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February 14, 2007 More New And Useful Items From CES On display at the recent International Consumer Electronics Show were many interesting and useful items. We’ve reported on some in recent columns, here are a few others:
DocuPen RC-800 (www.planon.com, $299.99) is a portable color scanner that’s about the size of a bread stick. Powered by rechargeable batteries, the device will scan up to a full eight-inch width and is ideal for copying a variety of items such as documents, receipts, pages from book, names and numbers from a phone directory, photos, recipes from magazines, directions from a map and more. Use the DocuPen at home, in the office, library, or class--anywhere and any time you need a quick copy of just about any type of item. Just turn the device on, set the scan type (color, B/W) and resolution (12 or 24-bit and 100-400 dpi) and slowly drag the scanner across the page. There’s no problem if you have to scan at an angle, because the included software straightens the scanned item.
DocuPen holds up to 100 pages of text in its internal memory and more if you insert optional memory cards. Its compact size at 9 inches long and 0.5 diameter makes it easy to carry in a brief case or coat pocket, and the included cool leather carrying case comes complete with a belt loop. DocuPen also comes bundled with PaperPort SE software, which makes it useful for image management, markup, and OCR (optical character recognition for converting the scanned text into editable documents). Connect the device to your computer’s USB port to download the scanned items and recharge the battery. The DocuPen can also scan images directly into many Windows applications. A handy device that works well, it’s useful in many situations.
CarMD (www.carmd.com, $89.95) is a handheld portable device used to diagnose the problems in your car that caused the "Check Engine" light to go on. Simply plug the CarMD into the car’s easily accessible OBD II (onboard diagnostics II) port, and CarMD reads and displays the computer codes from your car’s computer memory. Initially, a quick-check LED status light displays the following: green-OK, yellow-possible problem, red-service needed. The device works on all 1996 and newer cars (by law any cars sold in the United States from 1996 on must have an OBD II port available). There’s much more. Using the included software, connect the CarMD to your computer’s USB port, and you’ll be connected to the CarMD’s Web site for an in-depth analysis of the codes, what service is required and an estimate of costs. This information comes from ASE Certified Technicians, and you can print the information to show to your car mechanic or use it to compare to their diagnosis and repair estimates. The Web site also stores the diagnostic information about your vehicles. Included in the cost of the device is registration for three vehicles and up to six reports per month. CarMD is a handy safety tool to carry around in your car, especially if you’re traveling or on vacation. If your check engine light goes on, just plug the unit in and read the codes. If you can’t get to your computer, call CarMD’s toll-free phone number to contact the ASE Certified technicians and read them the codes displayed on the unit. For a small charge they’ll be able to tell you if this is a serious problem requiring towing and immediate repair or a minor problem that can wait for repair. If you’re shopping for a used car, use CarMD to check for hidden problems to be sure you’re not dealing with someone who may have disabled the "Check Engine" light. CarMD is a useful tool that may help you save money in repairs and can be a safety factor on the road.
SpaceNavigator (www.3dconnexion.com, Web support version $59.99, phone support version $99.99) is a 3D motion control device that can be used in conjunction with more than 100 3D modeling applications such as AutoCAD, AutoDesk MAYA, Solid Edge, Pro ENGINEER, Google Earth version 4 and others (no games, yet). The device has a hockey puck-like handle offering eight degrees of motion: up/down, left/right, forward/backward and left and right rotate. These motions allows the 3D modeler to easily and smoothly change the position and perspective of the displayed drawing with one hand, saving mouse and keyboard operations. We found one of the most fun applications with SpaceNavigator is its use with Google Earth version 4 (free download at www.earth.google.com). You’ll be able to fly along roads and into valleys, zoom into and out of city streets with ease. The motions are customizable for speed and you can set it for reverse directions if desired. Two customizable buttons are programmable for frequently used commands or sequences of commands. Using the device with Google Earth was truly addicting. |
