BluestSoft(R) USB Boot Maker Is New Port to Maximizing Your Computer Options

Finally, computer users have a software tool that makes a bootable backup USB. USB Boot Maker, developed by BluestSoft, Inc., gives users a myriad of options when it comes to extending the heft of their hard drive. Priced at $89.99, USB Boot Maker delivers a burnt USB that can boot to run your favorite application, instead of having to run from FD/CD/DVD.

“USB Boot Maker is a breakthrough product because it fills an important niche,” said BluestSoft founder Mike Inamine. “While there are many CD-burning software products on the market, this is the first USB-burning software to be available at a value price point.”

Designed by Inamine and his chief software engineer, who have more than 40 years of industry experience between them, USB Boot Maker is user-friendly and offers endless options. “It’s as simple as burning a CD,” said Inamine. “But USB has so much more to offer.”

Supporting Windows 7, Vista and XP operating systems, USB Boot Maker allows users to run their favorite application without the need for a CD/DVD burner – a real plus for Netbook users.

It can also:

– Create a bootable USB from a selected media or file – This allows users to create a backup USB from FD/CD/DVD or an image file (ISO or IMG) that they can specify.

– Create a generic bootable USB – This will burn a generic OS image of Windows PE, Linux, or FreeDOS into USB. After booting from the generic bootable USB, you are able to run your favorite applications.

“USB Boot Maker complements our current product base by adding a USB bootability, which enables the product to run faster, run an OS independently, and save any data on the USB,” noted Inamine, who founded the company in 2005. “Another advantage is that USB has a larger capacity and faster loading and reading speed than a CD/DVD. So whether you’re copying a graphics-rich game, images or digital video, USB Boot Maker saves you time and money.”

The benefits of this breakthrough application include:

– Creates Windows 7/Vista Installation USB by copying Windows 7/Vista Installation CD/DVD to USB memory – allowing users to use the USB for installing the programs into their PC.

– With built-in Windows PE2.0, Linux (KNOPPIX), and FreeDOS, users can create an OS bootable USB and run each OS from it. This allows users to run emergency system recovery or data backup.

– Allows users to create a back-up USB from CD image or CD-ROM and use the USB for installing the application into their PC.

– Option to copy necessary boot CDs/DVDs into a USB and play games by booting to run from it.

– Create a back-up USB from a music/movie CD/DVD and play them from the USB.

“The one thing our product doesn’t do is support the back-up of copyright-protected CD/DVD,” said Inamine. “It is the user’s responsibility to obtain any necessary permissions.”

Source: BluestSoft, Inc.

FourGee(TM) LTE USB ExpressCard UE supports testing and trials of Altair’s LTE baseband chip and LTE RF transceiver

Altair Semiconductor announced the immediate availability of its FourGee(TM) LTE USB ExpressCard UE (User Equipment).

Altair’s FourGee(TM) ExpressCard UE is the industry’s first LTE Category 3 ExpressCard, supporting download speeds of 100Mbps and upload speeds of 50Mbps. The early availability of the product gives carriers, system vendors, and terminal manufacturers the unique opportunity to use small form UEs for FourGee(TM) product trials and development. The company’s ExpressCard launch comes on the heels of the commercial availability of Altair’s recently announced LTE baseband processor and LTE RF transceiver.

“Altair is one of the first movers in the LTE chipset space and today’s announcement is further evidence of our ability to effectively execute on our plans,” said Oded Melamed, Co-Founder and CEO of Altair Semiconductor. “In the coming months, we will continue to develop and deliver effective and power efficient 4G chipsets and software to device makers and carriers around the world.”

In addition to being a trial and interoperability testing (IOT) tool, the FourGee(TM) LTE USB ExpressCard UE platform is also a reference design for terminal manufacturers working to develop commercial products based on the FourGee(TM) family of LTE chips. The product is already in use by select eNB vendors and wireless carriers in trials.

Altair’s FourGee(TM) LTE USB ExpressCard UE Feature Highlights Include:
– Category 3 speeds of 100Mbps download and 50Mbps upload
– Power consumption within the USB specification power budget (<2.5W)
– ExpressCard34 form factor with a USB2.0 HS host interface
– Available in select FDD/TDD bands in the range of 700M-2700MHz
– Full-featured, IOT tested LTE L1 and protocol stack

“The lack of small form-factor UEs has been a major challenge for carriers and vendors in trialing and commercializing LTE networks and devices,” said Eran Eshed, Co-Founder and VP of Marketing and Business Development of Altair. “The immediate availability of the FourGee(TM) ExpressCard UE and the upcoming release of Altair’s USB dongle and handset reference design will significantly accelerate this process while also offering simplicity to the LTE ecosystem.”

