If there's one thing that gets attention in the tech-world, it's Apple products. So, it makes sense that Sierra Wireless wanted to leverage the MacBook Air's "hotness" to publicize their newly announced Sierra Wireless Compass 597 EVDO Rev. A USB modem. The MacBook Air initially got my attention. Then I noticed the yellow-lit USB dongle sticking out of the Air's notoriously slim and widely incompatible USB port. The Air's design necessitates that everything be as slim and small as possible, and as such, the ultra-portable notebook from Apple suffers from a too-small USB port - many USB dongles and flash drives just don't fit in the port. So, imagine my surprise when I saw this super slim USB modem stuck into the side of the MacBook Air!Sierra Wireless has kept the formula simple with EVDO Rev. A allowing 3.1Mbps download speeds and upload speeds of up to 1.8Mbps, and built-in GPS allowing, well, GPS-related stuff. The included microSD card slot makes the Sierra Wireless Compass 597 a microSD card reader, too. The bright-yellow indicator light on the tip of the Compass 597 lets you know when you're locked on to Sprint's network, and adds some pop to the otherwise nondescript USB modem. Expect a Q2 2008 ship-date for the Sierra Wireless Compass 597. I'm waiting on my review unit to come in, so stay tuned to see how this slim little USB modem performs in the real world!
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Wow, we’ve been waiting quite a long time for this thing to drop. After missing it’s initial shipping date for last year, we fully expected the Sierra Wireless AirCard 595U EVDO Rev. A USB modem in April. Well, now it’s August, and it seems that Verizon Wireless is finally offering the 3G AirCard on their network. The USB modem can be plugged in directly to your computer, or connected through a dock. The Sierra Wireless 595U comes bundled with VZAccess Manager software and features a removable battery. It’s gonna cost you a lot more than the expected $49.99 price point - $179.99 to be exact (after two-year contract and rebates, of course).
We’re expecting this thing to drop on August 30, let’s hope Big Red keeps true to the launch window this time around. Press release
We all have gone through those seemingly ‘endless’ days when indispensable gadgets like mobile phones, MP3 players, and iPods lose their charge. This issue gets even more amplified when away from home or even on holiday. 
Now, there’s no need to worry about missing those important calls- that is only if you have a USB Mobile device charger at hand. A tried-and-tested one that comes in the Proporta ‘Mobile Survival Kit’ will definitely do the job and more for a great and affordable price too! Aptly named the Mobile Survival Kit, this is a perfect partner for frequent travelers who may often get stuck with little or no charge in their devices. The vital Survival Kit includes a high-powered rechargeable battery which can be charged from any standard USB port. This battery stores an impressive 3400 mAh of power. The Proporta Mobile Survival Kit also includes a USB to Mini USB cable, and a retractable cable which is compatible with the following interchangeable connector heads: 2x Nokia, 1x Sony Ericsson, 1 x iPod. If you happen to need another connector compatible with your device, you can always request Proporta to send it along in the package.
The best part about Proporta’s USB Mobile Device Charger is that not only can you charge your mobile phone and MP3 player with it, but also other electronics such as digital cameras, PDAs, smartphones and even GPS devices. When we received the Mobile Survival Kit, the USB Mobile Device Charger already had a 75% charge, so we were able to juice up our dryed-out mobile phones at office itself. But, after charging dry devices from anywhere between three to five times, you will need to recharge the USB Mobile Charger once again. To charge this battery, you just have to attach a mini cable to the battery’s small plug (labeled IN) and then attach the standard USB to the computer. A red light soon appears on the battery’s LED, which could mean either that the USB battery itself is charging, or that the battery is charging another device. When you see a green light, you know that your device has been fully charged. Charging different devices using the USB Mobile Device Charger is quite a breeze. All you have to do is attach a suitable connector head to the battery’s USB via the provided cable and press the LED button on the USB battery. Another great feature of the entire Proporta Mobile Survival Kit is that it is extremely easy to use, and is very portable. More than all of this, it is the most useful device to have around when traveling, or commuting to and from work (only if you have a laptop that is). At just $45, the Proporta Mobile Survival Kit is truly a valuable buy. However, you must know that it is not compatible with Microsoft’s Zune digital music player. In times like ours, we can barely do without a mobile phone, let alone making do without it when it’s charge dies off. The Proporta Mobile Survival Kit is truly an essential piece to own.
Our Shout: We give the Proporta Mobile Survival Kit 9 out of 10 as this product is portable, user-friendly, and truly indispensable. Also, you won’t need to worry about compatibility issues, as you can hook up just about any gadget that needs to be charged using the interchangeable connector heads. There are absolutely no cons on the horizon for the Mobile Survival Kit. Okay, just one small one; if you were stranded on an island, you would most definitely need a PC/laptop to charge this USB battery up, before you can charge up your GPS device, mobile phone, and digital music player!
