Going Mobile
Watch for wireless IM, mobile mice, portable storage--and a carrying case to transport the gadgets.Agam Shah, IDG News Service
Agam Shah is an editor with the IDG News Service, based in San Francisco. Questions or comments? Write to Agam Shah.
Mobility has inspired a variety of new products we've come across recently: The ZipIt Wireless Messenger will put a smiley on the face of instant messaging addicts, while network mobility for a wired Ethernet connection is possible with SMC Networks' EZ Connect 2.4-GHz 802.11g. And a bag from Timbuk2 will appeal to those who travel with their digital audio players.
For the environmentally conscious, Fujifilm's organic DVD+R 1X-16X optical media lacks heavy metal. And a "please recycle" poster could be seen anytime if printed on Advanced Lumitech's Brightec glow-in-the-dark paper.
Zip It, Zip It Good
Aeronix's ZipIt Wireless Messenger is a clamshell gadget that allows instant messaging on the go across a wireless network. Think of it as the IM equivalent of Research In Motion's popular BlackBerry portable e-mail device. Once fired up, the ZipIt seeks and connects to a wireless 802.11b/g network, and then to IM networks from America Online, Microsoft, or Yahoo.
This $99 device has a 320-by-240-pixel LCD and a thumb keyboard. It measures 4.25 by 3.6 by 0.8 inches and weighs 0.4 ounces.
ZipIt has some flaws: The screen doesn't illuminate, so it is difficult to use in the dark; and typing continuously on the thumb keyboard is tiring. The company claims ZipIt runs for 4 to 8 hours on a single charge--for me, though, the battery wore out after 2 hours.
Some features make it good for kids, such as a built-in firewall that restricts instant messaging to invited buddies only, according to Aeronix. ZipIt comes in six colors: red, white, blue, pink, silver, and carbon charcoal. It's available through Amazon.com and Target.
Brightec Paper Glows
The use of Advanced Lumitech's Brightec glow-in-the-dark premium paper is limited only by your imagination. Consider printing neon greeting cards, digital photographs with a special glow, or standout business cards on this paper that illuminates printed text or photographs in darkness, thanks to an embedded pigment patented by the company.
Glowing paper is memorable and makes an immediate impact, says Patrick Planche, Advanced Lumitech cofounder and CEO. "People will ask 'What is this thing shining in the pile of business cards?'" he says. The glow-in-the-dark tickets to the National Football League's Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 were printed on Brightec paper.
Text printed on the paper will shine overnight after being exposed to a low-power light source for 15 minutes, or to a high-power light source for 3 minutes, Planche says.
While a photo printed on Brightec paper reproduced true colors during the day, not all of the colors glowed in the dark. "You cannot see all the colors clearly, but this paper will reproduce photographic detail by day and night," Planche says.
Five sheets of 8.5-by-11 paper costs $20, while a pack of ten 4 by 6 is $10. The paper works with all popular inkjet, thermal, and laser printers, Planche says. You can buy the paper online from Brightec.
If all else fails, the paper can function as a nightlight, too.
Timbuk2 Digital DJ Bag
MP3 players are already easy to schlep, but Timbuk2's Digital DJ Hip Pack is specially tailored for those gadgets. The main compartment of this medium-sized bag has space for a portable CD player, an MP3 player, and headphones. It has additional inside and outside pockets for keys, identification cards, and other items. An adjustable strap lets you wear the pack on your waist or over your shoulder, though it is a bit oversized and looks awkward when strapped around the waist.
The bag is made of water-resistant and durable cloth, says Julie McFadden, a company spokesperson. The $50 price tag seems steep to me; but I'm cheap, so it may be worth the cost for those who frequently carry MP3 or CD players.
"It's an investment that will last," says Macy Allatt, marketing manager at Timbuk2, which markets it directly.
Organic DVD Media
Many environmentally friendly DVD recording technologies are being researched, including corn-starch polymer optical discs from Pioneer and Sanyo, and paper-based DVD media from Sony. However, with the Fujifilm DVD+R 1X-16X optical media, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. is among the first companies to reach the mass market with environmentally friendly DVD recording media.
Fuji's DVD+R media has a coat of Oxonol dye, a heavy-metal-free compound on which information is recorded.
"Oxonol is an organic dye, not a metal dye, giving it a lot of environmental benefit," says Craig Andrews, senior manager of Fuji Photo Film U.S.A.'s corporate communications group. Traditional media uses a coat of heavy-metal dye, making them environmentally unfriendly to some degree, according to Andrews.
Oxonol, a proprietary dye manufactured by Fuji engineers in Japan, has benefits other than just being environmentally friendly, Andrews says. Oxonol molecules are hydrophobic, aiding in the media's longevity by deflecting humidity. The dye can also resist ultraviolet rays, saving the disc from possible damage caused by light sources. The Oxonol-based media is compatible with existing DVD recording drives ranging from speeds of 1X to 16X, allowing it to work with old and new DVD+R drives. The media is not yet compatible with the new HD-DVD (high definition/high density DVD) or Blu-ray Disc recording formats.
Philips Electronics is already using Fuji's technology in its Philips Recordable Media brand, the 1X-16X DVD+R medium, which costs $1.80 per disc. Fuji's own brand is available from U.S. retailers for $20 for a ten-pack.
From Wired to Wireless
SMC's SMCWTK-G EZ Connect 2.4-GHz 802.11g device converts a network connection from wired to wireless, making it handy for travelers. Being powered by USB enhances its portability, as no power points are needed.
In addition to being a wireless access point, this device can bridge multiple wireless network connections into a single connection. And its repeater function can extend the range of wireless connections, making it useful for big homes.
However, the SMCWTK-G EZ Connect cannot break up one wireless connection into multiple connections, limiting its usefulness. The product isn't intended to have router functions, says Betty Chan, SMC product marketing manager.
"We want it to be a personal access point. It is not intended to be a DHCP server," she says, referring to Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, which automatically assigns IP addresses on a network.
The SMCWTK-G EZ Connect is the much more capable sibling of an earlier model that simply brought 802.11b wireless connectivity to your PC as a plug-in USB device.
The new model, priced at $80, can fit in a pocket. It is available in retail stores and directly from SMC. It comes with a carrying case, cables, and a power adapter.
Flash the Disk With Pride
For travelers, M-Systems' DiskOnKey USB keychain flash drive is a carry-on item that packs a storage punch but occupies minimal baggage space--and it's now available with 2GB of storage.
We checked out the 256MB model back in July. The newer one packs a lot more storage into the same small package.
The DiskOnKey drive is a convenient way to transport data among computers. A Windows XP Home Edition machine detected the device when popped into a USB 2.0 port, and it showed up in Windows Explorer as a separate drive. After you transfer files, pull out the drive and get traveling. However, the drive is a bit bulky for an average keychain.
V500 Cordless Notebook Mouse
The coolness factor of Logitech's V500 Cordless Notebook Mouse lies in its unique design. Like a kangaroo holding a joey in its pouch, this mouse holds its Radio Frequency receiver in a compartment that pops opens from the bottom. The mouse is activated when you plug the RF receiver into the USB port of a laptop. After use, the RF receiver pops back into the compartment and the mouse clicks shut. The mouse is compact, easy to carry, and, with good response rates, comfortable to use. It runs on 2 AAA batteries.
This wireless optical mouse has left and right, up and down scroll buttons, though they take some practice to use smoothly. Priced at $70, this could be a handy buy for business travelers who are tired of using trackballs or touchpads. It is available directly from Logitech and at many U.S. retail stores.