June 28 - 6:40pm EDT   Synchrotech has announced the MicroU2E-MV USB to ExpressCard adapter, which allows ExpressCards with voltages of both 1.5V and 3.3V to connect to a USB port. The adapter can accept both ExpressCard 34 and 54 sizes and is cross-platform, bringing ExpressCard connectivity to Mac (and PC) laptops lacking ExpressCard slots. The adapter, which is limited to USB-based cards (and will not work with PCIe-based ExpressCards), is available now for $48 and requires a USB 2.0-based ExpressCard and a host computer running Mac OS X or Mac OS 8.6 and above (also Windows ME or later). [full story]

December 20 - 4:00pm EST   The RapcoHorizon Company is planning to unveil its new LTI-1 stereo interface at Winter NAMM 2008. The device, which is designed to connect laptops to audio equipment via a 3.5mm plug and a 3-foot attached cable, features bult-in ground lift switches as well as a -20db pad with left and right LXR outputs. The RapcoHorizon Company will showcase the new device -- which is already available for $135 -- at Winter NAMM in Booth no. 4558, Hall C. [corrected] [full story]

November 28 - 1:35pm EST   Translating its relative success with the original Zonbu Desktop to portables, Zonbu today unveiled the Zonbu Notebook. Like the original Linux system, the Everex-made 15.4-inch system is based primarily around a subscription for network storage and programs: 50GB of space not only backs up information stored on the local system but offers a continually updated software suite that never needs to be manually updated. Unlike the desktop, however, the portable includes a 60GB hard disk with enough space to store many files locally and comes with both a DVD burner and built-in Wi-Fi. [full story]

November 27 - 9:05am EST   Dell today completed the overhaul of its XPS notebook line by introducing the XPS M1530. The system is one of Dell's few high-end 15-inch notebooks and is aimed at the same audience that would otherwise seek slim, stylized portables such as Apple's MacBook Pro: the minimalist system is 0.9 inches deep at its thinnest point and uses a slot-load optical drive (like the M1330) in place of the usual tray-loading option. A minimum 128MB GeForce 8400M GS graphics chip provides dedicated 3D acceleration even on the least expensive model, which also includes a 2-megapixel webcam and a fingerprint reader. [full story]

November 22 - 3:05pm EST   Apple had a strong third quarter this year with the iPhone, shipping over 1.12 million iPhones in the US, while industry analysts are predicting the company will see an increase of one-percent in global laptop market share. According to Alley Insider, Apple seized 27-percent of the smartphone market in its third fiscal quarter, or 1.12 million out of 4.2 million units sold. Demand for smartphones has tripled since last year, with smartphones making up 11-percent of a total 38 million cell phones sold, with the previous year showing 1.5 million smartphones out of 36.5 million phones sold (4%). [full story]