DIGITAL camcorders may already be a thing of the past. Although the technology has only just taken off in this country, Hitachi has already shown us a glimpse of the future.
The DZ-MV10 uses DVD discs to record sounds and pictures that can be played back on your telly. Unfortunately, as yet, DVD-RAM discs cannot be played back on the DVD player you bought from Tescos. The formats are mutually exclusive at the moment, but it's only a matter of time before playback and recording technologies converge.
The other downside is the sheer cost of recordable discs. At around £30, DVD-RAM is an expensive way of archiving those precious moments.
But when CD-R first came into use it was the same story and older Gadgetmen may remember when VHS videotapes cost £15 each.
Still, DVD-RAM is definitely here to stay. Panasonic is already following Hitachi's example, only its DVD-RAM digital camcorder is PC compatible so you can edit footage on your beige box of tricks.
A single 2.8 GB disc can record 60 minutes of broadcast quality movies or 1,998 high resolution still images.
THERE'S better news this week for all those folk who bought a screen for their PSOne, reviewed by this column a couple of weeks ago.
Go-ahead accessory manufacturer Wild Things is planning to release a host of extras that will make the new PsOne a truly portable PlayStation.
First up is the battery pack that plugs into the PsOne power port and provides enough juice for three hours gaming on the go. About the size of a flask, it plugs into a power point and recharges overnight. Anyone who ever own a battery pack for the Sega Game Gear will have a good idea of what the PsOne pack is like.
Sony shied away from releasing its own battery pack because, it said, the PsOne would consume too much power. Wild Things looks to have proved the Japanese wrong.
Next up is what should be a pretty much an essential piece of kit.
The screen magnifier is something Game Boy owners will be familiar with. It's a fresnel lens that clips onto the screen and magnifies the piece to around twice the normal size.
When I tried a screen recently (admittedly not the Wild Things version) I found it too small for games like FIFA 2001 and LMA Manager. This could be the answer.
Finally there's a nifty new carry case for PsOne, screen, battery pack and magnifer plus your game pad and a few CDs.
As that's a lot of kit to be toting about, it's a tight squeeze but everything fits snugly and the case is designed so you can play without removing the PsOne. Wild Things' PsOne accessories should be in the shops by the end of the month.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article