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Posts tagged USB Technology
What You Can Do With A USB Flash Drive
Aug 11th
Many people have USB flash drives for the purposes of storing data. This is obviously the standard reason to own one of these drives. However, if you do own one of these drives or are considering purchasing one, there are a lot of other things you can do with the drive. Here are some of the top uses that a USB flash drive is good for:
Run Portable Applications
Many people today are running portable applications with the use of their USB flash drive. OpenOffice is a complete office suite that can be accessed as a portable application. In addition, Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird are also available for the use as portable applications. This means that you can take the most vital applications with you wherever you are and use them on the go.
Boot An Operating System
Another cool feature of the USB flash drive is the ability you have to boot from the flash drive entirely. This is great is you are having problems with your hard drive. However, you may have to learn how to correctly do it! The process can be complicated at first.
Connect To A Wireless Network
Also, for those that have a wireless network they are accessing, you might want to consider saving the configuration information to the USB flash drive. Then you can connect wirelessly with other computers easily. Windows software can easily help you do this.
Create A Password Reset Disk
Do you ever forget the passwords you have created? It is sometimes hard to remember them all with the requirements that some sites require. However, if you create a password reset disk on your USB, you will be able to remember passwords in a pinch. This may come in handy when you least expect it and you will be glad that you took the time to use this feature of your flash drive.
What Is Micro USB?
Aug 9th
With so many technology advancements today it is not surprising if you find it difficult to keep up with all of them. One gadget that may become important to you is a micro USB. It is particularly important to those that cannot live without their phones. But what is it exactly?
The Specs Of A Micro USB
A standard USB connects to peripheral devices such as keyboards, computers, and more. Many people rely on this gadget for data storage and data transferring. It has become a standard in terms of connectivity today. The micro USB is a mini version of this standard USB. It offers enhanced technology in a smaller size. And because of its portability, this gadget can be useful in many devices including cell phones and PDAs.
Do They Work With Computers?
One of the main concerns for a prospective user is whether or not this technology will work with normal computers – especially if you are transferring data from your phone to your computer. The answer is yes. However, you may need a special plug given the thin nature of the
micro USB.
Advantages Of The Micro USB
There are many benefits to this new technology. Obviously, the main benefit is the size. Cell phones and PDAs are continually becoming smaller and thinner making larger USBs more difficult to use. Therefore, the micro USB is the ideal option in terms of data storage when it comes to small gadgets today. Its design is particularly attractive – just make sure you don’t lose it! Also, another benefit of this product is the durability. According to reviews, the micro USB is very durable. It has a stainless steel shell, making it very transportable and secure. Lastly, micro USBs support communication directly between portable devices without the assistance of a computer. This is a major advancement that many people in the tech world are thrilled about.
Top 10 USB Gadgets
Aug 7th
If you are a tech junkie, than you probably enjoy playing around with gadgets. Technology today provides us with several different gadgets allowing us to experiencing new things and to be entertained. And many of these gadgets use USB technology. Here is a list of the top ten USB gadgets that you might want to check out:
- USB Plasma Ball-The USB plasma ball is a popular gadget for many work stations. It is a great novelty item that will definitely add some flair to your desk!
- USB Greenhouse-How cool is this? A greenhouse powered by a USB. It may take a while to grow a plant in this gadget, but you will enjoy the process.
- USB Hamster Wheel-This gadget is simply funny. The digital hamsters have great character and the speed of the wheel is based on your typing speed – even better!
- USB Disco Ball-This toy is one of the most popular. It flashes throughout the day when it is plugged into your computer. Surprisingly, many people find it to be relaxing.
- USB Coffee Warmer-This is definitely practical. How annoying is it when your coffee gets cold after a long meeting? The coffee warmer keeps it at an ideal temperature!
- USB Harddrive-Do you need to prevent data loss? Perhaps you should invest in a USB Harddrive. This could be an essential piece of equipment if you are in a bind at the office.
- USB Missile Launcher-Need a break from all that hard work? Take out your USB missile launder and aim it at coworkers that are bugging you. It’s a great way to relieve stress!
- USB Phone-Do you make a lot of international phone calls at work? Free VoIP is an ideal way to take advantage of the USB on your computer. All you need is a USB phone.
- USB Drum Kit-Make drumming noises using your fingers with the USB drum kit. It is hilarious, entertaining and a great desk accessory. Plug this tool in and play!
- USB Chameleon-Looking for an animal to roll its eyes at you and stick out its tongue? The chameleon will answer your call!!!
