Off Duty, Technology - Marine Corps Times

New products: USB hub lets you go wireless

Wireless hi-fi earphones ease iPod listening

Need a discreet way to listen to music at work or school? Try on a pair of in-the-ear earphones from Etymotic Research. Designed to fit comfortably in your ears, the ety8 In-The-Ear Bluetooth Earphones wirelessly transmit music from Apple iPods and other Bluetooth-enabled devices while also filtering out unwanted noise. Weighing about a half-ounce each, one earphone contains the battery and the other holds the circuit, antenna and controls. They ship with earphone tips (for different sized-ears), extra filters, a leather carrying case and a rechargeable battery that delivers up to 10 hours of playing time. The earphones cost $200. A set with an 8.Mate iPod adapter that lets you control the volume and other functions from both your iPod and earphones is $300.

Digital Private Eye keeps watch for you

You don’t have to be a private eye or a techie to set up a do-it-yourself security surveillance system from Swann Communications. The company’s Digital Private Eye system contains a hidden color camera and time-lapse recorder that records images onto a Secure Digital memory card whenever it detects motion. To view the images, simply insert the memory card into a PC or connect the system to a PC via a USB port. The camera also functions as a webcam capable of capturing video at 30 frames per second and recording it directly to a PC. Cost: $200.

Radio delivers big sound in small spaces

Cambridge’s SoundWorks Radio 705 isn’t just another AM-FM radio. When connected to an MP3 player, CD player or PC, the high-fidelity radio can also fill your room with the sounds of your favorite digital tunes. Designed for use in a dorm, bedroom or office, the radio is available in white or black, and is compact enough to place on a desk or nightstand. It has a backlit tuning dial and a 30-minute sleep timer. Cost: $120.

Deborah Porterfield writes for Gannett News Service.