MP3 devices and the new portable DVD and music players that are small enough to fit in a carry-on bag are great boons for travelers. They help pass the time waiting out delays at airports, help soothe cranky children and turn cold, strange hotel rooms into hip or homey retreats.
We like these portable music and DVD devices - plus the tiniest video cam we've ever seen. They are travel gadgets that make very special presents for your traveling friends and family.
iPod® Travel Speakers
Magellan's
The best luxury hotel rooms now offer iPod docking systems. Close your eyes and these travel speakers, with their room filling sound, could turn any accommodation - B&Bs, camper vans, budget chain hotel rooms - into luxury digs. The two speakers are powered by a top quality amplifier, all packed in an incredibly compact, folding case. And, just in case there's any danger of getting so carried away with the music that you miss a flight, there's an integrated, digital alarm clock. It uses four AA batteries or works with an included AC power adaptor. And its compatible with any iPod except the Shuffle.
RCA Small Wonder VideoCamera
Magellan's
I love this tiny video camera. It's less than 5 inches tall - so really pocket sized - yet it can record up to 6 hours of web quality video or one hour of DVD quality video on its integrated 2GB hard drive. It's got all kinds of neat features - a big LCD screen, a 2x digital zoom and a built in USB connection. You can compress and email videos with no special software. One short-coming if you're a European buyer and a video fan. The video output is only compatible with NTSC - the television standard used in North and Central America and Japan. Not to worry - just play the files on
jetBook®
Magellan's
You can carry a whole library in this digital reading device, smaller than your average paperback. It comes with 40 volumes of classic works already pre-installed. Thousands more books are available and downloadable online along with MP3 files and photos. Its internal memory is capable of holding 1,000 volumes. Add a 2GB SD card (sold separately) you can pocket 10,000 books on one, 7.5 oz device. The high resolution screen is easy to read and has adjustable fonts. A lithium ion battery provides 20 hours of reading time and the device comes with a dual voltage AC adaptor and a USB Adaptor. Nice.
Mini DVD Player
Magellan's
Talk about a family peace maker. This tiny portable DVD player with its 3.5 inch LCD digital screen is just the right size to keep the kids occupied on a long flight or car journey. It fits into the palm of the hand - so each child can watch his or her own entertainment DVD or memory card-based entertainment. It's also MP3, MP4, CD and JPEG compatible - so it will host all kinds of kid-friendly entertainment. There's a built in, rechargeable battery or it can operate off a USB port. When the inflight entertainment is unsuitable - or too boring - for younger travelers, they can carry along their own.
iPod DVD Player
Magellan's
There's nothing like a good flick to make long flights and long airport waits disappear. And, since lately the airlines tend to edit the guts out of all the best movies so as not to offend anyone, I like the idea of being able to bring along my own movies. The iPod portable DVD player is grown-up portable entertainment solution, with 8.5 inch LCD widescreen display, touch-sensitive keypad controls and a built in, rechargeable battery. About the size of a small laptop, it measures 6.5 by 11.25 by 2.25 inches and weighs 2 lb, 10 oz. It comes with an AC adaptor, a car adaptor, remote control and an AV cable. And it can be recharged through its integrated charging dock.
