What Goofy USB Devices Have You Found? 104
pluckyduck asks: "What's the goofiest USB device out there? The links below are by no means an endorsement of the company, just links to goofy USB devices to illustrate my point. The first one is not really a USB device, but a wall adapter in case you want to power your USB Coffee Mug Warmer from a wall outlet (hey, there's a concept!). I believe they also have an auto adapter should you feel the need to run your USB air purifier in the car. The latest PC I bought only has 6 USB ports, I'll need to buy a hub soon!" Yes, they even have USB Massage Balls, as well. Although goofy, some of this stuff could be useful in the right situation. What off the wall USB devices have you found? How might you use some of the devices, that have been listed?
USB Massage balls (Score:4, Funny)
Re:So no USB dildos? (Score:1, Funny)
Re:So no USB dildos? (Score:1)
Re:So no USB dildos? (Score:2)
Re:USB Massage balls (Score:2)
It might be USB, but I think the new ones are FireWire(tm).
Re:USB Massage balls (Score:2)
USB Reading Light (Score:1, Informative)
Re:USB Reading Light (Score:1)
Re:USB Reading Light (Score:2)
I love them .. (Score:5, Funny)
Now, on the goofy side, nothing beats the PC 12V Cigarette Lighter Panel [pccasegear.com.au]. Okay, it's not USB but it's still insane. I want one just so I can put a 'non-smoker' button in it.
Re:I love them .. (Score:1)
Wouldn't a cigarette lighter draw too much power? (Score:1)
Hmmm. (Score:3, Funny)
USB lights (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:USB lights (Score:1)
Re:USB lights (Score:2)
Re:USB lights (Score:1)
Then you must not have seen this [apple.com].
Here's a video [akamai.net].
Re:USB lights (Score:1)
Re:USB lights (Score:2)
Re:let me guess (Score:1)
I've Seen A Few (Score:4, Informative)
A USB Toothbrush (Score:3, Informative)
Rus
hmmm... (Score:2)
Re:hmmm... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:hmmm... (Score:2)
We don't have those at US stores. yay.
Some things I have come across.... (Score:2, Interesting)
If you are a mobile traveler like me, it's one less thing to pack when your toothbrush [impress.co.jp] is USB powered!
Or while you are brushing your teeth, you can find time to make some noodles [altavista.com] or whatever the hell this thing does.
And one last one to make soup with I guess [altavista.com].
USB Everything (Score:5, Interesting)
A co-worker of mine is kind of a USB nut:
You're making this up (Score:2)
Re:You're making this up (Score:1)
Re:USB Everything (Score:1)
omg wtf is this! [dreamkitty.com]
Kawaii?
Re:USB Everything (Score:2)
The police strobe looks like firewire (Score:2)
Speaking of which, more of this stuff shoud be for firewire.
Re:The police strobe looks like firewire (Score:2)
Re:USB Everything (Score:2)
Re:USB Everything (Score:2)
http://www.biology.eku.edu/KEEFE/KEVIN/samurai.
http://hallfantasybooks.com/authors_a-z/R/237.s
Vibrator! (Score:3, Interesting)
What I found the other day (Score:2)
Unfortunately the heatblankets link is now broken
Re:What I found the other day (Score:1)
But, you do repost. [slashdot.org]
Re:What I found the other day (Score:1)
Re:What I found the other day (Score:2)
Nightlight (Score:1)
USB Power (Score:1)
Re:USB Power (Score:2, Informative)
Just for you. [networktechinc.com]
Re:USB Power (Score:1)
Besides maybe seeding the idea on slashdot, will allow generate sparks of imagination and new wounderful devices...
Personally I just need a 5V power rail to power an infrared repeater so that I can control the cable box while I sit at my computer in another room watching via my TV card...
Re:USB Power (Score:1)
Do you ready any 'homebrew' magazines? I used to buy "Popular Electronics" now it's either "Circuit Cellar" or another google search.
Instead of a repeater, try taking output from the serial port, pushing that to an LED driver, through fiber optic cable to the cable box, and into a difuser positioned near the ir detector.
Anyhow,
Re:USB Power (Score:2)
There's nothing really "random" about google. There's a logic to it. When enough people find something useful, they link to it and google groks all these crazy relationships and gives you the best link.
Links from
Re:USB Power (Score:1)
Re:USB Power (Score:1)
Re:USB Power (Score:1)
Not a USB device, but.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Not a USB device, but.. (Score:2)
The footnotes about a Firewire Dino going on a rampage and needing to be well fed is damn funny
I want one, and i don't even NEED a FireWire hub (my external DVD burner gives me additional ports and is a hub more or less).
