TECH TOYS
New products to delight the techie
Compiled by Gannett News Service
Tiny tapes shrink camcorders
Sony has introduced two pocket-sized camcorders that may prove discreet enough to make shooting videos actually seem cool. The MICROMV Handycams rely on new MICROMV cassettes that are about 70 percent smaller than MiniDV tapes. Consequently, the new DCR-IP5 and the DCR-IP7BT camcorders are downright tiny. Each weighs a mere 12 ounces and measures just 1 1/2 inches by 4 inches by 3 1/2 inches. The digital video is recorded in the MPEG2 format with a transfer rate of 12 Mbps, which takes up less space on your hard drive. Both models are due out in February. The DCR-IP5 costs about $1,300 while the DCR-IP7BT, which also can provide wireless Internet access via Bluetooth technology, will sell for about $1,700.
Information: sony.com
Bargain inkjet prints photos fast
Hewlett-Packard has a new inkjet photo printer that's bound to please bargain hungers. The HP Deskjet 920c can produce color prints at a respectable 2,400 by 1,200 dots per inch (dpi) yet only costs $99. The machine can print nine pages per minute in black and 7 1/2 pages per minute in color. Photographers who want to transfer their traditional printed photos on computers also might want to look at Hewlett-Packard's newest color scanner. The HP Scanjet 5400c can scan images with up to 2,400 dpi. Controls on its front panel make it easy to scan a photo, reprint a photo and cancel tasks. It costs $199.
Information: hp-at-home.com
MP3-CD player puts snapshots on TV
Even if your pals aren't interested in seeing snapshots of the kids or dog, they probably will be impressed when you display the images on a portable gadget from Philips. The Photo eXpanium eXp601, a portable TV viewer and MP3-CD player, is expected to show up in stores in April for $199. When hooked up to a television, the gadget can display digital images stored on picture discs as well as information about music stored on audio discs. It also can read discs containing both music and photos. You can even use its remote control to click through the different songs and images, to crop pictures and to delete files you don't like. The device will automatically remember the changes you make.
The player also has a small LCD that displays track information when playing music away from the TV.
Information: philips.com
Make on-the-road recordings
Pioneer has created an AM/FM/CD player with a 10-gigabyte hard drive that lets you record CD music and radio broadcasts while cruising down the highway. The DEH-P90HDD, which is set to show up in stores this month, costs about $2,000. The player features a database provided by the Gracenote CDDB Music Recognition Service that can provide information about more than 13 million songs. More songs can be added to the database as they become available through the device's MagicGate Memory Stick player. The player also features a display area for images and text, a steering wheel remote, MP3 playback, a 13-band graphic equalizer, hi-volt outputs and XM Satellite Radio compatibility.
Information: pioneerelectronics.com
Ready to rock with virtual instruments
Now, anyone can be in a rock band. With a PC and a MusicPlayground package, you can sing along karaoke style, keep the beat with drumsticks
or play along with a pick for a virtual guitar or bass. Before you're ready to play, you'll need to install MusicPlayground Player software onto a PC running Windows 98 or Me (Millennium edition), and then select a song to play on one of its included music discs. The lyrics and an accompanying animation will appear on the screen while the music plays.
Information: www.musicplayground.com
Compiled by Deborah Porterfield. Send new-product suggestions to debp@cyburban.com.
