Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing a device with protection from a weather event. A method for providing a device with protection from weather events may include receiving a notification of a weather event. At least one weather characteristic of the weather event is determined and whether at least one device of a plurality of devices is ascertained as susceptible to the determined weather characteristic. Protective action is taken to protect the at least one device susceptible to the determined weather characteristic from the notified weather event.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a USB hub with soft select ports. A universal serial bus (USB) hub suitable for indicating a user-selectable number of ports may include a universal serial bus (USB) hub suitable for facilitating universal serial bus (USB) communication between a host and a device. A register suitable for storing an actual port value indicating a number of universal serial bus (USB) ports connected to the universal serial bus (USB) hub may be included, the actual port value suitable for being changed by a user.

Abstract: A digital information appliance comprises a housing having a display disposed on a first surface for displaying information to a user of the digital information appliance and an input device disposed on a second surface opposed to the first surface for imputing information. The input device is oriented with respect to the display so as to be operable by the fingers of the user's hand for input of information while holding the housing so the display is viewable.