Gillian Shaw
Sun
Mobile DJ MP3, Hercules
Cord Wrap, Agent 18
1 Nokia N95, Rogers, $400 with three-year wireless contract
The Nokia N series smartphone offers so much more fun than mere chatting, and the eight-gigabyte N95 launched this week by Rogers is no exception. Flip it sideways and it shoots five-megapixel photos like a regular hand-held digital camera, with Carl Zeiss optics and a 20-times zoom. The 2.8-inch (7-cm) screen can flip between landscape and portrait or upright modes, and lets you watch videos, TV or surf the Web, or just listen to music. It slides two ways, with one way giving access to the multimedia controls, and the other sliding open to reveal the keyboard. www.rogers.com
2 3.5-inch Pocket Size Digital Frame, HP, $70
If you want to up mom’s brag ability around the water cooler, give her one of these pocket-sized digital photo frames for Mother’s Day. With a 3.5-inch (8.9-cm) screen, it’s a portable photo and video holder that can also add music for slide shows, and comes with its own carrying case. It has features of its larger counterparts, like a remote control. It is compatible with most memory card formats, plus it has a USB 2.0 port and 128-MB internal memory that will hold up to 149 two-megapixel images.
3 Mobile DJ MP3, Hercules, $100
Billed as the first wireless digital mixing mini-controller, this is for amateur DJs who want to wow friends at parties. A MP3 mini-controller that is powered by two C batteries, it has a dual LCD display to let DJ wannabes pick tracks and mix them while they’re not at the computer. If the DJ stumbles and doesn’t have a pick, an automix feature will automatically choose the next song, so there are no gaps. Plug the USB radio receiver key for the wireless connection into a computer, install the software CD, and mix your music wirelessly. It needs a computer with a sound card, amplified speakers and music: CD audio, MP3, WAV or WMA files. www.hercules.com
4 Cord Wrap, Agent 18, $5
A simple way to eliminate that cord jungle that wraps around your earbuds when you jam them in a pocket or purse. The Cord Wrap keeps the cords in place when your headphones are stored, and keeps them neat at the length you need when you’re using them. Clip it onto your pocket with the metal clip that comes with it. www.agent18.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2008
