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92 'USB' stories December 2010 - July 2012

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You can now charge your iOS device from the campfire with Biolite CampStove for $129 [Video]

Élyse Betters Jul 16 2012 - 7:05 am PT

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[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/41198061 w=600&h=500]

The BioLite CampStove is now available for $129.

This green energy product is perfect for anyone who is half-geek and half-outdoorsman (or outdoorswoman), and it works just as one would think—burn stuff, charge iDevice. The stove converts the fire’s heat into electricity for a USB charge. Now folks can go camping and be in tune with nature while checking their e-mail at the same time. Heaven.

It apparently takes 4.5-minutes to boil 1 liter of water, features a fire power output between 3.4 kw and 5.5 kw, powers pretty much all USB-chargeable devices, and most effectively burns “sticks, pine cones, pellets and other biomass.” It weighs just 2 lbs., at just 8.25-inches tall and 5 inches wide, and it is made of stainless steel, aluminum, and plastic. The box comes with “BioLite Stove, Firelighter, Stuff Sack, Instructions, and a USB cord.”

Cherry-picked testimonials with the CampStove are on the BioLite website (here).

The Biolite CampStove is available now and ships in mid-July.

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Review: Griffin StudioConnect audio/midi interface & dock for iPad

Jordan Kahn Jun 17 2012 - 5:12 pm PT

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We first told you about Griffin’s StudioConnect audio interface when it unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year. There are more than a few products on the market that make it easy to hook up your guitar, mic, or MIDI controller to the iPad for use with the many iOS apps that include built-in DAWs with CoreMIDI support (such as Apple’s own GarageBand). While it might not be the prettiest iPad dock we have seen, there are a few reasons why it beats the competition.

With StudioConnect, in terms of inputs and outputs, what you get is pretty basic: standard 5-pin MIDI in and out, one 1/4-inch mono input, and left and right RCA output. The large knob out front controls the 3.5mm headphone jack below it, while a separate volume wheel on the side is for your main output. It is more than enough to plug in supported mics, a guitar, or a MIDI controller, but it is clear that Griffin did not build the StudioConnect with professionals in mind. Most pros will not do anything too heavy-duty inside of an iOS app at this point. The inputs above will likely be sufficient for most musicians using the iPad as a mobile or writing setup.

While it does not offer some of the standard inputs and outputs that pros are familiar with, Griffin used its experience making iOS accessories to nail the design where the competition gets it wrong….

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Benchmarks for SSDs and USB 3.0 performance in new MacBooks

Jordan Kahn Jun 11 2012 - 11:02 pm PT

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Even before Apple’s unveiling of the all-new Retina MacBook Pros, refreshed previous-generation MacBook Pros, and MacBook Air lineups today, we knew most of Apple’s new Macs would receive performance improvements courtesy of new SSDs and USB 3.0. We are now getting our first look at benchmark data for the two new features—thanks to a Retina MacBook review unit benchmarked by AnandTech.

As for SSDs, we told you before that the new MacBook family would probably receive Samsung’s speedy 830 series. AnandTech’s report seems to narrow down the 830 series as the most likely scenario noting his review unit appears to be running a Samsung drive approaching read speed of 500MB/s, and writes close to 400MB/s:

The same updated SSD is present across all of Apple’s lineup: from the MacBook Air to the next-gen MacBook Pro. Based on the model number in Apple’s System Report I’d guess my review sample features a Samsung based drive… I ran a few tests using Quick Bench to validate Apple’s claims. In general it looks like read speed approaches 500MB/s, while sequential writes are closer to 400MB/s

When it comes to initial benchmarks for USB 3.0 performance, the chart to the right speaks for itself by showing a remarkable jump in performance over USB 2.0 on the early 2011 MacBook Pro:

USB 3.0 performance is much improved over the previous generation MacBook Pro. I used an Apricorn SATA to USB 3.0 adapter to measure copy time to/from a 512GB OCZ Vertex 4 SSD. The performance gap between USB 2.0 and 3.0 is nothing short of significant.

Apple announces new AirPort Express featuring dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi for $99

Jake Smith Jun 11 2012 - 12:04 pm PT

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Apple just unveiled its new AirPort Express on its online store at the conclusion of its WWDC keynote. The new router features dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi for $99. Besides the new bands, the new Express does not seem to feature any new updates, except that it does seem to look closer to an Apple TV — in white. The update Express keeps the same USB 2.0 and 3.5mm headphone jack that it has always carried. You can check it out on the Apple Online Store now.
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Matrox goes back to the future with DS-1 Thunderbolt Dock—USB 3.0, DVI, GigE for $249

9to5 Staff Jun 3 2012 - 4:30 pm PT

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Do you remember all of those ports you used to see on Macs? DVI, Gig Ethernet (har), and separate analog stereo for in and out? Matrox, a company that used to make mad graphics cards and other video devices, is coming to DubDub with a new $249 piece of kit called the “DS-1.” This box brings you all of those old school ports and even throws in a “superspeed” USB 3.0 port, so you can match the speed of the new MacBooks.

