Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Interview with Suzanne Kantra

Aired June 26, 2002 - 13:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A trade show in New York is showing off wares from the leading edge of technology, and it's not only a preview of products but a key indicator of where the technology industry is headed.

For the highlights, we go to Suzanne Kantra, technology editor for "Popular Science." She joins us now live. Suzanne, good to see you.

SUZANNE KANTRA, TECHNOLOGY EDITOR, "POPULAR SCIENCE": Good to see you.

PHILLIPS: It's all about function, right?

KANTRA: It certainly is. One of the things that you are really noticing is when you walk down the aisles, is that it's not -- the emphasis really isn't on the laptops and desktops themselves, it is on how they are used, and also the products that are being used with them.

PHILLIPS: Let's get right down to it, then. What do you have? What are you going to show us?

KANTRA: One of the trends that we're seeing is wireless, whether that is integrated into a laptop, so you can use it at an airport lounge or anywhere around the workplace, or one of these small gadgets. This is a BlackBerry RIM pager, but it also has a cell phone built into it that you can use anywhere around the world. It has a microphone and speaker built into it, so you can just pick it up to your face and use it without a headset.

PHILLIPS: Wow! Do wireless devices remain as a top innovator, you think?

KANTRA: I think that the wireless devices, you are going to see a lot of innovation in that space, whether it is (UNINTELLIGIBLE) or a cell phone or the short range, the blue tooth technology.

PHILLIPS: Mmm! What else do you have? Do you have anything else?

KANTRA: I also have a lot of digital cameras and videos. We have the Casio XLMS1 here. What this camera does, is it is just a really small form factor, you can put it into your pocket. Very easy to use. This is a one megapixel camera. There's also the M1 version, which is $350, and added into that for just one more millimeter in thickness -- this is a half an inch thick. You get an MP3 player and also a voice recorder.

PHILLIPS: Wow! The digital photographer remain the largest growth product, you think, right now?

KANTRA: It definitely is. When all of the other sectors have been down, you have been able to see growth in the digital photography market. People are really interested in moving over from their film based cameras and going digital.

PHILLIPS: Oh, yes. And it looks good, too. I have seen the pictures. We haven't gotten into it yet, but maybe I'll be convinced.

You have two other things next to that first camera, right?

KANTRA: I do. I have a Logitech pocket digital, which is also a really tiny digital camera. You may not be able to see that from the picture here, but it is about the size of a business card and just a quarter of an inch thick, I believe. This is a VGA resolution, which can go up to one megapixel. What that really means is, you can get up to 4 x 6 prints, as you see by scale here. And this is a great thing, if you want to just go anywhere. You put it in your pocket, won't even have to think about it.

PHILLIPS: All right. And finally?

KANTRA: From Sony, we have their smallest DV camcorder, and people are really getting into digital video. They want to be able to take pictures of their family and be able to edit that down into a movie that they can share with family and friends. This is about $1300. You are paying a little bit of premium, probably, for the size. But you can get these digital camcorders anywhere from $700 or $800.

PHILLIPS: All right. That's a little better from $1300. Suzanne Kantra, thank you so much.

KANTRA: Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com