They need to make a USB version of one of these..
D.
Adapters (Score:1)
For example, I have an auto USB power adapter which has a standard USB plug that provides only power. I also have the USB sync/charge cable for my pocketPC in the car (so I can play tunes without running down my battery) and a USB charge cable for my Ericsson t68i phone -- they can both use the same cigarette lighter adapter plugin, all I have to do it switch cables.
Having things that charge on USB is not crazy either. Anothe
TRANCE VIBRATOR!!! (Score:2, Interesting)
The japanese version of Rez [sega.com] has a USB TRANCE [ebay.com] VIBRATOR [gamegirladvance.com]. If only there were drivers for MacOS, or Linux.
Re:TRANCE VIBRATOR!!! (Score:1)
Not USB... (Score:1)
USB adapter (Score:3, Funny)
Phidgets (Score:2)
I'd live to get IO for home automation.
USB 2.0 Light (Score:3, Funny)
Simpsons anyone? (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm still waiting for... (Score:2)
Re:I'm still waiting for... (Score:2)
Re:I'm still waiting for... (Score:1)
Meta-question (Score:2)
Quick meta-question.
USB seems like a good technology for homebrew hardware. Does anyone know of a good way to interface USB to a cheap microcontroller?
Re:Meta-question (Score:2, Informative)
On the PC side, ftdi provide "virtual com port" drivers for windows, so the new device appears to the OS as a serial port making it very easy to interface to.
Linux has appropriate driver support in the standard kernel as well (since 2.4 I think).
Bill of materials for this PCB (caveat - one of my colleagues made i
Re:Meta-question (Score:2)
They are about $10 in qty 100. If you purchase a USBSIMM (use google) you get a full development board for about $80. The coolest thing about the EZ-USB is that when it first connects to the bus, you use a driver to download the 8051 hex file to it. So you are essentially p
Re:Meta-question (Score:1)
You can get them for free in sample from microchip if you find out a good enough idea. I've built some things but the funniest one is the PS2/USB keyboard adapter. Try programming with your friend using 2 keyboard and 2 mice =).
Anyway, have fun
Re:Meta-question (Score:2)
USB Homer Simpson (Score:5, Funny)
The Homer Simpson Dot Pal [simpsonscollectors.com] would make comments, such as when the Microsoft Word spellchecker detects a typo.
From the website, (Score:2, Funny)
Anyone else catch that on the USB massage ball [cyberguys.com] page? What kind of philosophy is driving that company, are they good or evil or beyond both?
I Hail our new USB massage ball overlords!
Please, IF I'm at work expecting to relieve myself, "after several pressure-filled hours in your chair..." there better be a god damn local brothel where I can bring a company christmas bonus discount card. Who the fuck do these capitalists think comprise the majority of their te
Crap stuff will kill your computer. (Score:3, Informative)
I wouldn't call it an interesting USB device unless it actually talks to software on the host computer.
Re:Crap stuff will kill your computer. (Score:2)
What about USB laptop charging? (Score:3, Interesting)
I first thought of this when in a meeting. The laptop of the guy next to me was running out of juice - I had two batteries in mine and plenty of power, but there was no way to move the power the 15 inches from my machine to his.
Think of the possibilities: no more carrying a fat, proprietary power brick around to charge your laptop - just slip a USB cable in your pocket and pull some power from your desktop machine (or a friend's, or a stranger's, or the local library's). No USB port handy? Grab one of the $15 USB power jacks in the original post, and you're all set.
Probably won't ever happen, though - too much damage to the 'laptop power brick' sector of the economy...
Re:What about USB laptop charging? (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm trying to remember the USB spec; it's been about 3 years since I had to deal with it, so this information may be a bit out of date.
By my recollection, though, there are two reasons that manufacturers don't do this:
Re:What about USB laptop charging? (Score:1)
Fan (Score:1)
Game Console to USB Adaptors (Score:1)
Re:Game Console to USB Adaptors (Score:2)
Re:Game Console to USB Adaptors (Score:1)
lights and buttons (Score:3, Informative)
Thinkgeek also has a USB volume knob.
USB-powered vibrator. Really. (Score:2, Informative)
Digital Herbal Vaporizer - For Medical Cannabis (Score:1, Informative)
http://www.xijix.com/
Bluetooth (Score:1)
Re:Bluetooth (Score:1)