USB wall charger skips the middleman

As we've noted more times than we care to remember, there are a countless number of useless gadgets that seem to exist only because they use a computer's USB port for a power source. Maybe that's one of the reasons behind Green-House's development of the Eneplug.

This little device, which Technabob accurately describes as resembling "the decapitated end of a standard 110v AC plug", is a USB charger that skips the middleman and plugs directly into a wall outlet. It's available only in Japan at present, perhaps because that's where there's the most pressing need for such gadgets as MP3 players that give facials.

Via Crave CNET

Psystar your way to a cheap, non-Apple Mac

It may not seem like world-breaking news at first, but US-based Psystar Corporation is bringing Mac OS X Leopard where no one has dared to go.

As we all know, the only way to get a Mac OS X system is by buying a machine from Apple. Though there are hackers who have succeeded in putting the operating system on non-Apple machines, it is not a task suitable for the layman. Psystar's Open Computer starts at US$399.99 and works with Mac OS X Leopard right out of the box. The cheapest desktop Mac mini starts at US$599 and is a lot less upgradeable.
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Space-saving keyboard clears the deck

As evidenced by the Isole power strip, some of the most mundane devices can prove to be the most convenient. So at the risk of inducing narcolepsy among our readers, we herewith offer another boring but (possibly) useful item as a public service.

Kensington's Ci70 keyboard has been outfitted with two USB ports above the keys rather than on the sides or back, which may seem like a small thing but really makes a lot of sense. The position will keep the plugs accessible without having to turn the keyboard around while keeping either side of the desktop clear for more important items. Better still, according to Newlaunches, the Ci70's footprint is a third smaller than most other keyboards.The possibilities for all that extra space is enough to make one's head spin.

Via Crave CNET

Nvidia wants to balance your PC, and at Intel's expense

Nvidia's "Optimized PC" campaign is the market-oriented manifestation of its larger ambitions. The idea is that Nvidia wants to show you how to build or buy a PC that's "balanced". In Nvidia's opinion, that means that rather than spend all of your PC budget on a quad-core processor (and relying on a built-in graphics chip), for a truly modern PC experience you're better off spending less on the CPU and more on a dedicated graphics card. What this campaign really signifies is that a new fight over who gets to do your processing dollar has officially begun.

You can check out the official page for Nvidia's Optimized PC campaign here. You'll find a Flash presentation informing you that "Your PC is more visual than ever", as well as a generic configurator demonstrating the supposed benefits of a "balanced PC". There's also a page of links to various online retailers that lead you to lists of Nvidia graphics cards for purchase, as well as links to configurators from Gateway, Velocity Micro, Cyberpower, and Puget Systems, which lead to presumably "optimized" systems.
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The world's smallest 8GB flash drive

We've always been curious about Super Talent's name, and finally its origins are slowly becoming clear to us: It must be some kind of allusion to Hollywood celebrities, because the company seems obsessed with the anorexic dimensions of its storage devices.

The latest example of this apparent fixation is what it calls the world's smallest 8GB drive, according to Fareastgizmos. Indeed, even with the countless flash drives on the market, the ultra-petite Pico-C would be hard to beat in the shrinkage department. It weighs less than a nickel and is only a little bigger than a quarter, as shown in the picture above.

The only potential problem, however, is that it may be too small. It's a good thing that the drive is water-resistant, because it's bound to be forgotten in somebody's pocket and end up in the wash.

Via Crave CNET

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