SUSAN MICHELLE'S COMPASS--R.I.P. The Couch Potato: Mobile Media Gadgets to Help Make the World Your Sofa
Posted by Travel Lifestylist Susan Michelle on Feb 4, 2007 - 12:01:00 AM
I’m happy to report that the cacophony of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show is quickly fading into a migraine-free memory. Picking up where I left off in my last column, this week I will be focusing on the new products I discovered at the show that can help you take your entertainment media with you wherever you travel.
TV-TO-GO
DIRECTV Sat-Go —Looks like a briefcase. Open it up, inside is an LCD screen and DIRECTV receiver, so you can have satellite TV anywhere, anytime. Cost: Lord only knows, but surely can’t be cheap. Available: April.
V Cast Mobile TV —TV on a cell phone--streamed live, not downloaded. Carries the major networks, some cable stations. Cost: Monthly fee tba, plus compatible phone through Verizon (LG VX9400 recommended). Available: Late March.
PORTABLE MUSIC
Samsung K5 MP3 player —Looks like a black iPod, but has a slide-out speaker that fills your hotel room with sound, plus FM transmitter, alarm clock, and programmable snooze button. Cost: $259.99. Available: Now.
Sansa Connect —A Wi-Fi MP3 player that has internet radio to relieve the boredom of your own music library AND allows you to easily share tunes without limits on numbers of plays—it’s about time! Cost: $249.99. Available: March.
iSound Tune Share —Turns one headphone output into two, so couples short on suitcase space can bring just one iPod, but both listen to it. Cost: $14.99. Available: Now.
PHOTO
Polaroid Media Backup Photo Edition —A portable hard drive just for photos that downloads your travel pics automatically. 40 GB=40,000 photos not taking up space on your computer. Cost: $120. Available: Before April.
Gorillapod —A “flexible” tripod. Allows you to use a branch, railing or just about anything to hold your camera. Comes in 3 sizes. Very lightweight. Super-cool. Cost: $21.95-$54.95. Available: Now.
Digital Hero 3 —Dick Tracy would love this: A tiny shockproof, waterproof camera for your wrist. Only 3 megapixels, but great for snowboarding, surfing, or running with the bulls in Pamplona. Cost: $140. Available: This month.
Brando Mobile Phone Telescope —A telephoto lens for your camera phone. Kooky-looking, but great for emergency zooms. Only compatible with Nokia & Sony Ericsson phones now, but working on making it compatible with others in a couple months. Cost: $19. Available: Now.
Kodak EX811 Photo Frame —A picture frame for the Jetsons-set with money to burn: Displays digital pics, slideshows, and video, with sound, all uploadable wirelessly. Cost: $230 (8” frame). Available: March.
VIDEO
Canon ZR850 —This widescreen-option camera’s “Quick Start” feature allows you to keep a camera in “standby” mode for up to 30 minutes without wasting battery life, and resume shooting in less than a second—no more on-off switching/shooting delay. Cost: A very nice $329. Cost: A very nice $329. Available: Now.Cost: A very nice $329. Available: Now.
Sony DCR-SR300 —Hard-drive video cameras mean no tapes, no disks (the stuff stays in the camera or on Memory Stick)—something I’m still not sold on. BUT, this camera can shoot video and still photos simultaneously AND has protective shock absorbers for us hurried klutzes who just can’t help dropping things. Cost: $1000. Available: Ordering now, shipping in March.
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Next column: Travel gadgets for Business Travelers
About the Author: A former Hollywood producer and now 2nd-generation travel professional, Susan Michelle travels the planet as the “face” of the fashion-forward Compass travel lifestyle brand. For more articles, tips, and hot spots from Susan, and community with fellow Cosmopolitan Travelers, visit http://www.CompassTravel.info.
To write Susan directly, do so at:
Susan-Column@CompassTravel.info.
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