 Addonics Multi Function Recorder Handles flash media cards, DVDs and CDs on Mac or PC |
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 The $249 Addonics Multi Function Recorder (MFR) is an 18-in-one recording device, where you can put almost any kind of flash media card into it, and directly burn data from card to CD without the need for a computer. It can also play back CDs and DVDs, and even MP3s. It even has a remote control so you can plug it into your projector or TV for an on-the-spot presentation. And you can also plug it into your PC or Mac (OS X) via USB 2.0. We found it to be a delightfully versatile device.Open the Addonics MFR box and you’re presented with a handsome carrying case that looks like a fine camera bag (see graphic below). Unzip the top of it and inside you’ll find a sleek unit that’s built for the road – it’s about the size of a CD Walkman, weighing in at a featherweight 20 ounces, along with a remote control. It also includes a rechargeable battery pack that’s good for two-and-a-half hours of use. There’s a USB cable that lets this USB 2.0-compatible unit talk to your computer, showing up in My Computer as a CD or DVD drive and a flash media drive. And, there’s SVideo and composite video cables that let you connect to a projector or TV.
Things start getting really unusual with this device when you realize that it can copy just about any type of flash media to CD-R or RW (24x10x24). The list is impressive and a mile long: SmartMedia, CompactFlash Type I and II, Secure Digital, Multi-Media cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro or Microdrive. What I really like, beyond this Tower of Babel-esque capability, is that you don’t even need a computer to get the thing to back up any of these media to CD. In fact, you don’t even need the (questionably-written) manual either. It’s a simple matter of inserting your chosen flash card, putting in a blank CD and pressing one button. The unit dutifully asks, “Back up?” Press that button again and it starts its backup process, giving you a percentage number in its LCD window. Now wait. Backing up media like this, with no computer required at all? I could get used to this. [an error occurred while processing this directive] But this is not just a data copier, or storage device. It’s also a playback device. You can play back stills directly from a flash card, watching a slide show on a PAL or NTSC TV set via SVideo or composite. Plug in its A/V ports or SVideo cable to a TV or projector, and you’ll see a menu ready for your navigation using the remote control. Here’s a true convergence device, equally at home in the lean-forward arena of computing and lean-back world of TV watching. You can play back a CD, even MP3s from a CD or flash card, and you can play back DVDs, too. The unit acts like any other 8x DVD player, complete with remote control. I also like the way you can play back jpeg files from any flash memory card, but would have liked to have seen the ability to play back tiff files as well. I can think of lots of uses for this unit. I immediately enjoyed its backup benefits when I got a nearly-full SmartMedia card I use for my Olympus DM-1 audio recording device (I use it to record the many interviews we bring to you here on DMN) and before I knew it, the 128MB SmartMedia card's contents were laid down on a CD-R. Then I tried a Compact Flash card from my digital camera, and it quickly backed that up, too. RELATED FORUMS: RELATED SITES: • AV Video • Content Mastering • Creative Mac • Digital Post Production • Digital Producer • Digital Video Editing • DV Format • Media Workstation • Presentation Master • Presentation Supplement [an error occurred while processing this directive] |
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