Small devices to save time, cut frustration

Like last week, we found a few more small devices hiding in our offices. They might look small, but they can be big in saving you time or frustration while on the road.

The scoop: USB six-in-one portable card reader from Sinbon Electronics, about $20

What it does: Connects via USB 2.0 (or 1.1) ports on a notebook or desktop PC and lets users convert data from six memory card formats (Compact Flash, IBM Microdrive, SmartMeida, Secure Digital, Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro and MultiMedia Card) onto the computer. Truly plug-and-play, the device connects in a matter of seconds, with lights that indicate when the card is inserted correctly.

Why it's cool: Very portable, it can fit easily into a laptop bag. For noteoks or desktops that don't have media card readers embedded in them yet, this is an easy and affordable way to provide conversion. The device also lets you use the four slots at the same time. You can attach a Secure Digital and a Compact Flash card in the device at the same time, then convert between the two, for example.

Grade:      (out of five)

The scoop: eToken Web Sign On from Aladdin Knowledge Systems, about $772 for 10 tokens and a 10-user software license.

What it does: Stores all of your usernames and passwords for Web-based applications, and e-mail password and VPN access, onto a USB token instead of the hard drive of your computer. If you have a hard time remembering all of your e-commerce passwords, this can be a good way to remember them, while being more secure in case you lose the laptop. After you save your username/password profile to the eToken, the system "auto fills" the information from the token the next time you access that Web application. This way, you can avoid having the cookies sit on your system and still have access to the passwords that you need.

Why it's cool: Anything that helps us remember account names and passwords, and still secures them, is OK in our book.

Grade:

The scoop: Veo Photo Traveler 130S from Veo, about $100.

What it does: The device attaches via Secure Digital I/O slot on a Pocket PC and gives the user a 1.3-megapixel camera. The device is very mobile and can be an alternative to finding a PDA that comes with an embedded camera or using a VGA-style camera phone. The device also lets you record short movies, complete with audio, a self-timer (in case you want to get into the photo), and up to 4x in digital zoom.

Why it's cool: For Pocket PC users, this is an additional accessory that can enhance the usage of their PDA, especially in situations where carrying an additional digital camera is too difficult. The device is easy to attach and the software easy to use to take quick photos. If you are looking for photos to e-mail or to attach to a Web site, the megapixel quality is good enough. The device has a swivel lens to let you take photos of yourself, or swing it around and take photos while using the PDA's view screen as a display.

Grade:

Read more about wireless & mobile in Network World's Wireless & Mobile section.