Motor It: SolidAlliance’s New USB Hub is an Engine
The guys at I4U don't seem to like it very much, but this USB hub, modeled after a motorcycle engine and complete with operating noises as it runs seems pretty cool. Akihabara has a video of maker SolidAlliance's president Mr. Kawahara demoing the product, which appears to play the novelty aspect up to the hilt: plugging the hub into your computer starts up the motor, which "runs" for about five seconds, playing some convincing engine noises and moving the engine portion of the hub up and down. A built in "starter" and "throttle" allow you to kick the engine back into gear whenever you choose, so you can pretend you're out on the open road instead of next to a computer – the sort of escapism that every USB hub should provide. One downside to all of that fake chrome, though: there are only three USB ports on the entire hub.
Via I4U
