Electronic Gadget Collection

Sennheiser HD500 "Fusion" Full-Size Headphone
Sennheiser's HD500 Fusion is a full-size headphone that's ideal for use with home as well as portable stereos. Audiophile-grade components are used throughout for maximum performance, and Sennheiser's Duofol membranes reduce harmonic distortion. These excellent features, combined with a frequency response of 14 to 21,000 Hz and explosive dynamics, will bring your music to life - properly driven, the HD500 offers some of the best sound available from conventional headphones. It has a clarity and sweetness in the high-frequency registers that was previously available only in expensive electrostatic headsets and, at the same time, it offers an incredibly deep bottom end that would put many loudspeakers to shame. A 10-foot OFC (oxygen-free copper) cord is attached to the left earpiece only, which gives you enough room to move around and reduces tangling. The 0.25-inch headphone plug comes with a miniplug adapter, letting you plug the HD500 into a smaller headphone jack. The innovative BioNetic design adapts to the shape of your head, and the adjustable headband has an airy, plastic cushion for added comfort. The Sennheiser HD500 Fusion comes with a two-year warranty.

Microsoft B61-00002 Natural Keyboard Pro
The Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro design encourages a natural hand, wrist, and forearm position. Its features include 19 hot keys that provide one-touch access to the Internet, your e-mail, and your favorite multimedia controls. With its IntelliType Pro software that lets you customize hot keys and two built-in USB ports, plugging in peripherals directly into your keyboard is easy. The Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro comes with a three-year manufacturer's warranty.

Panasonic 40 Second Anti-Shock CD player
Panasonic's SLSX277J 40 Second Anti-Shock CD player with Jogger Belt and In-Line Remote Control was designed for exercise enthusiasts ranging from the avid runner to the occasional jogger. The 40-second Anti-Shock Memory system offers great error-correcting capacity to help prevent skipping. It spins discs faster than normal speed, and a digital memory buffer stores the extra audio data generated. When the CD player is bumped, causing a tracking error, the system plays back music from up to 40 seconds of memory until tracking resumes. The SLSX277J offers up to 25 hours of operation on 2 AA batteries. An AC adapter is also included in case you want to listen at home without the battery. Panasonic also offers significant sound improvement with the MASH+ one-bit digital-to-analog converter. This converter reproduces subtle sounds that might otherwise be drowned out by louder instruments. In addition, the Super Extra Bass System adds bass response to the music being played. For ultimate versatility, the SLSX277J has an AM/FM digitally synthesized tuner that assures stations won't drift once they are set. You can also preset up to 30 stations in memory, 20 FM and 10 AM. There are five direct-preset buttons so you don't have to search for your station every time. This model includes a jogger belt and a multikey remote with detachable headphones for controlling all major functions.

Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer (PS2/USB) (PC/Mac)
Optical mice are nothing new, despite what Microsoft wants you to believe, I purchase my first optical mouse back in 1984 from a company called Mouse Systems their optical mouse was call a 'PC Mouse' and it worked on a special grided metal mouse pad. This mouse has been trouble-free over the years primarily because the only moving parts are the 3 buttons - no ball to clean! It originally worked only with MS-DOS, then Windows 3, Windows 95 and Windows 98, its also the mouse that came with Sun Microsystem's Sparc Stations, but with Windows 2000 it's another story. In fact the only reason that I'm replacing it is that there are no mouse drivers for the 'PC Mouse' in Win2K and the company that manufactured it, Mouse Systems, seems to have gone out of business. So I go out and almost purchased a 'standard' ball mouse, then I saw this... Microsoft's IntelliMouse Explorer - 5 programmable buttons; wheel for scrolling; and most importantly OPTICAL! The IntelliMouse Explorer works by determine motion with repeatedly imaging of the surface its sliding along and comparing successive frames - no more mouse pads! Using the IntelliPoint control panel you can program all five buttons - two buttons on top with the scroll wheel (which also acts as a button when pushed) between them and two more 'thumb' buttons on the left side - this layout may prevent left-handed users from fully utilizing this device, but for right-handed users the IntelliMouse is one of the best mice I've seen in a long time. The IntelliMouse Explorer has a $80 retail price - this might seem high by today standards when most mice are selling for $30 or less, I paid about $250 for the MouseSystems mouse in '84, so $80 doesn't seem like too bad a deal for a mouse that might last 16 years!

