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| MISCELLANEOUS: Translator/Travel Guides - Other Items |
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Miscellaneous December 1997 • Vol.5 Issue 12 |
MISCELLANEOUS: Translator/Travel Guides - Other Items | ||
Western European Translator Why Buy: Multipurpose, pocket-size, digital travel companionThe Western European Translator looks like a calculator. It fits in your pocket and even features a calculator. But what's great about this 4 x 2.5 x .25-inch device is that it translates words and popular phrases in English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian; converts measurements and currency; lists European airport and airline telephone numbers; and keeps you entertained with word quizzes. To start the translation process, turn on the translator, type the word (i.e., restaurant), and select the button for the desired language (i.e., ESP for Spanish) to see the translation of your selected word (restaurante). You also can translate popular phrases by entering a keyword. For instance, type restaurant and the translator will find phrases associated with dining (i.e., Is there a French restaurant?). Use the arrow key to scroll to the phrase you want, then select the desired language. This device runs on a 3-volt lithium battery and is handy for traveling. But if you want to expand your vocabulary in another language, we recommend taking a course or buying those Berlitz tapes. Although you can translate a word like restaurant easily, you're out of luck with words like liar and eccentric—which you're less likely to use when traveling.—MWF Western European Translator Weather Monitor II If you would rather trust yourself than the local weather forecasters, consider the Weather Monitor II. This sophisticated weather station measures wind direction and speed, barometric pressure, inside and outside temperature, wind chill, and indoor humidity. The Weather Monitor II requires a lengthy and technical installation. You'll need such materials as cable clips, screwdrivers, a handheld compass or local map, a hammer, and a wrench to assemble and mount the product to the roof. You'll use the weather computer, which has keyboard controls and a screen, inside your home. This component runs on electricity with the provided AC adapter. If you make it through the installation, you'll find that the Weather Monitor II requires little time and effort to operate. Perhaps you want to check the wind speed. You can do so by pressing the Wind key on the weather computer until a wind speed reading and the word "Speed" appears. The remaining functions (temperature gauge, barometric pressure, etc.) work similarly. You also can purchase such additional components for the Weather Monitor as a rain collector, an external temperature and humidity sensor, and a computer storage, analysis, and graphing unit. These optional parts are available through the manufacturer.—MWF Weather Monitor II Personal Weather Station With a built-in barometer and thermometer, this alarm clock claims to be able to prognosticate meteorology better than your local forecaster. We thought it did a pretty good job. The Personal Weather Station is the perfect size for your desktop at home or work, and small enough to take along on trips. This gadget displays the time, has an alarm (a big deal!), can take the temperature with its thermometer (that's kind of neat), and can forecast weather with its internal barometer (way cool!). The station shows different symbols, depending upon its forecast. It has sunny, partly sunny, cloudy, rain/snow, and stormy. If it feels that a storm's a-brewin', in addition to the display, the station also sounds an alarm. To test it out, we took it along to a local lake for an overnight camping trip. The thermometer spelled out the obvious (it was hot!), and the barometer did a decent job, although it called for rain we never got. But we felt this may have had something to do with the fact that we were camped 10 feet from the lake.––JS Personal Weather Station Weather Guide Thermometer The thermostat on your wall says it's 70 degrees. But that's hard to trust when you're sweating bullets. If this is a situation you've experienced, consider trying out the Weather Guide Thermometer. This device tells you both the temperature and time and fits on your desk or countertop. You can rig it to record the indoor or outdoor temperatures for the day, as well as measure maximum and minimum temperatures for a particular time period. To use the thermometer, insert one AAA battery. Set the time by pressing the Mode button and adjusting the hours and minutes with the two buttons in the back of the device. To measure outside temperatures, stick the outdoor sensor outside a window. You can record minimum and maximum temperatures by pressing the Memory button. Then press the Max/Min button to recall those temperatures. The maximum and minimum temperature function is the thermometer's best feature. The least useful feature is the clock. To use it, you press the Mode button, otherwise the device only shows the temperature. When the temperature is displayed, you forget the thermometer can tell time. Overall, the Weather Guide Thermometer can come in handy for measuring indoor temperatures.