The FourGee(TM) LTE USB ExpressCard UE is part of Altair’s comprehensive portfolio for LTE, which also includes:

– FourGee(TM)-3100 – an LTE CAT-3 baseband processor
– FourGee(TM)-6150 – a MIMO RF transceiver that supports LTE-TDD
– FourGee(TM)-6200 – a multi-band LTE MIMO transceiver that covers all global FDD/TDD bands

Source: Altair Semiconductor

New Drives Deliver Unprecedented Protection, Mobility and Affordability for Mobile Workers

IronKey, maker of the world’s most secure flash drive, nnounced the launch of its D200 devices, providing more choice for consumers, government and enterprise customers. A manageable, secure USB device, the D200 offers superior value due to its high security, remote update capabilities and low total cost of ownership. It expands IronKey’s product offering beyond the ultra-fast S200. D200 drives are ideal for workers that store, transport and share large amounts of data, both in the office and in the field.

Key Features of IronKey D200:
– Includes new policy enforcement, usability and field-maintenance capabilities
– Ideal for users with high volume storage needs
– Cost effective memory is ideal for mass deployments
– Dual-channel architecture enables rapid data transfer rates
– Doubles as a strong authentication token
– Meets the rigorous security requirements for FIPS 140-2, Level 3 validation
– Provides secure management of encryption keys
– Self-defending against physical, malware and password attacks

David Jevans, CEO at IronKey said:

“As mobile devices become more ubiquitous, it is imperative for enterprise organizations to be able to track, manage, maintain and update the USB drives in use in the organization. Many of our large government and enterprise customers require the ability to update and upgrade devices in the field. The addition of the D200 devices to the IronKey line provides this functionality and allows us to offer more management and more choices without ever compromising on security.”

Source: IronKey

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced it has joined with Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE), a division of Paramount Pictures, to deliver full-length motion picture feature films on Kingston® Flash memory products.

The movies on Kingston memory will be available to consumers as part of a bundle package and for sale.

“This unique agreement enables PDE to make available its entertainment offerings on USB and SD cards,” said Alex Carloss, EVP and GM of Paramount Digital Entertainment. “As more and more movies are viewed on computers and other portable devices, having a relationship with Kingston will become increasingly important to Paramount for years to come.”

“Kingston is very excited to join forces with Paramount Digital Entertainment on this venture as they are one of the most innovative and forward thinking studios for digital distribution,” said Rick Webb, vice president, consumer markets group, Kingston. “PDE adds great value to our memory products. We look forward to working with them to bundle additional Paramount content on our full line of USB drives and Flash memory cards.”

Kingston DataTraveler® USB Flash drives are backed by a five-year warranty and 24/7 tech support. For more information visit www.kingston.com.

Source: Kingston Technology

XCode(R) 4105 Processor Powers the TransXmedia(TM) USB reference design

ViXS Systems Inc. announced a new Low Power USB Stick Reference Design, TransXmedia(TM). The TransXmedia(TM) USB Reference Design is a low power small form factor hardware and software package available to manufacturers providing extended media processing to their existing or new designs via a low power USB 2.0 interface.

With the increased availability of media-rich content, a need is arising for a robust media solution that broadens the user’s experience for multimedia content control, security and management. Users are looking for an easy solution to securely transfer and/or stream content to a multimedia device of their choice such as mobile phones and other handheld devices. As a result manufacturers require a simple add-in device which can convert and stream multimedia content on the fly to a variety of formats necessary to facilitate a wide range of end displays without burdening the existing processing power of the overall design.

The TransXmedia(TM) reference design is an USB solution, which converts multiple video formats and transforms them to allow playback on a wide variety of end devices. By utilizing the robust media processing, flexible security and SoC functions of the recently announced XCode(R) 4105, TransXmedia can easily provide manufacturers value add features without the need for any extra processing power from the main design. It also enables manufacturers the ability to take advantage of the powerful 1250 DMIPS application processor to offload existing critical CPU intensive tasks to the TransXmedia(TM) design or add user expanding features such DLNA, Place Shifting, and Time Shifting without burdening any precious processing power.

