It Files Nails And Stores Files!
The travel gadgets of '05 take tech tricks on the road
Whether you're taking photos of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, killing time in the airport, or just plain lost, a good gadget can make traveling more enjoyable (or less distressing). Here's a peek at some of the newest suitcase-worthy accessories.
The Ectaco SpeechGuard TL-4 ($400) takes half the pain out of tackling a foreign language. The handheld device translates hundreds of phrases from English into Spanish, German, Chinese, French, Japanese, Russian, and Italian. Just speak into the device ("Does the bill include the tip?"), and the gadget "says" the phrase aloud in the language of your choice ( "¿Esta incluido el servicio en la cuenta?" ). No one will accuse the SpeechGuard of having an American accent. The prerecorded voice of a gent speaks each language, sounding like a native. Which is helpful--up to a point. The gizmo does not translate the answer back to English. Here's a hint: In Spanish, "si" means "yes."
What do a ballpoint pen, a nail file, scissors, and a 512-megabyte USB drive have in common? They all reside in the Swissmemory USB Pocket Knife ($160). The USB drive acts as portable digital storage, allowing pocket-size transport of snapshots, music, or other files from computer to computer.
It's always time to listen to your favorite tunes with the new 512MB MP3 wristwatch ($350), bearing the BMW brand (the carmaker licenses its name to consumer products). A bit clunkier than a sport watch, the device has a short built-in USB cable that normally tucks away in the wristband. Plug that cord into a PC, and you can download about 100 songs into the watch and listen on headphones. But there's no display, so finding "Time After Time" will be frustrating time after time.
Need an easy way to find favorite spots on your mountain hike? The Magellan Explorist 500 ($400) uses global positioning satellites not only to let you know where you are but also to record your path with digital breadcrumbs. The Explorist 500's color screen also makes it easier to read maps for urban sightseeing than on other handheld GPSs.
Apple's omnipresent iPods are good for more than just taking your music on the road. The newest model, the iPod Photo ($350-$450, depending on memory size), has a color screen ideal for showing off digital snapshots. And with a $30 attachment called the Camera Connector, you can dump pictures from a digital camera directly into an iPod Photo. So your computer won't have to act as a middleman. The Connector--about the size of a bottle cap, except that it's square--snaps into the iPod's bottom. Plug a USB cable from a digital camera into the Connector, and you're ready to start storing snapshots on the iPod Photo.
The last thing you want to take on vacation is the crow's nest of tangled power cords beneath your computer desk. But if you want your laptop, camcorder, MP3 player, and other tech toys to stay powered up for the trip, that's what you've generally had to do. The iGo EverywherePower 7500 ($140) aims to be a one-stop energy source. Using interchangeable tips, the iGo--basically a fancy power cable--can plug into a variety of gadgets. It comes with a DualPower attachment that lets it simultaneously charge both a laptop and another device--say, a digital camera or MP3 player. The iGo 7500 is aimed mostly at laptop users, so you may have to search the company's website to find the right tip for your camcorder or cellphone. And though a carrying case is provided, you'll end up losing some of the tips as you travel, so order backups.
More tech tips can be found at www.usnews.com/tech
This story appears in the April 18, 2005 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
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