I have set up all kinds of alerts to tell me when I have a new message. Or email. Or a new mention on Twitter. Or if I get a new like on Facebook. They all ring, pop out and sing, sometimes simultaneously. It can drive a person mad at one point.

Not any more! I like this little thingy called the USB Mailbox New Message Indicator. What it does is inform you every time you get a new message (be it email, Facebook message, tweet or anything else). It’s made to support gmail, yahoo, outlook, outlook express, Windows Live, Live Mail, POP3, Facebook and Twitter. It has a sound illumination reminder and the flag rises with every new message. So cute! Just plug it in your USB driver.

How much under $29.99?
Some:$18 on Brando.

Via Ohgizmo.

I really like this one. The Sexy Touch Activated USB LED Boob Lamp would make a perfect present for any guy friend you have. When it’s dark, lonely and you’re staring helplessly at the computer, there’s nothing to light up the room like touching a boob, right? :)) Simply push the nipple to switch the LED light on or off. Not like in real life.

I can’t help but wonder if two are better or if one’s enough to make an impact. Would you like one of these on your desk?

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $10.99 on SourceSquare.

Configuring a network can be a big pain in the ass if you’re a newbie. Computer gurus will snort and look down at you, but learning new things takes time… time we don’t always have.

Personally, I’d rather be seen as a complete idiot than fiddle around for 2 hours with Windows just to send three movies from one computer to the other, so I think the Data Copy and Internet Connection Sharing Dongle can become very important to someone with little technical knowledge.

It’s just that simple: plug each end in an USB port and share files without installing any drivers or messing with any setting. The 2 metre cable should be enough (unless your desktop PCs are in different rooms) and you can transfer the files in no time.

The price isn’t too friendly for something best used as a last resort solution, but if it saved me the trouble of fixing my dad’s network every month, I’d invest in one.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $29 on Brando.com.hk.

Via BoingBoing

Can real rock be listened to through tiny portable speakers? Yes, although why would you want to listen to anything like that?

The best way to listen to a band is live on stage, smashing guitars and all… but if all you’ve got is a puny iPod, you can get a tiny bit of that atmosphere back with the MP3 Retro Speaker Amp.

It can output 5W of power and gets its juice for batteries or an USB port, but the best part is that the little Bass, Treble and Volume dials are adjustable.

However, as nice as it looks, I can’t help but thinking it’s a bit lame. Rock is supposed to be big and loud, after all…

How much under $29.99?
Some: $14.99 on ThinkGeek.com.

Music brings many gifts, among which the desire to share it with the world… through bad phone speakers in a crowded subway, especially if said music falls into the broad category of “shit”.

But there’s a way to improve that experience… yes, another mini-speaker! This one’s actually smaller then the rest, so it’s a Micro Speaker Keychain.

Small but powerful though: it’s got an internal amp so it’s pretty loud… loud enough to get you hateful glares, at least. It charges through USB and connects to any 3.5 headphone jack, so it’s extremely convenient to use.

(But only around people who asked for the music, we hope.)

How much under $29.99?
Some: ~$14 on Firebox.com.

Via Pocket Lint

This doesn’t really deserve more than a “why?!” followed by a stern “NO”, but I’ll try to expand on the subject a bit more.

Starting with the (hopefully) obvious: a Mini Fender Guitar USB Lamp is not cool, or rad, or awesome, or in any way “true”. It’s an USB-powered lamp (seriously, lamps this big go in outlets and have more than a couple of LEDs) that tarnishes the name of the guitar maker.

Connection to the rock world = zero. Artistic merits = zero. Price = $20. It might seem like a nice gift for that guitar-loving friend… but NO.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on Amazon.com.

Via ChipChick

Valentine’s has come and gone, but the heart-themed gadgets stay. And, unlikely as it might seem, this Heart Card Reader actually looks good all year round, not just as a gift for the uninspired lovers.

Beside the design, there’s nothing special about this, but it’s a nice little useful gadget: it reads MicroSD, MMC micro, MiniSD, XD, MMC mobile, MMC Plus, M2, MS Duo and SD cards, and it can make a desk a bit more cheeful.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $7.99 on SourcingMap.com.

