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There’s got to be an audience somewhere for USB gadgets that don’t do anything useful. Overpriced memory sticks - ok, you get an interesting design and storage. But USB powered toys that just… move from time to time? Why? I’d appreciate if someone could give me a reason, because right now I’m thinking they’re aimed at very very bored people.

The USB Chameleon is a lizard that wants to keep you company while you click away on your computer. It comes in three colors (although unfortunately it doesn’t adapt them to the environment) and from time to time it moves its eyes and tongue, but that’s about all the fun you can get out of it. Unless you try to coat the tongue with glue and see if it can catch flies…

The one good great thing about it is that it doesn’t try to hump your computer, like another pointless USB gizmo did. The worst thing about it is that it costs almost $30. Come on!

How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.99 on AudioCubes.com.

Countless times I’ve been in a car with a dead phone/mp3 player and no way to charge it. And countless times I’ve promised myself I’d get a car charger. But there was one problem: I don’t have car charger extensions for either…

Then again, at least my mp3 player has an USB connection, which is a big incentive for me getting a Multi-Use Car Charger with Dual USB Ports. Beside other obvious uses, this says “ability to listen to music in the car without worrying about charging issues”. With this and a 60GB iPod, the music for a long road trip is assured, which is a must for me.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $15.95 on Amazon.com.

Via OhGizmo!

I’ll start by stating the obvious: the USB Golf Mouse Set is ugly. It’s got a mouse shaped like a golf ball - only a bit flatter -, a green mouse pad, a flag, a small golf ball and a club.

If you’re very, excruciatingly, extremely bored at work it could offer a couple of minutes of entertainment… Or maybe more if you’re a golf fan. But the shape of the pad and the flag poking out of it probably make it pretty difficult to use, and the shape of the mouse isn’t ergonomic.

However, the mouse is the only worthwhile piece of the set, it looks kind of cool and I guess it could work as a gift for a golfer. But only if you’re a cheapskate.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $18 on Gadget4All.com.

Via ChipChick

At this rate, in a couple of months I’ll be powering everything through my USB ports… and I’ll need to buy one of those hubs, finally.

The latest USB powered item I’ve seen is the Versatile USB Battery Turbo Charger. A battery charger is an absolute must to me, without it I’d have a dead camera, and traveling without a means of taking photo is a big no-no. This USB charger from A4Tech can charge both AA and AAA batteries, so it’s the perfect thing to take along for your camera, mouse, even mp3 player. I hate buying normal batteries that only last for a couple of days, so I am a big fan of rechargeables.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $14.88 on DitCorp.com.

Via TechieDiva

Do you feel your computer is a little boring? You could add some stickers or get a new case or mod your old one… but shiny lights are easier to get.

Called USB Office Fairy Lights for some reason (do fairies usually fly around computers?), they’re basically stars on a string that can go around your monitor, case or even serve as home decoration (hopefully only for Christmas).

They’re not useful, and I don’t think they really make your desk any better. But if you’ve got a teen niece and you’re out of ideas…

How much under $29.99?
Some: $12.99 on Amazon.com.

Via Coolest Gadgets

I’m tired of all these USB hub something-or-others that keep popping up, but sometimes, among all the crap, there’s something that makes me think “Ohh, I could really use that!”.

Case in point: USB 4-Port Hub With Notebook Light. A notebook light is very important for me, since I tend to work at night and I find normal lamps annoying (light in my eyes, not on the keys, ugh), and this particular light is placed just great on the laptop lid. And I figure, as long as you have free space, why not stick some USB ports on it? Might come in useful sooner than you think.

How much under $29.99?
Exactly $29.90 on Gadget4All.com.

Via Coolest Gadgets

USB drives are undeniably useful… but why on Earth would someone buy a 256MB one?

The Robot USB Drive looks very good. It really does look like a robot, it’s metallic and shiny, can be attached to your keys… but it’s incredibly small and very expensive. All right, it’s made to be given away as a corporate gift, but still. I don’t think it’s worth it in the end, unless you have a big budget you have to spend.

