Tech tidbits

Published: August 4, 2008

• Get it for: $249.95 at www.hammacher.com.

This remote-controlled surveillance camera pans and tilts at the touch of a button, and it sends crystal-clear images and audio to an LCD screen on the handheld remote, allowing real-time monitoring from up to 330 feet away. Unlike fixed cameras, this one pans 210 degrees and tilts 63 degrees for an optimal field of view. The remote's 2.5-inch thin film transistor LCD has a 480-by-234 resolution, and infrared LEDs in the camera allow nighttime observation up to 16 feet from the camera lens. Includes AV cable for connecting to a television, earphones and AC adapters for camera and receiver.

• Get it for: $24.99 at www.balanzza.com.

Pack smart and avoid excess weight surcharges at the airport with this digital luggage scale. Simply lift luggage with scale, wait for a beep and read the measurement on a digital display. It will weigh items in pounds or kilograms, with a weight limit of 100 pounds. The compact scale runs on two AAA batteries.

• Get it for: $49.95 at www.amazon.com.

This sleek computer looks like a standard laptop on the outside, complete with mouse and pad, but it features 80 activities that teach multicurricular school skills in English and Spanish to children ages 5 and older. Artificial Intelligence technology guides children through activities, and two interchangeable cartridges provide bonus reading games and foreign language activities.

• Get it for: $90 at www.samedaymusic.com.

Record vocals, instruments, conferences and podcasts all in recording-studio quality with this simple and affordable condenser microphone that connects to a computer's USB port. It comes with Cakewalk software that allows easy set up for novice users.

Comments