The ultimate memory card reader?

24th January - 2002
By Ian Burley

Think of a memory card reader that is also a digital music player and a JPEG image viewer and even an MPEG1 movie player; some camcorders can record MPEG1 clips. This is the essence of the new Card Media Viewer from Cardmedia (Europe) Ltd.

This 81g unit, 95 x 89 x 15 cm in size, has on-board playback controls and a credit card-sized remote control. There is a switchable NTSC/PAL video out port for connection to a TV or video recorder and there is USB 1.1 support for connection to a PC is provided for basic memory card reader functions.

Compact Flash (CF) and SD/MMC memory cards are supported, but SmartMedia and Sony Memory Stick users will have to buy an optional CF adapter.

There are two things that we have noticed about the Card Media Viewer’s capabilities; it can only display JPEG images smaller than 640x480 pixels and although the device looks small and portable, it’s mains powered only. A more sophisticated version with built in hard disk drive is in the pipeline.

The Card Media Viewer is priced £149.90, inc.VAT or US$189 (excluding VAT). You can buy one from the Cardmedia site from the end of the month.

www.card-media.co.uk

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