Price Range: $44.95

Experience the freedom, superior sound and discreet style of the award-winning MX500C Cordless Phone Headset from Plantronics®. You will appreciate the secure fit, and conveniently located one-touch listening/speaking volume control and mute when juggling multiple tasks at home. Enjoy the lasting comfort of the Flex Grip® design. Be heard clearly with our WindSmart® microphone designed to reduce fast motion or backyard wind noise. Compatible with headset-ready cordless phones and most mobile phones.

The award-winning MX500C Mobile Headset from Plantronics delivers high-performance sound for clearer calls. Interchangeable pivoting WindSmart voice tubes provide wind noise reduction technology and can be positioned for optimal sound clarity. The Flex Grip design provides a secure, comfortable fit for extended wear. Convenient in-line controls put your phone’s functionality at your fingertips.

Highlights:

• WindSmart voice tube reduces wind noise and static interference.
• Experience lasting comfort and a lightweight, stable fit with Flex Grip design. Works well with eyewear.
• One-Touch Controls: Easy-to-use mute and volume buttons.
• Adjust speaking and listening volume with unique microphone adjust switch.
• Works with headset-ready cordless phones and most mobile phones.

Price Range: $34.95

Multi-task at home while enjoying clear, noise-free conversations with your hands-free Plantronics® M214C headset for cordless phones. This comfortable, affordable headset includes an inline microphone adjust switch that optimizes your voice volume, and convenient volume and mute controls to minimize annoying background noise. The M214C simply plugs into your existing cordless home phones and mobile phones that have 2.5mm ports.

Noisy home environments are no match for your Plantronics® M214C headset for cordless phones! You’ll enjoy clear, noise-free conversations while multi-tasking as the headband-style headset frees up your hands. The convenience of one-touch inline volume and mute controls plus a microphone adjust switch optimizes sound, so you and your callers will hear conversations clearly, without background noise. Working at home or managing a household can be more productive as it’s comfortable enough to wear all day. Your Plantronics® M214C works with cordless home and mobile phones that have 2.5mm ports - simply plug it in for affordable anywhere, anytime communications.

Highlights:

• Adjustable headband provides a comfortable, secure fit
• Convenient inline microphone adjust switch optimizes sound for cordless phones
• One-touch inline volume and mute controls
• Optimal voice clarity with noise canceling microphone
• Also works with mobile phones that have a 2.5mm port

Price Range: $139.95

Plantronics CT12 2.4 GHz DSS Cordless Headset Telephone (analog, single-line) is an ultra-compact single-line telephone, offering hands-free convenience and comfort. Includes convertible 2 in 1 headset for over-the-head stability or over-the-ear convenience, a noise-canceling microphone for superior sound clarity and Firefly®, the unique in-use indicator light that lets others know you are on the phone.

The single-line Plantronics CT12 2.4GHz Cordless Headset Telephone combines a two-mode headset (wear it over your head or on one ear) and a phone with 5.5 hours of continuous talk time per battery charge. The flashing red usage indicator light should cut down on “Are you on the phone?” questions. With this lightweight two-piece setup, you can make and take calls hands-free while you work, walk, or play. The 2.4-GHz radio lets you maintain a wireless connection with the phone base, which is plugged into a landline phone jack.3

Enjoy professional, effective communication from your home or small office with the full-featured Plantronics CT12 single-line 2.4 GHz cordless headset telephone. A noise-canceling microphone ensures clear conversations, and the stylish headset provides mobility, comfort and flexibility for your busy lifestyle. The CT12 helps keep your work space tidy ? there’s no clutter and no individual pieces to lose. The unit is compact and self-contained, with all-in-one storage and a belt clip that stays in place while charging.

Highlights:

• Pocket Size: Ultra-compact remote unit fits in the palm of your hand and features a convenient belt/clothing clip that remains attached even while charging.
• 2.4GHz Digital Technology: For increased calling range and digital security.
• Firefly In-use indicator light lets others know you are on the phone.
• Noise-canceling microphone eliminates background noise.
• Caller ID Ready/Call Waiting display: On the remote unit, lets you see who’s calling.
• Extended Talk/Standby Time: 5.5 hour continuous talk time and 10 day standby.

