Converge USB Charging Hub

A USB charging hub is one ordinary accessory that we have all come to take for granted. I mean, how many people would actually give a second look to this particular USB accessory? Not many, I suppose. Thinkgeek has a mind to change your viewpoint by introducing the $39.99 Converge USB Charging Hub, where it will be able to juice up to a quartet of exhausted device batteries via USB in style and comfort. When you are done, just stash away the cables in the back – and you know what they say, out of sight, out of mind.

All you need to do is plug the power source into your nearest outlet and you are good to go. Just bear in mind that USB might stand for Universal Serial Bus, but that does not mean it is capable of powering up Tony Stark’s Iron Man suit or the Blackberry Torch, Blackberry Curve, or the Barnes & Noble Nook. Don’t ask me why those devices are exempted, but then again, going with what the majority of people use is always a better idea than supporting more obscure devices.

Sony HXR-NX30 camcorder: built-in projector, 96GB storage for $2,500

Don't worry, lone gunslingers, today isn't just about the NEX-FS700. Sony's pro range has also been bolstered with the HXR-NX30 for videographers who need to travel light. This model sacrifices interchangeable lenses in favor of a palm-friendly form factor with a 26mm-260mm (35mm equivalent) Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T fixed lens. The camera sports Sony's 'Balanced Optical SteadyShot' technology, which means both the lens and the sensor assembly are floated as a single element to minimize camera shake. Unlike that of the larger NEX-VG20, the HXR-NX30's sensor is shrunken too: it's an Exmor R CMOS that's only slightly larger than 1/3-inch. The North American NX30U variant handles 1920 x 1080 at 60p, 30p and 24p, as well as 60i and 720/60p, stored as AVCHD on the camera's 96GB of internal memory. A detachable XLR unit takes care of pro-quality audio. Weirdly, the HXR-NX30 even houses a built-in projector that plays back 100-inch footage from a distance of 16 feet. It's an interesting feature, but will it be worth its weight? Further specs and a promo video await after the break.