Articles about USB

Earlier this month, Yubico released the long-awaited biometric variant of its popular authentication dongle. Called "Yubikey Bio," it is offered with either USB-A or USB-C connectivity and features a fingerprint reader for enhanced security. Very cool.

While the Yubikey Bio looks like a great product, there is one big problem -- the price. You see, it starts at $80, making it too expensive for many consumers and businesses. Thankfully, today, Yubico launches a much more affordable product, albeit without the fancy biometrics.

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Solid state drives are obviously the future of computing, while hard disk drives are the past, right? Sort of. Despite being destined for the history books, HDDs are still a major part of the present. Why? Even though they are slower and have moving parts, HDDs still remain the better value from a cost per gigabyte perspective. SSDs will get there eventually, but for now, hard drives continue to live on.

If you are in the market for a portable hard disk drive (a 2.5-inch HDD in a USB enclosure), Silicon Power has new model that may interest you. Called "Armor A66," it is notable for being very rugged. Not only does it offer both drop and water protection, but it has a rubber USB-A cap to protect the connector. The removable USB-A to USB-A cable even conveniently attaches to the drive body when not in use to keep it from getting lost.

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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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Portable hardware authentication dongles are pretty darn cool -- they can be a great way to secure access to various devices, applications, and services using hardware. Google offers its own Titan security keys, for instance, but the search giant likely isn't the first company that comes to mind for these products. Actually, Yubico is probably the name most associated with authentication dongles.

Believe it or not, Yubico's popular YubiKey devices have not yet been offered with biometric support. Thankfully, this changes today. You see, the all-new YubiKey Bio features a fingerprint reader for an added level of security. Not only must you physically have possession of the YubiKey Bio to use it, but you must prove you are its owner by scanning your finger.

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Number pads are pointless. Don't get me wrong, I am sure some older folks use them out of habit, but I -- and many other consumers -- never do. Quite frankly, since you can buy a dedicated number keypad if you truly need it, why burden everyone with them just to please a small group of people? As a result, many keyboards are longer than they need to be. While that doesn't sound so bad, it is an annoyance since it takes up valuable desk space -- especially with more and more people working from home these days.

Today, Logitech unveils a slim wireless keyboard without a number pad. Called "MX Keys Mini," it is notable for more than just being compact. The backlit keyboard can fast-charge using USB-C, and Logitech promises up to 5-months of battery life with backlighting off. With the lights on, you can expect up to 10 days of usage.

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Thunderbolt docks and docking stations are rather common, but believe it or not, Thunderbolt hubs are still quite rare. Quite frankly, other than the excellent offering from OWC that we previously reviewed, there really are no other such hubs on the market.

Well, folks, today this changes as Plugable launches its own such hub for both Windows and Mac. Called "TBT4-HUB3C," the company seems quite proud that it uses the Intel Goshen Ridge chipset, and rightfully so. You see, this chipset makes the hub compatible with both Thunderbolt 4 and USB4. This makes the hub very versatile. In addition to the TBT4-HUB3C, the company is releasing a new high-end Thunderbolt 4/USB4 cable in two lengths -- 1 meter (TBT4-40G1M) and 2 meters (TBT4-40G2M).

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If you want to be a world-famous YouTube creator or Twitch streamer, you have to have a great personality and a way to stand out in the crowd. For most people, it will never become more than a hobby -- getting rich from these platforms is rarified air.

With all of that said, and with personality and gimmick aside, you really need good hardware too. For instance, if I discover an interesting streamer on Twitch, I won't bother subscribing if it's difficult to hear them speak -- a good microphone is essential. And no, quality gear doesn't have to break the bank. For instance, today, Turtle Beach unveils the latest product from its Neat Microphones subsidiary. Called "Skyline," it is an affordable USB mic with an elegant design.

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Solid state drives obviously make wonderful internal computer boot drives, but believe it or not, they are really great options for external storage too. Not only are SSDs smaller than mechanical hard disk drives, but they use less power and are much quicker as well.