The TransXmedia(TM) is a complete turn-key reference design package which includes the full hardware design and the complete Xtensiv(TM) USB software package.

The TransXmedia USB reference design has the following features:

- Multi-stream HD/SD Media Processing:
- Full Decode/Full Encode Transcode mode
- Smart XCode(TM) mode
- High-speed Transcoding up to 24x faster than real-time
- Transrating: Bit-rate Reduction, Resolution Reduction and Format Conversion on the fly
- Support for HD H.264 AVC, HD VC-1, and HD MPEG2 video formats
- Support for other common Internet Video formats:
- MPEG4 Part 2, H.263, DiVX, XViD, Real, Flash, etc.
- Support for multiple audio and video container formats for popular mobile devices such as iPhone, iPOD Touch, iPOD and PSP and other portable device formats
- Support for multiple audio formats
- Mirror Transcoding/Encoding
- HD & SD simultaneous output support
- HD Transcode + HD & SD Mirror Transcode
- Small Form Factor and Low Power Designs
- USB powered HD Transcoder
- 1250 DMIPS Dedicated Application Processor
- Memory:
- High Speed DDR3 Memory Interface w/Security
- Fully integrated security:
- Multiple Encryption and Decryption Engines
- AES, 3DES, Multi2, DVB
- Digital Rights Management (DRM)/Conditional Access (CA)/ Content Protection (CP) support
- Transcryption between CA’s/CP’s/DRM’s

“Being at the forefront of technology is where ViXS excels, this new powerful reference design helps our customers build leading edge multimedia solutions,” said Sally Daub, President and CEO of ViXS Systems. “The TransXmedia design incorporates advanced media processing, a powerful application processor, and robust security all in a complete easy to manufacture design, providing manufacturers the ultimate USB media processing product.”

Source: ViXS Systems Inc.

Connectivity IP Leader Continues to Innovate with the DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY – The First PHY IP to Support USB 2.0 Battery Charging v1.1 and OTG 2.0 Specifications

Synopsys, Inc. announced the addition of the new DesignWare® USB 2.0 picoPHY IP to its USB 2.0 PHY IP product line that has been successfully deployed in more than 300 customer designs, and in more than 50 different process technologies ranging from 180-nanometer (nm) to 32-nm. Targeted at mobile and high-volume consumer applications such as feature-rich smartphones, mobile internet devices and netbooks, the DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY supports advanced 28-nm processes in a 1.8V architecture, is 30 percent smaller than the previous USB 2.0 PHY generation, and offers reduced pin count and low standby power consumption.

The DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY IP is the first PHY IP to support the new Battery Charging version 1.1 and USB On-the-Go (OTG) version 2.0 specifications from the USB Implementer’s Forum (USB-IF). The Battery Charging v 1.1 specification allows mobile devices to draw up to 1.8 A of current when connected to a wall charger. The Battery Charging specification enables portable devices to distinguish among various power sources, such as a wall charger, standard host port and USB charging port, and selects the most efficient method to charge the device. By supporting the USB OTG version 2.0 specification, the DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY incorporates the new Attached Detection Protocol (ADP) feature, which improves the power efficiency of portable devices that communicate directly to USB peripherals without the need for a PC Host. In addition the DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY supports advanced power management features, such as power supply gating and support for ultra-low standby current to help designers lower the leakage power of mobile system-on-chips (SoCs) while maintaining the integrity of the USB 2.0 connection.

“Delivery of USB IP solutions from providers like Synopsys helps system designers benefit from the latest functionality offered by USB technology,” said Jeff Ravencraft, president and chairman of the USB Implementers Forum. “With the prevalence of USB on mobile devices, IP solutions like Synopsys’ new DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY IP will enable designers to quickly incorporate this technology into their SoCs designs and bring new USB-enabled products to the market quickly.”

“For nearly a decade, designers have successfully incorporated Synopsys’ high-quality DesignWare USB 2.0 PHY IP into their SoCs which they have shipped in hundreds of millions of units,” said John Koeter, vice president of marketing of the Solutions Group at Synopsys. “The addition of the new DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY IP to this already widely adopted product line provides designers with a competitive edge through our continued innovation and support for the latest processes and specifications.”

Availability

The DesignWare USB 2.0 picoPHY IP is expected to be available to early adopters starting in Q4 2009 for 28-nm processes, with a roadmap for 40- and 32-nm. For more information please visit: http://www.synopsys.com/usb.