Matrox makes a bunch of other highly rated, high-end Thunderbolt breakout boxes that retail for much more. If you are looking for a (relatively) cheap Thunderbolt dock to hide away from sight and hook up to an old DVI monitor, this may be a good pick up. We should have a review unit to play with next week.

The press release follows:
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RadioShack is offering $50 discount on iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S

Élyse Betters May 10 2012 - 4:19 pm PT

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RadioShack is having a $50 discount sale on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S on all carriers until June 30. The deal is valid at every RadioShack location and can combine with trade-ins through the company’s Trade and Save program. Target is also offering a similar $50 price cut on the iOS smartphones. That means the 8GB iPhone 4 is $49, and the 16GB iPhone 4S is $149, etc., at both retail stores.

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Une Bobine is a flexible, hybrid stand/dock/cable for iPhone

Jordan Kahn May 9 2012 - 12:49 pm PT

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Recently launched as a Kickstarter project, Jon Fawcett and his new company [Fuse] Chicken invented a flexible gooseneck accessory with a built-in USB cable that doubles as a shapeable stand and dock for your iPhone.

The benefits of the Une Bobine (which is French for “A coil”) are obvious from the images above— the ability to adjust your iPhone to an appropriate position in various scenarios, such as charging, while still being able to place the device at eye-level. It also holds your device in landscape mode, as you can see in the images.

Although the Kickstarter project already surpassed its funding goal of $9,800, you can preorder yours now by pledging $25. The company planned to start shipping Une Bobine roughly 45 days after reaching its funding goal, and it appears to still be on schedule.

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PoP Video turns your iPhone into a $99 pico projector

Jordan Kahn May 2 2012 - 11:58 am PT

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6jNJOd3muQg]

Not quite ready for the awesome Epson Megaplex iOS projector? Available for preorder right now, the PoP Video project from Micron Technology is a $99 pico projector with built-in 30-pin dock connector for your iPhone or iPod. The device works with iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, and third-generation and fourth-generation iPod touch, while providing two hours of playback at 960 x 540 pixel resolution. It comes with the following specs:

Size and Weight

(refer to the scale drawings of the PoP Video to the right)

Input and Output

Input: 30-pin dock connector
Video Output: qHD (960 x 540 pixel resolution)

Power and Battery

Battery: Built-in Lithium-ion rechargeable battery
Playtime: Up to two hours with full battery charge
Charging: Micro-USB charging (1.2 compliant)
Charge time: Fast charge in about 4 hours

Package Contents

PoP Video
User manual
USB charging cable

Elgato releases non-Apple Thunderbolt cable

Élyse Betters Apr 27 2012 - 1:11 pm PT

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Elgato entered the Thunderbolt space today with its own flavor of the tech aptly called “Elgato’s Thunderbolt Cable.”

Thunderbolt is an interface connector that pushes data between computers and peripherals at high speeds. Apple first launched its $49 trademarked-cable last June, but alternate choices have been few and far between ever since.

At $60 a pop, Elgato’s follow-up to the March release of Thunderbolt SSD is more expensive. The cable is also much shorter at just 1.6-foot compared to Apple’s 2-meter offering.

It is black, too.

The new cable will likely come down below Apple’s price once supply catches up with demand.

Fortunately, Elgato is giving a free Thunderbolt Cable included with every purchase of the Elgato Thunderbolt SSD completed through its Elgato Online Shop until May 6. Just redeem the discount code: “FREE-THUNDERBOLT-CABLE.” Amazon-lovers can also buy the cable for $59.95 USD (here), but shipping times are currently between two to three weeks.

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Netgear announces 5G 802.11ac Wi-Fi router, speeds to 1.3Gbps!

Seth Weintraub Apr 26 2012 - 11:36 am PT

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We’ve talked about next-generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi that will be able to deliver Gigabyte Ethernet type speeds to your wireless devices.

The chips, also called “5G Wi-Fi” by Broadcom, do not correlate with 3G and 4G cellphone networks. The BCM4360, BCM4352, BCM43526 and BCM43516 chips improve Wi-Fi’s range and are significantly more efficient. Perhaps, the most tantalizing aspect is that the 5GHz-based technology has speeds beyond 1Gbps and is currently in the high-end range of consumer Ethernet.