Connectivity And TVs
Aug 5th
We live in a day where connectivity has become standard. It is practically vital to be connected wherever you go. This is why people carry around phones with email and facebook in the grocery store line or text their co-workers during lunch breaks. And just like we crave connectivity in our social circles, we also want to be connected technologically.
TV Technology
One of the major areas of technological advancement in the past few years has been seen in televisions. A few years ago tivo was a phenomenon. Now it has become standard. Now, there are people with stereo tuners, apple tv, a dvd player capable of streaming Netflix movies, and 3 tivos to ensure that nothing is missed. If that isn’t connectivity, who knows what is? The last thing someone wants is to miss something that is on tv, especially when they have the tools available to ensure it will not happen.
How Does A TV Support All Of These Tools?
Do you ever wonder if your tv will go into overload after using all these tools everyday? It is a scary thought – especially if you own an expensive plasma. However, there are gadgets that can help connect the devices properly from their power source to the tv. This way, you won’t have an overload. Instead, everything runs smoothly. Most likely your cable guy can helped you out with this.
For The Best Connectivity
However, for the best connectivity, new tvs will have USB capability. This means that they will have USB plugs much like your computer. In fact, there are already 2 tvs that support this technology. Check out the Toshiba REGZA and the Samsung B700. With USB technology, you will be even better connected to your tv devices. This means faster and more reliable transfer of data – something any tv lover will definitely appreciate.
Use Your USB As An MP3 Player
Aug 3rd
Many people today listen to music while they are at work. It is one of the only ways that they get through the long, dull hours of the day. This is particularly true of those people that perform a lot of monotonous tasks that include number crunching and data entry. In order to spice up their day, they often like to listen to music. However, the radio stations are filled with commercials and ipods and iphones have limited battery life.
Files On The Work Computer
Some people decide to simply transfer their music files to their work computer. If they are lucky, this works for them. However, others do not have the ability to do this. Or, they might not prefer to do so. And many people cannot even download music on their work computer or stream music. If this is you, what should you do? The last thing you really want to do is sit in silence throughout the day.
USBs Are A Great Alternative
Consider using a USB as an alternative to your MP3 player. You can probably hold all of the music you have ever owned on a USB device given their size. Then, simply plug the device into your work computer and let it play. Most people use windows media player. You won’t have to transfer these songs to your computer either. Instead, you can listen directly from the flash drive. And when you are done, you can unplug the device. It is really that simple. And the best part is that you do not waste battery power. It is an environmentally friendly way to listen to music at work!
USB 3.0
Lastly, if you invest in a device that has USB 3.0 technology, you will notice
that the music will transfer quickly and you will be able to access it quickly.
External Hard Drives And USB 3.0
Aug 1st
By now you’ve probably heard about USB 3.0 technology. According to all reports, this technology runs at 5 gigabits per second compared to the 480 megabits per second that USB technology offered. Most people estimate that the new technology is approximately 10 times faster than the old version. Therefore, speeding up your life makes sense. However, the question most people ask is why is it really necessary to have this new technology. Is it vital to rush out and get USB 3.0 today? Maybe. And if you plan on using external data storage, the answer is probably yes.
External Storage
Many people use external storage drives for their computers. Why? This is a relevant question especially when today’s computers seem to come equipped with unlimited amount of space on them. However, what happens if your computer crashes? What will you do if all of your files are lost? This is why several people take advantage of external storage. They use these drives to back up their hard drives from time to time to prevent a disaster in case their computer does crash.
The Main Reason People Don’t Backup
Although it seems simple and standard to back up your computer, a lot of people do not do it. The main reason for avoiding a simple back up is because it takes time to transfer files to the external drive. Time is limited and for most of us, precious. It’s understandable that a time consuming task like this one would get pushed to the back burner. Especially since it may not seem to be time sensitive.
USB 3.0 Provides Time
Fortunately, thanks to USB 3.0, the time to transfer files is diminished. It takes little or no time compared to older technologies making it a lot easier to back up your computer and save you time in a pinch. It is a smart and easy solution to your storage needs.
What To Do With Old USB Drives
Jul 31st
When it comes to anything that has to do with computers, chances are you probably have old stuff lying around that you have deemed unnecessary. Many of these items have most likely worn out their usefulness. They simply are no longer are needed given the new technology available. This is definitely true for many people who have old or unused USB storage devices lying around. Whether these drives or big external hard drives or the more portable pocket flash drives, there might be a way to actually use them instead of simply letting them take up space.
USB-to-NAS
One great idea for these older devices is to give them a new life by using a USB-to-NAS device. NAS (Network attached storage) devices are actually quite popular in the computer world. Many of the latest versions of these devices have up to 4 USB ports. This means that you could attach your old USBs to this device. It allows you to instantly share your data on all of those USB drives.
