FlashTrax - Dec/Jan '04

FlashTrax

SmartDisk has made a name for itself by producing reliable, portable FireWire and universal serial bus hard disk drives in small-form packages. Now the company has pushed the envelope a bit and created a sleek, well-designed video storage display unit named FlashTrax.

FlashTrax starts with a 30GB hard disk drive (a 80GB hard disk drive model now is available) as its core. SmartDisk has built the hard disk into a small (5.63-by-3.62-by-1.26 inches) and light (12 ounces) package that houses the hard disk as well as a very decent 3.5-inch diagonal liquid crystal display color thin film transistor display. The company has created a basic operating system for it, which allows it to store, display or play digital photographs, videos and MP3 audio files.

FlashTrax draws power through an included 5V AC adapter or a 5V DC adapter. The AC adapter operates on 110 to 240 inputs, which means it can work overseas with a plug adapter.

FlashTrax stores power in a rechargeable integrated Lithium-Ion battery. However, the battery has a relatively short burn time. A three-hour charge will last less than three hours playing MP3 files and less than two hours showing photos. Additional batteries will be available in the future.

FlashTrax accepts Compact Flash (CF Type I and II) and IBM MicroDrive cards. SmartDisk also released an adapter (optional purchase for $49.99) that allows the FlashTrax to read SD MMC, Smart Media and Memory Stick flash memory devices.

FlashTrax can zoom in and out, pan, scroll and rotate JPEG digital photo files. It can read and display GIF and BMP files, but can’t zoom, pan, scroll or rotate them.

FlashTrax also can decode MJPEG video files at up to 320-by-240-by-30 frames per second or 640-by-480-by-10 frames per second.

In addition, FlashTrax has a video output and compatibility with National Television System Committee and PAL television systems, which means it will work in the United States and Europe. It comes with a remote control unit to control display of the images on the TV screen. You also can present automatically timed or manual slide shows.

A hidden secret of FlashTrax is it can store standard computer files. That means you can use it to backup critical data files. FlashTrax doesn’t have personal information manager functionality, but since it does have the ability to read simple text files, a short to-do list stored as a text file can be read and displayed by FlashTrax.

One other feature that might interest some is the ability to store and play Microsoft PowerPoint slide shows. To do that, create your show in PowerPoint and use PowerPoint’s built-in ability to export the show as a series of JPEG images in a folder. To export a PowerPoint slide show as a set of JPEG images, select “File,” “Save As” and choose “JPEG File Interchange Format” in the “Save As Type” field. If you copy that folder to FlashTrax, you can view your PowerPoint slide show on FlashTrax or on an overhead projector connected to FlashTrax.

SmartDisk built FlashTrax for simple navigation. You move around the FlashTrax file structure using a five-way navigator button. Additional zoom controls, a mode function and escape button complete the main panel, which is available on the top of the FlashTrax deck when you have the clamshell screen in the “open” position. FlashTrax also has external controls for the MP3 player that you can use even with the case closed.

FlashTrax interfaces with computers running on the Windows 98 SE or later and Mac OS 8.6 or later, including OS X 10.1 or later. It uses a USB interface, and operates on USB 2.0. Mac users note that no FireWire version exists, so you are limited to USB 1.1 speed unless you get a USB 2.0 card for your computer. FlashTrax comes with a light cloth carrying case that closes with a drawstring and a slide lock.

For an easy way to store pictures, without carrying a laptop, consider FlashTrax.

SmartDisk Corp.
(239) 425-4000

www.smartdisk.com

Price: $499.99

Reviewed by Jeffrey Allen, a general practice attorney with an emphasis in real estate, business transactions and litigation based in Oakland, Calif.

Dec/Jan '04 Issue

PROS
It can read and store digital photos and motion AVI files as well as MP3s. The unit is well designed, small and portable.

CONS
Its utility is limited at present by the lack of an adapter to allow it to accept flash storage devices other than Compact Flash cards or IBM MicroDrive cards.

VERDICT
If you are into digital photography and want an easy way to store and display pictures or don’t want to carry a laptop, FlashTrax is a handy gadget to have around. However, it’s a pricey toy.