Tech Toys
Compiled by Gannett News Service
FastLynx 3.2 speeds transfer of files
You've just bought a new PC that can do it all — but your important files are all on your old PC.
Now what?
With the FastLynx 3.2 software program, you can quickly transfer files, directories and disks from one computer to another. These big moves can be made with a variety of connections: serial, parallel, Universal Serial Bus (USB), infrared and the Internet.
The complete package — a diskette, a user's manual, a serial cable, a parallel cable and a USB cable — costs $99. If you already own any of the supported cables, the software itself can be downloaded online at www.sewelldev.com for $45.
It also can be ordered over the phone at (801) 226-3794.
Information: www.sewelldev.com
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Monster games on the cheap
The kids have seen "Monsters, Inc.'' and now they are begging for a chance to play with the cuddly creatures from the Disney/Pixar film. No problem. Disney Interactive has created three "Wreck" Room Arcade Games for just $9.99 each. The lineup is geared for kids 8 and up.
These Windows-based games can be addictive, but the price is cheap enough that you won't care so much when the kids' attention switches to the next big movie and game.
Information: www.disneyinteractive.com
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SiPix digital camera fits in your pocket
Looking for a digital camera that's small enough to slip inside a shirt pocket? SiPix makes just the thing: The credit-card-size StyleCam weighs a mere 2.6 ounces and measures just 3¥ inches by 2 1/2 inches by 1/16 of an inch.
The $69.99 camera has 8 megabytes of built-in memory, enough to hold 64 images at a top resolution of 640 by 480 pixels. It also comes with a macro mode for close-up shots, a 10-second self-timer, an automatic power shutoff and ArcSort's PhotoImpression 2000 editing software.
The camera, which doubles as a video-conference camera, can be hooked up to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port on Mac and Windows computers.
Information: www.sipix.com
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Mini CD-MP3 player offers big sounds
TEAC, a manufacturer of CD-Rewritable, DVD-ROM and CD-ROM discs, now makes a gadget that can play music, too.
The TEAC Mini CD/MP3 device can play mini-CD-Recordable discs that can hold up to 3 1/2 hours of compressed music in MP3 format. Mini discs measure about 3 inches while standard audio discs are about 5 inches.
The pocket-size gadget can play music for about seven hours on two AA batteries. The $129.99 player comes with Sennheiser headphones, MusicMatch Jukebox software, a blank mini CD-R disc, an AC adapter, batteries and a user's manual. A pack of 10 blank Mini CD-R discs from TEAC costs $12.99.
Information: www.shopteac.com
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Program bridges gap between PDAs, PCs
As handy as Palm-based PDAs may be, the screens are not nearly as easy to use as a PC's when it comes to composing documents. Blue Nomad's WordSmith 2.01 program can help bridge that gap with its word processor, memo pad and electronic book reader.
The program, which is fully compatible with Microsoft Word, allows you to import TrueType format fonts from a Windows PC and then view them on your PDA.
WordSmith also can be set up to work in varying degrees with Macintosh and Linux computers.
The program costs $29.95; A trial version with 200 editing sessions can be downloaded for free.
Information: www.bluenomad.com
