Technology

Gadgets

Screen film offers protection, privacy

 

Twitter.com/greggellman

The ZAGG Privacy screen protector for the Apple iPhone 4/4S allows you to keep what appears on your smartphone’s screen confidential.

The razor-thin film features what the company calls a four-way privacy filter that prevents prying eyes from taking a peek at your personal information.

Applying the film is simple but in the event you mess it up, you can lift it up, reposition it and re-apply.

After I initially applied the film to my iPhone 4S, the screen was visibly dimmer, but after turning up the brightness about 20 percent, everything was readable.

In addition to keeping your screen private, the film cover also provides protection. Many Apple purists refuse such safeguarding, but it’s great for keeping your device clean and scratch-free.

Currently, the ZAGG Privacy is only available for the newer iPhone models but keep checking the company’s website for updates on other devices.

Details: www.zagg.com $24.99

Easy printing

Canon’s new Wi-Fi enabled SELPHY CP900 compact photo printer makes printing pictures from hand-held devices or computers sharing the same network simple.

With the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint mobile app, compatible Android or Apple iOS devices (smartphones or tablets) can print to the printer wirelessly.

Minor adjustments such as brightness correction, sharpness and contrast control can be made on the images, which can be printed on 4-by-6-inch paper in as quickly as 47 seconds.

The printer works on standard AC power but an optional battery can be purchased ($79.99) for printing on the go.

If you purchase the battery pack and combine that with the built-in card reader (SD/SDHC/SHXC) and the printer’s 2.7-inch LCD screen, prints can be made from just about anywhere.

A set of paper and ink for 108 prints is $34.99 or for 36 prints, $14.99.

Details: www.usa.canon.com $99.99

Hand STYLUS

The HAND Stylus takes some getting used to, but after a while it helped me with my erratic typing on my iPad. The “world’s smallest, rotating, retracting rubber tip” measures 4 millimeters in diameter. The retracting tip offers better precision in clicking small webpage links and drawing. Since the tip rotates as it retracts, wear is distributed evenly across its surface.

Replacements are available in packs of three for $9.95; the stylus is available in six colors and is packaged in a tin box.

Details: http://handstylus.com $29.95

FLASH DRIVES

The ShareBytes Marvel Avengers character replica USB flash drives have added The Hulk to a lineup that includes Captain America, Thor and Iron Man.

Each flash drive has a storage capacity of 8GB and plug into any USB port. If you’re really a fan, the ShareBytes Avengers four-port USB Hub ($16.99) can store them all.

Details: www.wesharebytes.com/collections/avengers $16.99

IPHONE CASES

Musubo makes some of the most interesting iPhone cases around. With styles ranging from retro to futuristic, each case is richly textured and has a unique identity. For example, the Retro case resembles a 1940s-era microphone. The MatchBook Pro case has a built-in kickstand that looks like a row of matches.

I liked the RubberBand case best. From the rear, its shell looks as if your iPhone is wrapped in dozens of rubber bands.

Each case has a soft silicon interior and comes with a folding stand for hands-free use.

Details: www.musubo.com.hk $29.99

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