Transcend Launches 16GB JetFlash V85

Transcend Information, a manufacturer of flash memory products, has launched the 16GB JetFlash V85 in India. With its sleek and refined compact zinc-alloy body, the JetFlash V85 measures just 49.5mm long by 15.8mm wide and is 7.4mm thin. The JetFlash V85 has up to 16GB of storage space and comes bundled with Transcend's JetFlash elite software package.
 

 

Commenting on the launch, Austin Huang, regional head, sales, SAARC and APAC, Transcend, said, "USB flash drives have become ubiquitous today because of their ease of use, small size, reliability and cost-effectiveness. However, the users have an impending need for enhanced storage capacity as they like to carry around all their personal and office documents, music, images and videos for easy sharing and reliable accessibility. Transcend's new JetFlash V85 will cater to this requirement with its huge capacity of 16GB and classy look."

Shred Your Papers By USB Power

I think computer geeks just try to see what they can get to run off of USB, regardless of how pointless it is. Sure, a USB rocket launcher is pretty cool, provided you can build up your skills in aiming the darn thing (and your pets or co-workers don’t destroy your rockets), but the USB coffee warmer seems a bit extraneous to me – shouldn’t we be keeping potentially damaging liquids away from our computers?

Somewhere in between the useless and the cool lies the USB paper shredder, brought to my attention by DVICE. Powered by USB (or a battery backup), the paper-sized shredder can be conveniently found right by your computer, ready to destroy that document you just printed out and found four typos on. Of course, the small size means you can only shred a few pieces of paper before you have to empty the bin, so there is a downside.

I have a full size shredder near my desk, so I don’t know the usefulness of something like this for the home office, but in a small cubicle, where space is at a premium, or for the traveling computer (and shredder) user, this may be just what they’re looking for.

Sandisk and PNY unveil 32GB SDHC cards

Flash memory pioneers Sandisk and PNY have both shown off 32GB SDHC (secure digital high capacity) cards at the big photography show in Las Vegas.

While most people will understandably ask “what’s the point” with 1GB being enough to cater for all but the most compulsive photographers, it seems that growing use of digital cameras and camera-phones to record video images is viewed as the market for these kinds of capacities.

PNY has yet to offer its ones for sale, but Sandisk has priced its 32GB SDHC card, with a MicroMate USB 2.0 Reader thrown in, at $349.99. “Cameras also are increasingly used for recording video clips, which demand even more memory and capacity,” said Susan Park, senior product marketing manager for SanDisk Ultra II cards. “These mega-capacities in our SanDisk Ultra II line give users the worry-free ability to capture thousands of their memories and hours of HiDef video on a single card.”

It must be stressed, however, that SDHC cards are not necessarily compatible with all devices that have SD storage capability. Devices that do not specifically support SDHC will not recognise SDHC cards.

Certified wireless USB is a quantum leap in ease-of-use

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has adopted Certified Wireless USB as the wireless extension to USB. Using the WiMedia ultra wideband (UWB) protocol, Certified Wireless USB provides the same bandwidth as wired Hi-Speed USB. This bandwidth represents almost 500 times the throughput of other wireless standards, such as Bluetooth. Certified Wireless USB aims to bring to wireless products the simplicity, functionality, and intuitive user experience of wired USB. Products based on Certified Wireless USB technology are beginning to enter the market even now.

Wired USB is an extremely successful standard; literally billions of USB peripherals are manufactured worldwide. Unfortunately, this translates into billions of tangled wires. With Wireless USB, users can download pictures from a camera without digging out the memory card, upload songs to an MP3 player without a proprietary cable, and place a large printer where it's convenient rather than close enough for its cable to reach the computer.

Software tool puts USB interfaces on trial

USBTester enables USB developers to quickly validate their USB devices for USB functionality and compatibility.

The latest version of Jungo's popular software tool for testing USB interfaces now offers seamless integration with a range of hardware analysers including Ellisys USB Explorer 110 and 200 models.

 

Available from Direct Insight, USBTester enables USB developers to quickly validate their USB devices for USB functionality by connecting their USB device to a PC running the USBTester software and running USB test suites, checking for USB compatibility, Chapter 9 conformance, standard class driver functionality, performance and other relevant parameters in order to ensure a successful deployment.

