Western Digital My Book Studio Edition II hits 4TB

Western Digital has released its latest My Book Studio Edition II that will now come with 4TB worth of data, double from the previous version which had just 2TB capacity. This new My Book Studio Edition II dual drive storage system was specially built to play nice with Mac computers, bringing together a balance of high performance as well as power conservation. It works great with the Apple Time Machine automatic backup feature is specially formatted for Mac computers, targeting creative professionals, workgroups, small offices and folks looking for superior speed in data transfer courtesy of its dual-drive RAID 0 configuration and high-speed interfaces. Regardless of any system you use, the My Book Studio Edition II is able to hook up thanks to the four interfaces it offers - eSATA and FireWire 800 for maximum performance as well as FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 for maximum flexibility.

Not only that, since hard drives tend to sip up a pretty amount of juice off the grid, Western Digital has made sure that their My Book Studio Edition II will play nice with Mother Nature, featuring an eco-friendly system that complements WD GreenPower Technology for power savings and cool and quiet operation. According to Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD’s branded products group, “The new My Book Studio Edition II is the best choice for creative professionals who require massive capacity and extra-fast performance,” said . “With 4 terabytes of capacity, photographers, graphic artists, videographers, and home video enthusiasts alike will have the space they need to store hours of high definition videos as well as the performance they need for demanding video editing applications.”

Those who are interested in upgrading their backup storage solution can look to the My Book Studio Edition II dual-drive storage system that will retail for $649.99 a pop.


Source

Logitech V220 Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks

Logitech is an old hand when it comes to computer peripherals, and this time round they’ve released yet another model for those who do plenty of traveling and yet want something that isn’t too serious - the Logitech V220 Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks. This new notebook mouse will come in a variety of limited-edition patterns and colors, and is based off the design of the company’s most popular mouse. Color, comfort and convenience are rolled into a single device, where you can pick it up for $29.99 a pop.

Source

Kensington releases new notebook lock

Kensington has dealt with notebook and desktop accessories for quite some time to date, and their expertise in this department is not to be underestimated, otherwise they would’ve pulled out from such a market a long time ago as the customer is certainly always discerning. Well, this time round Kensington will aim to help you secure your precious new notebook wherever you go, not by arming it with some sort of magical electrical force field that will only deactivate at your command, but a more simple solution that is pretty much secure in its own right - the Kensington MicroSaver DS Keyed Ultra-Thin Notebook Lock. Boasting a modern design that functions to safeguard while providing a physical deterrent against theft of valuable business equipment and the sensitive data stored within them, the new MicroSaver DS Keyed Ultra-Thin Notebook Lock will come in a ground-breaking ultra thin design without sacrificing on performance and reliability.

This notebook lock is special as it can secure even the thinnest notebook around, so all you MacBook Air users as well as the new MSI X-Slim series will be pleased to note that this $49.99 anti-theft device will also handle those notebooks perfectly. Some of the features and specifications available include :-

* Advanced disk style keyed locking mechanism - the most secure available Revolutionary slim design, ideal for Ultra-thin notebooks
* A rotating head and pivoting cable allow you to easily connect to your notebook and position the lock
* Attaches to most notebooks via the Kensington Security Slot found in 99% of notebooks
* Patented T-bar locking mechanism provides superior strength and theft protection
* Super-strong carbon steel cable provides greater security in a 10%-thinner design
* 5-ft carbon tempered steel cable
* Includes two keys
* Rubber tie for cable cord management and portability

You can place your pre-order for the Kensington MicroSaver DS Keyed Ultra-Thin Notebook Lock from Amazon.com and Kensington.com, where it will ship at the end of the month to other major retailers.


Source

The Car and Wall USB Power Charger

This is a small gadget that would definitely come in handy. It’d be one of those things that makes traveling or even your day to day life a bit more simple. It can charge all of your USB gadgets and it does so in a versatile manner. Making it so you are unlikely to ever be somewhere that you can’t charge it up. Just plug it into your car and you can charge up your iPhone or iPod while you’re on the go.

