More than just a USB hub -- Inateck HB4009 [Review]
USB hubs are commonplace and, let's be honest, not especially exciting pieces of kit. Inateck’s HB4009 is a three-port USB 3.0 hub, but it also has an extra trick up its sleeve. It has a Magic Port, allowing you to link two systems together for file transfers or establish a client/host link using the USB On-The-Go (OTG) standard.
This makes it a versatile little device as you can link Windows, Mac OS and Android devices to their own kind or to each other. You can also attach another USB device like a flash drive or camera to a system, such as a tablet, that might not otherwise have a suitable port.
Some Android devices support a mouse and keyboard swap via OTG so you can control the device from your PC. Links for the software needed to connect your systems are stored on the HB4009 and you're prompted to install it when a connection is made, so getting hooked up is a simple plug and go process. For Android devices you need to scan a QR code to install the Windroid Linker app.
It feels well made and is nicely weighty, the contacts of the USB ports and the OTG cable are gold-plated. A mini USB adaptor is included for OTG connection to smartphones and other devices without a full-sized USB socket.
If you've bought a new PC and want to transfer data from your old one, or regularly need to transfer files between computers, smartphones and other devices, then the HB4009 is well worth having.
The device costs $24.99 on Amazon (£22.99 in the UK) and you can find more details on the Inateck website.