Bring WiFi service along for the ride
Friends will be begging for a ride once they find out your car is equipped with Omniwav Mobile’s broadband cellular router. With WavBoard CM3, passengers can check e-mail, send instant messages, listen to Internet radio and play online games. Multiple users can access the network wirelessly or through a direct Ethernet connection at average speeds of 500 to 800 kilobits per second. The WavBoard CM3 costs $379 and ships with a portable cellular antenna.
High-speed service via Sprint’s 3G cellular technology costs $60 a month if you have a handset through Sprint or Nextel or $80 for a stand- alone account.
www.WifiYourRide.com
Music and maps in one
The Mio DigiWalker C310 is both practical and fun. When you need directions, the mobile Global Positioning System navigation device can show you the way with its preloaded maps and voice instructions. When you know where you’re headed, you can listen to music on its built-in MP3 player. Weighing just 6 ounces, the white gadget is small enough to slip in a pocket.
It has a rechargeable lithium battery, 64 megabytes of memory, a 3.5-inch color touch-screen, a built-in loudspeaker and a headphone jack. It ships with earphones, a car mounting kit, a car adapter, an AC adapter and a USB cable. Cost: $650.
www.miogps.com
Home theater? Try bedroom theater
You can create a cozy home theater in your bedroom with JVC’s compact new desktop system.
Designed to conserve space, the EX-A10 Desktop Home Theater System features a DVD player and receiver that can be stacked on top of each other. It also ships with two wood cone speakers that deliver warm, natural sound. The receiver, which includes an AM/FM tuner and an alarm clock, can be set to wake you up with the radio or a CD. Cost: $1,000.
www.jvc.com
New router meets need for speed
Belkin’s new N1 Wireless Router is made for sharing. With speeds up to 300 Mbps, the router allows family members to stream high-definition video, listen to digital music, play online games, transfer images, surf the Web and receive Internet phone calls at the same time. Designed to work with the new 802.11n standard, the router uses smart-antenna technology to improve the network’s range and reliability. Plus, its helpful display shows the status of the network and its various devices. The router costs $150. The N1 line also includes a notebook card for $100 and a desktop card for $120.
www.belkin.com
