This camera comes in silver or black and should be available in July, just in time for taking poster-size vacation pictures.
A DIGITAL RADIO THAT doesn't cost the earth
The cost of receiving digital AM and FM signals will drop next week as Radiosophy releases its HD100 receiver for less than US$60 with a rebate. The HD100 pulls in HD Radio signals, a digital format that is broadcast alongside standard radio by more than 1,200 stations in this country. The next least expensive digital receiver is US$160 with a rebate; most start at US$300.
Available at www.radiosophy.com, the HD100 is a 997g compact receiver with built-in speakers. It has a play-through auxiliary input, a headphone jack and an alarm clock. AC power is required.
The radio has an internal AM antenna and a pull-out FM antenna. Both can be replaced with external antennas. Because digital signals are limited to 1 percent of the power of a station's analog transmission, HD receivers often need external antennas for clear sound on far-off signals.
A display screen shows station call letters, song and artist details and — depending on the station — brief updates on traffic, weather, news and sports.
With its low weight, telescoping antenna and ability to play music from devices like iPods, the HD100 might have a place on the beach — as long as there is a cord long enough to reach it.
THE JAM JACKET tames IPODS' UNRULY ORDs
If you carry an iPod around with you, common sense suggests doing what you can to protect it from accidental meetings with hard surfaces or sharp objects. A new protective case from Digital Lifestyle Outfitters does that and adds a twist: cord management.
The Jam Jacket is a textured black silicone sleeve that fits snugly around a 30GB video iPod (or a Nano, for which it comes in clear or black; other versions are in the works). The case's designers opted against shielding the screen, leaving it vulnerable to scratches. But there is no feeling, as with some other iPod cases, of something between your finger and the click wheel — the thin layer of silicone presents virtually no impediment to scrolling and clicking.
The main attraction of the Jam Jacket, which is available at www.dlo.com and from retailers, is a spool on the back that takes up slack in the cord when headphones are worn and provides tidy storage when the player is put away. There are openings to stow the earbuds and the headphone jack.
A protective case can make the difference between life and death for an iPod. The spool helps set the Jam Jacket apart from the pack.
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