Craig Crossman photo Craig Crossman
National Newspaper Computer Columnist

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TINY CAMERAS HAVE YOUR IMAGES COVERED

If you're looking for a versatile digital camera, the PenCam from Aiptek belongs in your pocket. And at only 4.9 inches tall and a little over an inch thick, it can easily fit there. The pencam's size and shape make it unique in design, yet it offers a degree of multiple functions found only in larger and more expensive devices. Inserting it into its included little stand and plugging it into your computer's USB port, the pencam functions as a 24 bit VGA color webcam. Detach it from the computer and you have a digital still camera with a shape similar to one of those tiny Minox spy cameras. Its built-in 8 megabytes of memory can take up to 107 color pictures. But unlike its film counterpart, the pencam can also function as a full motion camcorder capable of capturing up to 20 seconds of video. In addition to creating photos and video clips, the included Aiptek PenCam Manager software supports one button e-mail that can send photos and videos directly over the Internet.

If image quality is important, then check out Aiptek's PenCam 2. It offers the same multiple functions but produces images 2.5 times the size of the PenCam.

And if you're looking for even more functionality, Aiptek's PenCam VR is their most versatile model. In addition to having all of PenCam's abilities, it can also record up to 13 minutes of audio as a stand-alone memo recorder or record live sound with the videos you take in its camcorder mode.

www.aiptek.com

Next generation business card scanner

Corex makes one of the only business card scanners around and they've just introduced a new model. The CardScan 600 adds a wealth of new features over then model 500. The 600 now scans in color, the unit is 40 percent smaller, it offers USB connectivity and has a built-in card catcher that pops open when needed. The included CardScan version 6 software has new abilities such as AutoMap. Just click on a contact's business card address and MapQuest database instantly provides you with a map of the area. Click again for detailed driving directions. Signature Card lets you scan your own business card and CardScan attaches it to your outgoing Outlook emails. CardScan.Net seamlessly integrates with the CardScan software so you can access your collection of business cards using any web browser. Corex has also expanded CardScan's ability to synchronize with more contact managers, handheld devices and digital mobile phones than ever before. CardScan 6 uses improved techniques to distinguish email addresses, web sites and can even recognize business cards that are printed vertically.

Once you scan your business card collection, CardScan lets you find any business card via several easy to use search methods. It will even export the business card information to other devices like PDAs and cell phones, and contact manager programs such as ACT. With a CardScan 600, you'll never misplace that important business card contact again.

www.cardscan.com

Craig Crossman is a McClatchy-Tribune newspaper columnist writing about computers and technology. He also hosts the nation's longest running nationally syndicated radio talk show on computers and technology, Computer America, heard on both the Business TalkRadio Network® and the Lifestyle TalkRadio Network®, weeknights at 10PM Eastern time.  Visit his website at http://www.computeramerica.com

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