Source: Synopsys, Inc.

No more Sneakernet

There are a lot of ways to transfer data between two PCs – some convenient and some not. A network or direct cable connection will definitely get the job done but sometimes these aren’t an option. A USB flash drive or portable hard drive combined with ye olde Sneakernet is certainly easy but not very fun or efficient. So, what to do?

The USB Data Transfer Device is a product that offers the perfect solution – simply plug it in and start transferring your data between two computers. The built-in software shows a split screen view on both computers (showing the current computer and the other computer) allowing you to simply drag and drop what you want to the other computer. The device will support data transfer at speeds up to 25Mb/Sec and has a 4 foot retractable USB cable. It is incredibly simple to use and is compact for easy storage and travel.

• USB 2.0 compliant (USB 1.1 compatible)
• Transfer up to 25 MB/s
• Cable length: approximately 4 feet (121 cm)
• USB powered
• Retractable USB cables
• Blue LED indicator light
• Compatible with Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP
• Dimensions: 3.7″ x 2.7″ x .75″ (9.4 x 6.8 x 1.9 cm)

Price: $49.99  Where to buy: ThinkGeek.com

Shure Incorporated announced that the award-winning PG27USB and PG42USB Side Address Condenser Microphones are now shipping, just in time for the holiday gift giving season. Earlier this year, Shure’s PG27USB Microphone was recognized with the Company’s X2u XLR-to-USB Signal Adapter as two of the Top 18 Products at CES 2009 in the Popular Mechanics Editor’s Choice Awards.

The PG27USB and PG42USB Microphones complement Shure’s full line of professional and home recording products, including the newly introduced Professional Headphones and X2u XLR-to-USB Signal Adapter. “Shure has a long history of building professional gear that stands up to the punishing treatment of traveling musicians. The introduction of our USB microphones is a testament to the fact that recording has moved beyond the studio,” said Scott Sullivan, Shure’s Senior Director of Global Product Management. “Now, everyone from on-the-go artists to traveling podcasters can create and capture professional sound quality from the road.”

Shure’s PG27USB and PG42USB Microphones connect professional-caliber Shure microphones to any USB computer port with “Plug and Play” performance. These cardioid condenser microphones feature built-in headphone monitoring with zero latency and monitor mix control, enabling users to instantly hear what they’re recording and make adjustments on-the-go. Both microphones are durable enough for everyday use, but sophisticated enough for advanced recording by the most discerning recordists.

The key difference between the PG27USB and PG42USB Microphones is the application for which they were designed. The PG27USB features a flat, neutral frequency response for reproduction of a wide variety of instrument and vocal sounds. The PG42USB was engineered to reproduce the subtle nuances of lead vocals; its large diaphragm, low-cut filter and external shock-mount are all optimized for the higher sensitivity required for vocal performances.

Other unique features of the PG27USB and PG42USB include:

– Large diaphragm capsule: Provides wider dynamic range, clear highs, and strong lows.
– USB “Plug and Play” Connectivity: Enables the convenience of digital recording, anywhere your computer goes.
– Integrated pre-amp with Microphone Gain Control: Allows control of input signal strength.
– Zero Latency Monitoring: For real-time playback and multi-tracking
without disorientation.
– Headphone Jack: For monitoring with 1/8″ connectivity.
– Monitor Mix Control: For blending microphone and playback audio.

Pricing
– PG27USB: $199.00 retail [$238.00 MSRP]
– PG42USB: $249.00 retail [$298.00 MSRP]

Diebold’s latest innovation uses two-factor authentication to identify ATM technicians and track activities

As attacks against automated teller machines (ATMs) and customer transaction data become increasingly sophisticated, effectively authenticating all users at the self-service channel is growing more critical by the day for financial institutions. To help strengthen access control during service calls, Diebold, Incorporated has released ValiTech®, a two-factor authentication technology that uses a secure USB device to identify and authorize technicians who service ATMs. An important component of Diebold’s multilayered security strategy, ValiTech works in concert with Diebold security technologies designed to protect the entire ATM channel.

Engineered in-house by Diebold for heightened security efficiency, ValiTech is an innovative solution that provides authorized Diebold service personnel with secure access to the system level of the ATM. This technology not only delivers an additional layer of protection for financial institutions through access control, it also provides a detailed audit trail. Moreover, Diebold’s ValiTech technology helps financial institutions comply with important Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) developed and enforced by PCI’s Security Standards Council.