Apple currently uses Broadcom Wi-Fi Chips in its Mac line and in its iOS devices, including iPad and iPods. The latest MacBook Airs have the Broadcom BCM4322 Intensi-fi® Single-Chip 802.11n Wi-Fi Transceiver. Maybe we will see something a little faster later this year…

Broadcom, the supplier of the first chips to support 5G Gig Wi-Fi, is not just the chip supplier for all of Apple’s iOS devices and Macs, it also provides chips to outfits like Netgear, which today announced the first 802.11AC Wi-Fi router that will be sold next month for a retail price of $199.

The R6300 will be backwardly compatible with N Wi-Fi and will be as future proof as you can get when it goes on sale next month. One has to wonder exactly how long Apple fans will have to wait in order to get this tech in their Macs. Remember…Apple was one of the first to the Wi-Fi Party with its AirPort, released in the late 1990s, and it is always near the front when it comes to Wi-Fi technology.

Press release follows:
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First-time Apple owners make up 25 percent of all iPad purchases

Élyse Betters Apr 26 2012 - 8:45 am PT

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According to research company NPD Group, and its recent Apple Ecosystem Study based on 3,000 consumers in an online survey, about 37 million United States households own Apple products. The details specify that 69 percent of those consumers own iPods, but ownership of the iPad is growing. In fact, one-in-four iPad owners claimed the device as their first Apple product:

“iPad sales are growing much faster than any other Apple product has this soon after launch,” said Ben Arnold, director of industry analysis at NPD. “”In fact, one-in-five Apple owner households has one— nearly equivalent to the number that own an Apple computer. This demonstrates the appeal of both the new form factor and Apple’s app ecosystem.”

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook put iPad sales into context during Apple’s Q2 2012 conference call yesterday:

“Just two years after we shipped the initial iPad, we’ve sold 67 million. To put that in some context, it took us 24 years to sell that many Macs, and five years for that many iPods, and over three years for that many iPhones, and we were extremely happy with the trajectory on all of those products.”

Think about that for a moment: Apple’s two-year-old device/segment is now likely its biggest ambassador. With Macs traditionally at mid-single digit growth rates, most new Apple customers are being introduced to Apple through the iPad.

(Press release)

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G-Technology releases its G-RAID Thunderbolt drive, starting at $700

Jake Smith Apr 17 2012 - 2:15 pm PT

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We already took a look at Hitachi’s G-Technology’s Thunderbolt solutions at CES in January but today they are finally available to the public. The Thunderbolt version features two Thunderbolt ports, rather than the eSATA, FireWire, and USB ports found on the regular version of the G-RAID. As for the hard drives inside, there are two SATA 3Gb/s Hitachi Deskstar hard drives, which can be configured in a 4TB, 6TB, or 8TB setup, each running at 7200RPM. All three versions of the drive are priced at $700, $850, and $1,000 respectively. You can see more technical specs below, as laid out by AnandTech.

With two Thunderbolt ports, these drives can be daisy-chained together to build-out the ultimate storage solution. Currently, the G-Technology competes against four other companies in the space: LaCie, Promise, Western Digital, and Seagate. The G-Raid is the only drive that features 8TB of storage, however.

We compared the drive during this year’s CES with a few others:

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9to5Toys: Amazon cuts Kindle Fire to $139 (refurb), Airport Extreme for $99, lots more

9to5 Staff Mar 29 2012 - 12:25 am PT

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Some good deals from 9to5Toys.com today:

If you like Kindle, no better time to jump on the refurb Kindle Fire for $139 + free shipping. Like new with 1 year warranty.

MacConnection has the Airport Extreme Base Station ($30 off) for $149. Best Buy has refurb for $99

Used iPhone 4 (no contract): $235 at Cowboom

Transcend 8GB Class 4 SDHC Memory Card for $5 + free shipping

iTunes library fixer upper Tuneup bundle is $30

Logitech Wireless Keyboard: $15 at Best Buy

Lots more at 9to5toys.com (Facebook) (Twitter)(RSS)(Subscribe via eMail)

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Poll: Would you enjoy a MicroSD Card slot in your iOS device?

9to5 Staff Mar 21 2012 - 12:49 pm PT

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Apple is unlikely to ever do such a thing (among other things, it would kill its pricing matrix), but sometimes I wish my iPhone or iPad had a built-in MicroSD card slot for easy access to lots of cheap storage. The 16GB cards routinely sell for $10 and new cards go as high as 64GB. However, it is not just about the storage being inexpensive and extremely portable. The SD cards easily swap with Macs, PCs, Cameras, photo frames, video players, Blu-ray players, and other phones.