Price Range: $329.95

Sound like the Pro you are with the Plantronics® CS55H Home Edition Wireless Headset System for your home cordless or corded phone. We’ve combined the clarity of traditional corded technology with the hands-free mobility of wireless, so you can move around your home (up to 300 feet) without interrupting or missing a call. The CS55H uses 1.9GHz voice-dedicated wireless technology, greatly reducing interference. Conversations are much easier and professional thanks to the noise-canceling microphone that filters out unwanted noises. You’ll come through loud and clear to your clients and colleagues while eliminating the distraction of barking dogs, the doorbell, or your family’s voices.

Using a headset with a belt pack is a nuisance. For example, when answering you have two parts to pick up. Similarly, handset lifters should be avoided when possible, because they can move around and be unreliable, not to mention all the parts and wires on your desk. Avoiding these problems is a big advantage. On the other hand, the CS55H could be easier to use. Answering is no problem, but dialing a call requires extra work, because a separate phone is required and you must handle both the headset and the phone. In particular, after dialing, you must hang up the separate phone. If you get a busy, you must remember to hang up both. These may seem minor, but you’ll find them a bigger nuisance than you would have thought.

Highlights:

• Enjoy hands-free freedom up to 300 feet, and up to 10 full hours of talk time.
• Be in control with one-touch control over call answer/end, volume, and mute.
• You are free to roam — the convenient easy install adapter transfers calls to your headset.
• Enjoy crystal clear conversations up to 300 feet from your cordless phone.
• Experience all-day comfort with interchangeable ear loops or headband options
• Voice-dedicated 1.9GHz wireless technology limits wireless interference.
• Be heard clearly with our noise-canceling microphone that filters out background noises at home.

Price Range: $279.95

Stay connected, wherever you work, with the Plantronics Calisto Pro Series hands-free phone system. Its integrated multi-function Bluetooth headset offers professional sound for your home office as you remotely answer landline, VoIP and even mobile calls. Combined with a compact handset offering a built-in speakerphone, interference-free DECT™ 6.0 technology, and ability to download Outlook® contact numbers, you’ve got powerful communication options like never before.

Clad in silver and gray, the handset has a very business-like appearance. It’s also on the chunky side, measuring about 4.24 inches long by 2.23 inches wide by 1 inch thick, though it does have curved edges that make it easier to hold. Like most cordless handsets, it also comes with monochrome display for caller ID, a recent calls list, date and time information, keypad tones, and more. You can download Outlook contacts into a 200-entry phone book (with about three numbers in each entry), or choose to enter those names manually.

Underneath the display is a navigation array with two soft keys, a four-way toggle, a middle OK key, and the Talk/Flash and End keys. All keys, as well as the ones on the number keypad, are tactile and easy to press. There are also a dedicated handset and speakerphone key underneath the number keypad for when you want to toggle between handset and speakerphone mode. A volume rocker and headset jack sit on the right spine. On the back of the handset is a clip which you can then attach to your belt. It’s positioned so that you can flip the handset up easily for viewing caller ID or dialing numbers without having to remove the handset from your waist.

Highlights:

• Seamlessly switch between landline, VoIP and mobile calls
• Wi-Fi®-friendly DECT™ 6.0 technology for superior call clarity
• Compact handset works with headset or on its own, up to 300-foot range from base
• Download Outlook contacts into 200-name phonebook (with 3 numbers per name)
• Flip-up waist clip for “on the go” dialing and Caller ID viewing
• High-quality speakerphone also works when docked
• Connect the Calisto headset to your Bluetooth® mobile phone and hit the road
• Plantronics best-of-class sound with noise-canceling microphone and extended mouthpiece
• Ergonomic earpiece for custom fit and all-day comfort
• Up to 8 hours battery life/talk time
• USB port for easy Outlook and VoIP/PC connectivity (works with Skype and Yahoo! Voice)
• One-stop charging base reduces desktop clutter

The RS Media is similar in many ways to the previous Robosapien, but there are some noticeable improvements. The motions are now divided into three modes, Control Mode for walking, Arm Mode for…arming, and Media Mode for media playback. In some ways this is a good thing, as you are always aware exactly what functions you’re controlling at any one time; but on the other hand it doesn’t make for the same seamless combinations of walking and picking things up we could create on the previous model.

It’s worth it. The RS Media is a remarkably engineered creation. Its movements are precise, it can pick things up (as long as the things are ‘just the right size’, but still, impressive). It can sit down, lie down, and get back up again. And it’s solid and heavy. Qualities we’ve decided are important in a robot. The RS Media is also big. Well over half a meter tall at 575mm. It could look eye-to-eye with a small child. Big, we have also determined, is another must-have robot quality. Build quality seems to be excellent. It feels solid and withstood our rough treatment.

