While we liked the shiny unibody MacBooks, their new miniDisplay Port requires the use of a dual link DVI adaptor to drive the 30" CinemaDisplay. Not only is the adaptor $US100; it's a custom cord that can't exactly be spotted between the batteries and singing cards at the drug store. Now Apple has informed preorderers to expect their shipments no sooner than December 23rd—which just goes to show that in a fight between Steve Jobs and Santa Claus, Steve Jobs would win...or something like that. [9to5mac]

Read More »

Switching to a new computer can be difficult, and the process is only exacerbated cross-platform when you need to migrate your data from XP or Vista to OS X. Belkin has responded to the hassle with their Switch-to-Mac Cable, a USB to USB dongle that comes with software tools to automate the transition.

Read More »

There's just $US100 standing between the $US199 hard driveless Xbox 360 Arcade and the more functional $US299 Xbox 360 Pro. And now you can find that $US100 in this Xbox 360 Live Pack which features all the vital stuff missing from the 360 Arcade, like the 60GB hard drive and (fist pump) and an ethernet cord. But there's one blatant thing still missing from the kit—component cables. (Luckily all 360s now come with a non-proprietary HDMI port.) The Xbox 360 Live Pack arrives in stores this November for $US99. [Kotaku]

Read More »

Let the bitching about the Mini DisplayPort output on the new MacBooks begin (or just get louder): Not only does the official Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adaptor that'll let you hook them up to a giant monitor cost $US100, the Apple Store says it's not shipping for at least four weeks. Meaning if you were planning on jacking a new MacBook or MBP into your 30-inch monitor using Dual-Link DVI, you're screwed for now (and then poor later). Yay for basically proprietary ports. [Apple Store via 9to5 Mac]

Tuesday was a big day in the Broughall household. After years of having to unpack, setup, review, repack, and send back countless flat panel TVs, I finally had my very own plasma delivered and installed. But despite being more fortunate than most consumers in having previously tested plenty of TVs in the comfort of my own loungeroom, there were still a large number of lessons to be learned from the experience of wall-mounting for the first time.

So if you're planning on buying a new flat-panel TV, or thinking of sticking your current screen up on the wall, there are plenty of important factors you'll need to consider. Luckily, I've just been through the process, so you can learn from my mistakes...

Read More »

You may recognise Furutech as the premier purveyors of all things strange and overpriced. They have a rep to maintain—which is why they are attempting to sell what may be "the Most Sophisticated Power Cord and Connectors in the World" for an absurd price of $US1800. Thanks to their FI-50(R) IEC and FI-50M(R) Piezo Ceramic series connectors, that sum will buy you power so clean, it practically sparkles. You would think that no one would be crazy enough to drop this kind of coin on a cable—but that is where you would be wrong my friend. [Furutech via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Read More »

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. 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 $US14. [Gadget4All via BoingBoingGadgets]

Combine this little gizmo with a wireless USB hub and you could almost have your PC in a separate room to you: it's a wireless VGA cable. The USB to VGA kit consists of a transmitter dongle and a receiver with a VGA-socket. It's probably aimed more at swanky PC-projector setups, since it can cope with video of up to 720p quality over a range of 10 metres, and sadly is only compatible with Windows XP and Vista machines. Due in September for around US$230. [TFTS]

Read More »

Now that Intel's brought together the world in a harmonious USB 3.0 standard, here's a first look at the new connectors brought to us by MaximumPC. Ten times faster than the old USB spec, USB 3.0 can transfer a 27GB file in just 70 seconds. Plus, with more "lanes" of data within the connector, new USB will be able to simultaneously send and receive information--that might not sound like much, but the old USB couldn't do so. This first shot is of the A and B-side USB connectors (the normal USB and the fat one often used in printers). This second shot is of the new mini USB:

Read More »

Ruth Whiting is apparently an even bigger cable nerd than we are. But she's an artist, so paints them in surreal situations, like power plugs wrapped around a classical dude in a toga, grassy undergrowth made up of coax and USB cables (just like our desk), or VGA cables as flowers. Pretty much every kind of cable you could think of is rendered into something that's beautiful (or at least arty). It's like fine art for nerds. [WindFire Designs via Guanabee]

Read More »