If you are in the market for an external solid state drive, you must check out the TEAMGROUP T-CREATE CLASSIC. Not only is the drive fast and small, but it has a special trick -- it supports both Thunderbolt 3 and USB! In other words, it is an excellent option for those that value versatility and optimal compatibility.

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I'm a huge proponent of using laptops with docking stations. Most people want the portability of a notebook, meaning a traditional desktop just won't do. At the same time, people also like using a large monitor, keyboard, and mouse to maximize productivity at home or in the office. A dock or docking station transforms a laptop into a makeshift desktop, delivering some of the best of both worlds. This is a particularly great solution for remote users that are newly working from home.

Most docking stations are very cold and industrial in their designs. That isn't necessarily a bad thing -- these dock are just tools, after all. Of course, it doesn't have be that way. You see, today, Logitech launches a new such product that isn't just a useful tool, but a friendly piece of decor as well. Called "Logi Dock," it combines a docking station and a speakerphone into a warm and inviting package that will look nice in any setting.

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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.

If you want a diminutive external solid state drive, you must check out the Kingston XS2000. Not only is the drive fast, durable, and small, but it utilizes USB-C too. Not to mention, its design is so cute -- I absolutely adore it.

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Even in the age of the cloud, USB drives are still commonly used to exchange information between office and home computers, but they're used by hackers as a way to infiltrate systems too.

Researchers at the UK's Liverpool Hope University have developed a new scanning device that can counter the threat posed by USB devices.

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With cloud storage continuing to grow in popularity, USB flash drives have largely fallen out of favor with consumers. Maybe that's not such a bad thing, as USB flash drives are both easy to lose and are susceptible to failure -- the cloud is arguably more safe and secure. With that said, there should always be a need for local storage, Look, sometimes you just can't trust certain documents, such as company secrets, to the cloud.

It is hard to get excited about new USB flash drives though, right? I mean, aren't they all the same? Actually, no! They can vary on things like build quality and speed. Today, Kingston launches DataTraveler Max and the USB-C flash drive offers downright droolworthy performance. Featuring a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, it can achieve speeds of up to 1,000MB/s read and 900MB/s write. Wow.

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Apple's iMac computers have long been beautiful and fun, but the 2021 model in particular is both slim and elegant too. In fact, thanks to the M1 processor (aka Apple Silicon) it is powerful and quiet as well. Seriously, folks, you really can't go wrong with the newest iMac.

Unfortunately, the 2021 iMac has the same design flaw as its predecessor -- a lack of front ports. Yeah, Apple continues to choose form over function, leading to third-party clamp hubs, such as this one, to add front ports.

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Google's Titan Security Key dongles are a great way to secure accounts using hardware rather than only relying on software. The search giant has offered these little devices for years now with USB-A, USB-C, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Back in 2019, Google discovered a vulnerability in its Bluetooth-capable Titan Security Key that lead to a recall. With that said, it is not surprising that in 2021, the search giant is dropping that wireless connection option entirely. You see, starting tomorrow, the Google Titan Security Keys are ditching Bluetooth to instead rely on NFC -- in addition to USB, of course.

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USB Type-C is amazing. This reversible USB connector is not just used for data connections, but power too. For instance, there are many laptops, tablets, and smartphones that charge using USB-C. When all of your devices use USB-C, it makes your life much easier -- there are fewer wires and chargers to deal with. Even better, you can potentially travel lighter by packing less. Hopefully Apple will eventually bring USB-C to the iPhone fully -- the company already has with some iPad models.

Today, Satechi launches a trio of USB-C chargers, and since they are of the GaN variety, they are very compact. While all three are similar, they are also quite distinct. All three have foldable prongs which makes them ideal for travel, but the number of ports and wattage varies. The 66W and 108W models both have three ports, but the 100W variant has only one.

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