Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Brando, while they may offer some very off-the-wall products also have some items that are very useful. The latest falling in to the useful category is the USB 3-Port Hub + Mini-USB Cable, which as the name implies is a USB hub that that offers three regular USB ports as well as one mini USB port.

The nice part here, aside from the low $12 price tag, is that the hub does not require any additional power, it gets the required power from two USB ports on the computer. Looks to me like it would make the perfect additional cable for the road warrior type, now they can plug in up to 3 USB devices instead of two and also charge another with the mini USB.

Product [Brando]

Here’s another one of ‘em uber cool devices that you would want to have even if it hasn’t been released yet. Callpod’s new Bluetooth adapter which goes by the branding – the Drone. Based from its published details and specifications, you can easily ascertain that the Drone is one device that’s going to simplify the why you connect your gadgets and devices.

The Drone is a nifty little piece of hardware that lets you stream audio files from your PC to your Bluetooth enabled devices at a maximum range of 100 meters. Sounds fun? Wait, it gets even better because the Drone also streams incoming VoIP calls from your PC and allows you to attend to the call using your Bluetooth headsets even when you are doing something else. And did I mention that you wander up to 100 meters (about 328 feet) and stay within range of the Drone.

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Brando is now offering a super small Bluetooth adapter that will sit almost flush into an available USB port. Which assuming that you have a spare port always available you could plug this adapter in and leave it without the worry of bumping it and breaking it. The adapter will allow for connectivity of up to 7 Bluetooth devices at one time and works with Windows Vista, XP, 2000, ME as well as Mac OS 10.1.4 or higher.

• A2DP support at up to 30 meters
• Enables wireless connectivity between computers and devices
• Enables Wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) connectivity
• Bluetooth 1.1 compliant
• Bluetooth class 2, compatible with Bluetooth class 1
• USB 1.1 compliant
• More than 33 feet wireless networking range
• Up to 723 Kbps data rate
• Dimension: 14 x 19 x 6mm (approx.)
• Weight: 2g

The Tiny USB Bluetooth V2.0+EDR Adapter is currently available and retails for $24.00.

Product [Brando]

Accessory-make SendStation seems to be taking its iPod accessories to the next level with the PocketDock AV. The PocketDock AV is a variety of Audio and Video connectors for the iPod that you can easily take with you. If anyone has ever used an iPod Video, they know how frustrating it can be to watch it on the tiny screen. The PocketDock AV lets you take what you’re watching on your iPod and gives you the ability to watch it on your TV at home.

The PocketDock AV gives you a choice of S-Video or Composite for video output, along with your standard left and right RCA audio jacks, and even includes a USB port for regular syncing/charging of your iPod. Another small trick, if you have a 15 or 17-inch PowerBook, you can remove the iPod dock adapter and plug your PowerBook right into your TV for some big screen viewing. The PocketDock AV by SendStation is priced at $36.95 and should be available some time next month.

Product [SendStation] Via [MacUser]

Product: ADS Tech MiniTVUSB
Price: $79.99 (seen online for $52.99)
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
Pros: Easy to install and easy to use. Straightforward software interface for burning to DVD.
Cons: Edited video not actually smaller file size and only has coax port. May be a little pricey for most when compared to similar adapter.
Overall: Great and easy to use small form adapter perfect for getting video via coax to PC and burning right to DVD. The video editing software could be a bit more robust but it works well enough for short and simple video grabs and includes still image and audio options.

Capturing video with a PC is nothing new. Heck, my 200 MHz PowerMac shipped with A/V in and out ports. Of course that computer cost me quite a few bucks, but for the early 1990s, it was well worth it.

Standard RCA A/V ports and even better quality S-Video ports can be found on many laptops, but for everyone who has a computer more than a couple years old who wants to put their home videos on YouTube, you still gotta get an adapter.

ADS Tech’s MiniTVUSB adapter is a medium priced option that uses a coaxial cable port for video input and USB plug to send it to the computer.

Since the MiniTVUSB has a single coax in port, it offers a high-quality video and audio input option from air antennae, cable boxes, satellite boxes, VCRs and most DVD players.

