USBFever is a great site with a wealth of USB devices for sale; pretty much everything that you could want that plugs into a USB port (and many items that don’t), from memory sticks to sync/charge cables to hubs.  But they go well beyond the “usual” USB gadgets into the well… odd.  I often shake my head at some of the items they have, which are mostly (but not always) USB-powered and often (but not always) utterly gratuitous.  Sure, they’re fun and could possibly be useful in a particular situation; they just don’t have the obvious usefulness of most USB items. — and maybe that’s the appeal.  You’d be hard pressed to truthfully say you need this stuff, but it’s easy to want it.  Take for example, some of their newest items:

The USB Single Action Foot Pedal.  It’s exactly what you think it is.  A foot pedal for your PC, connected to it via USB.  What does it do?  Apparently, whatever you want it to, as you can set it via software to emulate various keystrokes.  And you can connect more than one, if you really want to get your feet a’tappin’.  To me, it resembles the foot pedal my mom had on her old sewing machine.

Available on USBFever for US$15.99.

If toe-tappin’ your way around a computer isn’t your thing, how about a Sticky stand for your Cell Phone / iPhone / iPod / GPS?  It’s the Smart Stand, which uses the power of stickiness to hold your device firmly in place and attached to a dashboard or other horizontal surface.  I’m typically loathe to use any kind of a holder for my gadgets that requires me to adhere anything to them (like Velcro), but the sticky bits on this stand are washable, leading me to believe that the stickiness must be temporary and would hopefully not leave any residue on my gear.

As you can see from the image below, the stand is comprised of three pieces, two of them sticky, and it allows you to adjust the angle of your device, which is handy.  The dashboard of my car is too curvy for this sort of stand to work, but I could see it on my desk holding my iPod or phone.

Available from USBFever for US$12.99.

Those with a device that includes a 3mm headphone jack may like the Stereo Handsfree with Volume Control.  It’s a cable that plugs into your device’s 3mm headphone jack and has a small volume control on it.  You then plug your headphones into the other end of the cable and off you go.  I’m not sure what makes this “handsfree” exactly, since you still use your hands to adjust the volume, but it does allow you to pocket your device and still be able to adjust the volume, which is handy (no pun intended).  For phone use, it includes an answer button and microphone and it has a clip which can be used to attach it to your shirt or other convenient location.

It’s pitched as a Blackberry-compatible device, but should also work with iPhones and any other phones with a 3mm jack.

Available at USBFever for US$14.99

Lastly, I’ve got to mention a product they’ve had for a little while now, but it’s just… odd.  It’s the USB Internet TV / Radio / Locker / Mail Notifier.  That’s right, four functions in one!

Now, I’m not exactly sure how the internet TV and radio are supposed to work.  As far as I know, you don’t really need any USB device to receive internet TV or radio, just a computer and an internet connection, neither of which are provided by this device.  It appears that the device is pre-loaded with software that will “tune in” the TV and radio streams on your computer, which is fine, but I’m not sure why it wouldn’t be easier just to install software that is always available and not dependent on an external device.

More fun are the other two functions of this gadget.  The Mail Notifier gives you a little blinking LED whenever you have new mail, provided you’re using one of the compatible mail programs.  I’m all for new mail notification, but I’m not sure how often I’d glance at a USB stick off the side of my computer to get it.  You know, as opposed to just looking at my computer screen, that is.

The last feature has me stumped.  It’s called Locker and I just don’t understand what it is supposed to do.  Here is how the good folks at USBFever describe it:

- Utility: setting (one) password to lock Folders
- Lock MSN
- Lock QQ.
- Can lock indicated web page
- Can lock complete network (for dial-up)
- Status Bar Display
==> to display a lock sign in status bar when target is locked
==> to display user icon when no target is selected

Does anyone get it?  I sure don’t.  Anyway, the device with all four functions is available at USBFever for US$23.99.

One of my favorite gadgets from USBFever is the Aero 4-port USB hub with a propeller that works as a fan.  It has been covered on Gear Diary before, but I mention it now because it reminds me of one of my favorite jokes from my flight instructor:  “Do you know why they put the propellers at the front of the plane?  It’s to keep the pilot cool.  If it stops spinning, just watch the pilot start to sweat!”