USB Media Remote

The remote control may be humanity's most perfect invention, granting you control over the audio/visual powers of your universe and making you like unto a god. Or at least someone who doesn't have to leave the couch every time you want to change a channel, fast forward through a commercial, or adjust the volume.

For you Media PC types out there, the power to control remotely might be lacking – or so USB Geek would have us believe: their USB Media Remote is a $30.00 product designed for the Windows-running, media-loving laptop users out there. The remote works through some sort of wireless receiver that connect to your computer through a USB port, and works from up to 30 feet away. The pictures on the site are too small to read the remote, but it appears to do all of the standard DVD functions, plus volume control and forward and back keys for PowerPoint presentations.

As a loss-prevention measure, USB Geek built the remote and the receiver into a carrying frame that fits into any PCMCIA slot. The product page mentions that the remote sticks out a little bit from the slot (aren't those things spring-loaded anyway?), but if this picture is any sort of representation, we'd have to figure more than a few snags would occur.

Cowon D2TV

Portable Media Players are making quite a splash these days on the market, and it seems like the best ones these days are based on video playback.

A company called Cowon has recently released the D2TV, a PMP that has enough memory for 9 hours of 1Seg mobile TV. Or if it is audio you’re looking to play, you can do about 45 hours. As far as battery power is concerned, you can do about 7.5 hours.

There are two models available. The D2-2G is a 2GB model available in white and costs about $220. The D2-8G is in glossy black, and costs about $310.

Unfortunately, these models are only available in Japan. This is quite typical of technology that usually hits Asia before it comes to us.

Okay, I’m going to open up the floor. Does anyone know what the best video PMP is out there? I suppose some people could say the iPod, but the screen may be too small. This D2TV has a 2.5 inch color touchscreen, but maybe that’s not good enough for you.

Still, you have to ask yourself at what point does the PMP get too large to be a PMP? Right now, the Cowon D2TV does not look like it will fit into your pocket.

13-port USB Hub keeps everything connected

Synchrotech has been notifying everyone in the blogsphere that it is now carrying the latest 13-port USB hub. The hub runs in self-powered hub, obviously, given all the burden it has to carry. We found five USB ports on two sides and rest on the remaining sides. Each port is able to pump a full 500mA current, thanks to the AC adapter with a generous 4 amps. of capacity.

We don't really recommend hooking up all your mission critical devices to hub as the hub transceiver could be working at max. capacity even with only half of those ports occupied. Anyhow, if you feel like you need more for your USB slippers, greenhouse, heatpad, batteries and etc, the Synchrotech 13-port hub is a worthy investment afterall, and Frank would definitely agree with you on this one.
Source everythingusb.com