A BAG WEARS IPOD BUTTONS ON ITS STRAP
Carry enough pocket-size electronic gear and you don't have much pocket space for anything else, so it is not uncommon to see backpacks and shoulder bags with small pockets to hold mobile phones, iPods and other gadgets (and, often, big pockets for laptops). But it is hard to operate an iPod inside a bag, and running headphone cords between the bag and your ears invites snags.
A new messenger bag, the Professional from G-Tech (www.g-techworld.com), is meant to solve these problems. A seemingly abstract pattern of symbols on the strap is actually an iPod remote control, built into the washable fabric. (The technology is ElekTex "smart fabric" from Eleksen.)
Also built into the US$129 bag, though not into the fabric, are thin, flexible, washable loudspeakers from NXT that leave your ears free to hear traffic and let you share your music with your friends — and, it should be noted, everyone else within earshot. A built-in connector lets you use the speakers with other music players or with a laptop; the bag has compartments for the laptop, music player and a cell phone. CompUSA and other retailers are carrying it.
If music is your bag, this might be as well.
GAMES, VIDEO AND PEACE IN THE BACK SEAT
Anyone who has survived a cross-country road trip with young children knows the value of a portable DVD player. After all, there are few things that can keep children mesmerized more effectively than a favorite movie and a pair of headphones. This holiday season there are dozens of DVD players in the US$100 range, all with rechargeable batteries and headphone jacks.
The Coby V.Zon TF-DVD 560, available for about US$105 from popular retailers, takes the concept up a notch, adding 12 mid-1990s Sega games to the entertainment lineup. The game menu includes fast-paced versions of Sonic the Hedgehog and an addictive Bejeweled-like puzzle game.
The player is designed for fitting into a lap rather than for sharing, with a smallish 3.5-inch screen. It opens like a clamshell to load discs and comes with two power adapters — DC for the car and AC for home — headphones and a carrying pouch. After you reach your destination, you can watch the movies on a TV screen using the AV port (a cable is included) or, in the case of the video games, use the unit as a clunky controller.
FOR PODCASTERs IN THE FIELD, A MORE ADVANCED RECORDER
There is no doubt that podcasts are popular. The Pew Internet and Family Life Project released new survey data this week indicating that more than 17 million people in the US have downloaded podcasts, up from 10 million in April.
All of those podcasts have to be recorded somehow. Samson's Zoom H4 is aimed at podcasters and anyone else who needs to make high-quality digital recordings with what is known as a field recorder.
Like many of its competitors, the Zoom H4 records in MP3 and WAV formats and can produce CD-quality audio. It connects to a computer with a USB cable to transfer files. The built-in stereo microphones are angled to cut down on ambient sounds when interviewing someone in a noisy environment. For the musically minded, the H4 can record two additional tracks with the help of external microphones.
The Zoom H4 is available at the usual retailers and at specialty electronic stores. Navigating the controls on the Zoom H4 is not as intuitive as it might be, but given the price (about US$300) and all those features, this is a minor problem.
COMPUTER SPEAKERS PUT ON A PRETTY FACE
Logitech is betting that the speakers that came with your computer are pretty ugly. It hopes to remedy this by offering the glossy black Z-10 Interactive Speaker System. The system, US$150, looks like a cross between an iPod and the front end of a sports car.
These speakers connect to any PC and display the name of the song that is currently playing on a bright liquid-crystal display screen. The system's front panel is touch-sensitive, with buttons for play, fast forward and rewind along with treble and bass controls. The speakers also have four buttons for Internet radio or preset playlists, allowing you to switch moods with the flick of a finger. There is also an auxiliary input port for MP3 players and other media players.
The 30-watt speakers offer a bright sound. Their 12.4cm-wide bases will not take up too much desk real estate. They work only with Windows PCs.
The speakers, available at retailers, come with a setup program, a cable kit and a chamois cleaning cloth for buffing out any errant thumbprints.
READY TO CAPTURE CHRISTMAS MEMORIES?
The Rebel XTi (also known as the EOS 400D) tweaks the Rebel formula to allow for larger, 10.1-megapixel images, improved auto-focus, continuous shooting, and an automatic cleaning system.
The XTi almost doubles the image size of the original Digital Rebel released in 2003, meaning 60.9cm wide photos will look great. The nine-point auto-focus sensor also allows for quicker and more accurate focusing. With continuous shooting, you can take 27 photos in less than 10 seconds. This version also has an auto-cleaning feature, which removes dust. Includes 18-55mm zoom lens.
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