Great Gadgets of the Near Future

Some of the coolest new toys show up first overseas, from the labs of Japan's consumer electronics giants.

Already, the new year has brought a wide variety of new entries. Most have a multimedia theme. Some are available only in Japan, although some may be obtained through specialized resellers.

Victor of Japan (JVC) has started the year with the official launch of a high-definition consumer camcorder, the first such device from any manufacturer (and previewed in late 2002 at an electronics show in Tokyo). More digital camera innovations are appearing, and Sony has shown a mini fingerprint scanner. And Sharp has unveiled a home video server that may be a taste of what's to come this year as the world of video and networking move ever closer together.

High-Definition Camcorder

JVC is claiming a world first with its latest consumer camcorder.

The GR-HD1 can record and play back in high definition at 750-line progressive, standard definition 525-line progressive, or interlaced. It records onto Mini DV tape and also includes an up converter to translate recorded video at any definition into a 1125-line interlaced signal or down-convert high-definition video to a standard definition signal.

An additional MPEG2 editing kit allows for frame-by-frame editing on a PC. Other features include a 10X optical zoom lens, 200X digital zoom, and 3.5-inch color LCD monitor.

The GR-HD1 is scheduled for release first in Japan in March, priced around $3000. JVC plans to follow with sales in North America and Europe but has yet to decide the exact schedule.

Revamped Clié Due

Sony has a new model in its Clié personal digital assistant line with a built-in 2-megapixel digital still camera.

The PEG-NZ90 includes a still and video camera with flash and auto-focus, an MP3 player and voice recorder, a remote controller for audiovisual devices, Bluetooth connectivity, and an expansion slot for an 802.11b wireless networking card. The clamshell-style device runs on Palm OS5 and is an attractive albeit slightly thick PDA.

Sony is rolling out the device in major world markets in February at a price of around $800.

Casio's Exilim Zoom

Casio Computer has added an optical zoom function and higher-resolution image sensor to its credit-card-size Exilim digital still camera.

The Exilim Zoom EX-Z3 combines a 3X optical zoom with a 3.2-megapixel CCD sensor. Both features are a step above the current top-of-the-range model. For users, the optical zoom will mean no reduction in picture quality when the zoom is utilized, while the higher resolution means a maximum-size image of 2048 pixels by 1536 pixels and better-looking pictures, especially when printed.

Casio has also increased the size of the LCD monitor on the rear of the camera from 1.6 inches to 2 inches. The downside? It is still roughly the size of a credit card but is now just under an inch thick. That's double the thickness of the original models. It is also heavier at 4.5 ounces versus 3 ounces for the EX-S2.

Casio will release the Exilim Zoom EX-Z3 for sale in Japan in March at a price expected to be around $420. Sales in international markets are expected to begin shortly afterward.

Waterproof Olympus

Olympus Optical has opened digital photography to a whole new world of bath time, poolside, or thunderstorm fun.

The company's two new Stylus cameras are not only compact but also waterproof. The new models, first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, are available in two versions.

The Stylus 300 features a 3.2-megapixel CCD, and the Stylus 400, a 4-megapixel CCD. Both models feature a 3X optical zoom and use the recently announced XD Picture Card memory cards. The camera body has a 1.5-inch LCD on the back so you can enjoy your pictures in the bath, but don't think about taking it diving--the camera is not suitable for underwater use.

Both are scheduled to ship in March in Japan and international markets. The Stylus 300 is expected to be priced around $400 and the Stylus 400, about $500. In Japan, the camera will be marketed as the Olympus m10 Digital.

Toshiba's Portable DVD

Toshiba has unveiled a couple of good-looking portable DVD players.

The SD-P1200 has a 7-inch wide-screen TFT LCD, while the SD-P2500 has an 8.9-inch wide-screen Polysilicon TFT panel. Each device plays a range of formats including DVD-Video, DVD-R, CD, Video CD, CD-R, and CD-RW.

The SD-P2500 also offers DVD-Audio support and has a SD/MMC memory card slot for viewing photos from digital cameras. The SD-P1200 will be available in the United States in April at $600 and the SD-P2500 in May at $800.

Sony Scans Fingerprints

How about this for small? Sony has unveiled an entire fingerprint scanner and encryption engine in a case the same size as a Memory Stick.

Sony's FIU-900 can be carried around by a single person to allow access to secure documents or computer systems, or can be kept connected to a single PC to authenticate users of the machine.

The scanner will go on sale sometime in February with a companion USB Memory Stick reader. The price has not yet been announced.

Sharp Fax Goes Wireless

If you didn't think a fax machine could be made much more interesting, think again.

Sharp's latest fax combines Bluetooth support with a portable display panel. The machine, which has the definitely uncool name Fappy, has a 5-inch color LCD monitor that can be detached and carried around the room.

The unit also supports NTT East's L-mode service, which lets you send short e-mail messages and view some Web sites. It has a built-in phone book and scheduler, making the monitor something like a portable data terminal. It will also act as a monitor for a door phone if you have a compatible device.

The Fappy is scheduled to become available in Japan in March, priced around $675.

Sharp's Home Server

Sharp's HG-01S is a Linux-based, hard-disk-equipped video recorder with an additional photo album feature. What differentiates it from other digital video recorders is the inclusion of a Web server and networking functions that allow recorded video to be viewed from other computers across the Internet.

It has a 120GB hard disk drive and records in MPEG-2. Around the house, you can watch recorded shows on a TV or through a PC by connecting via wireless LAN. When you are away from home, the machine will stream recorded programs across the Internet to you, as long as it is connected to a broadband line.

The HG-01S is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in mid-February, priced around $848. Sharp has not announced its plans for overseas sales of the device.

3G Phone From Fujitsu

Fujitsu is the first cell phone maker to combine the Symbian operating system with third-generation technology.

The F2051 is a clamshell-style phone packed with a number of advanced features. These include a 100,000-pixel resolution camera with a 15-second movie clip function. It also has a 2.2-inch, 65,536-color TFT LCD. The camera rotates 270 degrees, so it can be pointed either toward or away from you, and its software enables you to crop images and automatically correct the brightness before sending.

The F2051 costs around $240 and is currently available only in Japan.

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