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January 29, 2007 More New Products From Consumer Electronics Show We saw many neat products at the International Consumer Electronics Show 2007 (CES). Here’s a look at a few we’ve recently had a chance to use: Scanalizer (www.neatreceipts.com, $169.55 Amazon.com), is a portable device that scans papers, sorts the information, categories it, and then saves it for easy retrieval. Scanalizer scans receipts, business cards, documents and photos and handles each differently in the program. For example, scanned receipts are parsed using optical character recognition (OCR) to extract payment, tax, merchant and other information that’s automatically placed into the appropriate sections in a grid-like format.
You can set up folders for specific categories, such as travel, meals, parking, gas, groceries, medications and the like. The program comes with some categories predefined, but you can add any number of custom ones too. Each folder displays a line-by-line listing of the scanned receipt information, and the amounts are automatically totaled for you. It’s easy to create separate expense reports for business, home, organizations and other groups. Then print the data or export it to Excel, Quicken, Money or as HTML or CSV files. Since the scanned image of the receipt is saved, you can even print a copy of the receipt, if needed. Great for business or organizations who need to track expenses from actual receipts, and very helpful at tax time. Another useful feature is the business card function. Scan a business card, and the pertinent info (company, contact, phone numbers, addresses) are placed in appropriate categories. Add notes if you want or scan the back of the card to capture handwritten comments and then make corrections if needed. The info is then saved, along with an image of the card. Search for a contact from the list of contacts by first, last or company name and sync your contact list with Outlook or vCard if you want. The document function lets you scan any personal or business document or any page that fits the 8.5 inch width of the scanner, so it’s great for recipes, contracts, letters, photos, children’s art work, clippings from magazines and more. Tag the documents with appropriate identifying information, and it’s a snap to retrieve any of them at any time. No need to use those bulky paper file folders for all those clippings you want to keep--they’re at your fingertips, categorized by subject if you want. Very organized. Very cool. And, you can convert any document to PDF or HTML (Web) format or print it. The Scanalizer is a compact 11 x 1.5 x 1.25 inches and comes with a handy travel pouch, desktop stand and a wall mount holder. Software installation was lengthy (with two computer re-boots needed), but once it was installed and the USB powered scanner connected, it all worked well.
Also from CES is a handy tool that’s simple to use and very useful. Tornado (www.tornado.com, $59.99) is a USB device used to transfer files between computers. Use it to transfer files from your old computer to your new one or to transfer files either way for archiving and the like. Each computer displays a split screen labeled simply This Computer and Other Computer, with folders and files displayed explorer fashion. Drag and drop files or folders in either direction for copying. If you want to transfer only, just cut and paste. The Tornado uses USB 2.0 but is compatible with USB 1.1. In our arrangement, we connected USB 2.0 to USB 1.1 and transferred files at 1.2 MB per second. Tornado doesn’t depend on a network and does not network computers. Simply plug the USB cables into each computer, the device self-installs, and there’s no configuration--it just works. The cables retract into the compact 3.5 x 5 x 1 inch unit for easy storage. There are lights to indicate the status of connections and transfer.
On the fun side were the Jakks Pacific Plug It In & Play TV Games (www.tvgames.com, $9.99 on sale Linen & Things). No computer or video game console needed--just add batteries, plug the game into an A/V input of a TV and play. New TV Game titles include Deal or No Deal, Star Wars: Original Trilogy, Marvel Heroes and, for the small-fry, Sesame Street and Go, Diego, Go! We played the Star Wars TV Game, and it was simple, engrossing and fun. It reflected the worlds of Star Wars, Episodes 5 and 6, with four different games that each progressed through increasing levels of difficulty. On the planet Endor you could dodge trees and shoot down Imperial speeders or be locked in battle in the heart of the Imperial fleet and try to eliminate the TIE fighters to get at the Super Star destroyers (looks a bit like Space Invaders). Or try your hand in a lightsaber duel or fend off Storm Troopers in the assault on Hoth. The Star Wars TV Game device is simple: there’s a joystick, three buttons and a power switch. The other TV Games have similar simple controls. A good game value. Stay tuned for our look at some of the many other new and exciting products from CES. Norma and Tony Leone welcome your comments, ideas, and questions about computers. You may reach Norma and Tony by phone at (585) 385-1974, X315, or e-mail to leones@netacc.net, or by writing to The Shopping Bag, 201 Main St., East Rochester, N.Y. 14445. Visit our Web site at http://www.norma-tony.com. |
