|
|
|
|
PCExpo 2002 July 1, 2002 NEW YORK - TECHXNY/PC Expo 2002 was a showcase for a wealth of new products during its three days at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The buzz was all about "wireless," "small," and "easy." Here’s a brief look at some of what we saw. The Internet in your hand? You bet. Coming soon is the Kyocera smartphone (model 7135), smaller and trimmer than its predecessor, combining a full-featured Palm powered PDA, color display and cell phone. You’ll be able to check e-mail, download and view pictures in color, surf the Internet, keep your schedule, notes and address book, play games, make phone calls and more, all from one device. Or use the Blackberry handheld wireless device to maintain your email, documents, schedules and even control your printer while in the office; connect it to a cellphone for control while away. Internet on your camcorder? Sure. The new Sony (DCR-IP7BT) Bluetooth-enabled MicroMV digital camcorder lets you log wirelessly onto the Internet using a Bluetooth modem or cellphone, then check your e-mail and send and receive video and photos directly from the camera--with no wires attached. Ditto to your Bluetooth computer or network. And the MicroMV records vivid digital video and still photos on a micro tape and/or a memory stick. Limited range wireless networks have become easy to use, with either Bluetooth (up to 721Kbps speed) or IEEE 802.11b (up to 11Mbps speed) standards. Belkin’s or BlueGear’s USB adapters are lipstick-sized units that plug into the USB ports of your computers. Just load the drivers, and the computers are networked to share files, printers or Internet connections. Similar adapters from Belkin connect the faster 802.11b standard. Sony, Palm, Handspring and Compaq have new models of PDAs, all with color displays, compact size and an increasing line of software and hardware add-ons. The Compaq units use Microsoft’s Pocket PC OS (operating system), while the others are Palm OS powered. Palm Source announced the new version 5.0 OS, which takes advantage of the faster processors. A demonstration of the difference in speed between the previous OS and the new was impressive. The new Sony handheld Clie’ T665C has all the usual PDA functions but is also a mini-multimedia center that can play MP3 music, show short movie clips and run slide shows. The display mount swivels for ease of viewing and even has a built-in camera for those quick pictures. Cool. In the digital camera arena, we saw smaller cameras, lower prices and more ease-of-use features. Both Kodak (CX4230 EasyShare) and HP (Photosmart 812) introduced point and shoot digital cameras that, immediately after taking a picture, allow tagging of that picture for printing or e-mailing. Just put the camera into its docking station, and printing or e-mailing is done automatically. Small is "in," with new pocket-size light weight cameras from Kodak (EasyShare LS420) and Sony (Cyber-shot DSC-P71). Kodak has put their many years of color technology to work in creating the best prints (from this and other EasyShare cameras) by automatically optimizing your model printer to the camera’s image. For really small cameras, coming soon from Logitech and Fuji are the world’s thinnest digital cameras: credit card size and 1/4 inch thin (including lens). Sony introduced a line of photo printers that use dye sublimation technology to produce vivid colors and superb contrast on a virtually indestructible paper that can double as a postal card. Prints are made directly from a memory card via convenient front panel card slots or from your computer via USB connection. The Sony DPP-SV77 has a touch-sensitive color display on which you can select pictures to print and do minor editing. Model DPP-SV88 can burn a CD-ROM on the integrated CD writer (yes, the printer can burn a CD on its own CD-R). No computer needed for any of this. HP launched its PSC 950 All in One: printer, copier, fax and flatbed scanner. Great for the family or SOHO. It also prints high quality digital pictures directly from the memory cards, but with a cool twist: it prints a proof sheet, where you can select each picture to print, then scan the proof sheet to print those images automatically. Security products were much in evidence. A thumb print sensor from Synaptics provides protection against unauthorized computer or file access. Your thumb print is used to boot your computer and for access to password protected files; it also becomes your "password" for e-mail and Internet sites. Another approach to computer security is the Disk on Key from M-Systems. This thumb-sized device with integral USB plug comes on a key ring and contains a memory chip with capacities of 8MB to 1GB and a unique ID chip. After installing the software, which is pre-loaded on the device, your computer will lock up on booting unless that specific "Key" is inserted in the USB port. The software can also be configured to prevent access to any or all files unless the Disk on Key in inserted. And the device can be used as a very convenient removable hard drive for data or program storage. Improvements in computers were incremental, with faster speeds, better displays, better sound and many convenience features, including front panel USB connectors, the ability to play audio CDs even when the computer is shut down and more. The new laptops from Sony, IBM, Compaq, Fujitsu and Toshiba come in two general styles: lightweight, thin units designed for the ultimate in portability and battery life, and those units designed as desk top replacements, with impressive 15 or 16-inch displays, large hard drives, multifunction drives (CD-ROM, DVD, CD R/W) and multiple connect ports. Watch for our future columns featuring a closer look at many of these new and exciting devices. |
