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Tech News
A tech explainer outlines a step-by-step process for diagnosing why USB devices repeatedly disconnect, including testing different ports and devices, inspecting connectors and cables for damage, and checking ports for debris. It also recommends bypassing USB hubs and using back ports on desktops, which connect directly to the motherboard, for more reliable long-term connections.
A tech lifestyle piece argues that old USB charging cables, even ones that no longer fit current devices, often still function electrically and shouldn't be thrown away. It outlines ways to repurpose them, ranging from simple no-tool projects to more advanced ones requiring wire cutters or a soldering iron, while cautioning that frayed cables can pose a fire risk if used to carry current.
Japanese audio maker Final has opened preorders for the Porta, on-ear Bluetooth headphones built from a single piece of wire that weigh just 40 grams. The $80 headphones offer up to eight hours of battery life via a 57mAh cell, Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC and AAC codecs, no active noise cancellation, and an IPX4 water-resistance rating. They ship October 23rd in black or orange, sold through Final's own store with no current US Amazon listing.
A tech how-to explains that plugging an external USB drive into a router's USB port and enabling file sharing in the router settings can turn that drive into a makeshift Network Attached Storage (NAS) device accessible to every device on the home network. The guide notes this approach lets users share photos, documents, movies and other files locally without needing a computer to stay powered on, unlike some streaming setups such as Sonos' current folder-sharing method.
Analogue has released Plus versions of its Super Nt and Mega Sg FPGA-based consoles, which play original Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis cartridges respectively. The updated models add Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless controller support, USB-C power, a USB-A port, and the ability to swap cartridges or power on the console via a gamepad without shutting down. Both cost $219.99, open for pre-order this weekend, and are expected to ship in December.
Bose has released the Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds, priced at $99, marking its first wired earbuds in over a decade. The earbuds connect via USB-C rather than a 3.5mm jack, drawing power directly from the port to enable active noise cancellation without a separate battery pack.
Amazon is selling the Razer Kraken V4 X gaming headset for $54.39, its lowest price in months. The headset includes USB-C and USB-A connectivity and 40mm drivers, and currently holds a 4.5-star rating on Amazon.
The open-source memory testing tool Memtest86+ now runs on ARM64 systems with UEFI and ACPI, tested on Qualcomm Snapdragon X laptops, Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 with community firmware, and QEMU. The update also lets users save full test reports to a FAT32 USB drive via F6, introduces a new bus stress test for DDR5+ systems, and reworks test algorithms with SIMD instructions for faster, more thorough error detection.
Amazon is selling the Razer Kishi V3, a USB-C mobile game controller, at $69.99, a 30% price cut from its regular price. The accessory is designed to clip onto Android phones and newer iPhones for console-style gaming.
A developer trying to digitize family photo negatives found their Plustek 8200i scanner's new chipset lacked Linux support. Inspired by a method shared by Tom Crider for fixing a mouse driver, they used Claude AI alongside a Windows VM to capture USB data during scans, producing a working SANE driver within hours and a near-complete one, including infrared support, within days. They also built a companion scanning app called Negative Vibes, though they later found someone had independently submitted official SANE support for the same scanner.
Microsoft has introduced the Xbox Nano Controller, a compact, 3.5-ounce gamepad priced at $49.99 that retains all 18 standard Xbox inputs despite shrinking the overall size. It's just over 5 inches long, charges via USB-C, includes a customizable Action Button, and supports Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth for use with PCs, phones, and smart TVs. Pre-orders are open now ahead of a November 4 release, with purchases capped at five per account.
The Los Angeles County clerk's office says it has not connected a USB drive sent by the Department of Justice that purportedly contains data on noncitizens who received ballots. The county says plugging in the unverified device would breach its data privacy and information security protocols.