Via ChipChick

A perfect raiding night needs more than a good computer and the right game addons. If it’s something important you need to be in the best mental and physical state, which means some extra accessories are required…

Security

Actually, this is a step you should’ve taken before the raid: get a Blizzard Authenticator. Seriously. Have you seen how many accounts get hacked? I’m sure you don’t want to discover you’re broke and all your epics are gone.

Staying awake

.
Raids usually last a long time and it can get pretty late until you finally down that boss.

1. Engobi Caffeinated Snack Crisps. It’s food and caffeine all in one, pure win! Each bag is equal to two Red Bulls, so it should keep you up for long enough.

2. To stay even more faithful to the spirit of the game, you can get your caffeine and nutriments in true potion form. A Mana Energy Potion and a Health Energy Potion should keep you running for a wipe night.

3. If your poison of choice is coffee or black tea, not energizing drinks, you can at least get a mug to match your screen. Naturally, they come in two types again: Mana and Health Mugs. HP for tanks and mana for casters, get the one for that’s better for your class! (No, drinking out of it won’t make your warrior suddenly gain 3000 HP, but it might keep you alert enough to move out of the Green Shit on the floor.)

4. Finally, for you caffeine-haters: something that doesn’t involve ingesting anything. The Anti Sleep Driving Alarm detects movement and when your head droops it blasts your ears with a loud obnoxious alarm. There’ll be no way of falling asleep during a raid while wearing this.

Now that we’ve made sure your account is in working order and you’re alert enough, we can deal with the little details to make you more comfortable.

Fighting the heat.

If it’s a hot day, you’re melting already. Add the heat from the computer to that… and you’re one unhappy gamer.

1. If you’re using a laptop, you need to cool it down. Not only it will make you feel better, it will also make the game run smoother. You do not want it to crash because you tiny fan can’t handle all the heat… Try the HeatShift Laptop Cooling Pad for something different from the usual plastic pads.

2. If you’re gaming on a desktop, a fan will do. Something like the MP3 Speaker Fan doesn’t take much space and it can be a nice backup solution in case you break your good speakers. If the audio part seems useless, the Arctic Breeze Fan is a gadget without any bells and whistles and is only dedicated to keeping you cool.

Fighting the cold.

Just one thing: frozen fingers = BAD.

1. For full-body warmth, get the Snuggie, sit in your favorite chair hugging the laptop and off you go into Northrend!

2. If you’re one of the unlucky people forced to play next to a window that doesn’t close properly, your hands are going to be frozen all the time. But a pair of USB Heating Gloves can solve that… and they don’t even look that silly.

And to top this off… something you don’t need, but you definitely want: a Custom World of Warcraft Tabard t-shirt. Really, how much more dedication does it take? It’s fabulously geeky, but there’s no better way to show your support for your guild. And, after all, you do spend several hours a day with this people.

There you have it! Buy them all or choose a few, but get the best out of your gaming experience. And remember: Ulduar is coming.

Aww, look at the cute little dead guys!

The Ghoul Series USB Drives come in 4 adorable models… you won’t even remember they’re dead and rotting! Meet Corpse, Bloody, Mr. Black and Mr. White. They come in a stylish rubber casing, can carry 2GB of your precious data (no, not to the grave) and they can make a nice keychain too. Who knew the undead could be so fun?

How much under $29.99?
Some: $15 on USBGeek.com.

Via Coolest Gadgets

USB cables that close in on themselves have been around for a while, but they didn’t address the star phone of the moment.

Well, the Sync and Charger cable for iPhone/iPod solves that. An extra battery is expensive, but with the right cable any computer in the area can become an emergency charger. Not the best looking charm around, but it can be easily attached, and it won’t get tangled with all the junk you have in your bag.

It works for all iPhones and iPods and it’s cheap, so if you don’t have a cable or you just want one that’s easier to carry around, there’s no harm in giving this a shot.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $10.99 on USBFever.com.

Via GearDiary