Dubbed the world’s smallest desktop USB 3.0 hard drive, the LaCie Rikiki comes equipped with the newer USB 3.0 interface and large sizes – 500GB and 1TB.

The LaCie Rikiki USB 3.0 combines the fastest interface on the market with perfect portability. The tough aluminum casing combines form and function; it withstands bumps and jolts, but its sophisticated style sets it apart from other mobile hard drives. With interface speeds up to 5Gb/s and capacities available up to 1TB, it offers desktop-sized storage in a pocket-sized product. Best of all, it’s backward-compatible with USB 2.0, which means connectivity is never an issue.

Starting at $99 dollars, the LaCie Rikiki and its all aluminum exterior combined with the advantages of USB 3.0 are a definitely must-buy in the very near future.

[ Links: LaCie Rikiki USB 3.0 ]

Sticking out only 6mm from the connected device, the LaCie MosKeyto, pronounced like that pesky blood-sucking bug, is very small indeed.

Today LaCie spawns a new breed of USB key – the LaCie MosKeyto, an ultra-small flash drive that’s anything but pesky. Joining LaCie’s line-up of award-winning USB keys, MosKeyto ups the ante for power, portability and ease of use.

LaCie MosKeyto measures less than 20mm and weighs 10 grams, making it one of the smallest USB keys on the market. Offering capacities up to 16GB, you’ll be pleasantly amazed at how many bytes you can get from such a tiny MosKeyto.

The stealthy MosKeyto becomes nearly invisible when plugged into your computer, and can even travel with the computer in a protective sleeve or briefcase – just plug it, and forget it. Because it lies flush against your device, there is no risk of damage to the port, computer or key if the drive is knocked or bumped. Additionally, if it’s in your laptop, you won’t lose it.

Offered presently in 4gb and 8gb sizes at $17.99 and $27.99 respectively, this ultra-small USB flash drive definitely won’t get snagged while you’re moving around with your laptop.

[ Links: LaCie, LaCie MosKeyto ]

LaCie has introduced a water-tight, waterproof to 100 meters, drop resistant from 5 meters, weatherproof USB flashdrive that seems like it’s more at home outside than inside a server room or small office:

LaCie, originator of the flat, award-winning key-shaped USB flash drives, shields the XtremKey’s premium flash memory modules inside a 2mm metal pipe casing. Sealed with wear-resistant screw threads and a rubber O-ring, it is watertight up to 100 meters. The LaCie XtremKey is also resistant to 5-meter drops, fierce heat and bitter cold – it holds up in any environment, no matter where you take it (+200°C / -50°C).

XtremKey is constructed with zamac, a metal alloy composed of zinc, aluminum, magnesium and copper that’s so strong, it can withstand the pressure of a 10-ton truck. Less than three inches tall, this flash memory drive puts strength, security and storage right on your keyring.

Due out in August, priced to sell at $49.99 and higher with capacity starting at 8gb going all the way up to 64gb in a 3-inch form, I truly recommend this for the clumsy adventurous computer users out there.

[ Links: LaCie, LaCie YouTube Channel ]

AVerMedia has shown off its Video Capture USB at CeBIT 2010, which allows users to watch and record digital TV on PC.

It can convert piles of video tapes and turn recordings in diverse analog devices into a comprehensive DVD format without a loss of quality. Plus, real-time Apple iPod and Sony PSP format recording allows you to take your favorite shows on-the-go. This USB device is Windows 7 certified. It can run on both AVerTV 6 and Window Media Center with superb reception ability even while commuting.

Link to the original article…

Lexar Media announced the launch of its flash-based, backup drive Lexar Echo ZE.

Designed to protect valuable data on netbook and notebook computers, Echo ZE backup drive provides users with portable, easy-to-use file backup solutions for their mobile lifestyles.

Echo ZE, with its low-profile 20.1 by 15.1 millimeter size and plug-and-stay design, is an always-ready drive providing a convenient means to automatically back up essential files – anytime, anywhere. This model is interoperable between Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, as well as Mac OS X operating systems, allowing data to be seamlessly accessible whether using a PC or Mac computers.

