tech e blog

Anyone with old VHS tapes lying around, will appreciate this nifty hack, which turns the cassette into a functional USB hub. To build it, you'll need: a "USB hub, some LEDs, a small switch (optional) and some cables." Project page. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Have any old VHS tapes lying around? Really? What the hell is wrong with you? That stuff should have been tossed ages ago. Anyway, since you have one, it might be a good idea to repurpose it into something useful - like a USB hub

At first glance, this may look like a broken USB cable, but it's actually a fully-functional USB flash drive. Instruction page. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Obviously you wouldn't want to use the most expensive parts for this as you'll be tearing into both drive and cable, so Scientist got the KingMax for $10 off Ebay and found a cable for a buck fifty

Super Talent unveils a new line of micro USB flash drives that weigh less than 6g, available in 1GB - 8GB varieties. Plus, the PICO-A and PICO-C models are water resistant for the ultimate in durability. Click here for first picture in gallery.

There are three different versions; but one has a swiveling cover, one has a retracting cover, and one (the tiny one) is completely naked. They can survive shocks and being submerged in water, come with a lifetime warranty, and only cost $35 each

The USBee is a portable USB drive that features an elastic neck, a smart cooling system, and lid-snap system for easy storage. Click here for first picture in gallery.

The USBee flash drive is attention-grabbing, not only because of its bee-themed appearance, but also because of bendable neck, and curvaceous shape

Not only does it look like a Wiimote, but this fully-functional USB drive (1GB - 8GB) has a slide-out connector, which appears at the push of a button. Video after the break. Click here for first picture in gallery.

Switch On: Press the A key and the USB connector will eject from the housing. Switch Off: Press and hold the A key and push the USB connector back into the device housing until it locks into place

Available in 1GB or 2GB models, this USB penguin flash drive has a pop-open head and is made of soft plastic for easy storage. Video after the break. Click here for first picture in gallery.

This is one of the cutest USB keys I've seen. A little penguin shaped key in soft plastic able to store from 1 to 2 GB of data. Well, picture and video are known to be worth a thousand words

Called the "Eazzzy", this USB digital camera has "no viewfinder, no LCD screen, no buttons except 1. Stripped down to it's bare functions." Click here for first picture in gallery.

...this mini USB Digital Camera combines the feeling of not knowing how your shots turned out ala analog film with the ease of USB transfer. No cables are necessary. Just plug it straight away in your computer and always be surprised

The term "USB flash drive" may sound interesting, but thanks to a few talented designers, flashy can be used to describe these examples. >Click here for first picture in gallery. Continue reading for the full list.

Ok, so a few may border on strange, but for the most part, there are plenty of artsy/stylish gadgets released in Japan each and every day, ranging from slightly useful to "honey, lets play a joke on the kids" bad. Click here for more of our favorites. Yes, all of these can be purchased in Japan, or through eBay.

Unlike other USB drives, Corsair's Readout USB 2.0 Flash Drive has a built-in Bi-stable Cholesteric Display (BCD) that shows the current memory usage. Product page. Click here for more pics.

The Bi-stable Cholesteric Display (BCD) retains and displays this information for up to one year without the use of a battery! An 11 character alphanumeric label can be personalized to help you identify the contents. Free storage capacity is shown with a 4 digit display and used space is indicated by a pie chart