Software For NAS
Another great thing about the NAS is the software that comes with it. You can rest assured that you will be able to operate the network anywhere. Therefore, it makes sense. Imagine the capabilities ability to transfer date over a network to a USB? Many people are taking advantage of it and you can too.
Web-Based Networking
Lastly, much of this networking is done through the web. Therefore, it is often seamless and easy to share files and transfer data. This new technology is changing the way many people interact. And it is also making use of a lot of people’s unused USBs! If you have unused USBs lying around, it is time to gather them up and start networking with a NAS device.
How Fast Is USB In The Real World?
Jul 29th
We’ve heard a lot about the new USB 3.0 technology. However, many people question how fast it is. Is it fast enough to even notice a difference? Or will you be fine without this technology? Many wonder if USB 3.0 is simply a lot of hype. There are others, though, that claim this technology will make a tremendous impact on all that you are doing. Here’s why:
Experts Rave About Performance Improvement
One of the top reasons that this technology is a must have is because it has been tried and tested by many experts in the technology field. Experts across the board seem to rave about the improvements they notice in performance due to using USB 3.0 technology. After they tested it, they seemed to agree that it was something that would make their processes easier and faster.
It’s About The Real World More Than The Data
Although the data suggests that this technology will improve performance, you might not realize how much it will make a difference until you see or try a demo. After all, a number is one thing, but the experience is a different thing entirely. One of the reasons for this is that the speed of the USB connection actually has a major impact on the performance of a hard-drive in the real world.
Test Out This Technology For Yourself
Many people will benefit from this technology. It is easy to try it and it is available now! The technology will make your life easier. It is a smart decision, especially if you are constantly backing up files. A process like this one can be time consuming. Therefore, look into your USB options. It will greatly benefit you in the future. In today’s world, speed really does matter, so having the faster technology is important.
USB 3.0
Jul 27th
According to many computer experts, the USB is considered one of the top PC innovations of all time. If you think about it, this innovation is pretty remarkable. For many people, it allowed them to transfer data and connect much easier. However, the improvements that have been made over the years are one of the best aspects of this type of technology.
USB 2.0/USB Hi-Speed
Approximately 10 years ago, the USB 2.0 versions were introduced into computer systems and devices. This was a great advancement at the time. It brought the data transfer rate from 12Mbps to 480 Mmps. However, that improvement was ten years ago, and today we have a better faster technology known as USB 3.0.
Today’s USB Technology
The best technology for USBs today is USB 3.0. Access to this technology allows you to have the maximum speed available, which is 4.8 Gbps. This technology is 10 times faster than the 2.0 version and much, much faster than the original version.
Why Do You Need This?
A lot of people assume that they do not need this. A common thought is that they are just transferring files to the USB device or printing a few documents here and there on their computer. Why invest in a newer USB when the old one is sufficient. The truth is that these USBs have so many functions. Many people actually use them for other devices besides a computer. For example, USB 3.0 works well if you are transferring a 27 GB HD movie to your media player. With USB 3.0, a task like this one will only take 70 seconds. That is pretty fast given the complexity of the task.
Looking To The Future
And as we look to the future, we find that more and more technologic advances that will require the technology of USB 3.0. It is definitely something to know about and have on hand.
The USB Has Been Around For Years
Jul 24th
In the last few years, it seems as though the trash cans have been piling up with computer disks that are too small for storing the necessary data to get by with today’s communication needs. In addition, as technology improves, a beautiful digital image will not transport well on a disk. Instead, individuals need a better technology to rely on. While email is sometimes sufficient, it is not always effective. Often the files we use are too big and email will not do the trick. In cases like these, a USB storage device may be
necessary.
Everyone Has A USB
Today it seems as though everyone has a USB device to store files. In addition, all of the computers come standard with USB technology. But the technology changes rapidly, if your USB device is old chances are the space on it is limited. You might need something that allows you to transport files easier and share information with others. Fortunately, technology
provides for this.
USB Technology Is Not New
Although USB technology may be a new adventure for many, it is definitely not a new development in the tech world. This technology has been around for several years. In fact, USB devices have been around since 1995. That is a long time for many of us. This dates back to the time and place when many of us sat in desks and schools without the use of personal computers. Yet, the USB technology was alive and running. So why has it taken so long for this technology to become more mainstream?
Changes In USB Technology
Throughout the years, USB technology has been changed and upgraded. It is now easier to use and much more efficient. Therefore, it is no wonder that so many people rely on this technology to keep them connected at all times.