The RS Media has a huge number of arm functions available to him, including karate chop, pick up, push, throw, drop and roll. In addition, all of these can be performed with either the left or right hand. Like the rest of the unit’s performance, we found them a little sluggish to be truly useful, and the pickup function can be quite fussy with regards to what it can and can’t pick up (the item has to be rather perfectly positioned), but the motions are entertaining nonetheless.

The specification list for the RS Media is simply stunning, whilst its no PlayStation 3, this robot simply wipes the floor of any other robot of equivalent cost on the market today.

Building on the success of the Robosapien V2, the RS Media incorporates (hence the name), more media-centric functionality. The 1.9-inch TFT screen features a 176 x 132 resolution display which allows for video and photos to be taken and displayed, audio playback or for playing on the built-in games. The motion tracking camera has the ability to take photos and record MPEG4 video, but it’s also a more clever use. One of the built-in programmed functions is called the Guard mode. Put your RS Media in to this state and it will sense any audio with its two room-sensitive microphones as well as movement with its camera and activates its alert system.

Programming worked smoothly, though the instructions do not make it clear that if you want to program actions, you need to exit from the remote level that shows “program” and then reenter it to execute the routine. All other controls worked as promised. I put the Roboreptile on guard mode, and it waited for something to pass in front before attacking. I easily controlled the sweep of its ever-moving tail and its head, mouth, volume, and walking speed. The Roboreptile has four speeds, including walking on its two hind legs, but its front legs do not assist in motion, even when it’s walking on all fours. The bottoms of its two front feet have hard, slick plastic pads that slide along the floor while the back legs do all the work. The Roboreptile and its remote take a total of ten double-A batteries. In 45 minutes of play (and additional few-minute-long sessions after that), the robot showed no signs of slowing down.

The two nose mounted IR sensors allow for the Roboreptile to detect objects in its path and movement. With two sensors, it can discern the differences between movement on its left and right. These sensors have limited range when it comes to typical surfaces, thus the robot will not be able to detect you across the room. They do have sufficient range to detect walls and obstacles in its path as well as your hand should you be foolish enough to put it in front of its head when it’s hungry.

The Roboreptile doesn’t ship with any toys, but you can make it follow the remote if you hold down the “feed” button. Its sensors do help it get around objects: It successfully navigated its way under my dining room table and between chair legs, but because the robot’s head is constantly sweeping back and forth and it can really only “see” what’s directly in front of it, it often whacks its head into objects and walls over and over again. The Roboreptile is made of pretty tough plastic, so there was no real damage, but its head—and its tail, which is also always sweeping—got scuffed up rather quickly.

When seen in the store, it’s hard not to be impressed by Roboreptile. It’s striking black and white design and colorful packaging promise a “cool” experience. It is very long and takes up a large amount of shelf space. Due to its size in relation to other toys, it’s usually fairly easy to find. There is also something to be said about the fact that it is a robotic dinosaur. I’m over 30 yrs old now, but when I was 10, I dreamed of someday owning a robotic dinosaur similar to this, even though the technology didn’t exist yet. This is cool stuff!

Using five motors, touch sensors (on its chin, back, and tail, and in its mouth), infrared (on its head and snout) and stereo audio sensors (in the head), Roboraptor can, whether you set it in “Roam” or control its locomotion, move about, avoid obstacles, and even inspect and react to its environment. For a toy, this level of interaction and environmental capability doesn’t come cheap: Roboraptor sells for around $120. But as a low-end robot, it’s priced right.

Touching the chin sensor when the raptor’s in Playful mode causes it to make a slow, almost purring, sound (though it’s rougher and louder than a purr) and push its head against your hand. Roboraptor’s mouth sensor lets it play tug-of-war. We did have to shove the T-shirt into its mouth (the robot barely opens its mouth on its own), but once the shirt was in there—pressing up against the sensor, which is nestled in the roof of the raptor’s mouth—the robot engaged in a spirited struggle to gain control of it. The only issue we encountered was that the 3-pound robot has a tendency to tip over on its head.

Roboraptor is not a cuddly robot toy. It is, after all, a dinosaur. It doesn’t stand upright; it’s horizontal from the tip of its tail to the end of its nose. Picking up the long and somewhat unwieldy bot can be difficult. You almost wish it had a handle.

