Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Product:  Planon Systems Docupen RC800 color scanner

Price: $299.99
Rating: Good - 7.9/10.0
Pros: Portable, scans in color, simple to install software, good scan quality
Cons: No way to preview scans (as expected), topographical items don’t jive.
Overall:Pricey for the average consumer but comes in handy more often than expected. Great for students, business travels, and more. Above average scan quality.

Upon receiving this review I was excited, it is portable, small and scans in color.  Plus it comes with a stunning pleather condom to tote it in (Ok, you won’t win fashion diva of the year with this thing, but it will keep it in working condition even after getting tossed around like a green salad in your bag.)  It is fairly simple to install the software into your computer and download nearly anything.  Quality is fairly good (just have a slow and steady hand when running it across the document.)  The red LED light will flash to warn you if you are going too fast. As almost expected, it wouldn’t work on my son’s stunning finger painting picture that I wanted to scan and send to my brother, currently traveling on the other side of the world.  Unlike traditional photocopier style scanners, topographical items don’t jive with the Docupen.

Overall I felt futuristic using this pretty pricey pen-like scanner.  The claims that it will hold up to 100 documents seems more fantasy than fact (I believe they need to be low res, fairly simple, empty documents to reach that many pages.)  But it would be a great option for a student in the library looking to save 1) copying money 2) trees and 3) their back (not having to take out huge volumes and lug them home).  Until you really get the hang of it, there is a risk that you won’t get a good scan, and unlike say a digital camera, you’ll never really know until you download it to your computer.  But, paired with a laptop for instant download, this is a travelers dream.  A great on-the-go accessory for the type never tethered to a desk or a cubicle for too long.

While still new to this market, having been just introduced at CES, the Docupen had been available overseas for some time.  There have been reports that Chinese students have been using it to cheat on tests.  They scan the test, download it to their laptop and send it off to friends.  Friends then send back the answers.  Teachers stay on your toes if laptops and Wi-Fi are in the classroom. That pen may not just be a pen.  Ah, technology.  Two steps forward and three steps back.

I have a beat up old projector with a blue line running through the picture, a loud whirring fan and a bulb that overheats every 45 minutes or so, and still, I love it!  You just can’t get better than seeing Big Bird life size on your bedroom wall (My son gets a kick out of it too).  But for most, such a monstrosity, besides being woefully out of date, would be just too much of an interior design eyesore to bear.  Well, LG has got the look for those who prefer their electronics more aesthetically pleasing.
The new modern day art deco-eque wall mounted projector by LG Mobile has just won its third in a string of awards for design.  The latest honor for the product is the coveted Gold iF Design Award (acclaimed as the Oscar of design awards), being preceded by a “Best of the Best” Reddot Design Award and the 2006 CES Innovation Award.

Sadly, the product is not yet available in US, with no release date currently published. It is, however, available elsewhere in the world (though I failed in my attempts to track down precisely where).  While I applaud the innovation, sleek style and mountability of the product, I rather feel it looks like a high tech Big Brother/Nanny Cam at best.  But heck, that’s me.  I’m sure if the lovely people at LG ever felt the need to send me one to review, hands-on, I would admire it whole-heartedly and treat it like a fine work of art.  Ah, but to dream.

Read more on the LG Wall Mounted Projectors accolades [LG Global]

When the buttons are small, your fingers are mighty and the text are by the character, in comes the modern day short hand.  If you are looking to decipher what your kids are really saying in text, or are a wee bit behind and want to secure your spot in with the “cool kids”, check out the Webster dictionary of modern day shorthand: www.shortcell.com. 

The site is based out of Norway, so for American users, some of the wording or spelling may seem a bit off, but the site is quite useful overall to get caught up on shorthand slang.

For those who’s IM/Text knowledge begins and ends with u=you, r=are and lol=laugh out loud, here are a few more acronyms to add to your arsenal: AFAIK=as far as I know, DBEYH=don’t believe everything you hear, THYM=thank you very much.

So next time you say B4N (bye for now) and your chat mate asks BBIAB? (be back in a bit?), you won’t have to ask WTHDTIM? (what the heck do these initials mean?) but can wryly reply, B4UKI (be back before you know it).

If an arsenal of old rejected phones are cluttering up your miscellaneous items drawer (you know, the junk drawer), Verizon Wireless is offering up an environmentally friendly way to do a little spring cleaning.  The do-good philanthropic arm of Verizon Wireless, HopeLine, offers consumers the chance to surrender their unused or outdated phones to help others.  By donating your phone and old rechargeable phone batteries for recycling, not only do you keep from contributing further to the nation’s landfills, but you can also give a lifeline to those in need.  Verizon offers free phones and airtime to survivors of domestic abuse, as well as making donations to non-profit agencies from the sale of refurbished phones.

To donate your old phone(s) and/or old phone batteries, stop by any Verizon Wireless store, or mail them to:

Verizon Wireless HopeLine
c/o ReCellular Inc
2555 Bishop Circle W.
Dexter, MI 48130

For more information, visit Verizon Wireless HopeLine

Since we already debit just about everything from a stick of gum to a night out with friends, what do we really need a wallet for anyhow?  Not only can you keep your music, your photos, your contacts and appointments on your cell phone, but if Motorola has their way, you’ll keep your credit card information there as well.  Just last month, Motorola announced that they are set to release the M-Wallet. 

No more fishing for your piece of plastic when you make a mad dash through the grocery store line.  Just scan your phone and payment is made.  The M-Wallet also give you the capability to pay your bills via the phone, check banking statements, and send a “loaner” (you know, the kind that never comes back) to your deadbeat brother in college.

Both retailers and marketers are liking the concept for their own devious reasons.  Buy the best of “American Idol” DVD today and get, oh I don’t know, say a Clay Aikan CD coupon the following day.  Cross promotion, repeat customers, more reason to assault the general public with marketing, gimmicks and ads… oh my!

According to PROMO Magazine, phones with the M-Wallet chip in them should start hitting the market this spring, and be “scannable” at participating merchants within 6 to 9 months.

Now if they could just find a way to store a condom in your phone, you could ditch your wallet all together.

Gadgetell would like to welcome Julie, our first female blogger, to the gang. We hope you enjoy her insights, opinions, and witty humor.

Remember that hot song you and your best friend recorded karaoke-style back when you were 13?  What was it “Dude, Looks Like a Lady?”  Well, how cool would it be if you could email it to your friend to hear before their Monday morning meeting?  Way cool, right?

Well, Think Geek thinks like you.  The Plus Deck 2c is now available at thinkgeek.com.  This cassette deck for your computer allows you to take all those old tapes that you thought would go the way of the 8-track tapes that proceeded them, and not only listen to them on your computer, but also convert them to MP3s.  Think of all the Def Leopard, N.K.O.T.B. and even Michael Jackson tunes you won’t have to download from iTunes now.

At $139.99 for a Plus Deck 2c, the unit costs about the same as a 140 iTunes downloads.  But, then again, if it gives you the chance to embarrass a friend on the worldwide web, it may be worth every penny.

Check out these specs:

• Hi quality playback as Hi-Fi audio
• Convert cassette tapes into MP3 files
• Full-logic controls
• Tape Speed 4.75cm/sec
• Wow & Flutter 0.09%(WRMS)
• Frequency Response 30~18,000Hz
• Separation 40dB
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio 55dB
• Fits in open 5.25” drive bay
• Included recording software requires Win95/98/ME/XP
• Manufacturer Warranty: 1 year

Read [ThinkGeek]