Obviously, one of the best things about presentations, new media and the Web 2.0 environment, is all the great stuff you get to play with. Every day new technologies are breaking through to help us make our presentations really pop. The fact that trying out these new toys – and learning what they’re capable of – is a whole lot of fun is just the icing on the cake.
2009 has been jammed with new products and software to add to your collection, but before you get too carried away, take a look at this cream of the crop selection we humbly submit for your approval:
The New MacBook Pro
If you are a Mac from way back, you know that these computers just keep getting better in both look, capabilities and capacity. It only stands to reason that Mac will have to plateau at some point, sacrificing design for function or vice versa, but it hasn’t happened yet. The new 17-inch laptop is the thinnest, lightest, laptop of its size, and its battery capacity is ridiculously long. A hard workstation to beat for the presenter on the go.
Canson Papershow
We’re all familiar with PowerPoint, perhaps too familiar. Sometimes it seems like we can’t quite push the program far enough. A recent online article describes PowerPoint as “so 1995.” That may be a bit extreme, but our desire for truly interactive, fluid, engaging presentation tools can be intense. The Canson Papershow is a great new program that allows you to draw or write in real time, in a range of changeable colors, right onto your monitor and into your projection. Papershow is only limited by your imagination and it can make an amazing companion to your next PowerPoint presentation or could serve as the only thing a real impromptu presenter might care to bring along to her next pitch.
Samsung’s Projector Push
We’re always looking for great projectors for our presentations and Samsung is betting on a strength-in-numbers approach when it comes to your digital dollar. Introducing three new lines last month including: P (portable) Series, L (LCD) Series, D (Data) Series and A (A/V) Series. Samsung’s latest products marry their reputation for great electronics with a number of features that are sure to make any presenter drool, including: lightweight portability, stereo speakers that eliminate need for additional audio, compact size, high quality picture, low operating noise and high brightness levels.
Mini Pro Projects a Portable Image
It’s only been 6 months since 3M introduced the Mpro110, a fully functioning digital projector that literally fits in the palm of your hand. We’ve all had the pleasure of lugging pounds of gear in and out of conference rooms and hotel rooms when we take our PowerPoint presentations on the road, but this new gadget could put an end to all of that. The Pro weighs less than a pound, is about as big as a digital camera, and produces a 50 inch, VGA quality still or moving image on any wall you care to aim it at. And you said dreams never come true.
Blackberry’s Got Gameloft – Even a busy presenter has to take a break now and then, and when you are stuck in an airport or a hotel a cool video game on your cellphone can keep you from losing your mind. Gameloft is one of the leading suppliers of video game tech for mobile devices and as of April, your Blackberry just got a lot more fun. Announcing its new agreement with Blackberry, Gameloft is bringing nearly 100 games to Blackberry phones and devices, ranging from the latest titles to classics, and – at less than five bucks a game – you can afford to take a break.