It also can be plugged into the wall as well, so if you’re not able to get access to a computer someplace that has an outlet, you’ll still be able to get charged up. It doesn’t require a three prong outlet either, so if you’re visiting family that lives in a house where three prong outlets are scarce, this would be great to have handy. There is also a status LED light that lets you know that the outlet is providing the power you need to charge your gadget. You can purchase the Car + Wall Plug USB Power Charger for $12 from USB Geek.

Source

The PC Mouse Ladybird

Although this isn’t likely to appeal to the average geek, it might appeal to the very girly female and especially to young females. This cute ladybug works as a mouse and gives your computer a less boring look. After all, so often computer feature nothing but blacks and grays, which is fine, but it does get a touch monotonous. It also doesn’t have quite the cartoon-like look that the other ladybug mouse I’ve seen had. Since it’s not so cartoonish, it makes it a better prospect for women who enjoy anything with a ladybug theme.

It’s a mouse, so the specs are pretty basic, it’s thankfully an optical mouse. I have on occasion come across a novelty mouse that wasn’t optical. It connects through your USB port and since it is just a mouse it will of course work with either a PC or a Mac. It’d be a great mouse to take to work if you can get away with it. Just to add a little more color to your office environment. The mouse is being sold through Lazy Bone UK and not at a bad price either. You can purchase it for $28.95.


Source

The Memory Pill USB Drive

memory-pill

This is one of those drives that you wouldn’t expect it to be a USB drive concealed within. It looks more like something someone would stash a little Tylenol within. Instead it’s a small USB drive that allows for you to store random files inside. It’d be a humorous keychain for nurses and various medical workers to carry around. Of course it won’t discriminate if you’re not within the medical field, it’ll still safely store your files just the same. Plus it can be attached to your keys as a keychain.

Once again this is another one that the keychain part is attached to the cap. Which makes me a little concerned that it would stop clinging to the lid so well and the drive itself, with all of your data, would be dropped and lost. The serious down side of the drive is that it’s only a 64MB drive. That still leaves room for 40 photos though or 30 minutes of MP3s. Still, it’s not exactly a decently sized drive. The drive will cost you £10.95 or about $18 from GiftLab.


Source

The Mouser is sure to turn heads

mouser-mouse-1_twys7_54

As common as a computer mouse is, there are few that could ever be considered artistic. Some are shiny with LED lights or small crystals, yet they have a certain mass produced look to them. This mouse designed by Andrey Chirkov is one of the few I would call artistic. Surprisingly it’s not steampunk either, that usually is the only way gadgets get a little bit of a creative twist to them. Instead this has a minimalist modern look, while still being pretty.

The down side of such a mouse is that I’d be petrified I would break it, since it does have a flimsy look. You’d almost rather put it on display than mess it up by using it on a daily basis. As of now it’s still a design though, so you won’t be able to purchase it. However, with a look like this I’m sure those with plenty of money to burn will be dying to get their hands on it. Wealthy investors means that this might actually be created for purchase. Even if that does happen though, the general public won’t likely ever see anything like this at their local store.

Source

Kingston releases SSDNow V Series solid-state drive upgrade bundles

Kingston is no stranger when it comes to memory products, and you name it, they’ve got it. Anything from SD to miniSD and its smallest variant, the microSD alongside their High Capacity counterparts are available, and if you’re one who prefers to tote around USB flash drives, feel free to do so with Kingston’s wide range of said merchandise. Let’s not forget memory for computers, too, as Kingston has had some fair bit of success in this arena to date. What we are here to look at today would be their latest upgrade bundles of the Kingston SSDNow V Series solid-state drive (SSD).

These upgrade bundles will specifically target mass-market consumers as well as small and medium businesses, where it will come in two different configurations - 64GB and double that amount, at 128GB. Both products are the first in a new series of low-cost, value-driven SSD solutions that aim to help existing desktop and notebook owners gain an increase in performance. According to Ariel Perez, SSD business manager, Kingston, “The SSDNow V Series upgrade bundles are a terrific solution — given the current economy — for cost-conscious consumers who want an instant performance increase on an existing computer at a very reasonable price point. “We are trying to garner mass-market adoption of SSDs by bundling together all of the software, hardware and step-by-step instructions in a couple of low-cost options aimed squarely at everyday users. The V Series upgrade bundles are a perfect complement to our existing line of SSDNow products that target enterprise customers and prosumers.”

