Mikey Digital also features a multi-source input jack that allows for direct connection of guitars and other sound sources to record with the highest possible fidelity.

ENGADGET: Blue Microphones Mikey Digital portable microphone for iOS devices hits shelves, offers mobile tracking for $100

The left side of the slate houses a headphone jack, micro-HDMI connection, micro-USB 2.0 and a full-size SD card slot that lets you add up to 128GB of external storage (and theoretically more).

ENGADGET: Toshiba Excite 10 review: a 10-inch ICS tablet that puts the Thrive to shame

All the HomePortal needs is a connection to a phone jack and the computer.

FORBES: Ten O'Clock Tech: Data Plumbing For The Home

Former UK justice secretary Jack Straw also said the revelations had no connection to the final decision.

BBC: Wikileaks: Scots not offered 'treats' to free Megrahi

Overall, its port selection is quite generous: USB 3.0, an Ethernet jack, VGA, HDMI and a headphone connection line the left side, while the right edge is home to that disc drive along with two USB 2.0 ports.

ENGADGET: Hands-on with Sony's touch-enabled VAIO T14 and T15 (video)

You plug a phone into the jack, and calls are carried over your broadband Internet connection.

FORBES: FCC Finds MagicJack Can't Collect Access Charges From AT&T

To make sure that the headphones are ready for use at any time, they have been fitted with a 3.5mm stereo jack, and the nominal impedance has been reduced for optimum connection to mobile players.

ENGADGET: Sennheiser launches the Momentum retro-cans and CX890i earbuds

We were a bit disappointed that the connection didn't come at the hands of a 30-pin jack or Lightning port, but overall the unit worked quite nicely in our limited time with it.

ENGADGET

In reality, however, Jack says the hack is actually somewhat easier: all it takes is a USB thumb drive or an Internet connection.

FORBES: Researcher's Hack Can Make ATMs Spew Money