Tag Archives: USB

Targus Plug-N-Power Charging Station keeps peace in the family

  By Steven Sande | April 26, 2012 - 8:00 pm | iPad, iPhone
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In many homes with multiple iOS devices, charging up those iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches can turn into a battle for dominance over a wall socket. Targus is now selling the Plug-N-Power Charging Station (US$29.99) to keep the peace in your household and ensure that all of your gadgets are fully charged up every day.

Instead of requiring you to replace a wall socket like the Newer Technology Power2U AC/USB Wall Outlet, the Plug-N-Power simply plugs into a standard US double-socket AC adapter and provides two high-power USB ports and three AC plugs. Those three regular AC outlets are surge protected, keeping your electronics or kitchen appliances safe from the occasional nearby lightning strike.

In our household, the Plug-N-Power has become a quick favorite, as it allows my wife and I to charge up all of our gear -- two iPads and two iPhones, and still leave an outlet open for something else we might need to plug in.

The Plug-N-Power surge protectors provide 540 joules of protection for the three AC outlets, and the USB plugs put out a full 2.1 Amps of current for rapid charging of your iPad. There's a green LED that lights up to let you know when the AC outlets are protected. The USB ports can pump out 15 watts of power.

Sure, it's not the most exciting iOS accessory on the market, but it's certainly a useful one. Check out the official Targus video below.

Targus Plug-N-Power Charging Station keeps peace in the family originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mophie juice pack powerstation PRO: A big gas tank for your gizmos

  By Steven Sande | April 26, 2012 - 7:00 pm | iPad, iPhone
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ImageWe test a lot of external power packs here at the top-secret TUAW labs, most of which are just powerful enough to top off an iPhone or iPod touch. But what if you need enough juice to top off a couple of iPhones or an iPad? That's where Mophie's new juice pack powerstation PRO (US$129.95) comes in handy. Read on for a full review and a chance to win a juice pack powerstation PRO.

The juice pack powerstation PRO is to most external power packs as a gasoline tank truck is to the tank in your family car. It has a capacity of 6000 mAh, which is over four times the capacity of the 1432 mAh battery in your iPhone 4S. Imagine being able to completely charge an iPhone 4S four times from the powerstation PRO, and you have a pretty good idea of its capabilities.

That won't completely recharge a new iPad, which has a huge 11666 mAh battery, but it will extend the operating time by another five hours or so. The original iPad battery (6600 mAh) and iPad 2 battery (6930 mAh) will see almost a doubling in operating time from the juice pack powerstation PRO. The pack pumps out energy at 2.1 Amps, about what you'll get from the standard iPad power brick.

Gallery: mophie juice pack powerstation PRO

The powerstation PRO is incredibly well-built -- in fact, it's IP-65 rated, which means that it's protected against dirt, sand, and water. Sure, you won't want to bring it into a bathtub with you, but it could probably withstand the spray from a shower as the charging and output ports both have their own watertight seals. The entire power pack is made of aluminum and steel with a rubber-like impact resistant exterior.

Size-wise, the powerstation PRO is only 2.63" x 4.53" x 1.03" in size and weighs 7.6 ounces. It's small enough to fit in a pocket, although I wouldn't recommend putting into a pants pocket unless you don't mind getting strange looks. A set of four LEDs on the front of the case act as a "fuel meter" to tell you the charge level of the powerstation PRO.

How did the powerstation PRO work? Just great. I didn't have a chance to drop it down a hill and into a river like the guy in the video below, but I was quite impressed with both the speed with which it charged my iPhone and the rugged looks of the case.

And now for a giveaway! To enter, just fill out the form below completely and click on the submit button. Only one entry per person, and you must follow the rules:

  • Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
  • To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button.
  • The entry must be made before April 30, 2012 at 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time.
  • You may enter only once.
  • One winner will be selected and will receive a mophie juice pack powerstation PRO valued at US$129.95
  • Click Here for complete Official Rules.

Mophie juice pack powerstation PRO: A big gas tank for your gizmos originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dear Aunt TUAW: Why can’t I find a USB hub that charges my iPad?

  By Michael Rose | April 19, 2012 - 1:00 pm | iPad
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Dear Aunt TUAW,

When you go to Amazon or Best Buy or Newegg and search for powered USB hub for a nice new iPad... Good luck!

The results provide lots of choices. The kicker is adding the iPad to the search terms does not help, as all it does is get items that explicitly state they will not fast charge an iPad.

Have you folks found any powered hubs that will fast charge iPads?

Your darling nephew L. Randolph

Dear Nephew L,

When Apple released the iPad, it came with recommendations for power management on the device. The provided battery tips are mostly commonsensical, but the charging rules are not.

Since the iPad "fast charge" mode requires extra power compared to the standard USB specification, the best way to charge it is using the provided 10W iPad adapter. Second best: connecting the device to a high-power USB port on a recent vintage Mac. Connecting the iPad to other powered ports results in "slow charging," although the screen indication says the iPad isn't charging. It actually is -- as long as you leave the screen off (or turn the iPad off completely), it will eventually top off the battery.

