Hello there, and welcome to our new series, known to some as “Awesome Gadget of the Week”. Well, actually it’s known to pretty much everyone as that, because that’s what it’s called. With this excellent new series, we hope to bring you the gadgets that will one day change the world. We’re talking about stuff like the wheel, the transistor, electricity, and sliced bread (because who can be bothered to slice their own, really?).

That’s why I thought I’d start off with this shining example of gadget excellence – it’s a 4-port USB 2.0 hub, of which three of the the ports actually swivel, and, wait for it… It also dispenses tape – Scotch tape, Sellotape, maybe even duct tape, but probably not rubbish Ethan Hawke films. It also only costs $14.41, which not only works out to be seven of our olde English pounds, but is also a palindrome, making it all the more brilliant.

It’s completely plug and play, weighs a hefty 13.4oz (although I don’t really know how heavy that is as I was brought up on the metric system, but I’m sure it’s heavy enough), and it allows you to “Link up to a maximum of 127 USB devices”. That’s an incredible feat for something which only has 4 physical ports on it, and something which I am sure will puzzle the science world for years to come.

Unfortunately there is also a sad side to this tale. At the time of writing, this magnificent piece of engineering excellence is currently out of stock. I’m guessing that the rest of the world has realised the huge potential of this gadget and are snapping them up as quickly as those noble Chinese chaps can churn them out. Or maybe there’s a conspiracy afoot, and they’re keeping all of these to themselves to upset the west.

Suggested Uses For This Awesome Gadget:

• Impressing Members of the Opposite Sex
• Novelty Paperweight
• Replace your Rock Band hub and always have tape handy when rockin’ out
• Beating burglars with its (probable) heft

See you next week for our “Awesome Gadget of the Week”, and rest assured that the next one will be even more revolutionary than this. I know, I know… But really. It will. And if this awesome gadget ever does come back into stock, you can buy one from Dealextreme.

Other TTB Posts Like This One

• Awesome Gadget Of The Week: Fingermouse!
• Video Friday: Play SNES Cartridges On Your PC With This Nifty USB Adapter!
• Transformers, Gadgets in Disguise?!?!
• Glowing Teabag Of Fun!
• A USB-Equipped Atari Joystick For All Your Emulation Needs