More neat gadgets

The CyberGuys site intrigues me more every day. They seem to stock a lot of specialty items related to the electronic age. Here are some of the latest items that seem quite useful as well as unique:

• Plusdeck2c - converts cassette tapes to MP3 format. Put them on an MP3 player, computers, USB stick ... whatever. Music to go. And the sound doesn't get scratchier with age! Coming in September will be a similar type product for records, the Ion USB Turntable.
• Retractible USB file transfer tool. Transfer files directly from computer to computer (or notebook to PC). The included file transfer software automatically starts after both USB cables are plugged in. Just drag and drop files or folders.
• DVD/CD Carousel. Remember slide carousels? Same principle. The unit holds 150 CDs or DVDs. Inventory software uses a database to let you find and access files on any CD in the carousel. You can even stack carousels.
• Power Station Organizer. This handy unit gets you gang three charger units and hide the AC/DC converter and cord mess. It includes cable ties and allows for larger chargers. Got an iPod, handheld computer, cell phone, or similar? Charge any three of them all at one efficiently organized unit and use only one electrical wall outlet.
• Laptop as desktop unit. The laptop organizer lets you raise up your notebook to a better height for viewing its screen when you're using it on a desktop surface. If you use a notebook as your only computer, check this out.

I have only bought one item from them (so far), but the online ordering process was painless and it arrived quickly. You may opt in for emailed "flyers" of new and sale CyberGuys items ("exclusive email specials"). I chose to get them.

"Safety" reminder: Some sites might sell your email address. Others may have less than the best security and hackers capture client email addresses without the company knowing it. Use either a separate or a "throw away" email address to protect your main email address from spam accidentally (or deliberately) triggered by ordering online. This is an online "Best Practice", not a comment on the safety of the CyberGuys site. They say they do not sell or trade your email address.

[No, I don't get any kickback for comments about CyberGuys, nor am I in any way affiliated with their company. I just think they have neat items.]

Lock down your USB drive!

Protect your portable data! A long time ago (a few years), floppy diskettes were all we had to worry about getting infected. And they could only hold 1.44MB of data. Protection? Well, we pushed that little slider to make it "read only". So what can we do now that we have portable everything? One device getting more attention is the now common USB flash drive. Some call it a "jump drive" or "pen drive" or "key drive".

No matter what you call it, those little suckers are very handy. Small, lightweight, and can hold a ton of data. We can use a USB flash drive to copy files to a friend or client's computer, to boot a computer, and even use as the source of a presentation at a conference or training session. But therein lies the rub. It's so easy to use that we tend to downplay the need to protect the data on it. And we forget that we need to protect that helpless USB drive from attack.

USB flash drives can get infected just like any other drive.

"Bah," you say. "My computer has Antivirus software -- it'll catch anything."

Think so? Read the scary but true article, " Social Engineering, the USB Way", which describes a security test by a Credit Union. Their consultant had a Trojan program made, added to USB flash drives along with some images, then seeded 20 of the little poisonous puppies in the Credit Union parking lot. Within a few days 15 of the 20 USB drives had been picked up and plugged into business computers. The result? The Trojan on the USB drive infected all 15 computers. And some of these infected other computers.

Remember, a new piece of malicious software will be able to attack thousands of computers before the Antivirus companies have time to get out an detection and disinfection update.

OK, so what security measures should you take with USB flash drives?

• Write-protect it. If all you need to do is copy files from the USB drive to another computer, write-protect it if possible. Many USB drives include a "lock" slide switch on the side.
• Encrypt data. In case it gets stolen or you lose it, does the USB drive have any information that other people shouldn't see? If so, check out encryption software that works with USB drives. Some USB flash drives come preloaded with encryption software, such as the Lexar JumpDrive Secure line.
• Physically secure it. Always, always physically protect a USB drive. If possible, keep it on your person. That's what the lanyard is for after all.

Fast charge, long life battery

M.I.T. is researching use of nanotubes as mini-capacitors in batteries that would recharge within seconds and could be recharged thousands of times. The researchers are drooling at practical uses in everything from hearing aids to cars.

• Carbon nanotube (Wikipedia)
• Capacitor (Wikipedia)

Great site for digital photo nerds

PhotoJoJo has some good tips, including photos. Make your own fisheye lens for under $10, for example.

If you enjoy using a digital camera for more than "snapshots", this site is for you.

Private Folders lets XP users protect data

Microsoft now offers, for free, Private Folders 1.0, using password protected folders. It is a step to protect sensitive data from prying eyes. Though billed as being for a computer that multiple people use, it may also help protect against data theft by hackers and thieves.

Then there's file and folder encryption too using XP's Encrypting File System (EFS). The Federal Government will soon have to start using encryption on all its laptops, notebooks, tablets, ... (portable computers). Just remember -- encryption is not for files you need to share.

• The article on CNET
• Download Private folders 1.0 from Microsoft

Cell phones = drunk driving

"Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!" Results of a recent study show that using a cell phone while driving is as dangerous and sometimes even more dangerous than driving under the influence.

In the study, many cell phone users crashed into the pace car ahead of them, but none of the DUI ones did. Yikes!

A commenter at a CNET blog posting on this report says that the problem is "self-phones" -- phones used by people who are so self-centered that they forget even common courtesy to others while using the cell phones.

Other free PDF readers

You probably know about the free Adobe Reader, which reads PDF files. But did you know that there are lots of other free PDF readers, some of which are as small as 1MB in size? One great use is as a slimmer PDF reader for a utilities collection on your USB flash drive.

[update 8/5/06] FoxIt Reader for Windows

Mouse control software for shaky hands

People from hand tremors can use Mousecage software to let them control a mouse much better.

• Related link: Free IBM utilities help seniors

Neat nerd stuff

I've been impressed with Cyberguys as a source of unusual and helpful computer accessories. If you are computer-friendly, you'll enjoy looking over their wide range of items. Here are a couple that caught my eye lately:

• Optical "travel" mini-mouse with retractible cord -- for notebooks. (We ordered these at work)
• A flexible USB connector that rotates in two directions.
• USB PnP turntable - Digitize those old LP and even 45RPM records! Includes software to edit and "clean up" the audio.