There's a great primer from Plugable on how the iPad charging process works, and what tricks you can do to get charging traction (in trickle mode/"Not Charging") with your iPad and a powered hub. Plugable is now selling a 4-port hub that supports the USB Battery Charging 1.1 specification, which enables high-power charging for devices like the Kindle Fire, but as far as we know Apple's devices aren't yet working with that new spec.

It is possible (although not necessarily recommended) to trick the iPad into drawing the extra power it needs from a standard USB port. BoxWave's $7.95 sense cable doesn't support syncing, but if you don't have too much else plugged into your hub it may work for fast charging. (If anything catches fire, we never had this conversation, capice?)

Cirago sells a small hub with a dedicated iPad charging port -- but like the BoxWave cable, this is a charge-only port that does not allow you to sync simultaneously. Uncle Mike hasn't tested the device, but it's not expensive ($29.99). The folks at Aviiq have a portable charging station with a single iPad-friendly high power port ($59.99), and most of the Powerbag products also have one port to charge iPads.

Professional-grade multidevice charging is the province of companies like Datamation, which offers a full suite of charging, sync and storage setups. The 16-port PowerPad 16 delivers charges for up to 16 iPads simultaneously -- at the bargain price of $710.

Happy charging!

Uncle Mike

Dear Aunt TUAW: Why can't I find a USB hub that charges my iPad? originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Western Digital introduces My Passport Studio 2TB portable drive with FireWire 800 ports

  By Kelly Hodgkins | April 5, 2012 - 2:30 pm | Uncategorized
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Western Digital unveiled a new 2 TB external hard drive for Mac users this week. The My Passport Studio is formatted for the Mac and compatible with Time Machine so you can back up your data and go. The new drive also has an all-metal casing that'll complement the aluminum unibody design of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Besides its whopping 2TB capacity, the My Passport Studio includes a USB 2.0 port as well as two Firewire 800 ports which let you daisy chain Firewire devices to your Mac. Western Digital also included hardware-based encryption and password protection for those who carry around sensitive files.

The My Passport Studio 2 TB portable hard drive is available with a MSRP of US$299.99. You can buy it online at the WD store and at select retailers. You can read more about the drive on Western Digital's website.

Show full PR text
WD(R) Gives Mac(R) Users the First 2 TB Portable Hard Drive for All Their Digital Content

New My Passport(R) Studio[TM] Maintains Classic All-Metal Design and Dual FireWire 800 Ports For All-in-One Solution to Backup, Store, Protect, and Transport Files

IRVINE, Calif., April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Digital(R) (NYSE: WDC) today introduced the first 2 TB capacity portable drive dedicated for Mac(R) customers, My Passport(R) Studio[TM]. This new standard in high storage capacity, along with Apple(R) Time Machine(R) compatibility for quick and easy automatic backup of Mac hard drives, allows Mac users to use one drive for the protection and transport of virtually all their digital content, everywhere they go. The new My Passport Studio portable drive maintains its elegant and protective all-metal casing to complement the MacBook(R) Pro or MacBook(R) Air(R), providing the beautiful aesthetic that Mac users expect while increasing storage capacity to 2 TB, enough space for approximately 400,000 photos, 240 hours of video or 500,000 songs(1).

In addition to the USB 2.0 interface, My Passport Studio's two high performance FireWire(R) 800 ports, makes it perfect for active and mobile creative professionals including photographers, videographers, graphic artists, and others who need the speed, capacity, and flexibility to access content anytime or anywhere. The dual FireWire ports provide blazing fast upload and transfer speeds while also allowing users to daisy chain additional drives or other peripherals such as HD camcorders. My Passport Studio also features hardware-based encryption and password protection software, and an all-metal design constructed for a sturdy feel in your hand and scratch resistance.

"The My Passport Studio is a perfect companion for the MacBook Pro and for creative professionals on the go," explains Jody Bradshaw, senior director and general manager of WD's consumer storage products group. "For those who create large content files such as photographers and videographers, they will now be able to carry it with them wherever they go, as well as create a backup copy of everything they produce without fear of running out of additional storage while on location."

Pricing and Availability

WD's My Passport Studio 2 TB portable hard drive is available on the WD store at www.wdstore.com and at select retailers and distributors. The My Passport Studio 2 TB has an MSRP of $299.99. For more information on the My Passport Studio portable hard drive please visit the WD website at http://wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=420.

Western Digital introduces My Passport Studio 2TB portable drive with FireWire 800 ports originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Korg announces new microKEY iPad-friendly keyboard/MIDI controllers

  By Steven Sande | March 27, 2012 - 9:30 pm | iPad
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Anyone looking for a nice, portable keyboard and MIDI controller to use with Garage Band or other music apps on their iPad can stop looking. Korg, a longtime manufacturer of electronic keyboards and other musically-oriented products, has announced two new members of the microKEY family of keyboards that work well with the iPad and Mac.

