Caffeine Fix

I don’t drive to school (currently) but I know loads of people who do. I also know loads of people who drive to work. And I know just as many people who need their coffee in the morning.

That’s why there’s the Emerson Auto Mug. It’s just like any other to go mug you’d take to work except it comes with a car power adapter this mug will heat your coffee as you drive, no luke warm espresso at the office anymore. Word is the mug is available at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Learning to Share

We have lots of group projects in college, more than you’d think you’d have to deal with once you’ve left high school behind. The business world too is getting more collaborative in the digital age. Well it’s time to make collaboration even simpler.

Introducing the iTwin. Basically its two USB drives but if you plug one into your computer and your friend/buddy/partner plugs the other into his own computer you can share instantly! Instant access to the other computer, no wires, no more cramming around one small laptop screen to work on a single project. It sure sounds convenient to me. The iTwin is due out in 2010 for about $99.

Power on the Go

It’s all about power these days. Gadgets only have battery life that lasts so long. Everybody wants an on the go option when it comes to charging and here is yet another one.

The iLuv iAD115 is a Micro sized USB Car Adapter. The iLuv plugs right into any average car through the cigarette lighter and you’re suddenly the new owner of a USB charger (just don’t forget the extra USB wires you may need for your gadgets).

All in One

Find yourself running out of computer centered USB ports recently? Not enough room to charge the ipod, phone, and game device at once? Well, no worries.

The iLuv iAD117 USB wall charger is perfect for the over taxed gadget owner. The iLuv plugs into any wall socket and comes with three of its own USB ports to free up both the ports already present on your computer as well as desk space. Sometimes all a device needs is a little battery juice, and that can come just as conveniently from the wall as from the computer.

Safety First

Flash drives are meant to be portable. It also makes them very misplaceable.

Introducing the flash drive lock. Fitting any basic flash drive like a normal cap over the USB end the lock comes with a set of three number turns to code your self. In red or silver they will match almost any preexisting drive you may already be using. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to protecting your files.

Portable Sunshine

We’re all about renewable energy these days. Solar panels, wind energy, rechargeable batteries, all are part of the global vocabulary. Well, Eneloop is catering to just such a mentality.

Specifically, with its new portable solar panel (about the size of a book) you can charge a cell phone on the go (outside specifically) through a USB connection. Now we no longer have to worry about wasting energy when we leave our phone chargers plugged in.

Eneloop also produces rechargeable batteries and adapters for anything that uses a battery (so that’s pretty useful). Who can pass up the chance to buy batteries less often?

Workout Power

I own a Wii Fit and think it’s pretty fun, ridiculous, but fun. As with all game controls, of any kind, power and batteries are just as much, if not more, of an issue with the Wii balance board.

That’s where Mad Catz Power Up Charging Stand comes in. The stand comes with a rechargeable battery pack for the Wii Fit balance board. Basically the balance board can slide in and stand straight on its edge as it charges. The stand also comes with a few USB ports so that other gadgets can recharge as well.

We won’t see the Power Up Stand until later this month, just in time for all the Wii Fit games announced at E3.

Everything Transformed

The newest style taking over the gadget market is actually a resurrected retro style of some popularity. Yes, the transformer is back, and more useful than ever.

To start with there’s the transforming Ravage flash drive. How cool is that? It’s not a mini car but a real gadget that is “more than meets the eye”. The flash drive begins in a semi normal flash drive rectangle shape and becomes a wild cat. It’s expensive ($43) for a mere 2 GB but hey it’s a transformer. The drive will be released in September.

Also on the market is the transforming mouse. That’s right, if you still use a mouse rather than a track pad your can choose from two different dinosaur designs and bring even more fun to your desk. $59.99 for either one, again they ship in September.

Finally the transforming USB hub (this one transforms twice) cannot only hold up to four transforming USB flash drives but can transform itself. Whether you want it to look like a real transformer robot or sit in disguise as a laptop this hub takes you back to the actual toys. It doesn’t fold up into its own working gadget but to a fake gadget, just like the toys do, and attempts to disguise the working hub. It also looks like it can play mini cassette tapes, weird. Comes out in September.

Being Skinny

Because USB flash drives weren’t easy enough to carry around in the first place Top tech has designed a new travel style drive for everyone.

Slim Data is a USB drive as a card.  That’s right, it’s like having another credit card, except this one folds in half to reveal the USB and attach to any Windows, Mac, or Linux machine.  There are five colors at 4GB and $25 each (not a huge price difference compared to your average flash drive.

Flash drives are all travel size, but if you’re walking around with a wallet in your pocket anyway save your other pocket space and add your USB drive to your already full pocket.  Just hope that card doesn’t get lost amongst the other hundreds or cards already bursting in your wallet.

Building Additions

We all love USB drives, USB cords, USB anything, but most computers don’t come with quite enough USB ports for anyone’s taste.  That’s why the Lego themed USB hub sounds like such an excellent idea.

Lego remains a popular design theme in the world of gadgetry (whether or not the devices are actually branded by Lego).  This USB hub would look no less attractive than any of the other brick related gadgets on the market today.  It doesn’t appear to be available in America just yet, but I’m sure it’s on its way.  It’s popularity and necessity just doesn’t com into question, who doesn’t love Legos?