Even Wackier USB Devices

Boy, you sure loved our round-up of 15 wacky USB gadgets. So much so that it got us thinking--could there be more insanity to check up on out there in USB-land? Hah! Silly question. There are tons more USB-based gadgets out there that serve useful, and not-so-useful, purposes. Here's a look at 15 more way-out gadgets powered by that ever-so-handy jack, the USB.

Desk-Top Distractions

If your office is a circus already, then you'll appreciate this little circus cannon. It comes with three foam shooters that will fly up to 20 feet into the included net. You'll have to provide your own clown to dance along to the prerecorded circus music, but that won't be too difficult in your office, will it?

Your computer crashed, again. Your boss is yelling at you to meet that deadline, and your car won't start. Don't you just feel like blowing up the world? Well, now you can. Just break out the Armageddon Hub, flip the two switches, turn the key, open the plastic cover, and push the red "ultimate destruction" button. Okay, nothing will actually happen (except some loud honking noises), but the Armageddon Hub actually does serve a useful purpose--it doubles as a four-port USB hub. And it's useful for taunting people with the occasional: "If you don't leave me alone, I'm going to blow up the world."

Can't grow anything under those humming fluorescent bulbs that illuminate your desk? Plug this little flower fan--complete with its own flowerpot--into your USB port and watch it spin. It'll add some inorganic color, it'll cool you off if the air conditioning isn't working, and the fan actually packs quite a punch--the manufacturers recommend putting some sticky tack underneath so it doesn't blow itself over. Whoosh!

Into time-wasting at work? Then you'll love this compact light show. The plasma ball glows pink, with the occasional flash of blue lightning that will respond to your touch. It doesn't release any static electricity, though, so no fuzzy buzzes tingle your fingers when you press it.