With so many connection standards available to the computer user these days, it goes without saying that sooner or later you’ll run into compatibility problems, trying to let one device talk to another without some sort of middleman involved. Brando has your data transfer interests at heart with the USB + eSATA to SATA adapter that enables one to connect virtually any SATA device to your computer via the USB/eSATA port. Perfect for cloning, data transfer or backup purposes. This USB + eSATA to SATA adapter is compatible with all SATA devices, ranging from DVDs to 2.5″ and 3.5″ hard drives. You can place your pre-order for $33 today, and shipping will commence in October.

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A little while back there was the USB stick that came in packaging resembling a mixed tape.  However, all it really was, was a bit of fancy packaging and not much else.  Well this new USB drive resembles a mixed tape all the time.  Instead of just getting sent to you in packaging that looks like it, then once out of it just looks like a boring USB drive.  This one not only comes in the shape of a tape, but it comes decked out in fun stickers too.  Luckily they allow you to choose the stickers and just include them when they ship it out.

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Let’s face the fact - most USB flash drives aren’t exactly…flashy in terms of design, coming in the usual and boring rectangular form factor. With the USB Mixa Tape, things are very different.

Flash drives abound nowadays, but in a grey digital age it’s important to be able to tart up our tech and have a little fun. This 1 Gig flash drive may seem to be an anachronism, but its neat flip-out USB port and oodles of space make it the perfect little portable filing cabinet. Fill it with hundreds of your favourite tracks, piles and piles of your top photos, or slightly more dull but no less useful, all your important documents (Government Departments please don’t fill this with all our personal records and leave it on a train). The cassette comes with a sheet of graffiti style stickers so you can pimp up your tape, and of course it comes in a traditional style cassette tape box. It’s the ultimate in nostalgic data storage and transfer that even a computer luddite can get their head round.

The USB Mixa Tape can be yours for £19.99. Of course, at that price one can probably get a much higher capacity USB flash drive, but you won’t have that geek factor to flaunt.

A couple of years ago someone decided to do a quick DIY project and turn a decapitated teddy into a USB drive.  Well now some manufacturer has decided to release something very similar to the general public.  This looks even more morbid than the koala and monkey USB card readers that have been making the rounds through all kinds of tech blogs.  Which makes this teddy bear my new favorite headless gadget.

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Remember the Koala USB Card Reader?  Well here’s another animal card reader that in order to use it, you snatch off the poor little guy’s head.   This one is of course cooler, because monkeys are always cooler than koalas.  It’s a rule or something, monkeys just have more geek appeal.  Plus to add to the geek appeal there is the morbid extra of ripping off it’s head every time you use it.

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Lexar has increased the capacity of its JumpDrive FireFly USB flash drive to a massive 16GB, making it easier and more convenient than ever before to tote around a plethora of files on your travels. It works with both PCs and Macs and will be available in four different colors for a purpose - these colors differentiate between the memory capacities.

The new hot red-colored 16GB JumpDrive FireFly drive joins its brethren as a high-capacity portable storage solution. The ultra-small, ultra-portable JumpDrive FireFly drive is outfitted with an easily accessible keychain hole, making it easy to tether onto a key ring, attach to a backpack, or hook to a purse or briefcase. In addition to its attractive design, the JumpDrive FireFly drive features a protective cap for security and a distinctive blue LED tail that blinks during data transfer, letting users know when a transfer job is complete. As a special bonus for Windows-based road warriors, the JumpDrive FireFly drive comes pre-loaded with a free 30-day trial of Dmailer V7 software, which enables you to easily backup and synchronize your files, including Microsoft® Outlook® and Outlook Express.

You will be able to pick up the 16GB Lexar JumpDrive FireFly drive for $99. Of course, if you’re on a tighter budget, there are always other capacities such as 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB to choose from.

Press Release

Anyone remember the Newton’s Cradle? I seem to recall this contraption on every businessman’s desk in the seventies and eighties. It was usually made up of five marbles, strung up on two strings each. Lift one marble up and let it go, and it strikes a row of them. Then a marble will move on the other side. I believe it is supposed to demonstrate how every action equals an equal and opposite reaction.

I can’t think of any better application of Newton’s cradle than putting it in a USB Hub form. Boynq has done precisely that, and put on 4 Hubs. This is odd, because most Newton’s Cradles traditionally have five hanging marbles. At least the ones that I remember, anyway.

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Can you believe it - I went to the cinemas the other day to catch Star Wars: Clone Wars, but amazingly enough I was turned down due to the fact that nobody else bought the tickets (and that was just 10 minutes before the show supposedly “starts”), so the management decided it was not cost effective to open up the doors to that screening just for a couple of people. Amazing! Who’d knew that the world would run out of Star Wars geeks? If only I could vent my frustration with the Star Wars Lightsaber Lamp.

This mini Jedi weapon of choice plugs into your USB port and lights up to become possibly the coolest desk lamp since the discovery of electricity. Not only can you get in touch with the force (as long as you’re a Jedi), but once charged, you can remove this wicked wand from its base and have your very own mini-me glowing lightsaber. It’s the perfect present for any Star Wars devotee who may have slipped over to the Dark Side and is in need of enlightenment, and don’t forget that a good present can make up for a bad past.

This is different from the Lightsaber Desk Lamp that we saw earlier this year, since that model is not USB-powered but relies on AA batteries instead. You can pick up the Star Wars Lightsaber Lamp for £24.99.