You can currently connect MicroSD cards with the unwieldy iPad Apple Digital AV Adapter (this) and a Micro to SD Card adapter, but what say you? Should Apple build a MicroSD card slot into upcoming iOS devices?

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The MiFi just shrunk to the size of a thumb and got a microSD card NAS

Jordan Kahn Mar 12 2012 - 9:53 am PT

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Berlin-based Nova Media, best known for its OS X utilities for OEMs used by carriers like Vodafone, announced a new personal hotspot device today called “XYFI.” The thumb drive-sized device (80mm-by-23mm-by-12mm) connects to any USB port for power and allows you to insert a SIM card to share a 3G data connection with up to eight other devices. The XYFI is also completely configured through a browser, so the entire setup process can be done through an iPad or iPhone. It will also function as a regular Wi-Fi modem for your Mac and packs a microSD card slot for file sharing over the network.

Nova Media explained in its press release that the XYFI provides up to 5.76 Mbit/s upload speeds and 14.4 Mbit/s download on 3G. Meanwhile, the Wi-Fi is compatible up to up to 54 Mbit/s on 802.11 b/g networks. It also supports WPS and uses WPA, WPA2, and WEP. In the image to the right, we see the web-based interface will allow a user to hide the network SSID, create guest logins, and manage network settings.

You can buy the world’s smallest 3G Wi-Fi hotspot for 179 euros (around $234 USD) from Nova Media here.

The full press release is after the break.

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Toys: SanDisk Cruzer 32GB US Flash Drive: $23

9to5 Staff Feb 8 2012 - 12:39 am PT

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From 9to5Toys.com:

Amazon has the highly rated SanDisk Cruzer 32 GB USB Flash Drive for $22.99 with free shipping on orders over $25 or with Amazon Prime. This drive is ruggedized and features a slide out USB interface.
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9to5Toys: Portable USB/SD storage options under $1/GB

9to5 Staff Feb 5 2012 - 9:18 am PT

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From 9to5Toys.com:

A quick roundup of storage options from 9to5Toys at Amazon this weekend:

SDHC Cards:
16GB Amazon Class 4: $14.38; Transcend Micro Class 4 w/adapter: $12.98 (pictured)
32GB Sandisk Class 6: $29.95 Transcend Class 10: $32.95

USB Sticks:
8GB Kingston: $6.95
16GB Kingston: $13.99, Sandisk $14.72 Transcend: $13.99
32GB Sandisk: $28.99
64GB Lexar: $61.10

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Thunderbolt display: $900 + free shipping

9to5 Staff Feb 1 2012 - 12:01 am PT

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From 9to5Toys.com:

Today only, MacConnection has Apple’s Thunderbolt Display for $899.99+ free shipping. That’s $100 off list and the lowest price we’ve ever seen by almost $50. It features a native resolution of 2560×1440, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 12ms grey-to-grey response time, 375 cd/m² brightness, built-in iSight camera, 3-port USB 2.0 hub, Thunderbolt port, and Mini DisplayPort connectivity.
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Behringer announces XENYX iX Series mixer/USB interface with integrated iPad dock

Jordan Kahn Jan 18 2012 - 10:27 pm PT

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Following some extremely big product announcements at CES 2012, Behringer has at least one more product lineup to show off at the upcoming NAMM 2012 from Jan. 19 to Jan. 22. Based off Behringer’s mobile digital XENYX mixers, the new high-end XENYX iX Series lineup includes three small form factor mixer/usb audio interfaces with integrated iPad docking stations.

All three models, including the XENYX iX3242USB, iX2442USB and iX1642USB pack in a stereo USB audio interface, XENYX mic pre amps with a dynamic range of 130 dB, 3-band channel EQ designed after “circuitry used in British consoles,” and “one-knob” compression on every mono channel. Of course, the iPad will act as the mixer’s main display, enabling any number of live recording and performance setups through “literally thousands of apps”…

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3-in-1 iPad adapter? Pah! How about 5-in-1?

Seth Weintraub Dec 17 2010 - 9:10 am PT

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These iPad adapters are starting to look like mini docking stations. Earlier this week, we showed you a simple $25 3-in-1 adapter that simply pales next to this latest adapter which has USB, mini USB, SD, MicroSD, and a AV-Out port with an included RCA-jack adapter (below). You simply need to buy at least 50 of them an arrange for shipping from China. Again via MICGadget.
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