Addonics has introduced a couple of interesting accessory items designed for the built-in Apple iPod hard drive.

The first accessory is the Addonics Toshiba 1.8″ ZIF to 2.5 inch IDE hard drive connector converter which allows users to connect the internal iPod hard drive as a 2.5 inch hard drive to other computers. If your iPod is dead but you think the hard drive is salvageable, then this accessory will allow you to reclaim that hard drive as an add-on for your PC. You can even use a 2.5 inch to 3.5 inch converter kit from Addonics to get the drive to work with a standard 40 pin IDE cable. Key features are as follows:

• Enable Toshiba 1.8″ hard drive to be used like a 2.5″ IDE hard drive
• Choice of ZIF connector converter (new 1.8″ hdd commonly found on iPOD) or IDE-50 pin connector converter (first generation of 1.8″ hard drive)
• Attach to standard 40 pins IDE cable (require optional 2.5″ - 3.5″ IDE converter)
• 1.8 inch 50 pin to 2.5 inch connector is $14.99
• 1.8 inch ZIF to 2.5 inch connector is $17.99

The second accessory from Addonics is the Addonics 1.8 inch ZIF-CF Adapter. To me, this is the more interesting product announcement because it allows you to replace the internal iPod hard drive with flash-based storage media.  You can utilize several types of Compact Flash media (supports PIO, DMA, UDMA4) with this accessory item. Simply remove the internal hard drive from your iPod and then insert a CF card with the ZIF-CF adapter and you’ll be all set. Key features are as follows:

• Install Compact Flash into a device which uses a 1.8″ hard drive with ZIF connector
• Can be used like a 2.5″ hard drive using the optional ZIF to 2.5″ IDE connector converter
• Compatible with Apple iPod
• Can be installed into laptops which use 1.8″ ZIF connector
• Current Compact Flash speeds support up to 40MB/s with UDMA4
• Supports PIO, DMA, UDMA depending on type of Compact Flash installed
• OS independent
• Fully RoHS compliant
• Price of $23.99

Technorati Tags: Addonics, Apple iPod, 1.8\" ZIF to 2.5 inch IDE hard drive connector, 1.8 inch ZIF-CF adapter

One of the cooler things about covering CES is the chance to see what smaller electronics companies/manufacturers are up to - especially the no-namers in Asia. Case in point- a company called Utmost Technology Group which was founded in 1987 in Taiwan. We took a couple of pictures of the products that were on display in their CES 2008 booth. Enjoy!

As you can see here, Utmost makes and distributes a number of portable DVD players ranging in sizes from 3.5 inch displays (mini-DVD players) to dual screen DVD players.

Above is the 7 inch portable DVD player (model DV-H105).It’s a slim design DVD player (30 mm thick) with an internal battery and a USB port.

Here’s Utmost’s digital frame collection.

Above we have the 7, 8.5 and 9 inch digital photo frame collection. The left frame uses an acrylic frame while the right frame comes has a rounded plastic frame. Features of these digital picture frames include:

• Plays photos, videos, and music
• Slide out control panel design
• Hot key design for easy access to each mode
• Reads MS, SD, MMC, XD, CF and USB mass storage device
• USB On-The-Go port
• Clock and calendar
• 7 inch comes with a 480 x 234 resolution display
• 8.5inch comes with a 480 x 234 resolution display
• 9 inch comes with a 640 x 220 resolution display
• Supports MP3, JPG, MPEG1, MPEG2, and MPEG4 (DivX)

The middle set of frames are also available in 7 inch, 8.5 inch and 9 inch designs but they are strictly for photo and music playback only. They are always similar to the first set of frames.

Finally, the lower frames are picture only frames which are also available in 7 inch, 8.5 inch and 9 inch models.

The above funky looking device is actually a Digital Photo Viewer/Card Reader device. you simply slide your media card into the device and then connect the viewer to your television set to watch the digital images. The unit supports CompactFlash, SecureDigital, MMC, and Memory Stick cards. It automatically plays slide shows and you can even create effects such as rotation, flips, and zooms. It comes with a credit card sized remote control.

The above collection of digital photo frames include illuminated photo frames and “talking” photo frames. The talking photo frames allow users to record short audio clips which can then be played back by the photo frame.

Technorati Tags: Utmost Technology, CES 2008, Portable DVD players, Digital Picture Frames

Looking for a portable SD/MMC card reader? Check out the newly announced Transcend Compact SD/MMC Card Reader S5. The S5 is an all-white portable media card reader with a built in USB connector. The reader supports the latest SDHC standard for large capacity memory cards and supports both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0. Features include:

• Built in USB connector
• No external power or USB cables necessary
• Supports direct input of SDHC, SD, MMC, RS-MMC
• Supports miniSDHC, miniSD, microSDHC, microSD/TransFlash, MMCmicro with adapter
• 2 year warranty

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Transcend Compact SD/MMC Card Reader S5