—MWF Weather Guide Thermometer Oregon Scientific Electronic Altimeter Going biking, climbing, or hiking? A convenient tool to have along is the Oregon Scientific Electronic Altimeter. It can track the distance and altitude of your climb, predict the weather forecast, and tell you the date. The altimeter has three modes: Normal Altitude Mode, Normal Barometer Mode, and Time Functions. Each of the three options is accessed easily by pressing one of three buttons on the device. The Normal Altitude Mode is activated automatically when you turn on the altimeter. You can view the altitude reading, time, current temperature, and altitude trend graph. Mountain climbers and hikers can take advantage of the Altitude Change Memory feature found in the Normal Altitude Mode. It lets you view the vertical distance you have ascended or descended. The Normal Barometer Mode displays the temperature, barometric pressure, and time. A neat feature here is the Weather Forecast Indicator. The altimeter can predict your local forecast for the day with its barometric pressure sensor. Oregon Scientific notes that barometric forecasts are approximately 70% to 75% accurate; we found the forecasts on the altimeter to be mostly accurate. Finally, the altimeter's Time Functions include a digital clock that contains a daily alarm function and a digital stop-watch. You also can view the temperature reading or change the measurement from degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit while in this mode.—SH Oregon Scientific Electronic Altimeter Digital Tire Pressure Gauge Tired of driving to the gas station to check the air pressure in your car's tires? If so, the Digital Tire Pressure Gauge will come in handy. The tire pressure gauge runs on a lithium battery and connects to your tires' valves. To use it, press the On/Off button and wait for the display to reset. Unscrew the cap on your tire nozzle. Push the tire gauge's nozzle into the stem of the tire valve and make sure no air escapes. After you've sealed the gauge on the tire valve, wait three to four seconds. Remove the gauge from the tire valve and read the measurement. The gauge's best feature is that it's easy for anyone to use, although it may take a few attempts to use the gauge correctly at first. It takes some practice to ensure that air doesn't escape from the nozzle. Just press down on the gauge and measure the tire pressure several times until you get a consistent reading. The device is designed to work so simply, it can be used by anybody.—MWF Digital Tire Pressure Gauge TrunkTracker BC-235XLT Scanner The TrunkTracker BC-235XLT Scanner is the first scanner capable of tracking a radio transition as it moves across a trunked radio system. This means it now is possible to track conversations from channel to channel automatically, rather than having to initiate a new search each time a conversation breaks and switches channels on a scanner. This handheld scanner is packed with features, including 300 programmable channels, 12 bands, and 10 banks of 30 channels useful for grouping similar frequencies. The TrunkTracker also contains a preprogrammed service search, allowing users to toggle through police, fire, emergency, aircraft, marine, and weather frequencies; a trunk search, letting users seek and monitor all groups within a trunked system; trunk lockout, enabling users more selective monitoring to lock out groups they want removed from the trunking system; memory channel access that lets users go directly to any channel without stepping through others; and a battery charger. The TrunkTracker provides a great benefit in a time when more and more business and public service organizations are using scanners. Before the introduction of the product earlier this year, it was quite difficult to track conversations moving from channel to channel.—MWF TrunkTracker BC-235XLT Scanner Remote Control
Oscillating Stand Fan The Remote Control Oscillating Stand Fan provides a cooling breeze that varies like the natural currents of the wind. The fan comes with a remote that lets you control the fan from across a room. The Oscillating Stand Fan is unique because its speed is controlled with a microprocessor. With or without the remote, you can choose up to three speeds with or without natural wind rhythms. You also can select the sleep mode which gradually reduces speed to create a comforting breeze that fades with time. The fan will shut off automatically after four hours, or you can set the timer for the fan to deactivate in 30 minutes or one, two, or four hours. The product is easy to assemble and plugs into an electrical outlet. The fan has many useful and interesting features. It operates quietly, and its motor is energy efficient. In addition, the remote control provides for the fan's convenient operation. You can turn it on or off in the middle of the night without getting out of bed. WindChaser introduced the 16-inch model in the spring of 1997. An 18-inch model will be available in 1998.