Lifestyle-Enhancing Gadgets

By Edwin Kee

PARROT PARTY BLUETOOTH SPEAKER SYSTEM

* PARROT from France has just unveiled yet another communications device – how apt considering the company’s name. Their latest offering is the Parrot Party Bluetooth speaker system that streams audio wirelessly from any Bluetooth-enabled device.

These speakers won’t pack a punch though, as they only register 3W on the power scale, so you won’t be able to use these as party speakers unless there is just one or two people at the “party”.

In case you do not yet own a Bluetooth compatible audio source, there is always the good old standby better known as the standard RCA input.

The Parrot Party Bluetooth speaker system measures nine-inches long and weighs 22 ounces, boasting a battery life of up to four hours for non-stop audio playback before the internal batteries require a recharge.

Interested parties can pick up the Parrot Party Bluetooth speaker system for Euro119 (RM546) when it is released sometime next month.

Visit http://www.parrot.com.

VGA GAMER TV BOX

* LET’S say you have just enough money to pick up a lovely 30- inch liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor or a 32-inch LCD TV for your entertainment needs – which would you choose?

Should you forgo the LCD TV and pick up the LCD monitor instead? You can still enjoy the pleasures of watching your favourite movies on the said monitor thanks to the VGA Gamer TV Box. This unique device turns your monitor into a TV of sorts, enabling VCRs, DVD players, and even game consoles (ranging from the GameCube, Xbox, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii) to be enjoyed over the said monitor.

Both standard and high-definition signal inputs are supported, although you won’t get full high-definition, maxing out at 1,080i.

Although you can use this with a monitor without a computer, it would seem pretty strange to do so. Supported aspect ratios include both 4:3 and 16:9/16:10 widescreen formats.

The VGA Gamer TV Box also supports Picture-in-Picture display, letting you watch TV while working on a spreadsheet or shooting down aliens in a console game. Each STG49.99 (RM339) purchase comes with a remote control to channel surf from the comfort of your chair.

Visit http://www.maplin.co.uk.

WIRELESS HEADPHONES FOR IPOD SHUFFLE

* WHILE you think the iPod Shuffle is pretty trendy, the fact that you still need to listen to it via a pair of wired headphones takes a bit of its edge away.

The Monster iFreePlay headphones eliminates this problem by offering an exclusive iDock port that hooks up to your iPod Shuffle directly, doing away with the need for pesky wires for a tangle- free audio experience.

The dock in the left earpiece looks capable of securing the Shuffle under most circumstances, including jogging and other vigorous activities, so you don’t have to worry about dropping the Shuffle by accident. All the iPod Shuffle’s controls can also be accessed easily without fumbling through your bag or pocket where it normally resides. Each Monster iFreePlay retails for US$49.95 (RM170).

Visit http://www.monstercable.com.

LIGHT UP YOUR WORK LIFE

* THE next time you burn the midnight oil at the office, make sure your boss and everybody else knows about it with the USB Think Light. This unique gadget comes in the form of a light bulb that emits light as long as your keyboard is actively being used, ensuring that a flurry of activity will result in a bright light at your desk.

There are a total of five levels of lighting, but I’m not too sure just how many words per minute one must type before the USB Think Light achieves maximum luminescence. Each US$15 (RM53) purchase comes with a four-foot long universal serial bus (USB) cable and bragging rights should you be the brightest bulb at the office.

Visit http://usb.brando.com.hk.

(c) 2007 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.