A sampling of products from Chicago-area companies introduced at the recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show
Cobra Electronics Corp., based in Chicago, unveiled a line of mobile global positioning systems that are the first automobile-based navigation systems that do not require professional installation.
These “plug-n-play” units are powered from the car’s cigarette lighter and feature a hard drive that is packed with more than 2 million national points of interest. These points include the SKYNAV 2000 (regional maps only, priced from about $900) and the SKYNAV 3000 (national coverage; about $1,400 retail).
Talking directions complement the bright, 5.2-inch color screen. The devices are expected to hit retail outlets in the second quarter. www.cobra.com.
Hy-Tek Manufacturing Co., based in Yorkville, unveiled a 37-inch flat-screen television that doubles as a Windows XP Pro-based 3.2-gigahertz Pentium 4 computer.
The Tek Panel 370 is the largest wide-screen “all-in-one” on the market, the company said. Dual DVD burners and a 200-gigabyte hard drive round out the features on this convergent device.
The unit is expected to ship this month and retails for about $8,000. www.tekpanel.com.
DeKalb’s Micro Solutions Inc.’s new RoadStor device (about $250) fills a market need for digital camera users who do not own a computer. RoadStor users can burn digital photographs from a flash memory card directly onto a CD. Features in this portable device include a reader for six different types of photo storage cards and a combination CD/DVD drive.
It also connects to your television for slideshow and DVD viewing. www.micro-solutions.com.
Lumisource Inc., based in Elk Grove Village, showed several novelty and contemporary lighting accessories and furniture.
The Electra lamp series, for example, comes in the forms of glowing dolphins and Venus sculptures. The Nighttime Pals series offers a comforting night-light companion for children.
Information on retailers who sell the lighting products is available at www.lumisource.com.
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