Products for the 50+ Population

Manufacturers are now creating gadgets that are not only easy to use for seniors but for the rest of us as well. Here are some of the latest advances in products for those 50 and over.

Logitech KeyCase
Handheld computers are more popular than ever and now manufacturers like Logitech are making accessories that make using your handheld even easier. Logitech’s KeyCase looks like a wallet, very thin and lightweight, but it's actually not only a holder for your Palm Pilot but it's a keyboard as well. Its $99 and this adds a full size keyboard to your Palm making writing email and messages easier than ever. www.logitech.com

Beamer VideoPhone
Nearly 2/3 of all Americans live two or more hours away from close family and friends, and that can be tough during the holiday season, especially if you're not traveling. But the Beamer Videophone Station can help you see who you've been missing and stay connected to your loved ones-- all year round.

Beamer works with any phone, over any standard analog phone line to add video to your calls-- no extra charges or subscription fees. It's really changing the way people communicate.

A 2003 winner of Good Housekeeping's Best Buy award, Beamer is simple to set up and simple to use --there's even a privacy button if you're not up to being seen when a call comes through!

You can buy a Beamer for just $250 at any Best Buy and retailers like Good Guys, Frys and J&R or at www.vialta.com.

AT&T 5830 Cordless Phone
AT&T's 5830 5.8 GHZ cordless phone/answering machine is the world’s first cordless phone with Talking Caller ID which allows you to hear the name or number of the incoming caller. Other features include 50 Name/Number Directory, Analog and Digital Clock Displays, Call Transfer, Conferencing, Any Key Answer, and Page/Handset locator. Plus, the 5830 is an Expandable System -add up to 5 additional handsets. $140 for one base and handset. http://telephones.att.com/

Earthlink MailStation Cordless 250
The MailStation from EarthLink makes using email is as easy as making a phone call. The MailStation 250 model operates on the same 900-megahertz frequency as cordless telephones. Simply plug the base station into a phone jack and turn on the MailStation 250 to easily send and receive email from anywhere in your home.

Features include:

• Send and receive email at the touch of a button
• One-touch access to weather, TV listings, and more—just press the News and Info button
• Get unlimited service for just $12.95 per month—email as much as you'd like!
• Comes with an integrated keyboard and an easy-to-read screen
• Saves up to 1,000 email addresses in your Address Book
• Printer-compatible
• MailStation 250 won't tie up your phone line—it can automatically send and receive messages at the times you select

$149.99 for the device
$12.95 per month

www.earthlink.net/home/mailstation/models/ms250/

HP Photosmart 245 Photo Printer
With HP’s new Photosmart 245 photo printer you can preview, edit and select photos before printing with the 1.8-inch color LCD screen. The printer produces brilliant, professional looking borderless, 4 x 6-inch photos directly from your camera's memory card without a computer and its compact, portable design allows you to take it almost anywhere. Connect the printer quickly and easily to a PC and Mac via USB. The Photosmart 245 uses a variety of memory cards-- CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Sticks, Secure Digital/Multi Media, xD-Picture Card. $199. www.hp.com

The New and Improved Clapper
The new and improved Clapper allows you to customize your clap sensitivity setting and the number of claps necessary to activate an item. It also has three LED’s on the device that allow you to keep track of how many claps you made in order to properly activate your device. Suggested retail: $29.95 (can be found online for $19.95). www.chia.com

Samsung VI660 -Sprint Voice Command Cellular Phone
With one voice command, users can have their signal strength, battery level, roaming status and even their own phone number read aloud through the earpiece of the new PCS Vision Phone VI660 by Samsung.

In addition, Voice Signal’s Voice-Activated Phonebook (VAP) allows users to dial any contact in the handset’s phonebook without prior training or enrollment. The VI660’s Digit Dial feature allows users to dial any number, whether it’s stored in the phonebook or not, simply by saying the number naturally and continuously.

Other Features include:

• Voice-Activated Phonebook (VAP): Voice activates every name in the handset’s phonebook with no training or enrollment required. Users can dial any phonebook entry by voice, or search the phonebook by voice to look up contact information.
• High-Speed Internet Access: Quickly download personalized content such as ringers, wallpapers, games and screensavers via the WAP 2.0 browser.
• Personal Organizer: The built-in organizer manages calendars and contact lists, and can be synchronized with your PC. The organizer also has voice memo, alarm clock, task list and calculator features.
• PCS Game Pad Accessory: Attach the VI660 into the Samsung Game Pad console (sold separately) and it becomes a mobile gaming device.
• Dual-Band/Tri-Mode: Use the VI660 on the Sprint PCS Nationwide Network or while roaming.
• Talk Time: The standard lithium ion battery provides 3.4 hours of digital talk time and seven days of standby time.
• PCS Vision Capable: Picture Mail, Messaging, Games, Ringers, Screen Savers, Web, PCS Business Connection

Available at www.sprintpcs.com for $79.99 with a two-year agreement (suggested retail price $229.99).

Hammacher Deep Tissue Massage Chair
Until recently, many massaging chairs could only offer weak vibrations, and were ineffective at providing deeper, more penetrating massages. This soft contemporary-styled chair offers the most intense and effective massage we could find. Offering Human Touch Technology in a comprehensive range of programs, it allows you to customize your massage to your individual needs-kneading, compression, percussion, or rolling-or to enjoy all the different modes in one program. The unique quad-roller massage mechanism contours to your spine, simulating realistic massage techniques over the entire back, or in one isolated area as you see fit. The movable lumbar pillow provides added support to the lower back or can be used as a head pillow. The attached remote control gives you complete command of the functions, allowing you to sit back and receive a serious deep-tissue massage without constantly reaching for buttons. A removable “softening pad” allows you to control the intensity of the quad-rollers against your back. The chair is compact and folds in half; its wheels allow the chair to easily be moved or repositioned. Includes easy-to-use remote, and child safety lock. $599.95. www.hammacher.com