It does get cheaper as you go… if you order over 2500 items you can get each for $16.85. You just need a lot of business partners. Or a huge conference.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $28.50 on E-CorporateGifts.com.

Via BoingBoing

I have a very strong dislike for data cables, which is the main reason I chose not to get an iPod (even though that made me officially uncool). Connecting my camera to the computer via cable is a complicated affair (I have to find the cable first!), so one of the best things about my admitedly shitty laptop is its card reader; one of the bad things is that it only reads 6 or so types of cards. And there’s more: good: it can read my camera card; bad: but not the one in my mobile phone.

I was duly impressed by the iMONO 80-in-1 High Speed Card Reader. I mean… whoa, that’s a lot! It connects to your PC via USB and then you can transfer data from any card type you can imagine. (My phone card is even pictured in the promo shot!)

In case you are still wondering if your particular card is included among the 80, here’s the complete list:
* CF I / CF II / CF 3.0 / EXTREME III CF / EXTREME CF / ULTRA II CF / HS CF / XS-XS CF / CF ELITE PRO / CF PRO / CF PRO II / CF 4.0 / IBM MD / HITACHI MD / MAGIC STOR MD
*MS / MS PRO / MS DUO / MS PRO DUO / MS MG PRO / MS MG / MS MG DUO / MS MG PRO DUO / EXTREME MS PRO / MS SELECT / EXTREME III MS PRO / ULTRA II MS PRO / HS MS MG PRO / HS MS MG PRO DUO / HS MS PRO / HS MS PRO DUO / MS ROM / MS PRO HU DUO
* SD / MINI SD / HS MINI SD / EXTREME SD / EXTREME III DS / ULTRA SD / ULTRA II SD / ULTRA II SD PLUS / SD-ULTRA-X / ULTRA SPEED SD / SD PRO / SDHC / SD ELITE PRO / HS SD / MMC / MMC 4.0 / HS MMC / HS RS MMC / RS MMC / RS MMC 4.0 / MMC MOBILE / MMC PLUS / MMC 4.2
*Micro SD (T-Flash)
* x-picture / x-picture 1.21
* M2

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19 on Brando.com.hk.

Via Gear Diary

If you’ve got a teen or preteen girl in your house, you might have found your space invaded by purple, pink, flower- or heart-shaped glittery things. It’s rare for a girl not to go through a pink phase (I sure know I had mine).

So, while I think the Heart Shape USB Lamp, Speaker and Pen Holder is particularly ugly, my 12-year old self might disagree. And, since teens get bored easily, a cheap n-in-1 gizmo is a great idea to make a young girl happy without breaking the bank and feeling sorry 2 weeks later when she wants something new and just as silly.

It’s no use repeating what this device features, since the name is descriptive enough, but I’ll say that the speaker is probably bad, the light looks useful and it can also be powered with 3 AAA batteries. If your girl is not quite pink obsessed, but you think she’d like the thing, rest assured there’s also a white version.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $13.99 on GizFever.com.

Via TechieDiva

If I get nightmares tonight, I’ll know what causes them. This looks like the dog version of the cat that comes back to life in Pet Sematary.

I wouldn’t recommend this to my worst enemy. But if you want to give it to your enemies, who am I to stop you? It starts with the name: CJ7 Dog Doll MP3 Player with Built-in Speakers. Er, right. Let’s just call it “ugly dog mp3 player”. It has 1GB of memory, speakers and an USB port in its ass. A player with crap storage, (probably) bad sound and weirdly placed connectors. Oh yeah, I’m sold.

As for the lack of fur on the body and weird look, there’s actually a very valid explanation: the dog is actually an alien, a character in Hong Kong movie called CJ7. The only difference is that the dog in the poster looks cute, not hideous like his media player incarnation.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $18.67 on DealExtreme.com.

Via Pocket Lint