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Big Tabletop TV
Get out the big table. The new Mitsubishi WT-42311 HD-upgradeable table-top PTV (projection television) is a 42-inch widescreen set. To make it truly a tabletop model, the company redesigned the internal schematic to make the CRTs point straight upward rather than diagonally. It displays HD signals through component video inputs at 1080i. It comes with an illuminated remote control and a ColorTuned Diamond screen shield. Price: $2,199.
www.mitsubishi.com
Best of Both Worlds
To dipole or bipole, that is the surround sound question. Some say dipole is better for mounting surround sound speakers on side walls, while bipoles are better for rear-wall placement. Polk Audio tries to make that decision easier by making a single speaker that can do either. Its new FXi series of surround sound speakers can toggle between both sound radiation patterns with the flick of a switch. Polk offers two versions, a 5.25-inch mid/bass driver model for $219.95 per speaker and a 6.5-inch mid/bass model for $299.95 per speaker.
www.polkaudio.com
Prices Keep Dropping
Just a year ago, it would be hard to find a good 2-megapixel camera for $299, but today it’s a different story. You can find Olympus’s D-520 ZOOM at that price and in a smaller size than previous models. The camera features a 3x optical zoom with a 2.5x digital zoom and extras like a movie mode for capturing short motion video. It comes with a 16 MB SmartMedia card, USB cable, strap, two AA alkaline batteries, Camedia Master 4.0 software for photo editing, correction and management.
www.olympus.com
Wall Mounted Audio
JVC’s newest addition to the fashion trend is the VS-DT2000. This stylish CD system can sit flat or upright on a table top or be mounted to the wall. An accent light offers some mood lighting with sixteen gradations of color between red and blue. It comes with two thin, cylindrical speakers with 19Wx2 power and a 60-watt powered subwoofer. The system is compatible with CD, CD-R and CD-RW discs and as a built-in AM/FM tuner. Price: $650.
www.jvc.com
Flat, But Not Plasma
Zenith has given flat TV lovers one more thing to lustfor with the L30W26 30-inch LCD TV. Its widescreen format and high-definition resolution make it perfect for watching movies in a small room where a regular TV just won’t do. Built in is a 3-line digital comb filter, picture-in-picture as well as RGB, component, S-Video and DVI video inputs. Speakers are optional. Price: $5,999.
www.zenith.com
Flipping for a PDA
Sony’s latest CLIÉ unfolds to reveal a V-shaped PDA with a 320 x 480-color LCD screen making up one-half and a mini-keyboard and standard hot-key buttons on the other. On the hinge (of just the PEG-NR70V) is a built-in digital camera. The screen can additionally rotate a full 180 degrees and close over the keyboard with the screen facing out; turning the device into a makeshift digital camera, portable photo album or, through the use of a feature called Virtual Graffiti, an electronic notepad. There are two versions of the new CLIÉ, at $599 (PEG-NR70V, with camera) and $499 (PEG-NR70, without camera).
www.sony.com
Nomad Ups the Ante
Apple had our vote for best MP3 portable jukebox, but it looks like Creative just upped the ante with its new Nomad Jukebox3. It boasts the biggest capacity yet at up to 40 GB, which could be enough for about 8,000 songs. But that’s not all, this bad boy has FireWire (1394) and USB 1.1 connectivity, encodes in MP3 or Windows Media Audio (WMA), has front and rear line-outs for simulating Multi-Channel Effects when used with 4.1 or 5.1 speaker systems and has analog and optical digital inputs. The price is $499.99, which isn’t cheap, but is the same as the 10 GB iPod. A 20 GB version is also available for $399.99.
www.creative.com
The Softer Side of Keyboards
This may look like an average mini-keyboard, but it has a twist—almost literally. Logitech’s KeyCase is made of “Electro-Sensing Fabric.”
