And a refresh this certainly is, as this is the same product, but with audio output. Specifically, audio output in 3.5mm analog and embedded HDMI. The $219 piece of kit is also compatible with both Windows Vista and Windows 7. [Engadget]

So yeah, if you've been chomping at the bit to get HD quality resolutions delivered to your monitor via a USB connection, this may be the adapter for you. Comes in a kind of periwinkle blue hue for $99. [Sewell via Engadget]

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]

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]

OWC's version comes with two swiveling adapters (the main bit, just like ViBook's is just a solid block), and supports up to 1600x1200 or 1680x1050. What's better about this is that it's got the VGA and HDMI adapters and comes in at $100, $30 less than the ViBook. You just need to make sure your displays support whatever resolution this can drive before you load up. [OWC]

Like its Cross Battle cousin, this adapter delivers the Dual Shock experience some gamers crave but cannot have on their Xbox 360 consoles. It also delivers, via an array of switches, custom turbo settings for every button on the controller.

Rumble is also supported, as well as a "tilt" switch, which we imagine is the Dual Shock's motion sensing functionality. So that's in there too, even if there aren't any Xbox 360 games that support such a feature. At the very least, you can't say the folks at XCM didn't cover all their bases with this thing.

Arrives in two weeks, with pricing that will probably be in line with the XCM Cross Battle adapter ($55). [SlashGear]

The phones range from $50-$100 and will be available come springtime. No pricing or availability yet on the adapter, picture here:

Scosche Industries Announces Earphones With Increased Dynamic Range Designed For New iPod shuffle

Oxnard, CA., – March 12, 2009 – Scosche Industries (www.scosche.com), an award-winning innovator of mobile electronics and iPod accessories, today announced that it is developing breakthrough earphones with integrated controls for the new third generation iPod shuffle with Apple's new VoiceOver feature. The new IDR (Increased Dynamic Range) noise isolating earphones will give users the ability to play, pause, adjust volume, skip tracks, navigate playlists and hear the name of the song and artist with the press of a button.

"We are delighted to support the exciting new VoiceOver technology in the 4GB iPod shuffle," said Kas Alves, executive vice president of Scosche Industries. "Scosche's focus on innovation means we're ideally placed to develop new and exciting products like the IDR earphones."

Scosche is currently developing three earphone models- IDR350M, IDR450M and IDR650M noise isolating earphones that feature an integrated control surface. Users can control play, pause, adjust volume, skip tracks, navigate playlists and hear the name of the song and artist with the third generation iPod shuffle. A miniature microphone built into the back of the control surface allows users to record voice memos on the latest iPod touch, iPod nano and iPod classic 120GB. The IDR (Increased Dynamic Range) series earphones are designed to give users an enhanced listening experience with brilliant highs, silky smooth mids and powerful bass. The headphones are expected to be available this Spring and range in price from $49.99 to $99.99.

Scosche is also developing an inline control adapter kit that allows consumers to use any standard set of headphones and enjoy all of the advanced features of the third generation iPod shuffle. The inline control also allows users to plug their shuffle into any vehicles auxiliary input and maintain full control of the iPod.

The new third generation iPod shuffle with the VoiceOver feature can speak song titles, artists and playlist names. When you want to know the name of the song or artist playing, simply press a button on the conveniently located headphone controls and iPod shuffle tells you the song and artist name. iPod shuffle can even announce status information, such as battery life.

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]

The dongle comes at $130 and can support 1680x1050 or 1600x1200 on both Macs and PCs. It's compatible with the latest MacBook and MacBook Pros, for those of you who need more displays than the one Mini DisplayPort can hold.

Each adapter supports one display, and you can hook up to six of these to your PC or four up to your Mac for a super crazy panoramic view at your spreadsheets. Compatibility is DVI and VGA, and should be fine with hot plugging in and out. [VillageTronic]

Belkin BreakFree Protects Your Amps

¶ Easy-to-Use BreakFree Connectors Complement Your Existing Cables with a Magnetic Breakaway Connector
COMPTON, Calif. —(Business Wire)— Jul. 10, 2008 Belkin International, Inc., announces new BreakFree Connectors, which detach under extreme tension, protecting your amplifier or guitar from unexpected damage. BreakFree will provide noise-free dynamic sound without any degradation in audio quality.

Belkin's BreakFree Connectors are designed to eliminate the popping that occurs when cables are accidentally unplugged from a live amplifier. Additionally, for musicians with multiple guitars, the product makes guitar swapping seamless without the hassle of shutting down or putting your amplifier on standby.

AVAILABILITY

— September 2008 in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia

BreakFree (F8Z294) - US: $19.99

— Supports 1/4" TRS plug

— Strong magnet with quick detachment

— Consistent audio quality

— Reduces cable clutter

BreakFree Tips (F8Z293-2) - US: $9.99

— Use with BreakFree Connector

— Two in a pack

— Supports 1/4" TRS plug

[Belkin]

Right now, almost all products ship with a proprietary power adapter. Green Plug's technology allows every electronic device to communicate its own energy requirements to one adapter, allowing for several goods to use the same power box. But in order for the universal adapter to work, companies have to embed Green Plug's firmware into their electronics.

Westinghouse, the first company to sign on with Green Plug, said the adapter would not only help it cut costs (it wouldn't have to sell power adapters with each product if the consumer already has a universal one at home), the environmental savings are huge as well.

434 million consumer electronics devices are “retired” in the U.S. each year. Those products, and their power cords usually end up in landfills. Meanwhile, over 3 billion power adapters will be shipped worldwide this year. Imagine how much less that figure would be if everything plugged into a single hub. [ PC World]

The Mobile Power Pack, above, takes two hours to charge up, and has a USB jack so you can plug in any proprietary USB phone or PDA connector. It is, according to Kensington, the only UL-approved portable battery pack of its kind.

From the press release:

Expanded 'Power it' Line: Thin and Light on the Go

The newest additions to Kensington's industry-leading line of power products enable mobile professionals to get reliable power wherever they are. The new rechargeable power pack and two power adapters are thin and light, while an updated power inverter shares a compact design optimized for travel. All products feature USB connectivity to USB-powered devices like the RIM® Blackberry, Palm® Treo and Motorola® RAZR. The collection lets users select from solutions that work at home, in the car or on the plane—making it easy and convenient to power notebook PCs, mobile phones and USB devices on the go.

The Kensington "Power It" line additions include the Auto Power Inverter with USB Power Port (SKU K38022), Portable Power Pack for Mobile Devices (SKU K38021), Wall Ultra Portable Notebook Power Adapter (SKU K33336) and Wall/Auto/Air Ultra Portable Notebook Power Adapter (SKU K33197).

Product Availability

The new Kensington products will be available for pre-order at Amazon.com and Kensington.com starting on September 17, 2007, and at other major retailers in late September.

This one also lets you plug in two drives at the same time, just like the others, but doesn't include that one-touch backup software. It supports 1.8", 2.5", 3.5" and 5.5" IDE hard disks, and any 2.5" or 3.5" SATA or SATAII drive up to 750GB. Might be a great way to save a bit of money, getting low-cost bare SATA or IDE drives and plugging them in via USB, no enclosures required. Neat. [Brando]