Each of the SSDNow V Series upgrade bundle kit will come with the following :-

* Kingston SSDNow V Series solid-state drive
* Acronis True Image cloning software and CD installation guide
* 3.5″ mounting brackets and hardware (desktop bundle only)
* SATA data and power cable extenders (desktop bundle only)
* 2.5″ USB SATA external enclosure (notebook bundle only)


Source

Kingston rolls out HyperX Fan

Kingston does not only offer memory products for your computers, notebooks and mobile devices, they also include accessories to keep those said products running at optimal level by being cool. Cool as in the temperature, and not according to what society deems as “in” at this moment in time. Their latest offering? The HyperX Fan that was specially designed to keep Kingston HyperX memory running cool.

The HyperX Fan is made of anodized aluminum and in the same familiar blue color as the HyperX heatspreaders. When turned on, the fan blades are illuminated by eight small blue LEDs. Power use is minimal and noise is not an issue as the fan runs at a whisper-quiet 25 dBA*. The fan is available as a standalone or bundled with Kingston’s 6GB 2000- and 1800MHz triple-channel memory kits with the T1 heatspreaders for Intel Core i7 systems.

Each purchase of the HyperX fan will come with a one-year warranty and free round the clock technical support. It will cost you $23 a pop, but you can get it in a bundle of memory included as well.

Source

Windows 7 arriving October 22nd

Microsoft has recently confirmed that they will be offering Windows 7 worldwide this October 22nd, which is pretty near, hence cutting short the life of the ill-fated Windows Vista operating system. Dell has stepped up to the challenge by allowing users to purchase Windows 7 factory installed on your favorite Dell configuration. This is the fruit of having worked with Microsoft over the past three years in order to come up with the best computing solutions possible, which means most of new Dell computers will have a Windows 7 option come this October.

Microsoft also confirmed that as with previous Windows launches, they are partnering with PC manufacturers like Dell to offer the Windows 7 Upgrade Option program. Later this summer, if you purchase select systems through retail or directly from Dell you may order a Windows 7 upgrade kit. It’s important to note that the Windows 7 upgrade kits will not be shipped until AFTER Windows 7 has officially launched (Oct. 22 as noted above). Once the Windows 7 Upgrade Option program is officially announced more details will be available including supported PCs, languages and countries.

Does this piece of news help you hold off your new computer purchase for at least a few more months, or you are fine with Vista running in your life?


Source

Dell unleashes power of Alienware M17x

It is nice to know that ever since Dell bought over extreme gaming brand Alienware, they haven’t really affected the company’s performance in any way. Dell still churns out reliable (for most people, anyways - there are always horror stories to tell of any brand in this world) notebooks and desktops for millions of people around the world each day, and Alienware sticks to what it does best - working on drool-worthy gaming machines that cost a bomb, and yet people won’t mind forking out good money for it due to the overall aesthetics as well as performance that come in a single package. Having said that, Alienware has rolled out yet another masterpiece today - the Alienware M17x gaming notebook that is set to blow your mind away.

While the M17x isn’t exactly the best kept secret in the world, it is nice to get an official announcement, where Dell has touted it to be the “most powerful laptop in the universe.” That’s surely stating their faith that advanced alien civilizations out there don’t exist - but that’s a different can of worms for another day. What can you expect from a thoroughbred like the Alienware M17x? For starters, check out what a fully pimped out model can offer.

* Dual 1GB nVidia GeForce GTX 280M GPUs
* An Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad-Core CPU
* 8GB of 1333MHz DDR3 RAM
* A 1TB 7200-rpm (Raid 1 or Raid 0) or a 512MB of solid-state storage capacity
* A slot-loading dual-layer Blu-ray Disc Drive
* A nine-cell battery
* An nVidia GeForce 9400M G GPU with HybridPower technology
* 802.11n (2×2) Wi-Fi connectivity
* A 1920-by-1200-resolution edge-to-edge LCD Display

2GB of total video memory just blows our minds away. We’re guessing that this means the era of notebooks being viable gaming platforms is coming, although bringing down the price by a bunch would go a long way in helping that dream get realized. One thing’s for sure – we’d strongly recommend you sit right next to a power outlet if you plan to use this for more than a couple hours of hardcore gaming.


