The ubiquitous pen is one device that everyone in the office carries around, whether you are a janitor (hey, janitors still need to fill up the time sheets in various washrooms) or seated all the way at the top as a CEO (unless you prefer to just chop your fingerprint on those multi-million dollar contracts). Brando has come up with a very interesting twist on this everyday gadget which is bound to bring a smile on anyone’s face.
This USB MP3 Pen comes with a built-in FM radio and voice recorder capabilities in a solid, silver design. The pen is divided into two sections – the USB section and the ordinary pen section. It becomes a futuristic writing instrument when you screw both sides together, although it might be a wee bit too big for ladies for prolonged periods of writing.
There is nothing much to say about the pen section. The nib is protected inside until you turn the rubber grip in an anti-clockwise direction. To return the nib to its original position, just do the opposite. The USB section, on the other hand, comes with four different buttons where each buttons has dual functions attached to it. They are the On/Off button, the Volume increase button, the Volume decrease button, and the FM radio button. A small LED light located just beside the microphone denotes what more the USB section is in at the moment through a variety of colors and lighting patterns.
The lighting patterns and colors takes some getting used to, as you will most probably fumble with it the first few times. Once you get used to it, recording a song or listening to the FM radio can be done without even taking a look at the buttons. The microphone itself has a pretty good pick up rate and makes for a decent lecture recorder, although students who want something with a much clearer recording capability ought to look somewhere else.
The USB MP3 pen can be charged via a couple of ways – you can either plug it into any available USB port, or use the AC adapter that ships with it. Charging is pretty quick and painless – once the green light is given (literally), you can unplug it and start recording or listening to your MP3 tracks immediately.
The final and often overlooked function of the USB MP3 pen is the use as an impromptu flash memory device. This means you can now carry all your important files with you wherever you go, including presentations, slideshows, contracts, etc. Just make sure you know how to juggle the limited space (512MB or 1GB) properly lest you find yourself running out of space to record the minutes at a meeting, much to the chagrin of your boss.
Ink refills cost $1 for a packet of 3, so you don’t have to worry about throwing the pen bit away once the ink stops flowing. A great device to have, but you would have to be more careful with your words around the office now with this USB MP3 pen. Who knows – your colleague might be recording your latest tirade against your boss for not giving you a raise without your knowledge! Alternatively, you could do some industrial espionage with this device, recording down supposedly confidential meetings and discussions. It all boils down to your conscience.
The USB MP3 pen functions just as claimed, and not only does it provide you with a professional looking business instrument, you also get to unwind throughout the day with the built-in FM radio. If only there was a Bluetooth connection available, as sticking a pair of earphones into the USB MP3 pen looks rather funny. Take extra caution not to drop the USB section as you never know how much abuse it can take before the USB memory within gives up its ghost. You can pick one up from Brando today for $48 or $68, depending on whether you want the 512MB or 1GB model.
USB MP3 Pen + FM Radio + Voice Recorder site
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