Articles about USB Type-A

TEAMGROUP has officially unveiled the X1 MAX USB flash drive, boasting exceptional performance with read and write speeds reaching up to 1,000 MB/s and a significant storage capacity of 1TB.

The X1 MAX is not only fast but also versatile, supporting both Type-C and Type-A interfaces to ensure compatibility across various devices such as desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This feature enhances its utility for professionals who require reliable and swift data transfer capabilities while juggling multiple devices.

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Solid state drives make wonderful internal boot drives for computers, but they are great options for external storage too. Not only are they smaller than mechanical hard disk drives, but they use less power and are much quicker as well. Quite frankly, if you are someone that needs to transport data on a portable drive, you'd be crazy to still use a HDD with moving parts.

Today, Transcend unveils its latest portable solid state drive. Called “ESD310C,” this diminutive drive has the form factor of a flash drive. Making it incredibly versatile, it has both USB-C and USB-A connectors, meaning it is compatible with most computers and devices.

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There are so many docks and docking stations nowadays, that it can be hard to get excited about them. Look, I get it, they all pretty much do the same thing -- turn your laptop into a desktop while also charging it. The thing is, not all of them are created equally. In fact, some are much better than others.

With all of that said, today, trusted manufacturer Plugable launches an all-new USB-C docking station. Called "USBC-6950PDZ," the dock comes with all the ports that you'd expect, but in a conveniently small body. It can easily fit inside your bag when traveling.

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If you are anything like me, you have several devices that use various chargers and cables. For instance, I recently went on a cruise with an iPhone and a Kindle. For the iPhone, I have a USB-C to lightning cable. For the Kindle, I have USB-A to micro USB cable. When packing for my trip, I had to pack both a USB-A and USB-C adapter so I could charge both devices. Isn't there a better way?

Yes, actually. Had I planned better, I could have purchased a single wall adapter that offered both USB-C and USB-A ports for simultaneous charging. This would have allowed me to pack less and use fewer outlets in my room. While there are plenty of these wall adapters on the market, a diminutive new model from Silicon Power, called "Boost Charger QM25," looks quite nice.

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USB4 is already plenty fast, with its theoretical maximum speed of 40Gbps. Quite frankly, it is much faster than most consumers truly need. Most people are not even taking full advantage of current USB4 speeds. But rather than leave well enough alone, The USB Promoter Group has instead decided to push boundaries once again, this time with what it calls USB4 Version 2.0.

The group has announced this second generation of USB4 doubles maximum transfer speeds, this time topping out at 80Gbps. But don't worry; the new standard is backwards compatible with the first gen of USB4, plus the even older USB 3.2, USB 2.0, and Thunderbolt 3. Best of all, USB4 2.0 performance should be possible using existing USB4 cables.

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Apple's iPad is a tablet, yes, but when you add a keyboard case, it magically becomes a laptop. But did you know the new M1-powered iPad tablets with USB-C can also serve as a legit desktop? It is true! By plugging in a USB-hub, you can connect a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and/or external storage. The desktop capabilities of Apple's M1 tablets will greatly improve with the upcoming iPadOS 16 too.

Today, Satechi launches the "USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD," which is primarily designed for M1 iPad devices such as iPad Pro and iPad Air 5. The hub plugs into the bottom of the tablet and offers HDMI (4K compatible), USB-A (up to 5Gbps), 3.5mm audio, SD card reader, and microSD carder. It even offers USB-C power delivery (up to 60W) so you can charge the iPad while the hub is in use. There is only a single USB-A port, however, so you will need to use a wireless mouse and/or keyboard -- both cannot be wired.

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Do you need a USB charging adapter for your many devices? If so, you should probably invest in a GaN charger these days. If you aren't familiar, these chargers use a special technology that allows then to efficiently output high wattages of power while retaining a pretty small footprint. Depending on the model, you may be able to charge both your laptop and smartphone using the same diminutive charger.

Today, Anker launches a whole family of new GaN charging products under its "GaNPrime" branding. The product line consists of a diverse group of products that offer varying wattages and connection types (USB-A, USB-C, and AC). In other words, there should be at least one product to meet your needs.

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USB-C docking stations are pretty common these days. In fact, websites like Amazon are littered with countless makes and models. Of course, not all of them are good, nor are they all the same. Features can vary from dock to dock, such as the number of USB ports or video outputs.

Speaking of video output, most USB-C docks have either one or two such ports. Today, however, Plugable launches a docking station with four HDMI ports, and yes, they can all be used simultaneously for a quad-monitor configuration. But despite having so many video outputs, it doesn't skimp on other useful ports, including an SD card reader!

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We recently told you about the Kingston VP80ES IronKey Vault Privacy 80 -- a speedy portable SSD that features USB-C connectivity and a touchscreen for tapping-in a password or pin. While that drive is quite amazing, not everyone will truly need the fast speeds or touchscreen -- it could be overkill. Instead, a hardware-encrypted USB flash drive could be sufficient -- and much less expensive.

Today, Kingston launches its latest hardware-encrypted flash drive. Called "IronKey Vault Privacy 50 (VP50)," the drive uses a USB-A connector and is offered in capacities ranging from 8GB to 256GB. The VP50 features XTS-AES 256-bit encryption and is FIPS 197 certified.

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If you purchased a new laptop in recent years, there's a very good chance the computer doesn't have any proper video outputs. Back in the day, it wasn't uncommon for a notebook to have a VGA or HDMI port. Now? You are expected to utilize adapters, docks, and dongles for your video-out needs.

Thankfully, there are no shortage of USB to video products. Some of them use USB-A, some USB-C, while others offer both. For instance, today, Plugable launches a trio of new USB video adapters that are capable of 1080p60. While all three have affixed USB-A cables, they also include USB-A to USB-C converters attached to the cable. In other words, they should work with almost any laptop.

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USB hubs are rather ho-hum products. There are so many on the market, it is impossible for one to stand out in the crowd, right? Well, I would have agreed with that statement until I saw the all-new Tripp Lite U460-ST4-4A-C, that is.

What exactly is this new product? Basically, it is a USB hub that turns one USB-C port on your computer into four USB-A ports. This allows you to simultaneously connect things like a keyboard, mouse, flash drive, and more. In addition, this hub has a USB-C port for pass-through charging. That means if your laptop supports charging over USB-C, this hub can interface and deliver power while only using a single USB-C port.

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Solid state drives make wonderful internal boot drives for computers, but they are also great options for external storage too. Not only are they smaller than mechanical hard disk drives, but they use less power and are much quicker as well. Quite frankly, if you are someone that needs to transport data on a portable drive, you'd be crazy to still use a HDD with moving parts.

Today, TEAMGROUP launches its latest portable solid state drive under its T-FORCE gaming brand. Called "M200," it has a USB-C port and ships with both a USB-C to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-A cable. In other words, it can be used with any modern computer -- whether it has a USB Type-C port or not. What makes this external SSD notable, however, is its rugged shell. Oddly, the design of the drive is apparently inspired by sniper rifles...

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Solid state drives make wonderful internal boot drives for computers, but they are also great options for external storage too. Not only are they smaller than mechanical hard disk drives, but they use less power and are much quicker as well. Quite frankly, if you are someone that needs to transport data on a portable drive, you'd be crazy to still use HDD in 2021.

Today, KLEVV announces a pair of external solid state drives. Called "R1" and "S1," both drives connect using USB-C, but they can interface with USB-A ports too. While both SSDs are very fast, the S1 is faster than the R1. The former uses USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, while the latter relies on the slower USB 3.2 Gen 2.

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