I don't know how to best sum up Infinitec's new "flash drive" in a headline—which is obvious at this point. But what it can do is pretty unique, once you wrap your head around it.

Infinitec has created a USB stick that contains an 802.11n module capable of creating an ad hoc network through any device’s USB port. But on the receiving end, it appears as nothing more complicated than a flash drive.

In other words, you can stream media to devices that aren’t necessarily so thrilled with you streaming media. Placed in a DVD player, for instance, you need not worry about the player’s supported network standards or your PC’s sharing settings. Just set the Infinitec stick to anywhere from 1GB to 1TB+ (depending on how much storage you expect your player to support), then load MPEG4s right from the stick…streamed from your PC loaded with accompanying software.

I could see several uses for Infinitec's little device—namely, adding a media extender to any room that has a TV with a USB port. That is, if the price is right whenever it eventually comes out. [Engadget]

The duaLink cable is essentially a specialized USB hub: It splits from one USB connector into two iPod/iPhone cables. Great for incredibly rich people with two iPhones, or upper-middle-class folk with two iPods. Available now for $26. [Engadget]

By day, the Airstash is a common, ordinary USB card reader. But by night, it dons the mantle of wireless connectivity, taking to the streets and sharing pictures an images in an ad-hoc, daredevil manner.

The Airstash looks much like a regular card reader, with a USB plug on one end and an SD card-shaped hole in the other. In between you can find a tiny, battery powered 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi router. Slot in a card and it can be reached wirelessly through the web browser of any Wi-Fi enabled computer or phone.

The design is simple, but the uses are manifold. You could use this to wirelessly copy photos from card to computer, but that, apart from saving you a USB port, is a little boring. What about carrying an extra 32GB of movies and music that can be streamed from the built-in server direct to your iPhone? Or creating a fully functional wireless network for sharing, well, anything? Because it uses vanilla Wi-Fi, it works with anything. And because it uses USB, it charges when you plug it into a spare port.

The product was shown last week at CES, and right now has neither a price or a shipping date (”available soon” is the only hint on the product page). If it is cheap, and if the battery in such a tiny case can last long enough to be useful, then this could be a very useful toy. And if it is given away at next
year’s CES in the same fashion as pen drives were at this year’s show, we’ll be very happy indeed.

Airstash product page [Airstash via Oh Gizmo!]

This AC adapter from Brando is pretty nifty. Not only can it power five USB devices, the adapter can also be used worldwide.

With internal voltage regulation (100-240V) and a number of travel plug adapters, the $22 “AC to 5-USB Power Adapter” should keep your USB devices fully charged through the US, Europe and Asia. It also looks a lot like a MacBook charger, which you may or may not love. [Brando]

This 5-in-1 Spy Pen is every secret agent’s wet dream. It functions as an audio and video recorder, USB webcam, 2GB USB flash drive, and works as a fully functioning pen too.

Using a single rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, the pen can record up to 60 minutes of color video, and can be charged using a USB charging cable or an emergency AC power adapter. Also included is a special stand, which converts the Spy Pen from a simple video recorder into a webcam. And as for hiding all your important documents? Simply unscrew it in the mid section, and voila! The Spy Pen is now a 2GB USB flash drive.

It’ll cost you $99 for the 5-in-1 Spy Pen, but if you pay just 10 bucks more, you can own one with 4GB of memory. Listen and sniff closely, do you hear/smell that? It’s a collective orgasm from millions of spies around the world. [Product Page via Red Ferret]

USB hubs, schmUSB hubs: jam this 5-in-1 charger cable into the back of your machine and you’ll be able to charge-up/sync five different gizmos at once (well, probably not all once, but you get what I’m saying). That’s if you have an iPod, a PSP, a Nintendo DS, aGBA and a device that connects via mini-USB. Not rocket science by any means, but a handy way of simplifying your desktop wiring clutter, and good for computers with few USB sockets (I’m looking at you, Mr. MacBook Air). Out now for $14. [Gadget4All via BoingBoingGadgets]

The ShareCentral is a 5-port USB hub that allows two computers to share USB devices without a network. Just plug the devices in the $80 hub, plug the hub into both computers, and you can use your mouse, keyboard, hard drive or whatever on either computer with the flick of a switch. Best of all, it knows which computer is trying to print and automatically switches the printer to that machine, like a network device. It also comes in 1- and 2-port varieties, $40 and $60 respectively, full release after the jump. [Kensington]

Kensington® ShareCentral(TM) Brings Greater Convenience and Ease to
Home Computing Shared Tasks
Innovative Device Lets Families Share Projects among Computers
and USB Peripherals – With Just the Press of a Button

Redwood Shores, Calif. – June 16, 2008 – Kensington Computer Products Group, a worldwide leader in delivering smart made simple(TM) computing accessories for the mobile consumer, today announced ShareCentral, an innovative USB peripheral sharing device for the home that lets family members instantly and effortlessly share up to five USB peripheral devices between any two computers with an easy press of a button. ShareCentral brings the cords and cables of external devices into one small, attractive desktop or wall mounted unit, allowing people to share their choice of peripherals and content in one easy fingertip motion, with no network required.

