Juniper Foo | Oct 19, 2007
It's official. Hunting season (of the gift-giving kind) is open again. And much as it's vulgar to mention the M word, let's face it, that sad sack of a wallet (bonus? What bonus?) can't take a collective beating all at once. Your Christmas gift recipient wants a PlayStation 3? Take a hike, pal. Your newlywed friends hinting at a home-theater-in-a-box to deck the halls? What, you think grandpa prints money? Whatever happened to "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth"?
But as Madonna used to sing, it's "a material world". So short of morphing from sweet Santa to stingy Scrooge, you can still have your log cake and eat it. The solution? Useful USB gadgets that won't break the bank. With almost everyone now owning a notebook or PC, you can't go far wrong with an addon that enhances or adds to the fun factor of your desktop system. Check out these 10 USB gizmos that should sit pretty under that X'mas tree without straining those purse strings.
 1. USB-powered air darts
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Just when you thought it couldn't get any sillier with USB-powered peripherals, this weapon of mass
destruction puts you right at the head of the office rat pack. Operating the air dart is Q.E.D. Hook it up to your PC, and start
firing with the aid of your mouse. All that's missing is a remote control for
long-distance stealth firing. Shoot to annoy. Yeah, bring it on.
Price: US$38.99 for three darts with cylindrical base and included software
Availability: Kleargear
Basic specs: Software CD allows control panel to appear on computer screen, launcher about 7 inches high and rotates 180 degrees, missiles can project 45 degrees and shoot 5-8ft, requires AA batteries (not included)
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2. Golf Launchpad USB Golf Simulator for PC
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If your gift recipient's greatest golfing triumph is thwacking the green to bits, check out the Golf Launchpad. That said, be warned that it's seriously priced, and you might want to pool resources with friends or family members. Used together with a laptop, this USB golf simulator hooks into the bundled Tiger Woods PGA Tour from EA Sports, letting your golfing pal play on some of the world's best courses with his own clubs. There's even a swing analyzer, and the tethered ball is real enough to withstand the violent impact of clubheads. One good thing out of this: You can always borrow it to tee off.
Price: US$199 for PS2 edition; US$249 for PC/Mac
Availability: Electric Spin
Basic specs: 2.4m USB cable, netting and support struts, tethered real golf ball on precision pivot, tethered tee, custom developed turf (spare turf included), free EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf Windows Edition, clubs or drivers should have a reflective surface to work with the Launchpad, plug-and-play
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3. USB Hamster Wheel
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Give your cubicle neighbor the world's lowest maintenance hamster that will crank away in its wheel tirelessly. As the literature goes, this is "no ordinary hamster". It runs as fast as you type. The faster you type, the more exercise your "pet" gets. We're betting your oh-so-pleased recipient will be cracking those digits and hamming it up for the office crowd that's bound to lap up this cute little furball. To complete the package, throw in a "Feed the owner, not the hamster" sign with your gift.
Price: US$4.91
Availability: I Want One Of Those
Basic specs: On/off switch on wheel so your hamster can have a rest, requires no food or cleaning, includes software, compatible with Win 2000, XP, requires 2 x AA batteries (included), 140 x 130 x 120mm
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4. Trek ThumbDrive Tuner
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DVB-T (digital video broadcast-terrestrial) USB receivers, or digital TV tuners, aren't new. But Trek's ThumbDrive Tuner is a rather unusual marriage of tuner and flash memory. This gizmo may be tiny, but it's one big bad mama. Out of the box, it's capable of real-time recording, time-shifting, and switching between mass storage and TV tuner without having to unplug the device. It's also able to support EPG (electronic program guide) and teletext where available, while the antenna offers the flexibility of being a clip-on or extension. Too bad for Mac users, this one works on only Win Me and later. Take note. The tuner accesses only free-to-air programs in Singapore and supports standard definition (MPEG-2 broadcast) for now. However, a high-def version (MPEG-4 broadcast) is expected soon. For more convincing, read our full review here.
Price: About S$95 for 512MB
Availability: N.A.
