20 Goofy USB Gadgets & Gizmos
Dress up your desktop and entertain (or annoy) your co-workers with these wacky USB-powered gadgets, from cubicle stink-busters to toasters that print the morning news on your breakfast.
Desktop Bouncer
Distributor: GadgetShop.com
Price: £9.99 (roughly US$14.50)
What It Is: A burly—if very tiny—gentleman dressed to the nines and ready to bark warnings whenever unwanted visitors near your computer. A motion sensor in his coat triggers audio, which includes such gems as "You’re cruisin for a bruisin" and "Come on over ere if you think you’re hard enough."
Why You Want It: You’ve always wanted to set up surveillance on the cleaning guy who keeps rearranging the materials on your desk. Just imagine the look on the culprit’s face when out of nowhere your bouncer growls "Not today, mate."
1.5" Mini Digital Photo Frame
1.5" Mini Digital Photo FrameManufacturer: Unity Electronics Inc.
Price: $19.95 plus shipping
What It Is: Windows-compatible mini digital photo frame powered by USB. With a 1.5-inch display, the Unity Mini Digital Photo Frame has 2GB of storage capacity for holding up to 50 images, which can be displayed manually or in slide-show format. It also shows current date and time.
Why You Want It: Polaroids and physical photographs are as outdated as HD-DVD and Betamax. Thanks to Unity’s Mini Digital Photo Frame, you can show off all those different images—whatever the size—in one unobtrusive display.
Toilet Speakers
Distributor: USB.Brando.com
Price: $13 plus shipping for one USB toilet speaker
What It Is: Toilet-tank-inspired mini-speaker for MP3- and digital-media-players, notebook- and desktop-computers, portable gaming systems, handhelds and other products with 3.5mm headset ports.
Why You Want It: Those expensive Bose speakers sure do sound nice, but can you get a set to match your favorite latrine? Harmon Kardons with a moveable toilet seat? No way, no how.
Assorted USB Desk Fans
Distributor: USB.Brando.com
Price: $12 to $24, plus shipping
What It Is: Fans that plug into computers’ USB ports to keep you cool while adding a bit of personality to your desktop.
Why You Want It: It’s the summer. It’s hot. Whatever your personal tastes or relationship with the tropics, there’s a USB-powered fan with your name written all over it.
Banana Charger for Rechargeable Batteries (AA, AAA)
Distributor: USB.Brando.com
Price: $22 plus shipping for one AA or AAA set (two adjoined bananas)
What It Is: Portable—and delicious-looking—USB-powered charging unit for rechargeable AA or AAA nickel-cadium batteries.
Why You Want It: There’s no better way to re-up spent batteries than jamming them into tiny electronic bananas. We guar-an-tee it.