Sun
MPRO 110, MICRO PROFESSIONAL PROJECTOR, 3M
BEATS BY DR. DRE HEADPHONES, MONSTER
TUFF SKIN, IPHONE, IPOD AND BLACKBERRY CASES, GENTEC
MPRO 110, MICRO PROFESSIONAL PROJECTOR, 3M, $395
Not a lot bigger than a digital recorder, 3M’s newly released MPro 110 is a slick solution that puts projecting in a pocket-size package. Weighing in at only 150 grams and with a thickness of 2.3 centimetres it works with notebook computers, personal digital assistants, cellphones that have video output and digital cameras. It projects a five-inch to 50-inch diagonal still or moving image. The rechargeable battery will run for one hour but it also comes with an AC adapter.
BEATS BY DR. DRE HEADPHONES, MONSTER, $400
A definite step up from budget headphones, the new Beats high-definition headphones bring professional studio quality sound to consumers at home and in their offices. They work with the range of today’s devices, from the new Apple iPhone 3G to the Blackberry and other mobile phones that have music capability. The headphones come with Monster’s iSoniTalk headphone cable with a high-grade microphone and answer button for using with phones.
TUFF SKIN, IPHONE, IPOD AND BLACKBERRY CASES, GENTEC, FROM $25 TO $30
Our Blackberries and iPhones go everywhere with us so it’s not surprising they could use a little protection from the bumps and jars of a busy life. Gentec is an Ontario-based accessories firm and it has launched a new solution, the Tuff Skin series of protective rubber cases from Roots. They are three-millimeter silicone rubber, making them extra thick and rugged.
They promise impact protection and the company cites an independent four-foot drop test as proof. I inadvertently repeated that test on my kitchen floor and am pleased to say I got the same results, although I don’t recommend trying it. Available for a number of iPhone and iPod models as well as a range of Blackberry devices.
HARPOON, BLACKLINE GPS, $350 US WITH MONTHLY FEE OF $19.99 OR ANNUAL FEE OF $199.99
Boat thefts are big business, anything from little runabouts to luxury cruisers. Blackline launched Harpoon, a recovery and tracking device at a recent Fort Lauderdale boat show. It is an always-on cellular monitoring device that keeps track of a watercraft, ensuring it stays in a GPS security perimeter. If it is moved outside the perimeter by an unauthorized user, the device alerts the Blackline Recovery Service, which works with police to recover the vessel. The system can also wirelessly detect the MyPass key fob that comes with it to automatically arm or disarm the security function. Users can also track their Harpoon online through a browser. www.blacklinegps.com.
© The Vancouver Sun 2008
