New products: Case makes room for essentials
— -- This weekly roundup takes a look at the practical and sometimes quirky aspects of tech products.
Case makes room for essentials
Forgot your driver's license again? Why not stash it with your phone? After all, that's probably the one thing you never leave behind. One stylish option is CM4's wallet case for the iPhone 4/4S. Mimicking the look and feel of leather, the protective case contains a snug back pocket that can securely hold a driver's license, a debit card, a credit card and, say, a $20 bill.
One warning: Don't try stuffing the case's wallet with more than three cards or wads of cash: Doing so will stretch the pocket, undoing its tight fit. Designed with protective rubber sides and functional control covers for volume and power, the case provides openings for easy access to the headphone mini-jack, mute button and dock connector. Available in black, pink, white and aqua, the case comes with a protective screen and microfiber cloth. The Q Card Case costs $40.
Turntable fits in a 'suitcase'
Take a peek inside Pyle's special suitcase: Inside, you'll find a turntable with two fold-out speakers that can deliver music from a spinning record or a connected MP3 player. Want to save your vinyl collection as digital tunes? You can record the music as MP3, OGG or WMA files on a computer via the turntable's USB connector. Priced at just under $200, the PLTTB8UI turntable includes a 45 rpm adapter, a USB cable, a headphone jack, an aux-in cable, computer software and an AC adapter.
Drinks light up at night
Who needs candlelight when you've got LiteRays, flashing LED lights attached to drinking glasses? Depending on your needs, you can buy a 1.5-ounce plastic shot glass with an attachable LED LitePod or an LED LitePod that can be attached to a standard 16-ounce drinking glass. Either option costs about $8.
Each LED base includes a transparency film with different colors and patterns. When you set the glass down or apply pressure to its light base, the LED lights change colors, creating new patterns. You can choose from a variety of patterns, including diamonds, dots and flames. Or if you prefer, you can create your own patterns or messages with clear transparency film available at office supply stores.
Robotic cleaner follows orders
You can tell the Roomba 790 what to do even if you're not in the same room. With the included wireless command center, you can order iRobot's top-of-the-line model to start cleaning, move to the next room or dock for a recharge via a radio frequency. The Roomba is smart enough to adjust its cleaning process to meet the demands of carpeting, hardwood, linoleum and tile floors. Designed to suck up pet hair, dirt and dust, the vacuum cleaner packs all the grime and dirt into a bin that lets you know when it needs to be emptied. Priced at $700, the Roomba 790 includes a wireless command center, a rechargeable battery, a battery charger, a self-charging home base, three virtual walls and extra brushes and dust filters.
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E-mail new product suggestions to techporterfield@gmail.com.
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