—MWF Remote Control Oscillating Stand Fan Data-Vac MicroSweep The Data-Vac MicroSweep is a small vacuum cleaner that removes dirt and dust from computer and electronics products, including fax machines, printers, and audio/video equipment. The device, which runs on electricity, also works well for such computer components as keyboards and diskette drives. The MicroSweep operates like a standard vacuum cleaner. You simply plug it into an electrical outlet and turn on the switch. You can connect the included attachments (two brushes and a crevice tool) for the hard-to-reach areas. The MicroSweep works well on small areas of hardware, such as the crevices of a keyboard. Although it generates 115 volts of power—four times the power of similar battery-operated vacuums—the MicroSweep is very light, weighing less than eight ounces. With its compact size (8 inches tall and 2 inches wide), the vacuum is small enough to fit in a drawer. Another benefit of the MicroSweep is that it comes with two reusable filters. MicroSweep is worth the price because it helps protect your valuable hardware. Dirt and dust can add to computer breakdowns and cause permanent damage, which easily could cost you more than the price of the vacuum.—MWF Data-Vac MicroSweep Smart Switch The Smart Switch is similar to the notorious Clapper, but you operate it with your voice instead of your hands. It's a voice-activated switch that turns on lamps or other electronic appliances. Simply plug the Smart Switch into a standard wall outlet, and plug into its base the item you wish to control with the Smart Switch. Then say the magic words: "Lights, on!" or "Smart Switch, on!" You choose which command the Smart Switch will recognize. The Smart Switch has an omni-directional internal microphone to pick up your voice commands and has an input for an external microphone, which is available through VOS Systems. This unit does what it says it does; it automatically turns electronics equipment on or off for you. It reminds one of being in a "Star Trek" episode, where voice commands control everything from computers to lights. It's the ultimate in convenience (or laziness, depending upon whom you ask). The Smart Switch is a little touchy, however. The internal microphone seems to have a little trouble picking up the voice commands at times, so you may want to invest in the external microphone. If nothing else, it makes a functional conversation piece.—MS Smart Switch Home & GardenInstant Reference Guide For plant lovers who don't possess a green thumb, we offer technology's answer: the Home & Garden Instant Reference Guide. This handheld machine offers plenty of plant information. First you plug in your city and state so the guide can provide information particular to your region. Then ask your questions. Want to know more about roses? Just punch the Roses key and pick the variety in question. You'll find information about when, where, and how to plant them. Keep clicking, and you'll find tips on how much light they need, when to expect blooms to appear, and how to prune them. And that's just for starters. The device covers everything from annuals and perennials to tree and vegetables. And that's just on the Garden side. Under the Home category, you'll find everything from tips on spot removal to first aid tips to often-used 800 numbers. This strange little device takes a few minutes to get the hang of, and we found ourselves sometimes wondering what one set of facts had to do with another. But in the end, with more than 4,000 pages worth of information, it either can help you either run a great house and garden or be the champion of one very strange trivia contest.—TM Home & Garden Instant Reference Guide V.I.P. Laser Pointer Making your point has become a lot easier since the introduction of lasers. Maybe that isn't entirely true, but executives have certainly found the laser pointer to be a compact and impressive aid in business meetings. Now, the V.I.P. Laser Pointer by Mach 1 combines the sleekness of a laser pointer with the handiness of a digital timer. The V.I.P. Laser Pointer is accurate up to 200 yards. Its manufacturer describes it as especially useful for flight planners and engineers, but it certainly meets the needs of anyone in the market for a laser pointer. The built-in digital timer is nice, and the elegant Roman-numeral analog clock is the most striking feature. The rubberized plastic of the pointer's outer case has a sleek feel to it, and one can't help but be impressed by the accompanying black velvet box in which the pointer is stored. Getting the pointer to full functionality was a bit of a challenge. For example, just to set the analog clock, you have to remove the back of the case. This little ordeal is a hassle we could do without. Once the pointer is intact, though, it's a fun (if rather expensive) little toy.—GH V.I.P. Laser Pointer
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Why Buy: Operate your own weather station 
Why Buy: Amaze your friends—predict the weather 
Why Buy: Digital device that tells temperature
Why Buy: Useful orienteering information at a glance
Why Buy: Gauge your tire pressure in seconds
Why Buy: Scanner capable of tracking trunked radio systems
Why Buy: Fan emulates natural rhythms of wind
Why Buy: Powerful, compact vacuum for computers
Why Buy: Even easier than the Clapper
Why Buy: More answers than you can shake a stick at
Why Buy: Lasers get to the point
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