Gadgets, Gizmos & Gifts Galore
The holidays are here and whether you have a large clan with little ones running amok around the house or your shopping list is just a few adults, there are always those people for whom it is difficult to shop.
GOING MOBILE
Flip Out
The FlipStart is a new, super compact full computer running on Windows — not some mini-gadget running a new system. Created by Microsoft co-founder Paul
Allen, the revolutionary new computer weighs less than two pounds; has full
wireless, Wi-Fi and 3G LAN support; includes a high-resolution display and sports
a regular QWERTY keyboard. (www.flipstart.com)
Comfortable Bluetooth
Wireless headset devices are convenient, but generally not so comfortable. That’s because most wrap around the earlobe or stick down in the ear. But not so with the new Flamingo, a sleek new Euro-design headset that uses an EarClick system to firmly wedge in the ear. It comes in a variety of sizes and won’t interfere with glasses, earrings or long hair. (www.happyearheadset.com)
Get it Back, Jack
You just realized that your laptop is missing. Perhaps it was in your car or
you briefly left it at your lunch table, but it’s gone and excuses won’t
bring it back. Or the data on it. Or appease your boss. But with LoJack for
Laptops, you can get it back. The system periodically reports its geographic
location, helping the user and support specialists quickly recover it. (www.lojackforlaptops.com)
Road Trip?
Whether you spend your workweek going between client locations or you’re
mostly a weekend traveler, the new Cobra Nav One 2100 offers an affordable GPS
navigation system that can be easily moved from car to car and comes loaded
with U.S. maps and millions of points of interest. The Nav One features iASAP
Intelligent Accelerated Satellite Acquisition Protocol technology for fast,
uninterrupted updates to steer you in the right direction. (www.qvc.com)
Mobile Intelligence
GPS systems are quickly becoming the brains of automobiles, and the new LG LN740
is a Roads Scholar (pardon the pun) in this field. Its 4-inch display and slim
design provide a brilliant and easy-to-read map display while maintaining a
high level of portability for simple transport among multiple family vehicles.
The display also automatically changes from “day mode” to “night
mode” for clear visual recognition in any lighting condition. With its
turn-by-turn text-to-speech voice guidance, its highly accurate pre-loaded USA
and Canada map with millions of points of interest, access to traffic data service
via a supplied RDS-TMC antenna, as well as photo and music file playback …
well, navigation, information and entertainment are more accessible than ever.
(www.LG.com)
Spot-On
Great for people on the go in remote areas or for children who don’t have
a cell phone of their own, the SPOT Satellite Messenger is a handheld device
that allows users to contact family, friends or emergency services with the
touch of a button. It is not a phone, but instead can send pre-programmed messages
to tell loved ones that you’re okay, will be late or need help. It can
also alert 9-1-1 emergency responders with an exact location. And since it uses
the GPS Globalstar network for transmissions, it can work where cell phones
can’t get a signal. Users/parents can also track progress with Google
Maps, identifying exactly where the device is. SPOT costs $99 per year, along with the initial purchase. (www.findmespot.com)
You Can Take it With You
Work documents, client data files, music, photos, videos and anything else can
be easily stored on Western Digital’s Passport portable hard drive. Great
for work or personal use, the Passport can be used to backup data from a work
PC or used for moving information between points. Models are available with
capacities of up to 250GB, more than twice the hard drive space of many new
PCs. Plus, the Passport plugs in with a simple USB cord, it fits in your hand,
and users can select from a variety of colors. All data is protected with 128-bit
encryption. (www.wdc.com)
