Digging on the Digital Experience

A cell phone dropped in a campfire -- and still works. Computer games that let you "feel" 3D graphics. And an open bar to boot. Last night's Digital Experience held in Manhattan's Metropolitan Pavilion was an overload of gadget fun. Here are some highlights.

Inspiron Notebooks and XPS Notebooks by Dell: With their recent hyped up launch into colored laptops, the bell of the ball was most certainly Dell Computers. The new 14-, 15- and 17-inch notebooks come in eight splendid hues and built-in data backup systems. Note that not every size comes in all eight colors; the 13" only dresses in red, white, and black like the White Stripes but it promises you the world's thinnest screen.

ID Vault by Guard ID Systems: Attention secretive hedge funders. ID Vault is a USB device that securely holds logins/passwords and data for up to 100 online accounts. Plug it in to any computer when you travel and all your data is right there. The device promises to be spyware-resistant and can't be used without your personal PIN. A great place to store those hard to remember passwords for your off shore accounts.

G'zOne by Casio: The tough new mobile phone by Casio called G'zOne (pronounced "jeez-wun") claims to be indestructible. Soak it in water for up to thirty minutes or drop it in a campfire--it still works. Imagine the damage Naomi Campbell could inflict if she threw one of these hard guys.

Moxi by Digeo: Tivo's got some competition. Digeo's Moxi can record not one but two TV shows at the same time while you watch a third show you've already "taped." (Remember tapes?) Moxi hopes to upset Tivo's quest to becoming a verb in the dictionary by tempting TV addicts with a whole host of features, including connecting to your PC's music and photo library through your home network. Will Tivo be moxied?

Novint: Some of the most fun I had at Digital Experience was playing the 3D computer games offered by New Mexico's Novint. Holding onto a joystick-like game control I could actually "feel" the gooey surface of a virtual ball of molasses on the computer screen. Their game Duck Launch, where you pull back on the joystick to launch a duck into the air, reminded me of Nintendo's Duck Hunt, more sophisticated of course.

--Andrea Chalupa