His head and tail can be swung from side to side, and if he walks up to something he can try to pick it up in his mouth. Aside from that, he really has no cool functions. He has a tendency to roar a lot, at pretty much everything, which may appeal to some people by adding some authenticity, but it wasn’t a patch on the hilarious repertoire of the Robosapien. The controller was fairly easy to get the hang of, largely due to having less buttons than its predecessor. There is a single pad that controls walking, and a second pad to move the head and tail. The shoulder buttons control the targeting system, allowing RoboRaptor to move towards a specific target, assuming you can get him moving at all.

The right size. The right price. The Canon ZR40 is the right choice for preserving special moments with family and friends. Shooting extraordinary video is effortless. The ZR40 provides you with all the features you need to make you shoot like a pro.

All the benefits of digital video, Digital Photo Mode, a 2.5″ Flexible Color View Screen, 18X Optical Zoom/360X Digital Zoom, Color Night Mode, Image Stabilization, High Quality Microphone, Built-in Analog to Digital Converter, and more!

The ZR60 is improved over the previous model, the ZR40 in a few ways, the biggest being that Canon increased the CCD resolution to 680K pixels. The camcorder includes a 2.5 in. Flexible Color View Screen, 18X Optical Zoom/360X Digital Zoom, Color Night Mode, Image Stabilization, a microphone, both microphone in and headphone out ports, and a built-in Analog to Digital Converter, and more. The ZR60 carries an MSRP of $499, dropped by $100 from the ZR40.

All the ZR models have a rounder feel to them, which I like a lot. Not much else has been changed other than the inclusion of DV Messenger software. The software is pretty cool. The new ZRs, including the ZR60 are able to function now as web cams through the Firewire port. You can use the web cam feature of MSN messenger and the DV Messenger plug-in to control the camcorder of the person on the other end. You can make it zoom and record, you can play, fast-forward and rewind tapes and also view stills off their SD card.

Features:

• Digital Video Format and IEEE 1394
• Image Stabilizer
• Precision Canon Optical Zoom Lens
• Shooting Modes
• Color Viewfinder and 2.5″ LCD Screen
• Programmed Auto Exposure
• Manual Controls
• Digital Effects, Faders and Special Effects
• PCM Digital Stereo Sound
• IEEE 1394 Input and Output Terminal
• Video and Audio Inputs and Outputs
• Additional Features

Life is full of special occasions that we wish could be savored forever — the ultimate vacation, the excitement of a high school graduation ceremony, your family’s first trip abroad, the antics of your favorite pet. With Canon’s new line of Elura camcorders, no matter where you go the moment never has to end. Create home movies and digital photos with life-like clarity. Then, transfer them to your computer with the click of a button. Offering a newly refined ultra-portable design at an affordable price, the Elura 70 is designed to fit your hand and your budget perfectly.

Each Elura camcorder comes with a host of features guaranteed to enhance your home movies and digital photos. Take stunning shots and then print and transfer images with ease thanks to these ultra-portable performers. The 70 further enhances the Elura-line with added power and functionality.

The Canon Elura 70 looks very similar to to the rest of the company’s MiniDV line. Weighing just 1.1 pounds, it’s very easy to carry around all day–if you wear baggy hip-hop shorts, you can even fit it in your pocket. The controls are logically organized, and the tape loads into the compartment from the top, so you can switch tapes while the Elura is mounted on a tripod. Provided you don’t use a tripod with a large platform, you might be able to access the SD card slot as well.

Equipped with a 1/4.5 inch CCD and a Canon 18x optical zoom lens, the Canon Elura 70 is poised to perform well under excellent lighting conditions. At 3000 lux, the Canon Elura 70 performed very well, even if the colors were slightly washed out. The problem with most camcorders is that they are not designed to perform well at each step of a very dynamic light range of 15 lux to 3000 lux.

Features:

• Shoot, process, and share images as never before
• Spoil yourself with brilliant color and clarity
• Shoot video and photos without interruption
• Zoom in on superior images
• Catch all the action without shake
• Print and transfer images with ease
• Shoot close-ups they’ll love
• Relive those low-light moments
• Seamlessly connect to your computer, TV or VCR
• Enjoy wide-screen images
• Take continuous shots at the press of a button
• Make mini movies at a moment’s notice
• Get creative with the supplied software
• Take control of your creativity
• Faders and Special Effects
• Personalize your Elura camcorder