Gadget Blog

Camera phones have improved considerably since the fuzzy shots produced by early models. Now Samsung has broken through the 3.2-megapixel barrier with its new A990 handset, which could eliminate the need for a separate snapper altogether. Besides sharp resolution, the phone boasts a music player, video recorder, full web browser and Bluetooth. Keep an eye on www.samsung.com/uk for news of UK pricing and availability.

If your USB memory stick is consuming valuable pocket space, Sony has created a diminutive alternative. The MicroVault Tiny is said to be the smallest USB drive yet, measuring 30 x 14.5mm in surface area and a wafer thin 2.4mm thick. It offers from 256MB to 2GB of storage and comes with a colourful carry case to stop it slipping down the back of the sofa.

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Often considered to be Apple's closest rival in the portable audio market, Creative is gunning directly for the iPod Nano with its latest player. The Zen V Plus is available in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB capacities, each with built-in FM radios, voice recorders and 1.5in colour screens on which you can view album art, digital photos and videos. On sale next month for Nano-competing prices, see http://uk.europe.creative.com for more information.

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If we've learnt anything from the recent batch of horror film remakes, it's that a wrong turn during an idyllic country drive can often lead to disaster. Ensure you make it home safely without straying into cannibal territory with the aid of the Shinco Voyager GPS 400 (£230) from Firebox, a stylish satellite navigation system that won't break the bank. Not much bigger than an iPod, this compact travelling companion sports a bright 4in LCD colour touch screen, displaying your route via two and three dimensional maps that are accurate to within three metres. Its Destinator software features two million points of interest, as well as door-to-door mapping, postcode navigation and stored favourites. An SD card slot lets you listen to MP3s through the device or view soon-to-be-available maps of Europe.

Many of the latest PC games are so diverse and complex that playing them with a standard keyboard and mouse can be tricky and frustrating. When you're deep in the heat of an online battle, having the right functions within easy reach can make all the difference between emerging victorious and being blown to smithereens. Saitek has solved this problem with the Pro Gamer Command Unit (£30 from www.aria.co.uk), which combines all the controls you need to play First Person Shooter (FPS) and strategy games so you can access them quickly and easily. These include 20 buttons to which you can assign up to 144 commands, a four-way hat switch, and an adjustable thumb control area. The unit also features a backlight and laser-etched keys so you can keep on gaming long into the night.

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