It looks like the Universal Charging Solution (UCS) has some pretty broad support, from handset manufacturers like LG, Motorola and Samsung to carriers including AT&T and T-Mobile. No word on whether the standard will match the one the GSM Association has been working on, but they're both rallying around MicroUSB, so we'll call it likely for now.

What's sad to me is that, according to the source, this standard could save 51,000 tons of waste if it were in place today. Considering all phone chargers do exactly the same thing, it's pretty ridiculous there wasn't a standard in place before.

Participating carriers and handset makers should fully adopt the UCS by 2012. Hopefully America hops on board before then. [Reuters via Electronista]

The Price:

$70

The Verdict:

It works, but damn if it isn't expensive.

If you're not really married to the higher quality digital audio, you might be better off getting the USB audio version for $50 $60, which performs basically the same service for $20 $10 less.

As for this unit, it definitely works—we've been using it on a Mac Mini hooked up to a 1080p TV for a week—and there are no dropouts or weird signal noise inconsistencies that we can see. Everything is plug and play, and you should have no problem using it on your 5.1 audio system.

Again, at $70, it's only really useful if Mini DisplayPort is your only display output, otherwise you can come up with a cheaper solution involving a series of cheaper tubes. [Kanex Live]

It works

It's very expensive

There isn't a whole lot to explain, other than the fact that the adapter is now basically set to deliver full audio quality to the video content played back on your Mac, and all through one HDMI cable. The previous version was held up because of manufacturing issues, so we'll have to see if this version suffers from the same difficulties. [Kanex]

The Price: $40 $60

The Verdict: It works. IT WORKS! Playing back 1080p trailers in Quicktime, powered by a MacBook Pro, on our plasma TV was fantastic. And the part where it actually has audio? Yes please.

It's quite easy to use. The USB and Mini DisplayPort goes into the MacBook Pro (or Mac Mini), and the other end takes an HDMI cable. Your Mac should automatically detect the new display, but you have to manually switch the audio output to the USB audio device. If you're planning on using a new Mac Mini, this is the way to go. The video quality is pretty much what you'd expect from a clean 1080p source, and those trailers look good.

And with the problems Apple's own Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapters are having, using this and an HDMI-capable monitor might be a smart idea.

The adapters will be available later in the week. I suggest you pick one up if you have any kind of Mini DisplayPort-capable computer you want to throw up onto your TV once in a while. Also, Monoprice has a unit coming up soon as well that's pretty similar. [Kanexlive]

Update: Availability's been pushed to mid-September, after some shortages in components. We will update when we hear anything else.

In theory, a standby PS3 uses about $250 a year when in the off standby position. An Xbox 360 uses a little bit less than that. Both those consoles use a little bit of power to maintain the wireless receiver (and USB charger, if you're charging a controller) while the main power is off. If the Tricklesaver shuts this off when the TV is off, you theoretically won't be able to charge your controllers or turn on your console wirelessly.

The solution is to just turn on your TV before you activate your console. But there's not much you can do about that controller charging. It's also $35, which is kind of steep for something that only has space for one TV and one console. [PR Web via Go nintendo via Oh Gizmo]

Update: Reader Jonathan notes that the PS3 uses only 2 watts in standby, and if you're to calculate that out, that's only about $5 a year. Not quite $250.

No idea. We're surprised that Apple is getting in on this agreement, though, and we're wondering if the microUSB port will supplement or replace the standard Apple 30-pin iPod port. We're guessing supplement.

As a refresher, you should go and look back at our cable explainer to see what other kinds of cables are out there now. [Reuters via Slashdot]

Update: Looks like Apple's going to provide an adapter. [PocketLint]

The discussion thread reports that Apple recommends updating the firmware in the adapter itself to 1.02. Unfortunately you can't update it at home, so you'll have to go to an Apple store to trade it in. Even more unfortunate is the fact that users are saying the 1.02 firmware makes things even WORSE. [Mini DisplayPort coverage on Giz]

Using a wireless USB tether—specifically, a Cables Unlimited Wireless Adapter Kit—Peter Tsai, a professor in photography, created an easy and cheap tethering module that supposedly seamlessly worked with his Nikon DSLR. Apparently, it also could transfer photos over Wi-Fi from his camera to his computer even quicker than an official $800 WT-4a transmitter. Although it took slightly longer for the dongle to sync with his computer, once connected, it was reportedly able to transfer photos shot in RAW in eight seconds and JPEG photos in four. Tsai also said you could use Nikon's Camera Control 2 software on your computer to remotely control your camera.