Source

The Gold Bar USB Drive

For some, expensive tastes just come naturally, unfortunately the money to supply those tastes doesn’t always come so easily. Well if you’ve always wanted just one shiny new gold bar, you can show your appreciation for it with this USB drive. It’s not quite as snazzy as having the real thing lying around, but at least it’s better than nothing. It’d also make for a humorous USB drive for a banker to have handy.

The Gold Bar USB Drive has all of 4GB of memory. To hold to that gold bar look, they made it so that the USB drive actually retracts within the gold bar. That also means this is one of the good drives that makes it so that you never have to worry about losing the cap to the USB drive. It’s not made of real gold, which I would think is fairly obvious. Instead it’s built with metal housing surrounding it to keep your data safe and at hand. You can purchase it for $27 through USB Geek.

Source

Samsung netbooks to leverage SRS TruSurround XT and SRS WOW XT

Samsung looks set to up the ante when it comes to audio quality in their N120 and N310 netbooks by offering SRS TruSurround XT technology that ultimately churns out surround sound over a couple of speakers, while SRS WOW XT will make room for improved stereo imaging and bass response. The former is a solution that processes multichannel content to create compelling and immersive surround sound over a netbook’s two stereo speakers or headphones. Users who are sensitive to audio quality will also be able to notice improved audio clarity and low frequency response that offers deep, rich bass. In addition, dialog quality has been improved, allowing room for the spoken word to be lifted above the chaos of sound effects and background music, making it clear and distinct in its own right. Sounds like just the thing for folks who love to watch movies on their netbooks.

As for SRS WOW XT, this technology was specially designed to improve the quality of mono and stereo audio playback on virtually any mobile device by delivering powerfully rich bass for games and music over closely spaced speakers for stereo separation. When you pair that up with a good set of headphones, SRS WOW XT will offer a superior immersive listening experience compared to what you normally get with the same pair of headphones sans SRS WOW XT. It would be interesting to see just how many people will make their purchase decision on both the N120 and N310 based on the inclusion of these audio technologies, since most folks would get either more for their portability first instead of multimedia ability.

According to Kyu Uhm Eom, PC Division Marketing Vice President of Samsung Electronics, “SRS is a fantastic technology provider and has been an instrumental partner of ours for many years; we are thrilled to expand our deployment of SRS’s fine audio solutions further in our PC line-up, providing our netbook computers with superior audio enhancement technology. “With the integration of SRS audio solutions, we are more than confident that our netbook PCs will continue our tradition of offering class-leading performance, allowing our consumers to truly enjoy a no-compromise, remarkable audio experience for all their multimedia applications.”

Source

Devil Mummy USB Flash Drive

Most people have their own personal version of what a mummy should look like. Some go for the cartoon look and others prefer something a little more terrifying that might be seen in some classic black and white horror movie. Either way though, I can’t imagine many people picture a devil mummy, but now you can own one. Well you can own a USB drive that is shaped like a devil mummy at the very least.

This USB drive is probably going to confuse most people and I can’t imagine those horns are too secure, but at least it’s different. This is just proof yet again that if you can think it up, it’s probably sold somewhere in flash drive form. This comes in a total of three different sizes, 2GB, 4GB and finally 8GB. The 2GB will cost you $16.99, the 4GB $25.99 and the 8GB $40.99. You’ll find this odd USB drive on Gizfever.