USBTester allows users to run regression tests, functional tests, negative tests, stress tests and performance tests on the USB interface, thus reducing the cost of quality and increasing software quality and testing reliability, giving the ultimate confidence that the USB functionality is working, and making WHQL certification easy to achieve.
 

Secure USB flash courtesy of the US government

A FIRM CALLED Ironkey has entered the UK market through a channel deal with Simms International.

Originally funded by the US government, and if you can’t trust them who can you trust, the vendor makes what it claims is the most secure USB flash drive in the world.

In this crazy world of data leakage where ubiquitous flash has everyone in a tizzy about who’s carrying what info where, this gadget uses AES encryption, has duel channel SLC Nand flash, PKI and a crypto chip.

It’s even got a self destruct function which activates if it is being attacked or if you type in the wrong password ten times in a row. It’s got a file manager and firefox built in if you are the type that wants to surf privately. And it’s full of resin so it’s heavy and therefore feels expensive.

USB Hard Drive has 320 GB storage capacity.

Weighing less than 5 oz, pocket-sized My Passport(TM) Essential(TM) Portable USB Drive is bus-powered device that does not need any external power adapter. WD Sync(TM) software allows users to take desktop content with them by simplifying synchronization of files and MS Outlook® data on any PC, while Google(TM) software allows them to quickly locate files with Google Desktop Search(TM) search tool. Picasa(TM) photo organizer software helps manage photos.

Digitisers and DMM expand USB modules

The USB-4065 DMM offers 6.5 digits of resolution at up to 10 readings per second and up to 3000 readings per second at lower resolutions.

With +/-300V of isolation, current measurements up to 3A and two- or four-wire resistance measurements, the USB-4065 offers a complete multimeter solution for portable 6.5-digit measurement needs.

Each of these instruments includes its own soft front panel, which provides an interactive, familiar interface to get up and running quickly.

For data logging applications, engineers can easily combine the USB-5132/5133 digitisers or the USB-4065 6.5-digit DMM with LabView SignalExpress measurement software.

Together, this intuitive software and the bus-powered architecture of these new instruments are extending the ease of use and performance of portable measurements.

SanDisk 8GB Ultra II SDHC Memory Card With Built-In USB

I don’t have the 8-gigger, obviously, but I love the dual functionality of my 1GB SanDisk Ultra II SD card. You see, it looks like a regular SD card by day, but then you can actually bend it in half to reveal a flat USB connector. In this way, you can have the contents read just about anywhere with an available USB port. Not all computers have built-in SD card readers.

 

This is even more true when it comes to the SDHC format. Most people don’t have integrated readers in their laptops, so the new Ultra II SDHC card from SanDisk is an absolute godsend. Like its predecessors, it has a built-in USB connector, but unlike its predecessors, this one is loaded with a full eight gigabytes of storage capacity. This makes it an excellent solution for people with high-megapixel cameras or HD camcorders. Or how about the Asus Eee PC?

The SanDisk Ultra II 8GB SDHC memory card is set to launch next month with an asking price of $99.

Roll it out for the USB Roll-Up Drum Kit

Frankly, it's far more satisfying to whack a full-sized drum kit than a sliver of soft plastic that claims to reproduce the real thing. However, coming from Hong Kong e-tailer Brando, nothing is sacred in the tech space. So (drum roll, please), get ready for a rollout of the USB Roll-Up Drum Kit (US$42).

We're assuming that sensitivity on this is almost nil since it resembles a mouse mat far more than a working instrument. However, if you're aspiring to be a drummer on a budget, this could be a (temporary) solution. Otherwise, if all you really want is to feel like a rock superstar, we'd suggest getting the far more elegant and fun-filled Guitar Hero III game for the PC or any of the game consoles.

Serial to USB module takes top design award

The grand prize winner receives a US $1000 cash award, and SchmartBoard will manufacture and market a SchmartModule product with the winner's name on it.

SchmartBoard has named the winners of its second annual Schmartie Awards.

 

Schmartie Award participants, as a part of the SchmartDeveloper programme, posted electronic circuit designs with a bill of materials that included the correct SchmartBoards (prototype boards) to the company's "SchmartDeveloper" website.

