usb

Listen up, incurable romantics of questionable taste. If you're looking for a geeky way to pop the question but can't afford a crystal-laden iPod Touch, a cheaper alternative may be near.

This "Swarovski Crystal Engagement Ring" is a concept for a USB flash drive designed to store photos, poems, credit card receipts, and other artifacts of your love, Gizmodiva says. These digital mementos are meant to be shared when the rings are joined in holy matrimony. And if this every makes it to production, it'll serve another purpose: Once presented with the gift, it would … Read more

Many Windows users are annoyed by the Autoplay feature. But Leo Notenboom recently explained why it is dangerous, rather than annoying.

Many of us, when we run across an unknown USB flash drive (a.k.a. thumb drive, pen drive, memory stick, etc.) will stick it in a computer to see what's on the thing. It's at this point that Autoplay can screw you big time.

Unlike with CDs, Autoplay on a USB flash drive will run a program immediately, no questions asked. Quoting Leo "USB Thumbdrives or flash drives are a non-obvious but easy way to … Read more

Some people might find its appearance a little tacky, but the aptly named USBee concept proposes more than just a bee-themed USB thumb drive. Beneath its eye-catching yellow-and-black exterior is a thoughtful design that addresses one of the most common problems with USB flash drives today: accidental breakage while still in the computer's USB port.

The USBee uses a clever combination of silicon and aluminum shell to create a bendable neck, according to Yanko Design. This not only prevents the flash drive from being ripped off, but it also protects the USB port from damage. What's also interesting … Read more

If you're working on those hoarding issues but still can't quite bear to go cold turkey without a USB storage key at all times, then maybe this is a compromise on the way to recovery.

Asus has created a mouse that doubles as a flash drive so you can maintain your pack-rat tendencies with no one being the wiser. The MS71 is a wireless mouse that has a detachable dongle that acts as a USB transmitter when it's not being used for the storage half of the equation, according to Everything USB.

As a mouse, it certainly … Read more

Some of us at Crave debated whether to post this item because of public-health responsibilities. We try not to encourage anything that might worsen the national epidemic of hoarding that apparently affects many of our readers (and some staffers).

So if you have any pack-rat inclinations, please proceed with caution as you read about this latest offering from Ultra. The "SpaceStation" is a hub about the size of a credit card that can dock six USB flash drives in capacities of 1GB or 2GB each.

It's good news for neatniks who need a way to organize their … Read more

In the insane world of USB gadgetry, it's often impossible to find anything useful. And this is probably no exception, but it's at least one example we wouldn't immediately throw out. Ever since college we've had a soft spot for neon signs, though we do have one minimum requirement: that they're legible, unlike the "Bar" sign included among a trio that includes the @ symbol and a smiley face seen on GeekAlerts. But we have to ask: Is it really necessary for this to have a USB connection, as opposed to a plain old … Read more

Excessively blinged USB thumb drives are so common that they've become passe, but this may be the first one we've seen from a German manufacturer. The defiantly named "Adamant" comes from a company called Golden Store, a limited-edition gold USB key accented with 3 diamonds and lapis lazuli deposits. There's even a solitary diamond in its lacquered box, according to BornRich. Sure, $5,650 is a lot to pay for a flash drive, but what other accessory would be appropriate to use with a $760,000 gold and diamond PC?

OK, we admit this is really stupid. But we're all about accessorizing here at Crave, and we know that there's no accounting for taste. So for those who are drawn to such items as the "Lips Phone" and the "KissPhone," we feel obligated to pass along this "USB Mini-Lips Speaker" from Hong Kong's Brando (of course) to complement the ensemble. The 2-watt speaker connects to anything with a 3.5-millimeter jack and is small enough to be worn around the neck as an ill-advised fashion statement. An unsolicited word of advice: … Read more

You'd think that the design for power strips and surge protectors would be pretty much played out, but Belkin has actually done some pretty interesting things with them in recent years: clamp-on models, ones that hide all of the wall warts, and even the forthcoming Conserve, an eco-friendly model that truly shuts off connected devices at the touch of a wireless remote.

The company is taking that spirit of innovation on the road with its latest power product: the Belkin Mini Surge Protector. The travel-friendly model packs three grounded three-prong power outlets and two powered USB ports into its … Read more