Touch That Dial

by
Winter 1999/Spring 2000

The Big Picture
Princeton introduces a 30-inch High Definition display for HDTV, NTSC and VGA through XGA. The AF3.0HD is claimed to be the first 16:9 aspect ratio monitor to display all HDTV formats while maintaining compatibility with current NTSC, VGA, SVGA & XGA signals. The display includes multiple inputs for digital, analog and HDTV (composite, S-Video, VGA, RGBHV and YpbPr). Complete with two remote controls, one for installation/calibration and one for end users, the unit is compatible with Macintosh and Windows 95/98 systems.

Princeton
www.prgr.com
(847) 262-5000

Suggested Retail Price: $4100

InVideo Conference
Chat face-to-face over the Internet using FOCUS Enhancements InVideo Conference on your PC/TV. People across the country and around the world are logging onto the Internet and using video conferencing systems to share information, collaborate and communicate. InVideo includes everything you need to get into color video conferencing via the Web. FOCUS claims you can be up and running on your Pentium PC in less than one hour. The InVideo package offers superior image quality and faster frame rates than the digital "quick" cameras because PCI buses are used in place of parallel ports. Simply connect a VCR or camcorder to the system to send pre-recorded video.

Focus Enhancements
www.focusinfo.com
(888) 244-7860

Suggested Retail Price: $199

Little Surfer
The Wireless SurfMouse from Wireless Computing has one wire, but it's an antenna. Using RF (radio frequency) rather than IR (infrared), the SurfMouse boasts a 50-foot range without having to aim the device at an IR receiver. The touchpad interface, combined with two mouse buttons, is similar to the pointing device on laptop computers. Wireless Computing claims the SurfMouse is especially suited for programs like Microsoft PowerPoint, but it should have benefits for the PC/TV user as well. Installation requires no software. Plug the receiver into a parallel or mouse port on any Windows 95/98/NT system and the device is recognized as though it were any other mouse.

Wireless Computing
www.wireless-computing.com
(512) 263-8204

Suggested Retail Price: $299

All-in-One Smart TV Box
The ExtremeDVD 5000 combines the basic essentials to make your TV a smart TV. A 500 mHz Intel Pentium III processor, an 8 MB 3-D graphics processor, a 56K modem (or NIC), 14 GB of data/video/music storage, a DVD Drive, MPEG 2, a Dolby 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Decoder and a wireless keyboard. Switch from TV viewing to DVD viewing to surfing the Internet or playing a Windows 98 compatable video game without leaving the room. Options include DSL Modem, Cable Modem, On-site Service, TV Tuner or Video Capture Port and IEEE 1394 FireWire Interface. HDTV options and upgrades are also available.

NetTV
www.net-tv.net
(800) 440-6388

Suggested Retail Price: $1899

Remote ComboPak
Combine a VersaPoint Wireless Keyboard with a RemotePoint Wireless Mouse and you get the Remote ComboPak. The RemotePoint Wireless Mouse uses the patented Interlink Electronics Mouse Button to provide cursor control and the patented "Click Trigger" for mouse clicks. A thumb button below the mouse button is used for right clicks. The VersaPoint Wireless Keyboard is a standard 81 key design. According to Interlink Electronics both the RemotePoint Mouse and the VersaPoint use a "near omni-directional" infrared transmitter allowing the keyboard and mouse to be used at almost any angle. The ComboPak is compatable with Windows 95/98/NT.

Interlink Electronics
www.interlinkelectronics.com
(805) 484-8855

Suggested Retail Price: $200

Auto Audio Video Switch
The Sima Audio Video Switcher (model SVS-4) takes four A/V inputs and automatically switches the input of the active A/V source to the input of your TV. For example, turn on a connected VCR and the SVS-4 automatically senses the input and routes the video and audio signal to your TV via S-Video or composite cable, using RCA for audio. The SVS-4's internal circuitry automatically converts composite input to S-Video for TVs that can accept S-Video cable. For those loud commercials on TV or video, the SVS-4 includes volume stabilization that increases or decreases the dynamic range automatically. The SVS-4 comes complete with an IR remote control, an A/V RCA cable and an AC wall adaptor.

Sima Products Corporation
www.simacorp.com
(412) 828-3700

Suggested Retail Price: $150