Polaroid PDC-700 Digital Camera
The Polaroid PhotoMAX PDC 700 Digital Camera expands the PhotoMAX line of digital imaging products by offering higher resolution, an expanded LCD monitor, and the first bundling of the PhotoMAX Pro software in a digital camera kit. The Poloroid PDC 700's user-friendly design grouped with its 24-bit color (millions of colors) image pickup element and 1,024 x 768 pixel resolution enables you to take high-quality color images with the touch of a button. Both the bright image viewfinder and the 1.8-inch LCD screen make seeing your images and deleting the ones you don't want simple, so you don't waste memory. The Polaroid PDC 700 comes with 4 MB of built-in memory, but you can also use the CompactFlash card slot to upgrade your memory. Automatic focus and built-in three-mode flash as well as date coding and a 10-second self-timer make this tripod-mountable camera easy to use and versatile. The Creative Kit, which comes with the camera, includes a convenient wrist strap, an AC adapter, batteries, a quick start guide, and cables to connect the Polaroid PCD 700 to your TV or your PC. This package also contains a software bundle for your PC that will allow you to download and edit your photos.

RediFork Instant Read Thermometer
Gauge the temperature and doneness of your food in just seconds with this Maverick Redi-Fork Instant Read Meat Thermometer. Features convenient one-touch operation with pre-sets for fish, beef, lamb, veal, chicken, turkey & pork temperature also displays the degree of doneness - rare, medium rare, medium, and well done - for each kind of meat. Manual temperature setting capability for all foods, LCD screen displays measurements in Fahrenheit or Centigrade, wipe-clean stainless steel construction and low battery indicator (single 'AA' battery included). In addition to its thermometer feature, this 15-inch fork also has a rubber-coated handle that provides a firm grip for turning foods and holding them for carving. Great for use on the grill or in the kitchen.

Xenote iTag
Did you ever hear a new song on the radio while driving, decided to buy the CD containing the song and then forget the name of the track and the artist before ever getting out of the car? Well, Xenote Inc. has just what you need - a one-ounce gadget called the iTag (a.k.a. Project Cobalt during beta testing) that uses the power of the internet to solve this problem that has plagued mankind since the dawn of time. The user interface consists of a single button set on the front of the iTag device. When you hear a song you like on the radio, or an advertisement that you would like more information on, simply push the iTag button and it makes a chirp sound (the memory is about 40 button pushes). Then when you get home, you plug the iTag into a cable connected to the serial port on your Windows PC (no Macintosh or USB support... yet!), go to Xenote's Web site and hit 'upload'. In a few seconds, the songs and ads you've tagged are transmitted to Xenote and displayed on your personal web page. The iTag is very easy to use and you can't complain about the price... it's FREE! There is one BIG limitation with the current version and that is that the iTag works with only one radio station in each broadcast market. Xenote is promising an upgrade later this year that will support multiple radio or maybe even TV stations. Right now the only place the iTag will work is San Francisco, CA, with KKSF, the 'smooth jazz' station at 103.7 FM. Seven additional markets will add iTag radio stations by the end of July 2000: Atlanta, GA, with WKLS 96.1 FM, Baltimore, MD, with WERQ 92.3 FM, Chicago, IL, with WXRT 93.1 FM, Houston, TX, with KRBE 104.1 FM, Phoenix, AZ, with KMXP 96.9 FM, St. Louis, MO, with KMJM 104.9 FM and Washington, DC, with WRQX 107.3 FM.

UPDATE: We regret to announce that we must discontinue the Xenote.com service for the Xenote iTag. No later than Friday, September 22nd, 2000 the service will no longer be available. Current economic conditions are such that we have been unable to secure funding and must therefore cease operations. Here's the full PRESS RELEASE that I've received announcing their termination of service.

What happens if your don't live in any of the above markets? Well the Sony eMarker (See Below) might be just the thing for you.

Sony eMarker
Xenote's iTag won't be the only game in town for very long however, Sony will ship a similar product called eMarker sometime in late July 2000. The eMarker device looks and functions almost identical to the Xenote iTag, but there's one BIG difference - Sony says it will work with almost every radio station. It will use a USB cable with Windows software (Macintosh support will come later). The eMarker Web site allows you to identify the name of the song and artist, it also gives you a chance to preview the song, learn more about the artist, or buy the CD online.

Diamond Rio 500 64 MB USB MP3 Player
Download in style! This metallic gray Rio 500 stores up to two hours of digital-quality music and up to 32 hours of spoken audio programs. Rio 500 is also the first portable digital-audio player to support both the Macintosh (iMac and G3) and Windows 9X platforms. Access thousands of music and audio files at RioPort.com and over 16,000 hours of Audible.com audio programs. Instantly create, customize, and mix your favorite music and audio selections on your PC or Mac for playback. This lightweight unit plays skip-free music, as there are no moving parts. It's the perfect companion for active people on the go. Contains an updated hardware design featuring easily accessible controls and a backlit display that shows song/book title, artist, time, and more. And it uses just a single AA battery for many hours of continuous play.

