|
Issue Date: November 30, 2008
Cool gear in small packages
Small items for the mobile
By Jeffrey Ressner
RIDES
DC snowboards (starting at $349, product.dcshoes.com/winter.asp) DC Shoes, the sportswear company popular with rockers and actors, just got into the snowboarding biz. Its new line of "decks" boasts ill graphics and an array of cores that affect pop and spin moves. The HKD Pro Devun 153 Men's model ($559.95) is endorsed by Canadian slope master Devun Walsh, who consulted on the board's technology and design.
Razor Pocket Mod is a scaled-down scooter for the 12-and-up set.
|
Razor Pocket Mod ($249.99, razor.com) A sweet ride for any kid over 12, this electric scooter moves along for about 30 minutes on a single charge and looks like the real (retro) thing. Adults will want to supervise closely in most urban locations, but, with speeds up to around 12 mph, this scaled-down version of the classic Vespa sure has vroom to move.
TECH
eGo Camo Drive ($109.99, iomega.com) Some of us travel with a file cabinet of information, and it's more convenient to store it all on a portable hard drive. But how do you keep valuable data from getting damaged? This USB-powered pack with a camouflage design stands out because of its rugged "Drop Guard" safety feature that keeps your info intact even if the eGo Camo Drive is dropped from a height of 5 feet (other drives typically withstand falls of about a yard).
eGo Camo Drive is USB-powered and comes with "Drop Guard" safety.
|
AT&T Mobile TV ($15 a month and up, att.com/mobiletv) It's one thing to share video on your cellphone, but watching live TV? That'll almost certainly make you the coolest person at the bus stop. This service is available on LG Vu, LG Invision and Samsung Access phones, and it works with the super-fast 3G network. There is a range of service plans that give you unlimited access to about a dozen channels, such as CNN, ESPN, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. How will we ever get anything done now?
MacBook Air ($1,799, apple.com) The thinnest notebook computer around just got a bit more heft, at least when it comes to storage capacity, with a new 120GB hard drive (the original was 80GB). Add the just-improved graphics for gaming and there's even more reason to put this innovative laptop, introduced last month, on your Christmas list.
PLAY
Mi Jam Pro Air Drummer ($39.99, www.b2stuf.com) Aspiring Ringos and Questloves can rock out without taking up the whole living room. The set includes two wireless sticks, a bass foot pedal and a speaker, simulating a full drum kit (even the cymbals) in one tidy package. It's perfect for tom-tom tappers on a tight budget.
Lazer Tag Multiplayer Battle System ($79.99, hasbrotoyshop.com) It's a video game! No, it's a playground toy! This two-in-one system offers the best of indoor and outdoor fun, with a pair of laser weapons as well as a module that attaches to standard-definition TVs so you can sharpen your first-person shooter skills on snow days.
HOME THEATER
Samsung HT-X810T ($699, samsung.com) If you hate tangles of cables, you'll love this surround-sound system with built-in DVD player and wireless subwoofer. It's so simple to hook up that you can play movies, stream Bluetooth audio or listen to the radio almost as soon as you take the shelf-sized speakerbar panel and the subwoofer cube out of the box.
Flip Video Mino HD ($229.99, theflip.com) This latest cellphone-sized Flip camcorder, with 4GB of memory (about 60 minutes' worth of video), offers high-def video for the first time. Also new: FlipShare software that makes it even easier to edit your pictorial poetry and upload it on sites like youtube.com. And you can design your own case for free!
Myvu Crystal video eyewear ($299.95, myvu.com) Enjoy a personal IMAX-like experience with this headset that pipes in video from a portable media player, or iPod, directly onto the inside of the super specs' lenses. (It's like watching a 28-inch TV from 6 feet away.) Earbuds are included, and the rechargeable battery is good for about four hours of continuous use. Crystal's sharp resolution is said to be twice that of other eyewear goggles, which makes them perfect to take along while traveling. And by that, we mean flying in a plane or riding the train, not driving!
|
