Re: for the tinkerers / hackers (in the orig meaning of the word)

["mspangler" <mspangler@gemsi.com>]

On a directly related topic, in the new Nuts and Volts, Jan Axelson 
has an article on the USBwiz. It can translate USB to a serial 
interface, with commands built in for memory cards.

The website says:

3.3.Key Features
FAT32, FAT16 and FAT12 support.
Simultaneous access to 3 FAT devices.
Multi Media Card (MMC) and Secure Digital (SD) memory cards.
USB host stack and raw access to USB devices.
HID USB class support.
Printer USB class support.
Mass storage USB class support.
Supports ISP1160
Easily used with any microcontroller including PIC, AVR, Zilog...etc.
Runs with simple robust protocol on UART, I2C or SPI.
UART runs as high as 921.6 K-baud, I2C up to 400kbps, and SPI clock is 
up to 7 MHz.
Field upgradeable firmware.
Firmware can be updated from a file on the connected media!
Built in RTC (Real Time Clock)
Very few external components are needed.
Small LQFP 64 package.
40 to 50 mA, power consumption with capability of power down.
Single supply 3.3V.
5V tolerant I/O pins.
-40 ̊C to +85 ̊C temperature operating range.
Lead free.

They have an OEM/experimenter board too, but it seems to default to 
9600 baud.

Anyway, it looks cool.