scanner

Scanbox, created by Australian design company Limemouse, works as a miniature studio in a box perfect for scanning documents (up to A4 size), receipts, 3D objects, or even a page from a book.

At first glance, the $15 Scanbox may appear like some sort of strange geometric shape, but the peculiar design optimizes lighting conditions for the perfect shot. It only takes a few moments to set up the device, as the user simply aligns a few high-strength magnets built into the box.

A stencil of a smartphone with a square hole sits on top so that the user knows exactly where to place the camera lens every time. When the photo shoot ends, the Scanbox folds back up into a flat shape for easy transportation. … Read more

According to The Economist, the average American consumes almost eight 40-foot trees per year in paper. Even if you're not environmentally minded, reducing the amount of paper you consume has many benefits, including saving money and reducing clutter.

To help you get on the path to living a paperless lifestyle, here are six tips to consider:

Switch to paperless billing If you're still getting paper bills in the mail, consider switching to paperless billing. Many companies, banks, and utilities offer paperless billing options. The bills will typically be in PDF format, which you access online. When the new … Read more

Runscanner is a free, portable system utility that scans your PC for all running processes, programs, services, drivers, autostart locations, and hijack points. It can detect system changes made by viruses, malware, or operator error. Runscanner's powerful tools should be used with caution, but they can help you solve problems that ordinary means can't.

Runscanner offers two levels, Beginner and Expert. The Beginner mode has Scan and Update buttons and a link to Specialist help forums, plus three entry fields for saving scans as a log file or a binary .run file, which can be submitted to one … Read more

The Transport Security Administration's body scanners have enjoyed a level of controversy similar to that of Rush Limbaugh.

Though they've never called women names, the machines have led females to strip to their bra and panties in protest.

Now, Jonathan Corbett--who was the first to sue the TSA over its invasive machines--claims that the body scanners can be easily duped.

His explanation seems quite simple: if you strap your evil-doing object to your side, rather than to your front or back, the scanners provide no visual contrast with the background and therefore won't spot the object.

On his blog, … Read more

With an Android app called Scanner Radio, you can turn your Android phone into a portable police scanner. Volunteers with scanners provide over 3,100 audio streams from police and fire departments, weather radios, and amateur radio operators.

You can let Scanner Radio search for scanners near your current location, or manually search for scanners based on area, genre, or source.

Once you find your favorite audio feeds, you can add them as favorites for quick access. You can also listen to archives of certain feeds, but that feature requires the Pro version ($2.99).

That's it. Just a … Read more

Kodak continues to innovate in its printing division despite an announcement today that the company is shuttering the camera division.

I just finished reviewing its $200 Office Hero 6.1 All-in-One, a midprice imaging device that can print, scan, fax, and copy, and as long as you don't mind waiting a few extra seconds for your prints, this competent multifunctional printer deserves your attention.… Read more

If tablets are really going to kick laptops to the curb, they'll need some of the same important accessories road warriors rely on. Like, say, mobile scanners.

Enter the Brookstone iConvert Scanner, which combines a sheet-fed document/photo reader with an iPad dock. It's due to ship February 1 for a list price of $149.99.

As shown in the above demo video, you just plunk your iPad (1 or 2) into the iConvert, run the accompanying app, then start feeding your documents, photos, business cards, kids' scribbles, and what have you.… Read more

Before you spend any more money on ink for that old, rundown inkjet of yours, consider replacing it with a spiffy new multifunction printer--for not much more than you'd pay for a set of new ink cartridges.

Today only, and while supplies last, Amazon has the Epson Stylus NX530 multifunction printer for $59.99 shipped. Like all good printers, this one's wireless.

In other words, it connects via Wi-Fi to your home or office router, meaning you can place the stylus just about anywhere and use it from any network-connected PC (or Android or iOS device, thanks to … Read more

Internal Homeland Security documents describing specifications for border-crossing scanners, which emit gamma or X-ray radiation to probe vehicles and their occupants, are raising new health and privacy concerns, CNET has learned.

Even though a public outcry has prompted Homeland Security to move away from adding X-ray machines to airports--it purchased 300 body scanners last year that used alternative technology instead--it appears to be embracing them at U.S.-Mexico land border crossings as an efficient way to detect drugs, currency, and explosives.

A 63-page set of specifications (PDF), heavily redacted, obtained by the Electronic Privacy Information Center through the Freedom … Read more