What do computers and auto safety measures have in common? The need for proper backup! Fortunately, there are more slick data backup options for PCs than ever before, as Apricorn's high-capacity Aegis Mini hard drive proves. And nowadays, digital backup isn't restricted to PCs: Roadmaster USA's Roadmaster Wireless VR3 Backup Camera delivers images from a car's rear to a dashboard screen, to help make driving in reverse safe. Also in the mix this month is Logitech's Wireless DJ Music System, which wirelessly transfers music from a PC to stereo speakers.

Apricorn's Aegis Mini

Data on my hard drive magically disappeared a year ago, so now I back up my data monthly onto CDs. An attractive backup alternative is Apricorn's Aegis Mini, a portable, pocket-size, 60GB hard drive that is both speedy and convenient to carry.

The $239 drive uses a short wire to connect to a computer's USB 2.0 port. As with other USB memory devices, the PC immediately detects the drive, and voila--you have an extra storage device. In my tests, data transfer rates between the Aegis Mini and an internal hard drive were quicker than with any flash storage device I've used, which makes the drive an ideal backup device.

The Mini comes with a cable extension and Apricorn's Data Protection Software Suite for data backup, synchronization, and encryption. The drive is compatible with Windows 2000/XP and Mac OS X. It is available at Apricorn's Web site. A Firewire version is also available, for $249.

Roadmaster

Seat belts, air bags, GPS equipment...there are never enough car safety devices. Now you can add to the list Roadmaster's Roadmaster Wireless VR3 Backup Camera, a two-piece camera and LCD screen combo designed to protect a driver from accidents when moving in reverse. The camera's lens, which sits by the rear license plate, shoots and wirelessly transmits images to a 2.5-inch (6.35-cm) color screen on the car's dashboard. The camera is useful for giving you a clear look at potentially dangerous traffic as well as for revealing kids or pets playing behind the car, so you can back up safely.

Roadmaster officials caution drivers that they should still always look back when driving in reverse; this $149 device is supplemental. Intended primarily for minivan and sports-utility vehicle users, the camera has a 110-degree horizontal and 80-degree vertical viewing angle. The Roadmaster Wireless VR3 Backup Camera is available at major U.S. stores or at Roadmaster's Web site.

Wireless DJ

Though PC sound systems continue to improve, some users still prefer to hear songs played through high-wattage stereo speakers. With that in mind, Logitech has announced the Wireless DJ Music System, a three-piece hardware package that wirelessly transmits music files from a PC to a stereo system. The equipment bundle includes a receiver, a transmitter, and a remote control.

Unlike other wireless music bridge products, such as Linksys's Wireless-G Music Bridge and Sondigo's Sirocco--both of which use Wi-Fi--Logitech's Wireless DJ relies on Bluetooth 1.2.

Bluetooth's range is more limited than Wi-Fi's, but the DJ uses Bluetooth Class 1, which Logitech says expands the reach of signals. Using adaptive frequency hopping, the DJ identifies interference sources and transmits the music over a channel that isn't subject to interruption, Logitech said.

The transmitter, which you attach to your PC's USB port, sends songs to a receiver connected either to a stereo system via standard RCA connectors or to multimedia speakers via a headphone jack. Logitech says that the DJ can transmit music roughly 50 meters (150 feet). A screen-equipped remote control displays the PC's audio files and controls playback and volume.

The system is slated to ship in late September in the United States and Europe, for $250.

Lock That iPod

Targus Group International combats iPod theft with the Mobile Security Lock for iPod--a gadget designed for iPods with dock connectors that prevents would-be thieves from plucking the device off a backpack, purse, or briefcase. A retractable cable with a three-digit combination lock loops around a strap to secure the iPod. Of course, it only works with iPods with dock connectors. You can find the $40 device at Apple retail stores or at the Targus Web site.

Agam Shah is an editor with the IDG News Service, based in San Francisco. Questions or comments? Write to Agam Shah.