Basic specs: USB 2.0, USB bus powered, DVB-T receiving function, record and playback DVD-quality DTV program, real-time and scheduling recording into MPEG-2 format, snapshot for still image captures, auto and manual channel scan support (6/7/8 MHz), 15g
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5. USB Turntable
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Like the Golf Launcher, this ain't your typical USB flummery. Now that we've established that, this USB Turntable is a boon for music aficionados, particularly those whose vintage is on par with that of LPs, 12 inches and singles. This USB gadget bypasses all the in-between hassle, and converts digitally right into a PC. All that's needed is to plug this belt-driven turntable into the nearest USB port, fire up the idiot-proof Audacity software, and begin converting. No more wire-tangling adapters, special drivers or mismatched software. Even dear old dad could cop a spin on this without breaking into cold sweat. Elementary, my dear Watson.
Price: US$244.70
Availability: Firebox
Basic specs: Adjustable gain, anti-skating control, high-speed vinyl recording function, can be connected to any home stereo with CD or auxiliary inputs, 33.3/45rpm, 78rpm records can be transferred by recording at 33.3/45rpm and using software to restore to original speed, but you will need to buy a special stylus (not included, but available from specialist retailers) to playback 78s, 3.5mm
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6. USB fan-light combo
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Your computer may crash. It's another one of those "blue screens of death" daze. Your boss is screaming deadlines. The weather within and without's just nasty. That's when you plug in E-Let's life-saving fan to keep you cool under the collar. And what do you know? This doubles as a reading light, too. So you can't go far wrong with this perennial USB favorite as a sweet little gift that's not too painful on your pocket. Come on, who doesn't need a fan or night light with their laptop? And, hey, it's the thought that counts, right?
Price: About US$15, depending on retail outlet
Availability: Any PC accessories outlet
Basic specs: N.A.
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7. Wallet Flash
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Forget about gimmicky USB thumbdrives that look like pieces of twig or sushi. When it comes to USB flash, there's tiny, and then there's thin. If you fancy the latter, check out Israeli company Walletex's wallet-friendly USB flash. As a bit of pedigree, the Wallet Flash has picked up kudos from both CES 2006 and Stuff UK magazine. What we like is that in spite of its fragile design, this is one tough cookie that can withstand spills and heat. The connector nub on the side plugs directly into any USB port, and is double-sided, meaning it'll work even if you flip the card over. Nifty alternative for friends who don't like carrying their USB flash drives on keychains or lanyards.
Price: US$19.95 (128MB) to S$66.90 (2GB)
Availability: Walletex
Basic specs: 1.9mm thin, double-sided USB connector, waterproof, temperature tolerant, USB 2.0
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8. Sony's Skype mouse
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It's a mouse. It's a phone. Holy moly, it's a phouse/mhone! Whatever this gizmo is, we just love Sony's wacky hybrid VN-CX1. After all, a USB optical Skype mouse makes complete sense when you consider it's VOIP. When a call comes, just flip the mouse open like a clamshell. To end, just shut it. The scroll wheel acts as a volume button, while pressing it mutes the call. Now we'll just sit back and watch for the copycats, er, mice to come out to play.
Price: US$99
Availability: Check your own local Sony Style gallery or order online at Dynamism
Basic specs: Built-in echo cancellation, 45.5 × 23.9 × 89.2mm, 67g, choice of five colors, USB 2.0, 800 counts per inch resolution, Windows 2000/XP only
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9. USB Heating Slippers
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First, we had USB heating gloves as a very cheap, cheap alternative to central heating. So spare a thought for your colleagues' office chilled toes with this warm gift. And with notebooks making such cosy lap warmers, this makes for a truly complete experience of toasty surfing!
Price: 3,980 yen (US$33.17)
Availability: Thanko
Basic specs: 12 x 29cm, washable
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10. USB Drum Kit
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Last, but not least, make sure this one goes to someone who lives far far down the street. Otherwise your housemates and family won't thank you. For the total novice or seasoned skinbasher, the USB Drum Kit "brain" actually contains 233 realistic drum sounds and 50 preset rhythm patters, offering enough versatility to compose complete arrangements or customize patterns and songs. That first X'mas song request? Little Drummer Boy. Drum rolls, please.
Price: US$265.10
Availability: Firebox
Basic specs: About 90 x 100 x 40cm, dimensions fully adjustable, 6 percussion pads, 2 kick pedals, audio host, stand, 2 drumsticks, software CD, cables, instruction manual
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Reproduced from CNET Asia's Tech Buzz archives
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skyflakes
haha. really silly but amusing.
Oct 27, 2007 12:59