Echo ZE backup drive, one of the smallest USB drives in the world, is available in capacities of 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB. The Lexar Echo ZE backup drive begin shipping to leading resellers in the United States in February, and are available for pre-order on Amazon.com. The products will also be available in select European markets in 2010.

Link to the original article…

While Magic Jack’s cheap VoIP dongle generally works rather well, Broadbandreports.com’s forums are occasionally littered with complaints about the company’s business practices, be it it for little things like a website hit counter that used to artificially inflate their trial participant count (since fixed), or misleading marketing practices (like saying today is the last day of a free trial promotion, every single day). Users generally overlook these problems for one reason: the service is dirt cheap, and works.

Like many companies, Magic Jack also likes burying things in their fine print and terms of service. Among them, the company includes language that requires users engage in binding arbitration – a process that usually ends with the consumer losing, since the arbitration company works for the corporation being complained about. For most of the decade, the courts have repeatedly told companies that this language isn’t legal, but that hasn’t stopped it from being included in TOS anyway.

Back in 2008, gadget and culture blog Boing Boing ran a rather simple post highlighting some of Magic Jack’s more dubious practices, including their bogus free trial user counter, their use of behavioral ad technology, and their inclusion of arbitration language in their terms of service. Magic Jack didn’t like the post very much apparently, because they wound up suing Boing Boing for defamation. Unfortunately for Magic Jack, all of Boing Boing’s claims were true, and Magic Jack has been forced to pay the website $50,000:

We had no idea that it would file a baseless lawsuit to try and shut me up, that CEO Dan Borislow would offer to buy our silence after disparaging his own lawyers, or that MagicJack would ultimately face legal consequences for trying to intimidate critics. . . At several points in the process, we could have taken a check and walked away: as it is, the award doesn’t quite cover our costs. But we don’t like being bullied, and we wanted the chance to tell anyone else threatened by this company what to expect.

According to Boing Boing, Magic Jack’s suit claimed the blog’s post subjected the VoIP outfit to “hate, ridicule and obloquy.” The site claims MagicJack CEO Dan Borislow contacted them once he learned of the tenuous nature of his case in California court, agreed to a settlement, and then subsequently backed out. Once forced to settle, Magic Jack then demanded that the settlement dollar total be kept confidential. Boing Boing, unsurprisingly, didn’t think that was a good idea:

We offered not to publish the amount of this settlement if Borislow would donate $25,000 to charity. MagicJack, however, offered to pay our entire legal bill only if we’d agree to keep the whole dispute confidential; when we refused, Borislow wrote that he would ‘see us in court.’ Nonetheless, we’re happy with the outcome. The irony for MagicJack is that the proceedings are public record, so the silence it sought was effectively worthless.

Of course the lesson learned is that in the Internet age, the harder a company works to stifle criticism, the more attention that criticism gets. The better path is perhaps to listen to what your customers are saying about your business practices, and change them where possible if you value your customers.

Boing Boing has posted all legal documents pertinent to the case for those interested.

Link to the original article…

Atlona Technologies, solutions based manufacturer of Audio Video products, announced new USB Powered VGA to HDMI Scaler/Converter, the AT-HDVieW.

Atlona Technologies has consistently created products that will allow users easy and affordable means of connecting their PC to their HDTV without spending a fortune on new video cards or expensive boxes that perform this task as a secondary function.

Atlona has added to their ever growing product line with their newest Switcher/Scaler, the AT-HDVieW. This new unit designed to take both video and audio signal from a PC or Laptop, and upscale it to a digital HDMI output, was specifically made for the retail market. Users looking to upscale their computer viewing experience through their home entertainment center can now use the HDVieW to easily adapt their VGA outputs into HDMI. Operating this device is as simple as plug and play, due to the units ability to automatically sense the native resolution of the desired display and scale the computer’s output to match it.

The HDVieW offers a wide-range HDTV and PC resolutions, up to 1080p or 1920×1200 and will take audio signal from the computer and embedded it into the HDMI signal output, so that user is able to enjoy both audio and video though one cable. The HDVieW is a scaler-converter, which means that it will always work without any adjustments to the video card software in addition to that the video quality will be dramatically increased due to the built-in high quality scaler. Unlike many other scalers and converters on the market, this product has pigtail extensions attached with VGA, Audio and USB cables as to save the hassle of purchasing more cable. USB powered, this unit does not require additional power supplies. With limitless applications for both consumer and commercial applications, this competitively priced Scaler/Converter will find its way into any home.

