Vacation memories in a flash

Here are two new items to help you get the most out of your photos. Both products have been tested by the author. -- Judi Dash

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Store photos, videos and music

The little Epson P-2000 Multimedia storage viewer can hold and play back photos, videos and loads of MP3 music thanks to a 40GB hard drive. The built-in card slot accepts CompactFlash or Secure Digital memory cards; an optional third-party adapter supports most other formats. Measuring just 5.8 by 3.3 by 1.2 inches deep, with a 3.8-inch screen, the P-2000 comes with a high-speed 2.0 USB cable for fast downloads to and from a computer. There’s also a headphone jack and a stand. The screen is smaller than a snapshot and considerably smaller than the Brookstone PictureBook’s 5.6-inch monitor, and the black on black buttons can be hard to decipher. Images are crisp and vibrant, however. Coming later this winter -- the new P-4000, which has a giant 80GB hard drive in the same size body.

Epson P-2000 (B31B174011) is $499.99; (800) 463-7766, www.epson.com.

A helping hand

So there you are on the scene with your trusty camera phone. But how do you put yourself in the shot without awkwardly holding out the camera at arms’ length, which is often too close? Just whip out your trusty Cellpod, a 6-inch plastic tripod with hinged legs and a swiveling mounting head that connects to a cellphone via the universal belt clip button that comes with most phones. (An adhesive-backed clip is included for phones without one.) Then set the camera’s self-timer (about 50% of camera phones have them) and say cheese. Cellpod also can reduce camera shake -- although the quality of images produced by camera phones is still so mediocre that this may be the least of your worries. Still, it’s worth a try, and it makes a great conversation piece.

Cellpod is $25; (866) 943-1800, www.joyinnovations.com.