Motorized Tripod Head from PixOrb Peace River Studios has introduced the PixOrb motorized spherical VR head, which enables you to create panoramic and spherical photos. This device is a fully automated tripod head that utilizes computer-controlled motors to operate a camera while it rotates in any direction. The result is a spherical photo, which enables the viewer to look up at the ceiling of a cathedral or down at a canyon floor. Before the introduction of PixOrb, spherical images could be created by using special manual tripod heads that precisely position the camera for each of the dozens of photos required. PixOrb is available bundled with software that includes RealViz Stitcher for panorama and spherical VR image production; and ImageModeler for creating 3D scenes with photos. Peace River Studios, 9 Montague St., Cambridge, MA 02139; 888/884-3686. www.peaceriverstudios.com. USB Memory Reader/Writer from Asanté The new FriendlyNET Gini UMR106 from Asanté Technologies is a USB memory reader/writer that supports six common types of digital media: Sony Memory Stick, CompactFlash, IBM Microdrive, SmartMedia, MMC, and SD. The Gini’s four slots allow you to copy between different memory cards. The drivers built into Apple Macintosh OS X and Microsoft Windows XP/Me treat each memory card as a removable drive. Simply drag files to copy them to a local hard drive—no special applications are required. Asanté Technologies, Inc., 821 Fox Ln., San Jose, CA 95131; 408/435-8388. www.asante.com. New Field Guides from FotoSharp For those who want photo advice at their fingertips, FotoSharp has recently added the new Basic Photography series, which comprises five 3.5x5.5-inch laminated cards: Three Steps to Better Photos, The Right Light, Basic Exposure, People/Portrait Photography, and Landscape Photography. All provide concise information designed to help you take better pictures. FotoSharp, 17837 1st Ave. S., #1-E, Seattle, WA 98148; 800/361-8341. www.fotosharp.com. L.E.D. Flashlight from CMG Equipment The new Reactor 3X flashlight from CMG Equipment is a great gadget-bag accessory— ideal for checking camera controls when shooting in low-light conditions. It produces three times more light than the average cluster of four L.E.D.s found in most flashlights. This flashlight features Custom Optics, a technology that eliminates the bluish tint of most L.E.D.s, and produces the white light of an incandescent light source. The Reactor 3X is encased in a water-resistant shell made of anodized aircraft aluminum and polycarbonate, and utilizes three AA batteries. CMG Equipment, 811 W. Evergreen, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60622; 888/699-0622. www.cmgequipment.com.