The grand prize winner receives a US $1000 cash prize, and SchmartBoard will manufacture and market a SchmartModule product with the winner's name on it.

In addition, the winner will receive a commission on each of these product sold.

The grand prize went to Giannis Kedros of Thessaloniki, Greece for his serial to USB module.

The second prize was won by Charles Wenzel of Austin, Texas, USA, who wins a DSO8502 500MHz digital oscilloscope from Link Instruments for his low jitter quadrature clock.
 

Wireless USB controller meets UWB specs

Harnessing WiMedia UWB technology, the L800 interoperates with other wireless USB products at transfer speeds reaching up to 480Mbit/s.

LucidPort Technology's L800 wireless USB controller has been certified by the WiMedia Alliance to conform to the WiMedia ultrawideband specification.

 

The L800 is a general purpose device controller chip for adding wireless USB functionality to peripheral designs.

It supports all compliant packet sizes, burst sizes, transfer sizes, and number of endpoints.

It manages all the functions required by the WiMedia and Certified Wireless USB protocols, including beaconing, encryption, and association.

This makes the L800 ideal for use in printers, scanners, digital camcorders, media players, and other peripherals.

Harnessing WiMedia UWB technology, the L800 interoperates with other wireless USB products at transfer speeds reaching up to 480Mbit/s.

Kingston does mobile multi card reader

A 2GB Flash drive for reading mobile phone memory cards was launched by Kingston Technology at Mobile World in Barcelona.

It’s “all in one,” has a mouthful of a name being called the DataTraveler Micro Reader and reads microSD, microSDHC, or Memory Stick Micro (M2) cards.

“Digital content can now be enjoyed on the phone without the need for cables,” which is great and the 2GB version costs £14.30 ex vat or 1GB for under a tenner plus vat, which is cheap.

Kirsty Miller, European Flash Product Marketing Manager, Kingston Technology. “We believe the DT Micro Reader (they've shortened the name already!) will be well received by the mobile community as a smart single-solution to navigate the plethora of devices and card
formats on the market today.”

Great use of the word plethora.

Kingston introduces new USB drive with built-in card reader

Kingston Technology introduced its DataTraveler Micro Reader, which is an all-in-one USB flash drive and reader that can store, transfer and read content on mobile memory cards.

The DataTraveler Micro Reader is enhanced for Windows ReadyBoost, and features onboard Flash memory up to 4GB and an expansion slot to read microSD, microSDHC, or Memory Stick Micro (M2) cards.

The 1GB version is available at a MSRP of US$19.25 in the US.

Sierra Wireless debuts new USB modem and ExpressCard

Compass(TM)885 USB modem and AirCard(R) 885E ExpressCard deliver HSPA
    mobile broadband access and user-friendly features in more compact
    designs

    Mobile World Congress, BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 11 /CNW/ - Sierra Wireless
(NASDAQ: SWIR - TSX: SW) has added two new products to its lineup of HSPA
mobile broadband modems. The AirCard(R) 885E ExpressCard and the Compass(TM)
885 USB modem are small, full-featured, and offer the latest high-speed mobile
broadband technology for use worldwide. Both products are on display for the
first time this week in the Sierra Wireless pavilion (AV99) at Mobile World
Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
    The Sierra Wireless Compass(TM) 885 tri-band USB modem for HSPA networks
packs more features in a smaller volume than any current counterpart. Designed
to offer a flawless user experience, the Compass 885 USB modem includes
TRU-Install(TM) software installation to simplify setup, a microSD memory card
slot to expand its functionality, and a laptop clip accessory to provide
flexibility in use. Compatible with mobile broadband networks worldwide, the
Compass 885 USB modem is the only product in its class to include a connector
for an external antenna, allowing users in remote areas or fringe network
coverage to extend and strengthen their connection to the network.
    With a more compact ExpressCard design, the AirCard 885E is an ideal
wireless modem for people who regularly travel with a notebook computer that
includes an ExpressCard slot. Its durable, fixed antenna design with no moving
parts offers a reliable wireless connection, and with TRU-Install software
installation, customers are up and running quickly with no need for an
installation CD.