The Gadget Blog » USB

Easily the Cheapest Techie Item Ever

Rico Mossesgeld — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:30:05 +0000

Geekiness is quite an expensive passion, but not all gadgets and accompanying accessories require a serious look at finances before purchase. You’ve got the cheap stuff, and you have the really cheap stuff. Case in point: cables.

Whether you need an HDMI cable to hook up that player to your HDTV, or a way to make full use of your computer’s USB port, the general rule when it comes to cables is to take the time and look for the cheapest alternative. For what is a cable, but a bunch of wires providing the bridge between standard ports? Standard means mainstream, mainstream usually means mass-produced, and mass-produced usually means razor-thin margins and really low prices.

That’s why stories like a Radio Shack salesman trying to sell a $24 cable depress me. I do understand salesmen are under a lot of pressure to make as much money as possible for their employers, but what about unsuspecting buyers who eagerly pay that much for a mini USB cable that was eventually bought for $1.05 at a nearby store?

Granted, there are times when it’s worth paying good money, like for really long HDMI cables, because you are paying to retain signal strength over a significant length. And of course, some of those cheap cables are faulty, especially if they come from no-name manufacturers (literally) looking for a quick buck. But be warned, dear readers! Before buying that cable, take the time to shop around for cheaper alternatives—just like you would for any other geek-related item.

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DIY USB Fan

Rico Mossesgeld — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:39:36 +0000

This is an old hack/mod, but it works pretty well. Here’s what you need:

An old desktop case fan
1 USB cable
A piece of stiff wire
Some electrical tape
A pair of pliers
Cutter

Here are the steps to take:

Cut of one end of the USB cable, and unsheathe the main cord it to reveal a red and black wires. These two wires pull power from a computer’s USB port.
The next step is really simple: Strip the red and black wires of the USB and the old desktop fan, then twist them together. Red to red and black to black of course
Get some electrical tape, and wrap the red wire connection with it twice. Continuing the roll, wrap twice around the red wire and black wire. This will keep the red wire from touching the black wire.
Bend the stiff wire to form a “U” and insert the “legs” through one set of the desktop fan’s screw holes. The legs should thread towards the side where the fan blows the air.
Bend the stiff wire so that you can insert both legs into the other set of screw holes, threading the wire towards the opposite side.
Cut off any slack stiff wire, leaving around half-an-inch.
Place the desktop fan on a hard flat surface, with the U on top. Push down hard on the fan frame to “finalize” the stiff wire bends.
Use pliers to bend the slack stiff wire, and hammer it into the frame to make it as flush as possible.
And voila! There you have it! A video of the entire procedure is available here.

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USB EyeCandy Is for Sticking into Your Mouth

Rico Mossesgeld — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:30:27 +0000

Now here’s something that’s hard to understand. Basically, you stick the USB EyeCandy into your mouth, on top of your tongue, and you’re supposed to “see” images in your mind, based on the info the gadget somehow transmits to your taste buds.

Some weird relaxation technique? A new experience that’s worth paying an undetermined sum for? Also, what’s the proper of cleaning this baby up, if it’s to be shared among multiple tongues? (likecool.com)

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Belkin USB Charger

Sean R. — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:33:17 +0000

Belkin’s latest power-strip adds a very smart feature for travelers: USB ports.

The strip has a couple of charge-only sockets along with the three-way mains AC extenders and even comes with a mini-USB cable, obviating the need to carry chargers for most gadgets.

The $25.00 USD box also squeezes in a surge-protector for those untrustworthy hotel power outlets.

Source: PlanetSean.com

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