Shrinking serial numbers got you squinting?
Is it just you – or have serial numbers on gadgets started to shrink at an incredibly fast rate? No matter who’s to blame, a handy new watch can help. Equipped with a built-in LED flashlight and a pop-up magnifying lens, the iBeam Optical Timepiece can help you find your keys in the dark and decipher small print on prescription bottles, train schedules, stock tables and other hard-to-read material. Available in women’s and men’s styles, each watch costs about $90.
www.ibeamtime.com
Take the video you want wherever you’re going
The Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2 is a pocket-sized device that makes it easy for you to watch your favorite video programs on the go. The tiny VCR-like device can record from your cable or satellite TV box, DVD player or VCR to digital memory cards. You can then watch recordings on a Sony PlayStation Portable, some cellphones, the latest Apple iPod or your TV.
The recorder is available for about $150.
www.neurosaudio.com
Canon’s Pixma gets faster
Canon’s Pixma gets faster The multitasking Canon Pixma MP830 Office- All-In-One printer can print, fax, copy and scan documents at a fast clip. And we’re not just talking quick drafts.
Canon says its MP830, along with its Pixma MP800R Photo All-in-One printer, can produce a photo-lab-quality 4-inch-by-6-inch print in as little as 36 seconds. The MP830 also can print up to 30 pages per minute in black and white and 24 pages per minute in color. Plus, it can automatically scan and copy both sides of documents, so you don’t have to keep flipping pages. The MP830 model will cost $300. The MP800R model, which provides wireless connectivity to home networks, is $400.
www.usa.canon.com
Slim and sizeable
Samsung plays it big with its newest LCD monitor, the SyncMaster 204B. The 20.1-inch monitor provides an 800:1 contrast ratio, a top resolution of 1,600 by 1,200 pixels and a five-millisecond response time that’s fast enough to handle action-packed games and movies.
Using the monitor’s simple settings, you can quickly adjust the screen’s brightness for different uses, such as editing text or watching a DVD. Available in black or silver, the monitor comes with an adjustable stand and costs about $630.
www.samsung.com
