ReZoom

Preserving memories is a popular subject here on Gadgetology.
Previously, we mentioned a slide scanner as an easy DIY tool, but if
you have a lot of slides or negatives that you want to save from the
ravages of time, but spending countless hours pouring over them to
find the good ones isn't appealing, I've found a solution for you.

Scancafe is a web-based service that has created a simple and
inexpensive way to preserve your photos and slides. Send all your
unsorted photos and slides to Scancafe, let them scan all of them for
you, log into their website and choose which ones you want to keep.
You only have to pay for the keepers and the prices start at nineteen
cents each.Read More

This week Microsoft unveiled the next generation of it’s maligned Zune media player. The Zune had a pretty rough first year (the iPod is outselling it by nearly eight to one). But Microsoft is a company that can afford a stumble, and the new generation of Zune has features that will turn heads this Holiday season.

The Zune is now available in hard drive and flash based models. The updated hard drive model is available in 80GB and has an increased screen size. The new flash-based units are available in eight and four gigabyte models, four different colors and feature a 1.8 inch screen. Both models contain a WiFi sharing feature that allows you to swap songs with other Zune users and sync with your host computer wirelessly. And for those of us who still want to hear NPR from time to time, a built in FM tuner.Read More

Youtube and dozens of other video sharing sites have become the darlings of the internet. All of that buzz is created by the massive numbers of people with access to camcorders now. Camcorders are now smaller and easier to use, even in the pool.

The Xacti E1 Digital Camcorder ($499) is Sanyo’s new waterproof camcorder. It can shoot in up to five feet of depth for a length of thirty minutes. The E1’s ultra-slim design makes fitting into pockets comfortably easy and it does away with tape by using SD cards to capture video and stills. A single gigabyte card will hold eighty minutes of video. The 2.5 inch screen has a 285 degree pivot, allowing you to keep an eye on the action even when it’s not right in front of you.Read More

The Internet age has made booking travel easier than ever. There are dozens of websites you can book flights, hotels, and cars on. With all this choice a problem emerged. I book a flight on Travelocity, I rent a car via Priceline.com, and find a good deal on a room at Hotels.com; and armed with three different itineraries and info about sights I build a small book of info to keep track of.

TripIt.com changes that. Email your booking information to TripIt and it builds a customized itinerary with information on weather, directions, pictures of the area, airplane seat advice, events that coincide with your trip, and Wikipedia information about your destination. The site can also send your trip info to family and friends so that they’ll know where you intend to be and what time to pick you up at the airport.Read More

Surround sound, like High Definition, is all the rage right now in consumer electronics. People are closer to replicating the theater experience at home than ever before. But to replicate that sound, you need wires run and speakers mounted behind you and most homes aren’t suited for that.

Yamaha has come up with a solution to the problem. The YSP-4000 Soundbar ($1800) is a single long speaker and amplifier combination that contains tiny drivers throughout that point in various directions. When properly set up (easily done with an included microphone), the drivers bounce sound off various corners and walls in your room to produce surround sound similar to mounting big intrusive rear speakers. It contains an FM tuner and can also interface with your iPod and XM radio. Finally you can enjoy the sound from your favorite flicks without bulky speakers or obtrusive wires.Read More

Apple has dominated the MP3 player market for so long that most can't name more than two of its competitors and doesn't look to slow down as Steve Jobs' recent announcement of a new Nano, something called iPod Classic and a new "phoneless iPhone" Touch iPod.

The new Nano has added a larger screen for video playback and comes in 4 and 8 gigabyte sizes priced at $150 and $200. The classic is similar to old models in its massive storage capacity to the tune of 80 and 160 gigabytes.

To create the Touch, Apple redesigned a larger touch-screen display to replace the click-wheel, a design dating all the way back to the iPod's second generation. It also has WiFi, so you now you can shop on iTunes (or surf the Web) anywhere with wireless connection. It comes in two models, 8 and 16 gigabytes ($300, $400, respectively).Read More

There are few experiences as exhilarating as traveling to another country. New foods, sights, smells and scenery can be positively captivating.

What's not so captivating is being tethered to the hotel restroom because you drank some less-than-desiralbe water on vacation ... Read More

One of the most popular gadgets I’ve profiled here was the USB turntable, a device for converting all of your old vinyl records into MP3s for loading to your iPod. Now, I’ve found a gadget for scanning your old slides onto your computer for sharing. Read More

Staying hydrated is paramount during this summer's record high temperatures, but who really wants to mix up a fresh mojito every time you peel yourself up off the chaise?

Well, I don't, and thankfully, I won't have to. Digital Beverages' all-in-one drink dispenser/bartender puts the pina colada in your palm with the press of a button.Read More

Granted, computers are integrated into almost every element of our lives, but that doesn't mean they're always the easiest tool, particularly when all you want to do is transfer media such as digital photos and videos.

Sony's newest DVDirect DVD recorder the VRD-MC5 is designed to cut out the middleman -- in this case, your PC.Read More