Recent Kensington research conducted by Markettools showed that more than 40% of households have 3 – 4 computers in their home belonging to different family members. A full 70% of these households have a dedicated computing space equipped with a stationary computer, as well as a variety of peripherals, that are shared by the whole family. These multiple-computer families have a screaming need to be able to easily share access to the peripherals they use the most including printers (50%), scanners (30%) and external disks drives (22%) so they can turn work, homework, photos and music gathered on notebooks, flash drives and iPod music players into polished, finished work meant for sharing with others.

“ShareCentral is a great example of our smart made simple design philosophy,” said Frederic Frappereau, Global Product Marketing Manager at Kensington. “Everyone is mobile. Then they bring the day’s data, photos and music back to one shared, usually cramped, home computing center which the entire family needs to access in those few hours between dinnertime and bedtime. Up until now, they spent that precious time switching out cords and cables to connect their computers to their peripherals. Now with ShareCentral, they can focus on sharing the content, to produce creative results of which they all can be proud.”

Key features include

• Share up to five different USB peripherals – Instantly share access to multiple USB peripherals between two computers at the press of a button. Users gain instant access to their USB peripherals by plugging one simple USB cable into their computers. LED lights on the product indicate which computer has access.
• Easy to set up, simple and straightforward – ShareCentral is easy to set up and easy to use with no network or software required. Plug–n–play right out of the box!
• No more cord clutter – ShareCentral eliminates cable mess by connecting device cables into a central desktop unit; also wall mountable.
• Easy printer sharing –Simply press a button to switch the USB printer from one computer to another. ShareCentral 2 and ShareCentral 5 Automatic Print Sharing will detect and automatically switch to the computer that is trying to print, conveniently eliminating the need for any buttons to be pressed (available for Windows® XP and Windows Vista®).
• Adaptable and personal – All USB ports are independently controlled by a button and assignable to either computer. Each button comes with interchangeable magnetic keycaps for personalization to user’s device and specifications.

The ShareCentral Collection

ShareCentral 5 (SKU K33901US) – No more plugging and unplugging computer devices. With Kensington ShareCentral 5, two computers can share a printer, hard drive, scanner—up to any five USB peripherals – and switch between them with the touch of a button. Suggested Retail Price $79.99

ShareCentral 2 (SKU K33900US) – With the Kensington ShareCentral 2, two computers can share a printer, hard drive, scanner—any two USB devices. Suggested Retail Price $59.99

ShareCentral 1 (SKU K33903US) – With the Kensington ShareCentral 1, two computers can share a printer or any USB device. Suggested Retail Price $39.99

The Kensington ShareCentral Collection is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com and Kensington.com and will be available at major retailers at the end of the month.

See those two USB plugs on this hub gizmo from Brando? They’re what makes this thing a little bit neat, even if its looks aren’t anything special. Most USB hubs need to draw energy from a power brick if you’re going to load them up with much more than a memory stick and charge up a gadget. But this one plugs into two USB ports on your PC for more juice, so you can connect up to three different devices and charge or sync your phone or camera at the same time via the mini-USB connector. It’s available now for $12. [Brando]

The FLX USB drive prototype, designed by Jacek Ryn, while convenient, is not actually flexible. It’s got an accordion-like sheath covering it that pushes back to reveal the plug when you shove it into the USB port, and snaps back when you pull it out. Kind of like an uncircumcised, um, you know. And that cuts down on plastic materials, so it takes up less space in your pocket. Yep. [core77]

We’ve seen neat and tidy ways to stick all your charging gadgets in one place before, but the new Sanctuary charger takes the biscuit by having all the wires and plugs you may need already built in. Ok, so it’s actually got a power source with 11 different types of plug plus a USB socket under its lid, but that means it’s apparently compatible with over 1,500 gizmos. Add in the fact that its looks are actually not bad, and you’ve got a winner. With one drawback: all that adapter-plug goodness means it costs $129.95. So you’ll really have to want cable tidiness to buy this. [Bluelounge via Geeky gadgets]