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.: APRIL - MAY 2005

ENVY M:515

(VOODOOPC, $2800,VOODOOPC.COM)

It's thin, fast, cool and Canadian. Calgary-based VoodooPC's ENVY m:515 is one of their most powerful PCs, offering faster bus speed, faster memory, new Intel Centrino wireless technology, and PCI Express graphics from NVIDIA (meaning great 3D graphics). President Rahul Sood promises "blistering fast performance, with long lasting battery life." Plus it's available in a cool green finish that'll make everyone around you in Starbucks perk up from behind their triple grande mocha lattes. Have them build one for you at www.voodoopc.com.

DVX

(CONCORD, US $199.99)

Those of you crossing your fingers and toes in anticipation of a combination MP3 Player/2 MP digital camera/digital voice recorder/MPEG-4 video recorder/card reader/flashlight can relax. Concord's DVx, the self-proclaimed "Swiss army knife of digital cameras," includes a 230º rotating lens with MPEG-4 video compression and a LED flashlight that can brighten your shooting area or just act like a flashlight. Slim (its measurements are 103mm x 16mm x 62mm) and stylish (available in white and charcoal gray), the DVx is versatile, portable and easy to use.

RINGTONE MAKER

(MAGIX, $29.99, MAGIX.COM)

With ringtones so popular, it makes sense that one day you would be able to create your own. MAGIX Ringtone Maker lets you import your favourite music track from CD or MP3, edit it your way, then transfer it to your phone using Infrared, Bluetooth or USB Cable. Also includes 500 ringtone music loops and 50 fun sounds, a recording function (to capture your own voice or sound effects), a ringtone simulator (to preview your track before uploading it to your phone) and a massive effects library (including equalizer, compression, filter, echo and distortion). Works with newer mobile phones supporting ADPCM formats such as MP3, WAV, AMR or SMAF.

D_SKIN PROTECTIVE SKINS

(D_SKIN, US$20, D-SKIN.COM)

CDs and DVDs will become redundant someday, replaced by wireless storage media, but until then they are going to get scratched and they are going to become unplayable at some point if you don't protect them. The solution? D_Skin Protective Skins snap on to your discs' readable side (that would be the bottom) to prevent nasty scratches. In fact, you can even leave them on while they play in their respective machines. How simple is that?

OTTERBOX

(OTTERBOX, US$49.95, OTTERBOX.COM)

While cool and convenient, most electronic devices are just way too susceptible to gravity, dirt and dust. Which is where the Otterbox for iPod Mini comes in. Its sturdy transparent plastic case makes your oh so valuable iPod waterproof, dust-proof, drop-proof and sand-proof, while still allowing you to access the controls through a thin membrane, and show it off. Great for the gym, beach, canoeing, hiking or travelling. Available at www.otterbox.com.