Off Duty, Technology - Navy Times

New gadgets: Backpacks get charge out of sun

If the sun’s out, you can charge your cell phone while hiking with Reware’s Juice Bag. Equipped with a solar panel and a socket for a car lighter adapter, the bag can charge a variety of 12-volt gadgets, including cell phones, MP3 players and digital cameras, through the sun’s rays. Available in yellow or black, the ES100 Solar Panel Powered 18-inch Backpack costs $270 while the ES200 Solar Panel Powered 18-inch Daypack is $210. The company also makes an ES300 Solar Panel Powered Messenger Bag for $240.

Nervous about cyberthreats? A free Internet security suite can ease your mind. The CyberDefenderFREE 2.0 program responds quickly to emerging threats with continual updates that can keep your computer’s settings a step ahead of the bad guys. Designed to work alongside existing security programs, the software delivers speedy protection for new viruses, spam, scams, spyware and other threats. The free version contains paid advertising. A version without any ads costs $12 a year.

Gadget puts video on the move

Instant Video To-Go can turn your favorite TV shows and movies into a format that can be played back on Apple iPods, Sony PlayStation Portables and other portable gadgets. Designed to plug into a USB port on a PC, the device comes with a hardware accelerator that can convert video at a clip that’s up to five times faster than real time. The portable USB device also can convert other formats, including MP3, JPG and TIFF files. Cost: $80.

Portable gadget brings voices together

Need to put together an impromptu meeting away from the office? With the pocket-size Aura Mobile BT speakerphone, you can set up a conference call in a hotel lobby, in an airport or even at the beach. Setup is simple: Plug the device into a headset jack on a cordless phone, hook it to a computer using voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), or connect it wirelessly to a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone. Once the device is connected, it monitors environmental sounds, makes needed adjustments and delivers crisp, clear audio. The nine-ounce speakerphone comes with a rechargeable battery, a 3-watt amplifier, dual speakers, power adapters and an external microphone for large rooms. Cost: $150.

Deborah Porterfield writes for Gannett News Service.