Swiss Army knives just aren’t the same anymore. Take for example the SwissMemory Laser 2GB device which is far more than your standard blade. This “device” features:

• Built-in directional laser with a 70 foot visible range and a 300 foot visible range in complete darkness
• 2GB flash storage capacity
• Retractable ball point pen
• Blade
• Nail file with screwdriver
• Scissors
• Key Ring

The SwissMemory Laser 2GB is available for $148 and comes with a two year warranty on electronics. Don’t you miss a simple Swiss Army knife? I wonder what happens if you drop the SwissMemory into say.. water?

[Check it out via Ubergizmo]

Technorati Tags: Swiss Army, SwissMemory Laser 2GB

Looking for a convenient way to add additional displays to your PC or notebook? Check out the newly announced Kensington Dual Monitor Adapter featuring DisplayLink’s USB display technology. With the Dual Monitor Adapter, adding a second display is as easy as inserting a USB device. The adapter works for both PCs and Macs and is small enough for mobile users to carry around with ease.

The Kensington Dual Monitor Adapter will work with any DVI or VGA regular or widescreen display and will support widescreen resolutions up to 1440 x 900 and standard resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 at 32 bit color. You can add up to six additional monitors to a single PC via additional Dual Monitor Adapters.

The Kensington Dual Monitor Adapter is available now for $119.99 and comes with a VGA adapter and USB cable.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Kensington Dual Monitor Adapter, DisplayLink

Every so often, I like heading over to the Brando website to see what new USB device they’re offering. If there’s a funky USB device out there, chances are, Brando has it. This time it’s a mini-ball shaped portable USB rechargeable speaker (or as Brando calls it, the USB Mini Ball Speaker). The speaker connects to an audio device via a 3.5 mm stereo audio connector and can be worn around the neck thanks to the included neck strap (though why would you wear a speaker around your neck is beyond me). The ball measures 50 x 54 x 73mm, comes with a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery, has an on/off switch, and is available in two colors - Red and Black. You can purchase the Brando USB Mini Ball Speaker for $17.00 dollars.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Brando, USB Mini Ball Speaker

Ah yes.. let’s file this one under “I feel like cluttering up my desk even more!”. It’s the USB based i-Buddy - a small translucent three inch figurine that reacts according to MSN instant messages. You can even program the figure to react to a specific MSN account - let’s say your significant other or someone you’re avoiding. Finally, the i-Buddy detects emoticons and yes.. reacts accordingly. The folks at Gear Live have posted a quick video review of the product here and finds the following:

We had a lot of fun playing with the gadget and our cat seemed to think he was there just for her. Note that the most response we got was when we were sent an angry emoticon.

If you’re a frequent user of Microsoft’s MSN/Windows Live Messenger, then you actually  might find this toy fun to have around the desktop. How about creating one that reacts to all IM clients out there? Now THAT would be cool…

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: i-Buddy, MSN Messenger, Gear Live, Review

Wow.. I guess there’s a larger market than I thought for USB enabled/connected turntables as Sony has introduced the new PS-LX300USB turntable. As you probably guessed it, the USB connection allows the PS-LX300USB to be connected to a computer system which makes it easy for consumers to convert vinyl records into digital files.

Features of the Sony PS-LX300USB include:

• Fully automatic operations at 33-1/3 and 45 rpm speeds
• Belt drive system for reduced motor noise and rotational stability
• Static balance tone arm with a bonded diamond stylus for precise tracking and low record wear
• Moving magnet phonograph cartridge
• Built-in phonograph pre-amp

The turntable comes with Sony’s Sound Forge Audio Studio software for audio editing and production on a PC. You’ll be able to buy the PS-LX300USB for around $150 starting next month.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony, PS-LX300USB, USB turntable

Sony has introduced a new USB flash drive in Japan called the Sony PocketBit. Specs on the PocketBit include:

• Read speeds up to 31 Mbps
• Capacities ranging from 1GB to 16GB
• Supports Mac and PC platform
• Comes in a new all-white case with LED light usage indicator

The 16GB model will be cost in the neighborhood of €212.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sony, PocketBit, USB Flash Drive

Yes it’s time for YABUP - that’s “Yet Another Brando USB Product” in case you’re not familiar with the acronym (thank you, thank you.. I’m proud of that one!). In any event - the product in question is the Brando USB Aroma Radio + Speaker. You have to love Brando product names - they describe EXACTLY what the product does. It’s indeed an Aroma oil burner, AM/FM radio, as well as portable speaker system. You can easily connect an external audio device such as an iPod, or CD player to the Brando device and pipe music through the internal speakers - all while smelling the scented oil coming from the device. It even makes a cool psychedelic bed time light circulating seven different colors.

The feature summary is as follows:

• Built-in speaker
• AM/FM radio
• 7 color changing LED light
• Powered by USB port or batteries
• USB cord
• Measures 88 x 88 x 116 mm and weighs 124 grams.

