Off Duty, Technology - Navy Times

New tech toys

Here’s an overview of the latest gadgets to hit the market:

Get bigger sound

Pyramat’s Laptop Sound Booster boasts a clever design. Not only does it function as a sturdy tray for your laptop but it also has two built-in, USB-powered full-range speakers that amplify your laptop’s sound. Plus, it includes a USB dock for your iPod. Designed to provide ergonomic wrist support, the tray can be used as a laptop desk or a writing pad. Cost: $130.

http://www.pyramat.com

Scan on the go

You can scan documents on the go with the IRIScan Express 2, a portable scanner that’s compact enough to tuck inside a briefcase. Powered by a USB connection, the sheet-fed scanner can scan documents in color, gray-scale or black and white with a resolution up to 1,200 dots per inch. Push one button and the scanned document will automatically go to a program that can either recognize its text information or generate it as a PDF file. If you’re scanning business cards, push another button and the included card-sorting program will recognize, sort and export business card data into a contacts listing. The IRIScan Express 2 costs $149. An Executive version, which provides full document translation, is available in 11 language pairs. It costs $199.

http://www.irislink.com

Send the beat over power lines

The stereo is downstairs but the party is upstairs. With IOGEAR’s Powerline Stereo System, you can make the music come to you. Plug the music maker — be it a media center, MP3 player, CD player or computer — into the system’s docking station. Next connect the included adapter into a pair of powered speakers. Using your home’s power lines, the station can deliver music to speakers up to 990 feet away. Up to four adapters can be plugged into electrical outlets, allowing you to enjoy music throughout your home. Priced at $330, the system ships with a remote control.

http://www.iogear.com

Unmask energy hogs

Shocked by your electric bill? The Kill A Watt Electricity Power Meter can help you uncover the worst culprits. When plugged into a 115-volt AC appliance (up to 15 amp), the meter displays the number of kilowatts the appliance uses on an LCD screen. The meter also can calculate the daily, weekly, monthly and annual costs of running the appliance and gauge the quality of your power by monitoring its voltage, line frequency and power factor. Cost: $30.

http://cableorganizer.com/kill-a-watt