64 MAXIMUMPC DECEMBER 2003
Karaoke TV Star
Let your inner songbird soar. That’s all karaoke asks of you.
And Karaoke TV Star makes it easy to oblige. The KTVS mic
connects to your TV, and your TV screen acts as the inter-
face. Buttons on the mic let you make a selection from the
song list, change the acoustics, add vocal effects, and even
monitor your pitch (though this can be rather humbling.)
Song lyrics are displayed in nice big type, and change
color at the pace you should sing them. A USB connection
lets you download additional songs from
the Internet. Perhaps best of all, the
cable between mic and TV is 10 feet
long, allowing ample freedom for accom-
panying dance numbers. http://www.ivl.comSmartDisk
FlashTrax
It’s as if the folks at
SmartDisk discovered
a portal to our minds,
so closely does the
FlashTrax resemble a
product we’ve been
dreaming about. It’s
the perfect solution
for those times when
you’re out and about
with your digital
camera and your
memory is nearing
capacity. Just dump
all your image files
onto the FlashTrax. It’s
got storage to spare
(either 30GB or 80GB),
and its 3.5-inch LCD
screen makes for a
handy image viewer.
And that’s not all,
folks. The FlashTrax
is equipped with the
usual assortment of
audio controls, so you
can just as easily use
the device to store
and enjoy music. The
FlashTrax natively
reads CompactFlash
Type I/II cards and IBM
Microdrives, but an
adapter can be used
for other formats. It
interfaces with your
PC via Hi-Speed USB.
http://www.smartdisk.comMaximum PC Wishes You and Yours...
Good Tidings and Happy New Gear
$500
(30GB model)Lizard Tree Chameleon Springs
You can tell a lot about a person from the state of his or her
PC. And a case that’s cluttered with wires and besieged by
disorder is no laughing matter. It’s a silent cry for help and
cause for immediate action. We recommend Lizard Tree
Chameleon Springs—and, no, we’re not talking about some
new-age, desert “wellness” center.The Springs are plastic coils that can be easily wrapped
around case cables and wires to keep clusters contained.
They promote overall interior organization, not to mention piz-
zazz. Each package of Springs includes three
different sizes, and you can choose from
a variety of colors (some even glow in the
dark!). It’s a baby step, but we all have to
start somewhere. http://www.lizard-tree.com $11
(for six)$80