The compact box can play full high-def (1920 x 1080) files in popular formats such as MP4, H.264, DivX HD, MOV, VC-1, FLV, VOB, WMV and AVI as well as less common formats like MKV, AVC-HD, RMVB and Minus VR. Of course, it can also play a variety of audio formats like AAC, WMA, OGG, MP3, and M4A with aplomb.There’s even support for subtitle formats including Advance Substation Alpha – which has the best file extension ever – .ASS . (There’s a full list of supported formats and codecs here).

In addition, the Ultio can connect to the Internet via a built-in Ethernet port or through a Wi-Fi network (if you plug in an optional USB networking dongle). Once connected, you can download media files using the system’s built-in BitTorrent client. Since it has an integrated Samba server and UPnP, you can use services like PlayOn or Tversity to stream video from Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and other web-based video services.

The Ultio has a nice array of video outputs, including HDMI 1.3, component video, optical audio, analog audio (yuck) and composite video (double yuck).

Keep in mind that the Ultio doesn’t come with any built-in storage. For best performance, you’ll need to drop in a 3.5-inch SATA hard drive (up to 1.5 TB). Otherwise, you can play files from a USB 2.0 hard drive or a flash drive. You can also stream media stored on your PC if you’d rather store files there. And the guys over at Mvix are even encouraging users to download all of the system’s open source and GPL sourcecode to see what else they can do with this little box.

You can find the Mvix Ultio over at ThinkGeek for just $169.99 (USD). The 802.11N Wi-fi dongle will set you back another $39.99. BYO hard drive.

Flexicord cables are 10 ft long, but they can be compressed to as small as 1 ft. As you can see the cable holds its shape and length and can be reshaped and resized as needed.

There are Flexicord USB cables, HDMI cables, RJ-45 network cables, S-Video cables and even Composite Video cables. The cables get their Reed Richards skills from a patent-pending technology called Memory Cord. I’ll stop playing salesman for a while and point out that if your USB device is always as close to your computer as the one pictured above, then I think you’ll be overdoing it if you get one of these stiffy stretchies. But I know a lot of people who could use one of these, myself included.

The HDMI Flexicord cable was hailed as one of the most innnovative products of CES 2009. Unfortunately, these cables are not yet widely available, but you can contact e-filliate, the Flexicord’s distributor and at 1-800-592-7031 for orders.

Flexicord: Always The Right Length. (That’s What She Said.)

[via Everything USB]

The new LaCie 5big Network storage array is designed for small and medium workgroups looking for a ton of storage at a reasonable price. Heck, I bet it has WAY more memory than HAL 9000 had. The 5big sports five hot-swappable Serial ATA drive bays which can accomodate as much as 7.5 terabytes of disk.

The drives can be configured in a number of array modes, including RAID 5, RAID 5+Spare, RAID 6, RAID 10 and RAID 0. The 5big can be attached to your network via a zippy Gigabit Ethernet port, and additional external drives can be connected via USB 2.0 or SATA ports.

The array also offers built-in Active Directory support, so you can easily add it as a Windows file server for your office. And if you’re not a Windows fan It’ll work with Mac and Linux systems too.

The 5big comes in three sizes: 2.5TB ($899), 5.0TB ($1399), and 7.5TB ($1899), and can be found over on the LaCie website.

The device automatically seeks out the six strongest open Wi-Fi channels, connects to all of them, and combines the signals into a massively fast ‘net connection.

Of course, we all know that using open wireless access points is against the law in many countries, so you and I would never use such a device. However, for those of your into defying authority, you can read more about the Slurpr here.

[via Engadget]

The Linux-based miniature security appliance features 13 serious security systems in one little piece of hardware. The box plugs into your laptop or desktop PC via USB and provides just about every security feature you could want, including:

• Stateful Inspection Firewall
• Adaptive Security Policy
• Multi-Layer Security Agent
• Layer-8 Security Engine
• URL Categorization & Filtering
• Anti-Spam
• Anti-Phishing
• Anti-Spyware
• Kaspersky Anti-Virus
• Transparent Email Proxies (POP3; SMTP)
• Transparent Web Proxies (HTTP; FTP)
• Intrusion Detection System / Intrusion Prevention System
• VPN for Remote access

The Yoggie also offers the ability to add parental content-filtering controls to white-list or black-list sites from prying eyes.

The Yoggie Gatekeeper Pro is available now and costs $220, including a 1 year subscription to automatic security upgrades. Subsequent years will run $40 each. While that may seem a little high compared to software solutions, it’s likely to be more secure, and a single device can be used to protect up to 5 computers.

[via Coolest Gadgets]