Design – A tiny adapter measuring only 3 1/4in. long (with the USB cap on) x 3 3/16 in high x 1/4 in tall. A removable cap on one end protects the USB adapter, and the other end has a port for a 4 in. long coaxial cable adapter. it also comes with a 7 in. USB port extender wire. It does not require a power source, and gets its power via USB, so a powered USB 2.0 port or hub would be best.

Features – The MiniTVUSB adapter allows direct video pass-though to the PC. It takes a few seconds to put together the adapter and install it. Drivers and 2 applications, all provided on the CD, install in less than ten minutes.

The MediaTVPVR software is used to view the video, capture images or video, and burn to DVD. The software also allows some music integration in the videos or created still image slide shows, also using the included software. Image editing includes crude red-eye removal and auto enhancing.

Video captures are saved to the hard drive in a designated directory and quality can be reduced to save some space. Watching TV is also set up to work a lot like a digital recorder so you can pause, rewind and watch live TV in slow motion.

MediaConverter is much more straightforward, converting video between a limited number of common formats with presets for various devices including video iPod and PSP.

Printed manuals are included for installation and software but the device is so simple to use, the manuals are not even necessary.

Performance – I was amazed at how easy it was to set up the MiniTVUSB and use the software. The software will scan for channels, but as with setting TVs for satellite cable, you will only need the single channel and will have to change channels from the cable box. For air and basic cable, however, it can accept up to 128 analog channels for standard cable users.

There is a small delay between the original signal and PC playback, though it is less than a second and does not interfere with capture if you work straight from the PC display.

Video files are rather large, with 11 min. of high resolution video with little audio taking up 220 MB. Also, the editor only allows 10 minutes to be viewed at a time. The interface is simple enough for a novice to cut out segments, which is about all it is intended to do (likely to trim commercials from recorded shows). The segments can easily be restored if the trims are bad, but that means the data is not lost, so you are not actually cutting back the final file size, although the time on the interface will display the trimmed length. That means anyone with longer clips that need to trim to 10 min. to fit YouTube standards will need to use another video editor.

The media converter works very well, even offering several preset options for brainless conversions. Conversion time will depend on your computer speed, but was about (or worse than) 1-for-1 minute-for-minute on my older 3 GHz processor running 1 GIG of RAM. It converted the 11 min. 200 MB mpg-1 to a 12 MB wmv file.

The PVR software also lets you set a timer to record TV on specific channels, which works well as long as the computer clock is set to the right time. Burning video to DVD is only a one-click process.

It’s not a replacement for Photoshop, but can do in a pinch for less discerning viewers. The red-eye filter and “image enhancing” is pretty crude, so stick to more complex editing apps for better editing.

All the software uses high contrast GUIs with large text so it can be read from several feet away (assuming you are using a large enough computer monitor).

It currently only works with PC (Win XP) which is unfortunate for me since I have Final Cut Pro only for Mac.

Overall – If you use this device is for simply watching TV on your PC, it works great. I’d like a better native display screen - less border - but its perfect for grabbing a few minutes of video to share. Installation is easy and the software lets you create slide shows from still images and capture video. I’d like the video editing to offer a few more choices and the deceptive video length was frustrating to meet YouTube standards but I can see many people making slide shows or layering on their own music to burn fun discs for friends and family. (I used it to grab video of my baby’s 4D ultrasound. It’s 10 minutes and about as exciting as paint drying to anyone but us parents, so I’ll spare you the clip.) The audio and video quality is great and the software offers a surprising number of features, but I’m not sure the retail price is low enough to entice consumers to pick it up instead of similar $30-50 adapters.

Editors Note: The categories were weighted in the following manner to reflect the importance of some features over others (in our humble opinion). Design 20%, Features 40%, and Performance 40%.

Gadget enthusiasts were deeply disappointed in the proprietary nature of Apple’s Nike + iPod SportKit, a $29.00 iPod accessory that allows you to monitor your workout using an attachment to the iPod’s dock connector and a wireless transmitter in your shoe. It’s a great idea, and cheap as dirt, and that’s likely because it has been necessary to purchase a $100 pair of Nike tennis shoes to accompany your bargain apple gadget.

That has all changed now, thanks to the -$12 SwitchEasy RunAway AnyShoe Adapter which lets you use your SportKit without having to shell out a WholeLottaCash for ShoesYouCan’tJustify!