Tech to go

A green GPS, a camera that recognises your mates (almost) and another brave iPod competitor… we assess some of the latest gadgets on the market

words by Sophy Grimshaw

Keomo Bluetooth GPS

One for green-minded drivers, this new solar-powered GPS can guide you and your car around any major city – although, like most global positioning systems, high buildings and tunnels will occasionally confuse it. The 51mm x 58mm screen is half the size of most built-in GPS systems in cars these days, and there’s no voice prompt. However, if your ride doesn’t come with a bells-and-whistles system then you might want to road test this eco-friendly, if rather basic, model. ¤110, www.keomo.com

Canon Digital IXUS 900Ti

The Canon Digital IXUS 900Ti camera is the first camera with “face detection”, a new technology that Canon claims can automatically detect faces in people shots and optimise focus and exposure accordingly. Useful if you want to snap photos of people on your travels, but are sick of the salt shaker being the only thing in focus. The 10MP camera also has standard shooting modes for conditions like snow, foliage, beach and fireworks. It’s a bit heavier than some of Canon’s competitors’ models, but worth finding a place for in your suitcase. ¤519.99, www.canon.com

The Blade MP3 Player

Brussels company MPMan is hoping to remind the world that they created the first ever MP3 player, but is there any room left in the market for a little box of music that doesn’t start with the letter ‘i’? Maybe. The Blade does have a few things going for it, including 12 hours of battery life, a duo of headphone jacks so that two people can listen at the same time, and a skinny width of just 7mm. ¤118 for 1GB / ¤132 for 2GB, www.mpmaneurope.com