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If you can’t get enough of the Olympics and you think the Bird’s Nest stadium is fascinating, you can have a replica right there on your desk in the form of a speaker.

The Bird’s Nest USB Speaker has all the features you’d expect from a product like it: it can be powered/recharged via USB, can be plugged into a PC or any music player with a 3.5mm jack and it’s light enough to make it very easy to carry around.

Of course, you won’t be getting more than that: the design is not spectacular and the sound probably isn’t crystal clear, but then what were you expecting for $12? The Olympics are going to be over anyway and you’ll get bored with it, so might as well spend as little as possible.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $12 on USBGeek.com.

Thanks to Joe who sent this tip via the contact form!

An USB Heated Shawl? Sounds like something grandma would want if she was trying to be geeky? I agree… and yet I don’t.

I want one, and I am far away from old age. But, guess what: some people are more sensitive to cold; some people work in unheated offices; some people work with penguins who feel 10 degrees Celsius is a great temperature. And, honestly, sometimes sweaters just don’t cut it. At home, it’s easier just to use a blanket or a housecoat, but I doubt that would be alright at work. So a heated shawl? Oh yes, bring it on! Of course, USB is the easiest way to power it, since you’re right there at the computer all day long, anyway.

An USB powered thing that’s not a crapgadget. Rare, perhaps debatable for some, but true if you ask me.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $28.95 on CGets.com.

Via Coolest Gadgets

Long trip + bad music on the radio + the 3 CDs you forgot in the car a month ago = BAD. So, naturally, you need some other form of satisfying your music needs, something that doesn’t take much space and can play lots of tunes… An MP3 player, duh. (NOT “an iPod”, they aren’t the only player left on the face of the Earth, thankyouverymuch.)

If you usually use your music player in your car, but also need to charge your phone or other gadgets on a long trip, you’re going to need a lot of USB ports. The Car Charger with 4 USB Ports and 1 Cigarette Socket has a silly name, but it provides enough space for your gadgets and even your laptop. It’s even small enough not to get in the way, so you can just forget it plugged in until you next need it.

Really. You don’t want to discover your battery is dead and you’ve got a 5-hour trip of only listening to car noises to look forward to.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $22.99 on USBFever.com.

Via DVICE

What’s the easier way to ensure your USB drive isn’t accessed by anyone else but you: always carry it on your person or use a lock? I’d think slipping it in a pocket is very simple, but hey, who am I to say you shouldn’t try to lock it. And I don’t mean encryption…

The USB Lock is a physical barrier. It works like a bike or luggage lock: the user sets a 3-digit code, and the drive can’t be used until the right code is inputed. Of course, a determined person could just take the drive then try to force the lock or guess the 3 digits, but for nosy co-workers this would probably be taking it too far.

For the purpose of discouraging unwanted use, it looks great; for real security, consider data encryption. I wouldn’t trust my naughty pictures to this.

How much under $29.99?
Some: ~$9 on Thanko.jp.

Via Gizmodo

A few days ago we talked about the Disc Eraser - a manually operated device that scratches discarded discs to ensure no one can read them.

The USB Powered CD Destroyer is its big brother. If a company has a lot of CDs to throw out, tasking an employee with scratching each and every one manually would be crazy. The CD Destroyer automates this task: like the name says, it draws power from an USB port, then, at the push of a button, it spins the disc and uses three steel points to score the surface, making it unusable.

Although it’s more expensive than the manual device, $20 is a small price to pay for destroying a large number of CDs without much work. It all depends on the scale of the operation.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 in our store, powered by Amazon.com.

While some people are busy making USB drives that look like animals, robots, food or even cigarette lighters, some are working to make them as small as possible. Some people only need storage and don’t feel like carrying around something unnecessarily large.

The 4GB DataTraveler Mini Slim from Kingston is perfect for such people. It’s just a drive; you store data on it and retrieve it when you need it. It’s very small, but it can be attached to a lanyward or a keychain to prevent it going missing, and there’s a choice of three color: black, blue and pink.

I’m not so sure about the contacts being so exposed, though. I don’t think it would have a long life if I shoved it in my pocket with the keys. Has anyone (ab)used a mini drive?

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

Via SlipperyBrick

I never quite got why people carry pictures with them, but I supposed I’m just not that sentimental. Or maybe because I carry objects that remind me of people - a pen, a badge…

One reason why having photos in your wallet is inconvenient is, obviously, size. You can only put 2 or 3 in there until it starts bulging and what it you want more? As usual, modern technology can help you. The Coby Electronics Digital Photo Viewer is a portable digital photo frame that’s perfect for the job. It can store up to 60 pictures (although an exact memory size isn’t mentioned) and it comes with a carabiner so it can be easily hooked to a bag or backpack. Just be careful: if you have a habit of throwing your bag to the floor, you might want to stop it before destroying your new toy. And don’t get on crowded buses unless you want to kiss it goodbye.
(I might be paranoid, but in my experience things that go outside my backback tend to dissapear, either through accident or theft.)

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

Via ChipChick

I usually try to stay away from crapgadget sites unless the products are so bad they need making fun of or surprinsigly good. This time… it’s neither. It’s just the cute factor. Sucked me right in and forced me to post.

Really, look how cute the iBear USB Flash Drive. It’s a baby panda! That stores your data! Awww.

And, well, that’s all there is to say. You get 2GB of storage and a cute charm for your backpack or keys. Which might get torn off or stolen, so beware (I had this adorable plushie turtle, I attached it to my bag and one bus ride later it was gone; I still mourn it). Next time you’re at your friend’s place and need to get some pictures you can just disembowel the cute bear and problem solved.

Oh yeah, and you can also get Baby Angel and Baby Devil versions, but they’re not near as cute as the panda.

How much under $29.99?
A little: $22 on Gadget4All.com.

Pink haters, grab your pitchforks! It doesn’t get much more sickeningly pink than this.

The Pink World Travel Adapter is a set of mix-and-match parts that ensures you’ll be able to charge your UK-bought gadgets in America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Even better, it also has an USB port so you don’t have to carry your laptop around just to charge your iPod in it.

However, it’s pink. Very pink. My eyes hurt already. But coming from a website called Pink Toolbox, what was I expecting? Well, it looks like I’m not the only pink-hater who likes the adapter set, so they also added a grey version. Thank you.

How much under $29.99?
A little: ~$29.50 on PinkToolbox.co.uk.

Via ChipChick

The latest in a long series of pointless USB devices, we bring you the USB Pole Dancer. At least this one does something, even if it’s not really exciting (excuse the pun).

Unlike the Exercise Dog or the Owl, which just move when plugged in, the pole dancer moves according to your typing speed. The faster you type, the faster she twirls. There’s even a bunch of LEDs embedded in the floor for real club effects…

I am still baffled as to why people buy these things, but this particular gadget at least makes a funny present for a man. And, compared to other USB powered dancing girls, the design on this one is better; at least they didn’t try to make her look real.

How much under $29.99?
A little: ~$29.25 on Otherlandtoys.co.uk.

Via SlipperyBrick