You can buy the Brando USB Aroma Radio + Speaker for $30 bucks.

[Check it out via Pocket-Lint]

Technorati Tags: Brando, USB Aroma Radio Speaker, USB

If you’re in the market for a cute looking USB flash drive, then you might be interested in this Penguin shaped USB flash drive being sold over at GeekStuff4U. You can fully remove the drive from the Penguin and then slide it right into your computer’s available USB port. There’s nothing fancy about this device - you get 1GB of space for roughly $63 dollars (yes you’re paying quite a bit for something that’s “cute”). Sorry - you’ll never see me carrying this but hey - maybe your kids will like them?

[Check it out via Akihabara News]

Technorati Tags: Penguin USB Flash Drive

Yes - I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a sucker for USB gadgets, devices, and toys. So you can imagine how giddy I was when I came across Dream Link’s booth at CES 2008. In fact, the very first thing I noticed was their new USB MSN Missile Launcher which was prominently on display there (and yes.. I did indeed run over to the booth like a little kid!). Here are pictures of the USB MSN Missile Launcher:

Oh.. and yes the missiles are actually taking aim at me now (you can see me in the webcam picture)

Things you need to know about this model. First, it has an integrated webcam. Yes that’s right - a webcam. Why do you need a webcam you might ask? To remotely target your victims using MSN Messenger of course! That’s right, you can use MSN Messenger to control the missile launcher and shoot the foam missiles at people. Yes.. imagine the havoc you’ll cause in the office!

Features include the following:

• Powered by USB - with 4 feet of cable
• 3 foam missiles and a target
• Twice the distance of the original model
• Moves left, right, up, and down
• Prerecorded sound effects
• Shoots up to 15 feet
• Compatible with Windows XP, 2000, Vista
• Measures 5.019in x 4.33in x 7.303in
• Weighs 0.36 kg

You’ll be able to get this product at places like ThinkGeek.com.

Next up, we have the USB Plasma Ball. Yes - it’s classic plasma ball that’s now powered directly by the USB port. There’s not much to say here except that I found myself staring at the ball for minutes on end.. “Must… stay … away.. from.. the … light”.

Now here’s a cool toy (I think?) - it’s the USB Roll Up Drum Kit. That’s right - get your own portable drum kit which you can simply roll up for storage. Features include:

• Create your own sets or choose from pre-selected tones
• Innovative interface allows all programming and sound to be activated by computer
• Rolls up to small size
• Powered by USB with 4 feet of cable
• Compatible with Windows XP/2000/Vista
• Comes with drum sticks, and software
• Measures 12.362in x 12.244in x 10in

Looking for a gift for that female friend of yours? How about giving her the USB Mr. Perfect?  I nearly fell over in laughter when I saw this (BTW, there’s also a Ms. Perfect for the guys out there too) actually. Connect Mr. Perfect to your PC and have him send you the “loveliest” messages all day long. You can even select the personality that Mr. Perfect will have - whether he’ll be nice or “cheeky”. (Cheeky will make the messages a tad bit “saucier”). Finally, you can customize Mr. Perfect with a picture of your Mr. Perfect. hahahah.

Mr. (and Ms.) Perfect is of course powered by the USB port and compatible with all current version of Windows.

You can see more of Dream Link’s products over at their website - the Dream Cheeky (http://www.dreamlink.info/index.php).

The Dream Info booth also had some folks from Solid Alliance on hand showing off various USB flash drives. Of particular interest were the following two USB flash drives. Each of these drives cost in excess of $1000 dollars (I think it was closer to $1500 but I could be wrong here). The designs are hand-crafted and utterly beautiful!

If you’re not quite willing to pay that much for a USB flash drive, perhaps you’d be interested in Solid Alliance’s Sushi USB memory sticks? Sushi fans will certainly love to own one of these!

You can check out more products (although in Japanese) at Solid Alliances’ website here.

Technorati Tags: Dream Link, USB MSN Missile Launcher, USB Plasma Ball, USB Roll Up Drum Kit, USB Mr. Perfect, USB Flash Drives, Solid Alliance, CES 2008

Now if you want to use that Wireless USB to VGA card device on your notebook system, you might want to get yourself one of these IOGEAR Wireless USB Cardbus Cards (Model GUWC100) since most (if not all) notebooks have yet to include built-in wireless USB support. IOGEAR also sells an ExpressCard version of the device (model GUWCE100). These IOGEAR Wireless USB cards transform any laptop into a Wireless USB enabled system - allowing you to communicate with other certified Wireless USB enabled devices. Features include:

• Transfer rates up to 480 Mbps
• Secure Wireless Connection
• Multi-path antenna design for better distance and performance
• Up to 10 meter (30 foot) distance
• Complies with Multi-band OFDM UWB 1.0 specification

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: IOGEAR, Wireless USB Cardbus Card, Wireless USB ExpressCard Card