Micro-disks, toys steal show

By MICHAEL FOREMAN

Tiny storage disks and educational playthings stole the spotlight at Tech Pacific's Showcase, even if consumer products did not take up much floorspace compared with networking hardware and servers.

The annual exhibition, which was staged on successive days in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch last week, is open only to resellers of IT distributor Tech Pacific, and has gained a reputation as a venue where manufacturers feel comfortable showing off new products well before their public launch.

Storage media manufacturer Imation showed examples of its forthcoming DataPlay disks - about the size of a 20c coin, and each capable of storing 500MB.

Apart from their minuscule size, the other big advantage of DataPlay disks will be their price. Imation key account manager Bruce Morell says each disk will cost $25 to $30, which should make it one of the cheapest data storage methods available.

The first standalone DataPlay drives will go on sale late this year, but they will also be used in digital still and video cameras and MP3 players available early next year.

Mr Morell says several record companies plan to use the disks, which can store 11 hours of MP3 music.

Intel launched its Intel Play range of digital products aimed at the consumer and education markets.

The range includes the $99 Sound Morpher digital audio capture device, which consists of a directional microphone hooked up to an amplifier and a pair of headphones.

As well as being able to eavesdrop on conversations several metres away, Sound Morpher records four minutes of sound, which can be manipulated with the special-effects software provided.

The Intel range also includes the QX3 computer microscope - available in the United States since 1999. It will sell locally for just under $300.

The microscope magnifies objects 10, 60 or 200 times, and the images can be played on a PC screen, or used to produce time-lapse video clips of subjects such as crystal formation.

Intel says part of the microscope's appeal to children is that it can be removed from its stand and pointed into ears, eyes and throats.

The Intel Play range will soon include the Video Creator, a simplified digital video camera that is expected to cost $500 to $600.



Tech Pacific's Showcase