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Making Instant Pictures

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URING the 70s when I covered the superstars of film and stage with my Nikon, I also captured celebrities with my Polaroid, which they were happy to sign (see Polaroid Photo Gallery). Polaroid may be history, but not making instant pictures, thankfully. Fujifilm has stepped into the breach with its FUJIFILM INSTAX 210 instant film camera.

There definitely is a market for instant pictures—summer camp, medical facilities, lawyers, real estate, police activity, party planners as well as consumer enjoyment like you and me.

This is not a digital camera; it’s a film camera, with an easy grip body. The picture pops up from the top of the camera and starts processing right before your eyes. For a new generation of shutterbugs, it’s rather amazing.

The camera is neither sleek nor stylish, but it’s the only game in town for its size. It takes four AA batteries, which are included in the package. There is also a removable close-up lens adaptor which can be used for self-portraits.

Functional buttons are on the left side. Press a button and you can shoot portraits from 0.9-3 meters. Press again and you you’re focused from 3 meters to infinity, for shooting crowds or landscapes.

Amazon lists the camera at $65.65 and a two-pack film (20 pictures) at $17.74.

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OR cellphone users who suffer from spotty reception or dropped calls at home, VTech Communications has a remedy. Its new VTECH CONNECT-TO-CELL PHONE AND ANSWERING SYSTEM allows you to make and receive calls cellular calls with the more reliable range of a landline system.

It comes with three handsets, but needs only one jack for the base. Place the other two handsets elsewhere in the home or office. An enhanced feature is the "push-to-talk capability so you can make announcements or have one-on-one conversations with others in the house without shouting. Cool!

VTech phones also offer Voice Announce Caller ID. That means the handset speakerphone broadcasts the name or number of the caller so you can screen the call without running to look at the phone display. Amazing!

Senior vice president Matt Ramage says, "Our goal is to provide products that answer the lifestyle needs of the busy family of five or the sophisticated on-the-go urban dwellers." Nice!

The VTech DS6421-3 phone system MSRP is $99.95. See more at www.vtechphones.com.

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EFORE leaving on your trip, whether in the country or abroad, do yourself a favor and call Magellan’s at 1-800-962-4943 for the latest gear catalog to make your sojourn seamless and comfortable. Or visit www.magellans.com for immediate orders. Here’s a sampling of what’s available.

LOGIX iPAD PORTFOLIO Here’s a versatile carrying case with a carbon fiber exterior finish for your iPad. With your device securely encased, you have easy access to headphone jack and dock connector port. You can power up without taking it out of the case. Use the flap for a vertical or horizontal stand. There are five slots and one large pocket to hold your cards and other paperwork. It’s quite a stylish portfolio for $59.95.

POLAR BROOK This Privo brand of a comfortable walking shoe will keep your feet fresh and comfy even at the end of a full day of touring. (I assume you’ll be riding as well as walking.) Its Soleassage footbed will keep your feet in fine shape. With no laces or buckles you’ll swim right through airport security gates. But a Velcro strap will give you a customized fit. It’s made of leather and mesh, and comes in Black, Gray or Stone. $75.

CAFÉ COAT Magellan’s edition of a lightweight, water resistant coat was made for travel. There are two button-flap front pockets. Carry your valuables inside in two zippered pockets and phone compartment. Fully lined with zip-off hood and drawcord waist. $82.50.

CAMISOLE ExOfficio’s "clothing for the adventurous spirit includes women’s underwear like this Camisole, made of lightweight nylon/spandex trimmed with lace. Available in Light Grape, Light Turquoise, Nude or Black. $38.

BRIEF Also an ExOfficio special, this essential item comes in the same colors as the Camisole, so no need to repeat. Be assured it’s fast drying and moisture wicking and anti-microbial. Only $20.

ON DECK SUN PROTECTION The versatile collar can give you full sun protection or open stylishly. The back of the collar can roll up for full neck protection, while the full sleeves shield your arms from the rays. Feels soft and silky. Available in White, Orchid or Black. $54.