The new AT-HDVieW will be available at the end of February with an affordable MRSP or $119.00 and is currently available for pre-order.

Link to the original article…

LaCie brings their typical high-quality built material to the enterprise level by bringing along 128-bit encryption and hot-swappable RAID drives to their new line of LaCie Enterprise Storage.

Enhancing the award-winning solutions line, LaCie today announces the new Enterprise Class range of storage solutions with LaCie d2 Quadra Enterprise Class, LaCie 2big Quadra Enterprise Class, and the LaCie 4big Quadra Enterprise Class. The LaCie Enterprise Class range is among the most sophisticated offerings on the market, and provides six data protection levels, robust performance, data encryption, superior connectivity, RAID protection, a professional backup offer, and an advanced service package.

“The introduction of LaCie’s Enterprise Class product range responds specifically to niche industries such as creative professionals, as well as those in the medical, legal, and accounting fields, who require highly robust and reliable storage solutions to manage their digital assets,” said Arnaud Prézelin, LaCie Product Manager for Creative Pro Solutions. “Adding Enterprise Class functionality to our recognized solutions line has made these products the most reliable and secure solutions in their respective product classes, while delivering leading-edge performance.”

Starting at $299 and ending around $1349.99 for the LaCie 4big Quadra Enterprise Class from LaCie.

[ Links: LaCie, LaCie Enterprise Class Storage ]

Adesso, one of my favorite keyboard makers has released their newest multimedia keyboard the AKB-520. The AKB-520 incorporates an USB hub, a memory card reader alongside some multimedia keys to ensure easy control of your Windows Media Player or Apple iTunes and stuffs all of that into a stylish case.

Equipped with 104 keys, the AKB-520 is a sleek, cost-effective and ergonomic keyboard that provides essential functions for various types of users. In addition to the built-in data card reader and two USB ports, this innovative keyboard compliments users of digital cameras, multimedia players and other portable devices.

The AKB-520 features the following:

• Built-in data card reader/writer for SD/MMC/MS Pro, so users can easily upload files and pictures to PCs
• Two additional USB ports, which conveniently add bus powered devices, such as a USB flash drive, Web cam and mouse
• Embedded multimedia and internet hotkeys, allowing users to control home entertainment functions directly on the keyboard
• Newly designed slim and stylish keyboard, offering improved tactile feel and accurate key response
• 12 hotkeys to boost productivity with direct access to the internet, home, favorites and multimedia controls

Despite not saying that the keyboard is Apple OS X compatible, I’ve personally found that they are indeed fully compatible and the Windows Key becomes the Apple/Option Key in OS X.

The Adesso AKB-520 can be purchased at your normal eRetailers like Amazon, Tigerdirect or PC Mall for instance, and retails normally for $34.99.

[ Links: Adesso, Adesso AKB-520 ] [ Related: Adesso WKB-4000BB, Adesso WKB-3100 Review ]

The other day Broadbandreports.com pointed to a report noting that magicJack was planning to offer users a device that would allow them to make cheap calls using a mobile phone. Unfortunately, there initial report was extremely limited on technical specifics for the unit, dubbed the “femtojack.”

Since then, magicJack has officially unveiled and demonstrated the device at CES, and offers up this press release with only a little more detail. Says the press release:

This femtocell will work with mobile phones from potentially any carrier and you may even use an old GSM cell phone without any paid service plans with a carrier. Not only can people connect to their own magicJack device but they can also connect to other femtocell-enabled magicJacks at friends houses and businesses. All the user has to do is come within eight feet of the magicJack one time to register the connection and then talk away within a range of a 3000 square foot house.

