is the maximum you can expect with the previous, more pedestrian standard. To help, it has support for Buffalo’s TurboUSB drivers which can give you up to 15% more speed. They also include CyberLink’s Power2Go software for burning and computer backups with optional encryption. If/when it makes it outside of Japan, you can expect it to run about $450.
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USBinsert has come up with a new marketing tool that it is starting to distribute. An ultra thin USB key that advertisers can drop media files and web links. This USB key is so thin that it can be embedded into (almost) normal cardboard-flyer paper. You pull the key out of the magazine or periodical just like you do with a renewal card or a shampoo sample. This novelty adds a new dimension to marketing and distribution which will help bridge the gap and drive more people to their websites.

The USBInsert web key is comprised of 2 components, the super small USB drive and an “anything goes” body card. The card can be cut and printed to any size and attached to the drive portion or conversely the drive portion can be attached to existing media. This will likely appeal to pharmaceutical companies and trade-show veterans looking to break out of the mold. Anyone looking to try this out for your company’s ventures can dial them up here.
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Creative has improved its classy Vado HD recorder making some small refinements to try and attract some new buyers. This 3rd version won’t knock your socks off, but it may be just enough to finally get it into your hands. It still records video in 1280×720 (720p) HD in H.264 format. The lens no longer protrudes from the body as it focuses. The memory option has now been reduced to only 4GB which makes sense as that’s exactly as long as the battery will last on one charge. 4GB gives you enough for 2 hours of HD video recording and 4 hours of VGA (640×480) recording. This should be plenty for most users and it keeps the price low.

The 3rd gen. Creative Vado HD also adds an external microphone input to clean up the captured audio or extended narrating options. The other touches are pretty minimal including it’s size. It’s down to 93g from 100g over the previous versions. Unlike its predecessor, the Vado HD retains its flip-out USB plug and the Vado Central software, which will help shuttle your videos up to Youtube or Facebook in no time. You’ll still have to shell out a pretty penny; it retails for $299, which is a bit high, but Creative tends to make up for its premium with support.
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