FLAT FRONT PANTS A Magellan’s design, this flat front microfiber pant boasts invisible a self-tailoring waistband. Comes with five pockets, including a hidden zippered pocket to stash your cash. Wrinkle-resistant microfiber (Poly/viscose/Lycra) at $72.50.

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ARGUS LAP LOUNGE for iPad 2 Getting tired of holding up your iPad 2 in one hand? How about working on it hands free. Targus offers a bean bag-filled cushion that conforms to your lap, or any surface, so you can work sitting up or lying down. Show the boss a whole new meaning of lying down on the job.

There is built-in amplification, redirecting the sound toward you for enhanced listening. A zippered storage pouch in the stand allows for putting away essential accessories such as headphones, cleaning cloths, power adaptors or a stylus. The pouch also stores away a carry handle.

This is especially convenient on the go, whether in a car, train or plane. Makes working on your iPad extremely comfortable. Available for $49.99 at www.targus.com.

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OGEL’S ALL-IN-ONE PACK for iPad 2 allows you to mount your tablet almost anywhere you want. Named RingO, this is a wonderful universal tablet mounting system designed and engineered with precision in the Netherlands. It’s already a winner in Europe.

Use Ringo in the kitchen while you’re cooking. How about in the back of the car to enjoy movies, on the wall to show presentations, or on the coffee table to show off your photos.

The aluminum Ringo fits snugly onto the tablet mount. The device frees you to do other things with your hands while watching the screen.

Priced at $119.99, or $81.92 at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=vogel%27s+ringo&x=0&y=0.

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ONGBIRD CLEAR Let’s say you’re not deaf, but you’re at a lecture, business meeting, theater or watching TV and you still have difficulty hearing. Help is here. Songbird Clear is a personal sound amplifier based on Texas Instruments technology. It takes one battery (two are included) to make soft sounds better and clearer, and also keep loud sounds from getting distorted. If you’re joining the ranks of the Baby Boomers, you’re probably a candidate for this high-quality enhancement device. In differentiating the new Songbird from conventional hearing aids, Songbird Hearing Inc. notes that the Food and Drug Administration defines a PSAD (personal sound enhancement device) differently than a hearing aid. PSADs differ from hearing aids in that hearing aids are specifically designed to compensate for hearing loss where PSADs are designed to enhance the audio experience. Available for $119.99 at select CVS and Walgreens or CVS website at http://bit.ly/dY5Elz.

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ECENT TOYS is a company based in Amsterdam where owner Guido Lap continues to invent mentally stimulating toys for children of all ages. Among his cutting-edge brainteasers are the following three thought provoking puzzles.

BRAINSTRING Unravel this brainteaser and challenge your brain cells. The object of this plastic sphere is to rearrange the rubber tips to form a solid color on each side. Comes in two versions, Advanced, with more sides and colored tips, for those of you with brains, and Original, for the rest of us. Sounds easy? Knot! See it in action at www.recenttoysusa.com.

MIRRORKAL ESCHER This item combines five celebrated prints by Dutch artist M.C. Escher. First you remove all blocks from the picture frame. Use your strategic skills to put them back in the frame to create one of his drawings. You can continue playing to create all five Escher drawings. It’s not easy but it’s a lot of fun to recreate a piece of art. It’s not so simple as the mirrors will try to fool you.

ICOSOKU Flex your math muscles with this baby. The idea, if you accept the challenge, is to position the 20 dotted tiles so all the dots around each number button adds up to the number on the yellow button. It’s quite maddening, but lots of fun—you can count on it.

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ILLIONZ SAVINGS GOAL ATM BANK Have your child save real currency like the adults do, with their personal ATM. First create your own digital access code (so no one else can access your bank). Insert the ATM card and the screen lights up. You press a button and the backlit digital display screen prompts you to deposit a bill or coins. Press another button and it shows how much money is inside. You can press another button and the cash drawer opens so you can make a withdrawal. Just don’t lose your ATM card or you’ll never be able to open the vault—except with a hammer. Three AA batteries included. Great for children 5 and up to start saving for their college fund. Summit Products, $29.99.