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PRODUCT SHOWCASE Ricoh’s new combined DVD and CD Rewriter Ricoh Australia claims their new MP5120A “Super Combo Drive” is a world first, combining DVD+RW and CD+RW in one unit. It is the first rewritable DVD drive solely complying with the DVD+RW standard while also working as a CD-RW. Ricoh also released DVD+RW disks to coincide with the launch. The MP5120A offers two-way compatibility meaning that DVD+RW media can be played in the majority of existing DVD-Video players and DVD ROM drives. The MP5120A is capable of 2.4x write speed which is equivalent to 22x write speed on a CD drive. In addition, the direct-to- DVD function enables direct recording of video from VCR and digital video camcorders and the bundled software will support a variety of applications. The Ricoh DVD+RW disks will hold 4.7GB, the same as a DVD-ROM. The drive is available from Ricoh specialists Australia-wide. Contact: Ricoh Australia 1800 646 679 or www.ricoh.com.au Mighty ATOM from Microzed!!!! MicroZed Computers have added Basic Micro products to their range of products. Included is a “Stamp2” look-alike, BASIC compilers, chip programmers and development boards. The Stamp2 look-alike “ATOM” is pin-compatible with the Basic Stamp 2 and can be used in any Basic Stamp development board. Based on the PIC16F876/20, the ATOM and OEM ATOM modules have an execution speed of 33,000 instructions per second, 8K of program space, analog-to-digital conversion, interrupt capability, floating point maths, hardware PWM and many other desirable features. The ATOM can even play an 8-note musical chord! ATOM firmware is field upgrade-able and as well as the usual commands its command set includes such nice features as LCDWRITE and LCDREAD (did you know LCD panels with the Hitachi chipset have an area of RAM?). The ATOM can drive stepper motors and servo motors with single commands. There is no need to write a routine. Basic Micro manufacture a programmer and ZIF adapter that will 74  Silicon Chip Tiny LCD monitor handle PIC, ATMEL and SX chips, but at this stage they only have PIC Basic Compilers, in two versions, plain and PRO. The ATOM development board has two sockets, one 24-pin 0.6inch DIP and the other a 14-pin SIP for OEM ATOM. Other development boards are for 18, 28 and 40 pin chips. Most development boards are solderless “breadboard” style but some solder pad versions are availble too. Of special interest is the LCD development kit, which allows the end user to make their own LCD driver chip to their own specs. Bob Nicol of MicroZed Computers says that the new range of Basic Micro products is intended for professional use but Basic Micro have not forgotten the beginner in BASIC. More information is available on Microzed’s website. This compact CCTV TFT LCD colour monitor from Mastatek offers PAL/ NTSC video input and comes complete with monitor speaker and stand. A 12V DC mains adaptor is available as an option. Specifications and facilities for this very portable monitor include a screen size of 5.7 inch (diagonal) and a display resolution of 960(H) x 234(V) dots. Dimensions are 168(W) x 133(V) x 40(d) mm and the total weight is 610g. Power consumption is DC 12V/600mA 8W (max). Additional functions include screen side right-left switchable and up-down auto switch. More detailed brochures and pricing information is available on request. Contact: Mastatek Pty Ltd Ph (03) 9753 4300, Fax (03) 9753 4322 www.mastatek.com.au Contact: MicroZed Computers PO Box 634 Armidale NSW 2350 Phone: (02) 6772 2777 Fax (02) 6772 8987 Website: www.microzed.com.au www.siliconchip.com.au Keep it safe safe . . . If you have something you want to keep safe, a visit to a Dick Smith Electronics PowerHouse should be on your agenda. They have just added a compact (340 x 200 x 240mm) electronic combination lock safe to their range of security products. It has a 3mm thick body and 6mm thick door and weighs in at 18 kilograms. The safe can be programmed with any three to eight-digit code by way of a front panel keypad and it also has a manual key which overrides the electronics. There is a built-in safeguard to prevent intruders continually punching numbers – if the wrong code is entered three times the safe will not accept more tries for twenty seconds. Another three wrong codes and it locks up for an hour. Three LED displays on the front panel indicate the security and power status of the safe. The four “D” size batteries required to power the safe are included in the $147 price. The safe is only available from DSE PowerHouse stores (or through Direct Link, 1300 366 644, or the DSE website). Contact: Dick Smith Electronics (PowerHouse) Phone: (02) 9642 9100 Fax (02) 9642 9153 Website: www.dse.com.au Home phone can travel with you Looking for something a bit different for Christmas? A new cordless phone from Uniden offers much more versatility than traditional cordless models. The 900MHz digital spread-spectrum phone can communicate with up to seven handsets, allow handset to handset transfers and even allows 2-way communication between handsets when away from the base unit. This means that the $249 Uniden T3 system, which includes caller ID, can double as an intercom or even, for example, be taken on holidays, to the beach or anywhere else and allow two-way communication www.siliconchip.com.au between family members. Uniden have also announced their “Call Ezi” plan for homes and small businesses which offers a free digital cordless phone and competitive call rates (including free calls each month) on a 24-month plan. Contact: Uniden Australia Phone: (02) 9599 3355 Website: www.uniden.com.au STEPDOWN TRANSFORMERS 60VA to 3KVA encased toroids Harbuch Electronics Pty Ltd 9/40 Leighton Pl. HORNSBY 2077 Ph (02) 9476-5854 Fx (02) 9476-3231 Electus wholesale goodies catalog Electus Distribution have released a 306-page catalog featuring electronic components, hardware, service gear, tools, test equipment, surveillance gear and more. Everything in the catalog is priced, making lookup and pricing much easier than many supplier’s catalogs. The information is also available on CD-ROM. The catalog is for professional, commerce, industry and education users. Contact: Electus Distribution Phone: 1300 738 555 [(02) 9741 8552] Website: www.electusdistribution.com.au December 2001  75