Midland 74-200 Digital Weather Alert / All Hazard Monitor
This is no ordinary weather radio. In addition to providing you with up to date local weather forecasts at a touch of a button, the Midland Digital Weather Alert/All Hazard Monitor also has S.A.M.E. technology (Specific Area Message Encoding) which allows you to substantially reduce the size of the warning area. A conventional weather radio covers over 7,000 square miles. This sometimes causes warnings to be received that are up to 50 miles from your home or business. With S.A.M.E. technology, the range can be isolated to specific counties, so that you are notified of emergencies occurring in your area only. Around the clock, up to the minute and "hazardous conditions" information. The 74-200 is equipped with all seven NOAA channels for maximum reception of local weather reports, as well as bulletins for severe weather and hazardous conditions. In the event of severe weather or any other type of hazardous situation, a warning signal is broadcast by NOAA and the radio's "alert" is automatically activated -- sounding a 90dB siren, a voice warning or flashing a red LED alert. To add to its versatility, this durable, compact radio fits easily anywhere and plugs into a standard wall outlet. A built-in jack lets you use the 74-200 in your car or boat. And, with its 9-volt backup system, it even operates during a power outage or outdoors. At home, at work or on the go, this ingenious little device could be a real lifesaver.

ReplayTV 2020 Personal Video Recorder
Get ready to welcome a new abbreviation into the consumer lexicon: PVR, as in Personal Video Recorder. PVRs save TV shows on a hard drive instead of on videotape and they have immediately become the rage among the nation's "time-shifters" - Americans determined to watch their favorite TV shows when they want - not when the networks dictate they be in front of the tube. With ReplayTV recording is a three step process: 1) Press the Channel Guide button for the on-screen TV listings, 2) Scroll over to your favorite show, 3) Press the RECORD button twice. That's it. Three steps! No tapes, no times, no 8-digit VCR Plus codes and best of all no screwups.

Panasonic DVD-L50 PalmTheater Portable DVD-Video Player
Now you can take your home theater with you! The Panasonic DVD-L50 PalmTheater lets you watch DVDs on the road, at a friend's house, or wherever you feel the urge for entertainment. The DVD-L50 PalmTheater's sleek steel construction looks great and provides added durability. Panasonic has done a great job of miniaturizing both screen and speakers without sacrificing too much quality. The DVD-L50 lets you choose between 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios at the touch of a button. It also offers a zoom mode that lets you fill the screen with a 4:3 picture, although you tend to get a rather pixellated image. The DVD-L50 provides video and digital audio outputs and can be hooked up to a larger home-theater setup at friend's house to watch DVDs or to use with hotel TVs on trips.

Uniden BC895XLT 300-Channel TrunkTracker Scanner
The Uniden Bearcat TrunkTracker BC 895XLT is packed with an impressive array of features, such as trunk tracking, delay, lockout, search and scan, Continuous Tone Control Squelch System (CTCSS), one-touch weather scan, and severe weather alert. In addition, this scanner has a frequency range of 29 MHz to 965 MHz. With 300 channels, the BC 895XLT provides more programmable channels than most scanners. Organized into 10 bank keys that hold 30 programmed frequencies each, the scanner can also be preprogrammed with 10 priority channels. The folks at Uniden thought of everything when designing this one.

Garmin GPS III Plus Personal Navigator
The Garmin GPS III Plus is a serious, feature-rich GPS navigation tool, but it's also a blast to use, whether a mile from shore or on a strange interstate. It delivers highly accurate position data for serious navigation work, and its built-in high-resolution street atlas makes finding your way in a new city or on an unfamiliar highway almost uncannily easy. It's also handy, easy to use, well built, and waterproof to boot. Setting up the GPS III Plus involved nothing more than inserting four AA batteries, turning it on, and running through an initialization process. The GPS III Plus displays location on several different user-selectable screens. The satellite status page shows the current location and signal strength of all visible satellites relative to your current horizon. You can buy a fancier GPS unit for navigation, aviation, or survey work, but it's hard to imagine a situation, whether offshore, in the outback, or downtown, that this unit couldn't handle. Sailors will particularly appreciate the unit's gasketed high-impact plastic case (waterproof to IPX7 standards), support for nautical miles, and large library of nonstandard map data.

Magellan GPS Blazer 12
Whether hiking through the woods or traveling back roads, you always know where you are with the Magellan GPS Blazer 12 Satellite Navigator. It displays bearing, heading, distance, speed, and more on its three navigation screens. Nine coordinate and thirteen map datum systems allow you to plot your position on almost any map. Setting up the Blazer 12 is easy - just installed the batteries and initialized the receiver by answering a few on-screen questions about your location, the time and date. The Blazer 12 is rated to last 20 hours on two alkaline batteries, it will also retain its memory for 30 minutes without the batteries. Considering the low-cost peace of mind that the Blazer 12 provides, it's hard to imagine trekking into the unknown without one.

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