However, Tsai pointed out that this particular hack only works with PCs, and that the particular wireless adapter kit needed a bulky AC power brick for it to work. Although he was able to solder a 4-AAA powerpack to the kit, he says he is still looking to fix the problem, and hopefully create an encasing for his homemade adapter to keep it contained and make it into a camera handgrip. [PeteTek via Wired]

The Price: $30

The Verdict: For the most part, it works. The cigarette 12V adapter in my car does not charge my iPhone 3G correctly, but if I plug in through this converter, everything's great.

The problem comes from the fact that it's a pass-through, so if you're not careful, the adapter (and the charger) might snap off if bent too far in one direction. It also is awkward if you're plugging your iPhone into this, and then into a dock from the top without proper support. There's also the matter of it obstructing certain types of iPod/iPhone holders since they weren't designed to have something in-between the connectors.

But as for being able to convert Firewire charging devices to USB charging devices, yeah, it works with most devices, but there were two "older" docks that we checked that it didn't work with. So YMMV, since there are so many different iPod docks and chargers that have been made in the last five years. [Griffin]

Great when it works

Blocks or otherwise awkwardly arranges docking in certain chargers and accessories

Doesn't work with all older docks and chargers, which makes this moot if you've got one of the devices it doesn't work with

ViBook supports up to a 23-inch monitor at 1680x1050 or 1600x1200 resolution. Like the ViDock, it renders graphics on the device itself, offloading the processing from your on-board graphics card. This is good, because it allows you to attach four (for Macs) or six (for PCs) more monitors to your setup. But it's also bad because it relies on the rendering power of the device to display windows, so there's no OpenGL or any kind of real acceleration.

It's best used for extending your desktop so you can keep your mail, or your RSS feeds, or your IM windows or your calendar visible at all times. Not so much if you need to do anything graphics-based, or anything that refreshes really fast. No games, especially.

The ViBook is a pretty decent device, but at $130, it's slightly too pricey. OWC has a version for $100, and Fastmac has a version for $80. [ViBook]

Current customers can upgrade for $40, whereas new users will be able to get them bundled directly with their Vuzix AV230XL systems for $200. There's no guarantee that you'll get mugged if you wear these things on the subway, but broadcasting that you have both an expensive phone AND an expensive pair of video goggles doesn't help your chances. [Vuzix]

In a related note, some people on the forums are claiming that after running Quicktime or iTunes will cause the problem to occur. That particular instance hasn't happened to us—our issue still continues to be a thing that happens a few times at the beginning of a computing session, then stops after a few reconnects. Here's hoping that it's still fixable via software.

Reader Yoel reports that AppleCare has contacted him to say Engineering retroactively decided the adapters are ONLY compatible with the 30-inch Apple Cinema Display, and not with any other 30-inch displays on the market now. They are, you know, "technically" compatible, except for the distortion issues we outlined here.

One, that's really strange, since we don't usually see companies retroactively take back support after a product has been released. Two, users actually say that the distortion issue appears on Apple Cinema Displays too, which makes this whole thing sound kinda flimsy. We're still hoping for a software fix. [Apple Discussions]

Have you noticed the packaging that Apple is using to send you a new AC adapter for the recent recall? That's huge! At the local Apple store they were out so I asked for a replacement online, and the service, has to be said, was impressively fast. Anyway isn't this kind of packaging against their "green" policy of using new sleeker packages for their newest toys?

Indeed it is. Seems like Apple has joined our Shipping Hall of Shame with honors. [Thanks Manuel]

[Gefen]