usb

Netflix chief: HBO Go is rival 'we fear most'

NEW YORK--Lots of people watch HBO. Not everyone watches it the way Reed Hastings does.

Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Netflix, sees growing competition between his company and HBO, a darling of the cable world and, with its HBO Go service and attendant mobile app, a rising star in online video.

"The competitor we fear the most is HBO Go," Hastings said today at the UBS Media conference here. "They aren't competing directly with us now, but they can. HBO is becoming much more Netflix-like, and we're becoming much more HBO-like."

Netflix is in … Read more

Intel 'Ivy Bridge' chip lineup outed--report

Intel's imminent Ivy Bridge processor lineup has been revealed in all of its model-number glory.

CPU World has posted the specifications and model numbers for all to see (see chart below).

Ivy Bridge, for the uninitiated, is Intel's next-generation processor technology that will feature improved graphics silicon, built-in support for USB 3.0, and Intel's 3D transistor technology, among others goodies.

Here's what CPU World says about the new chips due to be announced in the CES 2012 timeframe: "The third generation Core i7 processors will integrate 4 CPU cores, 8 MB L3 cache and … Read more

Get an 8GB Kingston flash drive for $7.95

The weekend before last, I happened to spy an 8GB SanDisk Cruzer Edge flash drive on sale for just $4.99 at Best Buy. It was sold out online, but the inventory checker showed it to be in stock at my local store. I called first, and, sure enough, they had some. I asked them to hold three, and a couple hours later walked out with three 8GB flash drives for 15 bucks (plus tax). That was a really, really good day.

This deal isn't quite that spectacular, but it's close--and there's no sales tax involved (unless … Read more

Android 4.0 supports mass storage, Galaxy Nexus does not

An Android engineer took to Reddit last week to address concerns spurred by the discovery that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus did not offer USB mass storage (UMS). As it turns out, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich does support the feature, but the device itself does not.

According to Google's Dan Morrill, UMS is available at a platform level, just so long as the hardware allows for removable storage cards.

UMS is a protocol that makes USB devices accessible to a host device (Android phone or tablet) to allow file transfers between the two. In other words, when enabled, it is easy to drag and drop files between a host device and a USB device, much as between drives on a computer.

For many smartphone owners the issue of UMS isn't much of an issue at all. Most new Android users probably aren't even aware of the option to sync files across other devices, but seasoned users have come to depend on the feature.

So if UMS is not available for the Galaxy Nexus, then what will all of these Android enthusiasts and early adopters do for file transfer?

Given that a vast majority of Android's user base runs Windows desktops and laptops, Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) will work quite nicely for music, photos, videos. Meanwhile, Mac users can download and install Android File Transfer, and the Linux community has PTP protocol. Although none of these might be as appealing as UMS, Morrill is optimistic that better options will soon appear.

Considering that the number of Android devices without removable storage is rather small, this entire argument could be a nonstarter. The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is only the second major handset released without a microSD expansion slot, with the first being the Nexus S. … Read more

USB locket: Geek chic done right

The holidays are fast approaching, and if you're searching for something shiny to give to your tech-loving lady, the USB locket necklace just might be the answer.

Industrial designer Emily Rothschild has given the classic keepsake a high-tech makeover by incorporating a flash drive. Now, instead of being limited to one or two photographs, you can fill up an entire 2GB flash drive with memories that your loved one can carry around her neck. … Read more

'Cotton Candy'--Android computer on a stick

At last--a sweet stick of Cotton Candy that won't rot your teeth. Instead, it aims to put an Android-based computer on just about any screen you can find.

Norwegian company FXI Technologies calls it "the world's first any-screen, connected-computing USB device," code-named Cotton Candy. The tiny system is basically a USB thumbdrive with an HDMI output on the other end and a microSD slot added to complete the package. According to a release from FXI:

The vision for Cotton Candy is to allow users a single, secure point of access to all personal Cloud services and apps through their favorite operating system, while delivering a consistent experience on any screen. The device will serve as a companion to smartphones, tablets, notebook PCs, and Macs, as well as add smart capabilities to existing displays, TVs, set-top boxes, and game consoles.

The Cotton Candy prototype's specs aren't too shabby, either--especially for a system the size of a pack of gum:… Read more

Sprint unveils low-cost mobile broadband plans

Sprint Nextel introduced several lower cost mobile broadband plans today in an effort to push data services beyond the smartphone.

The company offers four new data plans to power tablets, mobile hot spot cards, USB cards, and connected laptops or Netbooks. The prices range between $19.99 and $79.99. The new plans don't affect Sprint's smartphone data offer, which remains unlimited.

While much of the attention has been on smartphone data plans, the wireless carriers are also seeing growth from so-called connected devices. By bringing down the prices of its monthly plans, Sprint is hoping more consumers … Read more

A different kind of analog-digital hi-fi system

Playing LPs usually requires a complete hi-fi system, but Music Hall's slick USB-1 turntable and AktiMate Mini speakers make beautiful music together.

I associate desktop speakers with computers and iPods, so when Ken, one of my audiophile pals, raved about this slick little Music Hall system, he had my full attention. It's just a pair of desktop speakers and a turntable--there's your system. The little rig dispenses with the usual receiver or preamplifier required to play LPs; you just hook up the USB-1 turntable via its stereo analog outputs directly to the AktiMate Mini speakers, and you'll be grooving to your tunes. You can also dock your iPod to the AktiMate Mini, and digitally dig your music.… Read more

Charge two iPads at once with Qmadix Twin Tablet Charger 4.2

To many of you, one USB car charger is just as good as the next, but if you've ever tried to plug your shiny new iPad or massive screened smartphone into a cheapy charger, odds are you quickly learned how wrong you were.

Not all powered USB ports are created equally. Most USB car chargers output about 0.5A of charging power, which is a massive jump over the original "low load" USB standard of just 0.1A. However, tablets require a bit more juice still than these powered ports can supply. In the case of the … Read more