Source

Verizon Wireless offers HP Mini 1151NR

Do you happen to have a traveling lifestyle that requires you to bring your work with your on a notebook wherever you go? If you answered in the affirmative, chances are you would have or already have considered a netbook, being lightweight and yet boasting more than enough processing firepower to get your work up to speed. Another important detail not to miss out on is Internet connectivity - why subject yourself to the mercies of a Wi-Fi hotspot’s availability when you can use the built-in 3G connection? This is exactly what Verizon Wireless is offering with their new HP Mini 1151NR that was out yesterday, retailing for just $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate and new two-year activation on a Mobile Broadband plan. Monthly plans begin from $39.99 onwards, turning your HP Mini 1151NR into a workhorse in over 175 destinations, where more than 45 of those destinations offer 3G speeds.

Source

The USB Hub with a built-in flashlight

I keep going through all the dozens of reasons that this could be useful, but then I end up canceling them out for one reason or another. I thought it might be great to sit at your computer and then the flashlight would be useful for when you’re playing with cords at the back of your computer. However, I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t feel my way around it to figure things out. I’m sure that someone could find a use for this flashlight meets USB hub though.

If you are female and for some reason like to carry around a hub with you, then you’d always have a flashlight handy for various tasks. The hub conveniently tucks into the hub itself when it’s not in use. You can hold it as either a flashlight, or it flips open to be used as a reading light. The LED light is rechargeable, so it doesn’t have to be plugged in to work. The hub itself has a total of 3 USB ports. You can purchase it for $14 from Gadget4all.

Source

WWF USB flash drives for sale

Active Media Products (AMP) has come to a licensing agreement with World Wildlife Fund (WWF), where the former will develop and sell a series of portable USB flash drives which will resemble the many endangered species on our earth. Each purchase will see 5% of the retail price of this product line enter the WWF’s coffers so that they can continue in their work. A no-brainer candidate would be the giant panda USB flash drive, although this is diminutive in size at just 2.5″ long. Made of PVC-free non-toxic silicone, this lead- and mercury-free drive will come in 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB capacities, where the most spacious model is tagged with an extremely affordable price point of $25.

Source

NZXT Cryo S notebook cooler

Are you running some high powered notebook that seems to burn your family jewels each time you try to make it live out the laptop calling? Well, NZXT empathizes with you by releasing the Cryo S notebook cooler that works with notebooks of up to 15″ in size, removing heat from the fan vents in addition to keeping the entire notebook case’s temperature low overall. It comes with a couple of adjustable 120mm fans for powerful cooling, while the rubber finish will help raise the notebook when in use for heat pockets to be removed. Constructed from a thick, brushed aluminum body, this notebook cooler won’t shortchange your notebook in the looks department even in public, making this $49.99 purchase extremely enticing.

Source

The Heart Handbag Necklace USB Drive

Mother’s Day usually means tons of very cheesy and fairly cheap jewelry. Well if you are going to pick up some cheesy jewelry, it might as well be useful too. This heart necklace is probably more something a young kid would think their Mom would love, but sometimes moms still love this stuff. It comes covered in crystals, so there’s no doubt that it will be eye catching. Then it also hides away a USB drive.

Thankfully with this there are no worries of losing the cap to it. The drive just slides away to be hidden within the heart. It’s actually a handbag shaped heart pendant. The drive itself is only 2GB, which isn’t anything stellar, but it works. It also won’t break the bank to pick it up either. You can pick it up from Gadget4all in either pink or white for $23. You should probably get rush shipping though since Mother’s Day is right around the corner.

Source

The Dexim DWP005 Hub Dock Station

Instead of just plugging your usual iPod cord into your computer, there is now this Dexim DWP005. In some ways it initally looks like it’d just take up space. However, it’s slim, it’d keep your iPhone/iPod in the upright position, plus best of all it has other devices built into it. Giving you even more functions and a nice sleek dock to pop your iPod into. Since it is so sleek, you have the added perk of it being easy to just toss into your laptop bag for traveling purposes.

In addition to being a charger, it has a memory card reader and a 3-port USB hub built-in. Plus it has provided cables that work for devices that use micro and mini USB ports to recharge, such as the Blackberry. All around it gives quite a lot of function on a very small device. Sadly though, it is a bit pricey. It’ll cost you $69.99, which does seem a bit on the steep side. However, it offers quite a bit of functionality for that price.

Source