It’s a key ring circus at Philips, with a flurry of little hybrid devices that combine the storage capabilities of key chain memory with everything from an MP3 player to a digital camera.
The Key010 Digital Camera Key Ring packs a 2-megapixel digital camera and 128 megabytes of flash memory chips in a black magnesium case that looks like a svelte cigarette lighter with a viewfinder.
The Key010 is only a so-so camera, even at 2 megapixels, but its storage versatility, wow factor and price ($129) make it an of-the-moment accessory.
Philips says the Key010 holds up to 300 digital photos, but you can store almost anything on it, including data files. All that data becomes instantly portable. Bring it home, connect the Key010 to your computer using the USB connector hidden behind the end cap, and it automatically transfers the files.
As a camera, the Key010 is convenient but lacking. A dial, when turned, exposes the lens and activates the camera. It’s a one-button operation: look, or squint, through the tiny viewfinder and press the button on top. There’s no LCD, no zoom, no flash and no way to tell how many pictures you’ve taken or how much file space you have left (only a warning light for low memory).
The Key010 also uses a CMOS sensor–usually found on cheap cameras–and not the more common CCD sensor. It also uses the original USB 1.1 connection, not the newer, faster USB 2.0.
The Key010 camera has trouble in bright light or dim light. It needs just-right light for decent pictures. Picture quality wasn’t bad considering the functional limitations. And no batteries are required–insert the camera into a computer’s USB port, and it’ll charge automatically. The Key010 fits neatly in a pocket or can be worn around the neck with a strap.
Philips also makes wearable Key Ring MP3 players and the intriguing Digital Camcorder Key Ring, the $249 Key019, that’s a 2-megapixel camera, a digital camcorder and MP3 player with 128 megabytes of storage.
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Victoria Rodriguez (vrodriguez@tribune.com)