Since the system is GSM only, by “potentially any carrier,” the company means it will only work over the T-Mobile or AT&T network (no comment yet from either about how they feel about this). How specifically magicJack hopes to make this work isn’t stated, nor is there any additional technical details being offered on the company website. The Associated Press proclaims the system uses, without permission, “radio frequencies for which cellular carriers have paid billions of dollars for exclusive licenses.” But then the AP gives this breakdown of how it will actually works:

The size of a deck of cards, it plugs into a PC, which needs a broadband Internet connection. The device then detects when a compatible cell phone comes within 8 feet, and places a call to it. The user enters a short code on the phone. The phone is then linked to the magicJack, and as long as it’s within range (YMax said it will cover a 3,000-square-foot home) magicJack routes the call itself, over the Internet, rather than going through the carrier’s cellular tower. No minutes are subtracted from the user’s account with the carrier. Any extra fees for international calls are subtracted from the user’s account with magicJack, not the carrier.

While magicJack is very popular among users, they have a strong tendency to use more noise than signal in many of their marketing efforts – and this latest one certainly doesn’t disappoint. If they stay true to their word, the device will hit the market in “about four months,” and we’ll give it a spin.

Link to the original article…

[ Related Links: magicJack "One Year Later" Review ]

When LaCie originally debut their USB storage “keys”, the CooKey and WhizKey, I instantly ran out and grabbed one. It looks like a key, is discreet enough to stay on my key chain and I will not instantly be labeled a geek. Not that I mind being called a geek, but some badges you don’t want to wear because it’ll invariably mean that you’ll be answering more questions to people you’d rather not.

Anyway, LaCie is now installing on the USB drives their Wuala Online Storage which allows for uploading and backing up securely online your information:

LaCie announced the LaCie CooKey and LaCie WhizKey, design by 5.5 Designers. The new USB flash keys are modeled after the award-winning LaCie iamaKey, which was recently issued a 2010 award by the internationally recognized Observeur du Design.

The LaCie CooKey and LaCie WhizKey offer more than a resilient surface and up to 32GB of storage–they include a complete storage experience by integrating an extra 4GB of online storage through Wuala. Wuala, a company of LaCie, is an innovative online storage service that allows you to securely store, back up, share, and access files from anywhere. Simply upload files and set privacy settings for the files or folders you’d like to share – allowing your family, friends, and co-workers exclusive access to those files. Designed to provide the ultimate security, files on Wuala go through a special encryption procedure and are stored in different locations in the Wuala cloud.

Now LaCie offers up to 4GB for two years on all LaCie flash keys – and 10GB of Wuala online storage for one year in combination with its hard disk storage products. These products now provide customers with more storage, as well as a more secure and convenient way to backup and share their digital content. If you would like to enjoy more gigabytes in Wuala, you can buy additional storage, or trade local storage without extra charge – one of the more novel features of Wuala. You simply trade, for example, 50GB on your computer, and get up to 50GB of Wuala online storage.

Available online and at LaCie retailers at prices starting at $19.99 in sizes from 4gb to 32gb. Wuala, acquired by LaCie in 2009, is based on technology originally debut and researched by ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – Zurich) and offers users 1gb that are fully encrypted for your protection.

[ Links: LaCie USB Keys, Wuala ]

It seems like 2010 will be the year of the set top box that gathers all of your media that you’ve collected over the years – be it music, video or web based media – and places it in high-definition on your television for all to see. LaCie has introduced their LaCinema Mini HD Media Center, about the size of a standard DVD – it fits in your palm, easily:

LaCie today unveiled LaCinema Mini HD, the all-in-one Wi-Fi High Definition media center. Its amazingly small and stylish design packs a big punch, bringing your HD movies, photos and music collections to your widescreen TV in full 1080p resolution.

LaCinema Mini HD bridges the gap between the computer and entertainment worlds in full HD quality. Featuring built-in high-speed 802.11n Wi-Fi, LaCinema Mini HD brings a DLNA® media player and server to your home without wires.

Transferring content to the LaCinema Mini HD is easy through the bus-powered USB connection for maximum transfer speeds, or by connecting the drive to a home network. Users can conveniently load files wirelessly from their computer or via the Ethernet connection.

Currently available in Europe for $299 with worldwide availability coming soon.

[ Links: LaCie LaCinema Mini HD Media Center ]