Gadgets Gizmos Gossip

In the last decade, USB flash drives have become phenomenally popular all over the world, particularly when it comes to transporting data. It’s not hard to understand why, as USB flash drives are small, easy to transport and have very little in the way of moving parts than can be affected by dropping, scratches, dust, etc. In addition to this, modern USB drives can hold a considerable amount of data (up to around 300GB), making them a preferable alternative to external hard drives, CD’s and DVD’s (all of which are easily damaged).

However, whilst USB drives offer numerous benefits in terms of portability and reliability, they do have some drawbacks when it comes to transporting sensitive or personal data. USB drives are easily lost (due to their size and weight) and make a fairly easy target for thieves – something that’s particularly pertinent in the case of data that needs to be kept secure.

It’s for precisely this reason that secure USB technology has become extremely popular in the last year or so; offering people a more secure version of the standard USB flash drive.

One of the best examples of modern secure USB technology is the military grade Ironkey USB, which is available for public purchase from certain online suppliers. USB drives like the Ironkey offer a range of features designed to help protect your data and other sensitive files, these include:

Tough casing – the casing of secure USB drives is not only rugged and tamperproof, but is also waterproof, helping to protect your data from drops, spillages or even complete submersion in water.

High level cryptography - all data housed on the USB is encrypted, ensuring only you can access the data housed on the drive. In addition, they also boast high level authentication, making them extremely difficult to crack into.

Remote kill - almost all secure USB drives feature some kind of remote kill function, allowing you to remotely wipe the drive should it be lost or stolen.

Secure backup - many secure drives will feature an innovative back-up feature, meaning if you accidentally delete or overwrite sensitive data, you’ll be able to ‘step backwards’ to recover your data.

Secure browsers - this particular feature is aimed at those who need secure internet access wherever they are in the world (particularly useful for journalists and security personnel working in hostile environments). The browser application will allow you to go online without fear of your activity being viewed or accessed by others.

Ever wanted to combine your sunglasses with your iPad or your phone? How would you like to be able to answer calls without anything more than a touch of your sunglasses? Or to be able to listen to music on the go without getting annoyed with wired headphones or worrying about keeping track of wireless earphones?

Well now you can with the Trispecs Bluetooth Stereo Fashion Eyewear; developed and manufactured by US consumer electronics company Trispecs. The sunglasses, which are fairly stylish given the amount of technology they’re housing, deliver wireless stereo headphones and an integrated Bluetooth headset, allowing you to use them for voice communication.

The sunglasses also feature patented STEP Labs noise reduction technology, cancelling out ambient noise including wind, cars and background chatter. This provides clear, crisp audio, both when listening to music and speaking on the phone.

The frames don’t just deliver when it comes to audio clarity, but they also offer everything you’d expect from modern sunglasses. The SOLA Sunlens lenses (developed by Carl Zeiss Vision) deliver 100% UV protection and extremely high levels of anti-impact resistance. The frames are also RX compatible, meaning you can get them with prescription lenses if required.

If you’d like to grab yourself a pair you can find them at trispecs.com, with prices starting around £120.

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Post from Chris at Direct Sight – the leading providers of prescription and non-prescription designer glasses and sunglasses in the UK, visit us online for frames starting at just £19.

An iPhone-controlled fridge which shoots cans of beer across a room from a cannon has been hailed as the ‘greatest ever bloke’s toy’.

Ryan Rusnak, 25, created the ‘Beer Bot’ when he decided to make his own beer vending machine – which means he doesn’t have to leave his seat again when he fancies a cold beverage.

The first version was a basic vending machine that dropped chilled beers from the fridge into a tray below. But Ryan, form Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, US wasn’t satisfied with a mere beer vendor.

After talking with co-creator Graham Phero, a compressed air cannon was added to the machine.

Ryan said: “My buddy Graham said, ‘how can we throw the beers to us?’

“What about an arm or a cannon?”

The friends settled on air-pressured cannon, but it wasn’t all plain sailing.

Ryan said: “It was kind of famous last words: ‘how much pressure should we use?’

“The first attempt smashed into the roof and blew it into a thousand pieces.”

Using a netbook computer the pair can log into the fridge via a dedicated web server, using an app developed by Ryan’s friend Josh Lilly.

They installed a webcam in the front of the Perspex panelled fridge to aim the cannon and send a cold can of beer hurtling across the room towards them.

The fridge also has its own Twitter profile, tweeting whenever a beer is fired and sending a notification email to its creators.

Ryan said: All the tinkering and everything took about three months to get it absolutely right.”

He added that making a ‘Beer Bot’ Mark II would be a quicker and cheaper affair.

He said: “The trial and error and creating the device cost £250. But knowing what I do now I could probably build one in a weekend for about £190.”

An iobridge micro-controller device allows the fridge to link to Ryan’s iPhone via the web.

Government tech consultant Ryan, A Virginia Tech University graduate, has received plenty of attention since posting videos of the Beer Bot online, so much that the CEO of the micro-controller company took him out to lunch.

He said:”It’s been crazy. I’ve had tons of people calling me asking to use the videos on new programmes and even to conjure an idea for other appliances like an old Bosch slimline dishwasher or a washing machines, it’s just bizarre.”

Ryan said he plans to celebrate the popularity of the fridge by throwing a party and allowing friends to log into the appliance.