Joining the microKEY-37 (37 keys, US$79.99) are the ultra-portable microKEY-25 (25 keys, $69.99) and the expanded microKEY-61 (61 keys, $179.99). The 37 and 61-key models also serve as USB hubs, and all of the devices run off of USB power. The microKEY-25 requires the Apple Camera Connection Kit to plug into an iPad, while the 37 and 61-key versions can be plugged directly into the iPad.

Korg also supplies the Legacy Collection Suite of software with the microKEY-61, which provides software versions of many of Korg's synthesizers. All three models of the microKEY use velocity-sensing mini keys, and according to the company they have a key touch that "makes it easy to play chords." The two larger keyboards also include pitch bend and modulation wheels for extra control and expression.

Korg announces new microKEY iPad-friendly keyboard/MIDI controllers originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AR.Drone 2 dated, coming in May with pre-order tomorrow

  By Mike Schramm | February 29, 2012 - 7:55 pm | Uncategorized
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We got to see and play with the new Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 back at CES earlier this year, and now Parrot has announced that you're closer than ever to getting your hands on one yourself. The new version of the iOS-controlled quadricopter has gotten a release date: It'll be out for sale in May 2012. Brookstone is also exclusively hosting the pre-order for the new device, and pre-order sales will start up tomorrow, March 1.

In addition to the preorder information, Parrot's got more news. Since we last saw that prototype at CES, the company has added two big new features to the device. First off, as this very reported suggested to them in person at CES, they have added a "flip button" to the controller app, which means that with just a double-tap on the screen, the Drone will do a barrel roll while flying around. Very cool.

The other new feature is a USB port on the device itself, which will not only help for charging, but will apparently allow you to obtain pictures and video directly from the Drone, rather than recording them through the controller app (which we did see in action at CES). Both of those features add a nice bit of functionality onto what was already an excellent product, so get those credit cards ready for preorder if you're sold.

AR.Drone 2 dated, coming in May with pre-order tomorrow originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday Favorite: Satechi 12-port USB Hub

  By Michael Rose | February 24, 2012 - 7:00 pm | Uncategorized
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satechi-hub.jpgIt's rare to come up with a Friday Favorite for something as seemingly ho-hum as a USB hub, but this particular model caught my eye a while ago when a colleague brought it with him on a project. "What is that?" I asked, wonderingly. The blue glow of the ports was so hypnotic that I nearly missed his explanation, "It's my favorite USB hub; I bring it with me everywhere."

The Satechi 12-port hub wouldn't look out of place on the control deck of the Death Star. It comes in one color -- black -- and features two banks of ports that glow enticingly when switched on for power via the twin rocker switches at the back end of the unit. One bank includes six ports atop the hub; the second bank has five on top and one front-facing port.

You can use the hub with or without the power adapter, but with it connected you can support self-powered devices; you can charge an iPhone (or multiple iPhones) with ease. iPads will trickle-charge ("No Charging" indicator on screen) but, like most hubs, the Satechi unit doesn't support the double-wattage port spec that the iPads need for rapid charge.

You may not think you need twelve USB ports, but if you're dealing with flash drives or other peripherals, or if you have a MacBook Air and want to maximize your expansion options, the Satechi hub is a perfect fit. The hub currently retails for US$27.99 and comes with a power adapter and a one-meter extension cable.

You can check out our other Friday Favorites, hardware and software alike, here.

Friday Favorite: Satechi 12-port USB Hub originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USB Host Controller mod makes your Android phone do more

  By Jase Glenn | February 2, 2012 - 5:00 pm | Android
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Many of us wish our devices did more with USB. Recognized Developer sztupy is one such person.

His latest invention is USB Host Controller, an application that takes advantage of the native OTG Host functionality built into many of the high-end Android devices and makes it easily accessible for the end user. According to sztupy, this robust application:

Shows enumerated usb devices, and allows you to mount external mass storage devices to the filesystem. Supports advanced features like the ability to reload partition tables and reseting USB devices. It can also control the USB Host functionality of S5PC210 devices with the appropriate kernel patch (more about this later)

The application does not use the USB Host API, so it can also run on older, 2.x devices. Because of that however almost all functionality (except for the listing of USB devices) requires root access.

So head on over to the thread here and take this app for a spin; your flash drives will thank you for it.


Sanho previews CloudFTP at Macworld | iWorld 2012

  By Megan Lavey-Heaton | January 29, 2012 - 1:00 am | iOS
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Sanho had its Kickstarter-funded CloudFTP at Macworld | iWorld 2012 this year, and the project has generated a lot of excitement.

Sanho's Daniel Chin originally sought $100,000 in funding through Kickstarter, but wound up with more than 2,700 backers and more than $262,000 by the time the pledge drive ended three weeks ago.

CloudFTP is an adapter that turns any USB storage device into a wireless file server. It can share files with any WiFi-enabled device and will back up data to cloud storage on the Internet. It creates its own ad-hoc wireless network to share data, and it can be accessed from a web app, iOS app (there's one for Android as well) or via FTP.

CloudFTP is expected to ship in early February to Kickstarter participants and will cost $99.95 retail. Check out the video below to discover CloudFTP can do.

Sanho previews CloudFTP at Macworld | iWorld 2012 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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