You don’t have to fold this keyboard, you can just roll it up. The fabric structure can sense thepressure applied by your fingers, but is flexible enough to be bent any which way without being damaged. It’s even water resistant (though we wouldn’t recommend taking your PDA into the pool). The KeyCase has a HotSync interface that fits Palm models m125, m500, m505 and i705. Price: $99.99.
www.logitech.com
Portable Satellite Radio
For the car or the home, the Jensen Plug-N-Play system (SRP2002) is for Sirius Satellite Radio subscribers. The unit lets listeners carry their Sirius systems from one vehicle to another. It will interface with any existing head unit via AUX connections (RCA to RCA or RCA to 3.5mm). An optional JENSEN adapter will make it possible to use the Plug-N-Play at home. Price: $299.99.
www.jensen.com
Slimming Down For Sprint
The Sprint PCS Phone SCP-6200 silver-toned phone measures a mere .46 inches deep and 5 inches high by 1 1/2 inches wide and weighs only 2.65 ounces. One of the most interesting features of the phone is an optional Sprint PCS Wireless Web Connection Kit featuring Sanyo Multimedia Master software that enables users to download pictures from a PC, say of friends, and link them to numbers so you can have “Photo Caller ID”. The phone is available from Sprint’s Web site for $299.95.
www.sprintpcs.com
The Many Faces of Fuji’s Camera
The Fuji FinePix 30i is a camera, MP3 player and digital voice recorder in one. It has a 2.1-megapixel CCD for capturing digital images and the ability to attach 30-second voice annotations to each image, so you can keep notes about the pictures you take. It also has an MP3 digital music player built in for listening to music. It’s bundled with two rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, charger, remote control and a 16 MB SmartMedia card. Price: $399.
www.fujifilm.com
Alpine’s Latest Satellite Radio
It looks like the entry-level price for getting satellite radio is coming down to levels that won’t break a bank account. Alpine’s XMA-T200RF Universal XM Satellite Radio package gives you an XM Satellite Radio tuner box (TUA-T020XM), along with its CRA-1667RF controller/modulator (pictured) and wireless remote control, together for $299. The XMA-T200RF can be used with vehicle sound systems that are not already XM-compatible.
www.alpine-usa.com
From Paper to PDA
With Seiko Instruments’ InkLink, users can transfer the notes and drawings they take on paper to a PDA or PC. A data clip attaches to the edge of the notepad and while you take notes with the pen, the information is transferred via a USB cable to the transceiver, where it is then beamed directly into the PDA. You can also connect directly to a PC using a USB cable. Using the InkNote Manager software you can store, edit or e-mail the files you record. Doodlers beware! InkLink will record those too. Price: $99.95.
www.seikosmart.com
Memory That Flashes You
Lexar’s newest MemoryStick, a solid-state media format used in Sony digital cameras and other digital devices, is encased in translucent purple and has a built-in LED “in-use” indicator that lights up while files are being written to the stick or transferred to another device, such as a PC. This, according to Lexar, “reduces the risk of corrupting data due to premature removal from a host device,” in other words, impatient people who can’t wait. It’s available in 32, 64 and 128 MB capacities starting at $29.99.
www.lexarmedia.com
Speakers For Gamers
Games nowadays have great soundtracks, so treat yourself right with a decent set of speakers. Altec Lansing’s XA3021 speaker system gives you two satellites and a long-throw driver for bass with a cool look. It features 40 watts of total system power. It operates under its own power supply and connects to a TV or game console. The 3-piece system costs $99.95, but the company also offers a 5-piece system (XA3051) for $199.95 that uses Dolby Pro Logic to take the two-channel audio to surround sound.
www.alteclansing.com
Sending Audio All Over the House
Elan Home Systems’ new System 6 Integrated Multi-Zone Controller is nearly a Grand Central Station for audio. It handles six sources and six zones with a 12-channel amplifier (40 watts per channel). It comes with six RJ-45 keypad jacks (one per zone) that are installed in a wall, six new controllers and the S050 Simplified Keypad. The keypad features an infrared receiver and large, easy-to-see buttons to select all six sources and control volume, as well as Off and Do-Not-Disturb buttons. Keypads are available in white, ivory and almond. Price: $2,900.
www.elanhomesystems.com
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