Prior to the introduction of ValiTech, Diebold technicians had to secure a temporary password, provided by the financial institution, each time a service call required a technician to access the system level of the ATM. This practice holds true for any service technician accessing an institution’s ATM, requiring multiple calls and generating numerous temporary passwords. Diebold’s ValiTech links each authorized service technician to a USB hardware cryptographic device – or token – using a digital certificate from VeriSign®.

Access is further controlled through a PIN or pass phrase, set by and known only to the technician, which ties the technician to the digital certificate and the USB device. Through ValiTech, the ATM can uniquely identify the authorized Diebold associate who is accessing the system and grant restricted authorization to the unit’s system functions based on the technician’s role and status. ValiTech then creates a unique audit trail documenting each time a technician is granted access and records all menu activities executed during the service call.

“Deploying effective authentication for an entire ATM fleet can be time-consuming and costly. ValiTech, which can be expertly implemented, managed and maintained by our Premier Services’ technicians, offers our customers a higher level of security while relieving them from the additional workload and resources needed to create, track and reset system-level user names and passwords,” said Charles E. Ducey, Jr., senior vice president, global development and services, Diebold. “At a time when sensitive cardholder data requires increasing protection, ValiTech can help financial institutions close the security gap between temporary passwords and ATM access.”

Source: Diebold, Incorporated

Powerful Encryption Software Easily Turns Any USB Flash Drive Into a Secure Data Vault That Prevents Any Personal or Professional Files and Passwords from Being Lost or Stolen

ENC Security Systems Inc., creators of the world’s most effective data protection software, announced the launch of EncryptStick® Version 4.0. EncryptStick turns any USB flash drive into a highly-secure data vault so consumers and business PC users can secure sensitive information.

EncryptStick is the easiest way to protect all the documents, photos, videos and passwords stored on your computer from everyone, including hackers or thieves. EncryptStick lets users create invisible, encrypted vaults (folders containing sensitive files) on the flash drive itself, on any computer or removable device such as servers or portable hard-drives, as well as writeable media such as CDs, DVDs or SD memory cards.

“EncryptStick uses powerful 512 bit polymorphic encryption technology, which has never been broken or successfully hacked,” said Ed Rusnak, President of ENC Security Systems Inc. “Our customers can be assured that no one will be able to access their data or hack their passwords.”

The software enables users to create an unlimited number of invisible, encrypted vaults containing any type of file. The vaults are only visible when the EncryptStick enabled flash drive is inserted and the user’s password is entered.

Once the EncryptStick-enabled flash drive is plugged into the computer’s USB port, the software will run automatically and prompt the user for their password. After entering the password, the user can open existing vaults, create new vaults and easily encrypt or decrypt any file by right-clicking and selecting from a drop down menu, or simply dragging and dropping the files into the vault folders. EncryptStick also enables “encryption on the fly” with the ability to edit documents within vaults while the files are encrypted.

Automatic timeouts can be user-defined to lock the EncryptStick vaults and prompt for a password in the instance that you walk away from your computer with the flash drive inserted. If the flash drive is lost or stolen, it is useless to anyone without the password, providing all users with complete peace of mind knowing that their files are safe.

The recently published Symantec Internet Security Threat report stated that a hacking technique called keystroke-logging–often used to steal information such as online bank account credentials–made up 76 percent of all online threats. EncryptStick’s Password Manager feature addresses this important security concern by enabling the user to securely log into sensitive websites, providing advanced algorithmic protection while sensitive passwords are entered.

EncryptStick Version 4.0 Features:
– Works with virtually any USB flash drive
– Employs 512 bit Polymorphic Encryption technology
– Encrypts files at a rate ten times faster that AES 256 (federal government encryption standard)
– One-click data encryption/decryption
– Ability to create unlimited secure invisible vaults anywhere on any computer, removable device or writeable media
– Ability to encrypt any type of file (documents, videos, photos, etc.)
– Vaults created on computers are only visible when EncryptStick is running
– Ability to edit documents within the application while encrypted
– Password Manager stores sensitive log-ins and passwords securely
– Automatic session time out for added security
– Protection from common hacking techniques including keystroke-logging and password phishing

Pricing and Availability:

EncryptStick can be downloaded today for $39.99 USD with support for Windows XP and Windows Vista. Free software updates are available for the life of the product.

Source: ENC Security Systems Inc.