Look ma, no cables. (New products: looking for higher-education and technology products and services? Start here).

Virtual Ink's new Mimio Xi is a state-of-the-art digital whiteboard solution, with enhanced flash memory, power options and added modules. Company spokespeople say Mimio is the only product of its type that doesn't require cables or resident PC. Mimio Xi's recording bar stores images in flash memory, to be transferred later to a PC. Key to the product are expansion and upgrade capabilities to suit any user requirements.

The unit comes with the first available expansion module, called linkUSB, to provide fast downloads of whiteboard notes.

Mimio Xi captures whiteboard notes and drawings that can be replayed, integrated into other applications, or exported into a variety of other file formats. Software plug-ins are available to enable simultaneous interactive presentations with LED projectors, conversion of handwritten notes to editable text, porting of stored Mimio data to Microsoft NetMeeting's virtual whiteboard (for local and remote participants), and streaming of whiteboard notes with synchronized voice audio over the Internet. The Mimio Xi even offers three power sources: batteries (4AA), an AC adapter, or power from a USB connection to the PC.

Mimio Xi will be shipping at the end of this month for $799 (SRP), For more information, visit www, mimio.com.

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