Professor, just speak into the screen

School’s out for summer, but you should still be able to find a use for the Belkin TuneTalk Stereo. This small microphone system lets you record lectures, or the occasional live indie band, using your video iPod.

School’s out for summer, but you should still be able to find a use for the Belkin TuneTalk Stereo. This small microphone system lets you record lectures, or the occasional live indie band, using your video iPod.The TuneTalk, which will be available later this month, connects directly to the bottom of any 30- or 60 GB video iPod. Storage space is limited only by the amount of free disk space on the iPod. There is no software to instal—just plug in the device and the iPod automatically goes into recording mode. An LED on the front lights up when recording. Later you can play back the audio, which Belkin says is CD quality, through the iPod’s ear buds. The TuneTalk is one of the first iPod peripherals to record in full 16-bit stereo, using its two discrete microphones or a separate mike plugged into its auxiliary jack. Battery usage is negligible when the device is plugged in, and a port at the bottom makes it easy to charge the iPod via a USB or power cable while recording.

Endless Sudoku on a portable player

Sudoku, the number game from Japan that has invaded newspaper pages, websites and computer screens, has more recently migrated to low-cost LCD devices that offer an unlimited supply of puzzles. Sudoku Mega Screen from TechnoSource (sudokumegascreen.com) has a 2.5-by-3-inch touch screen, and you use a stylus to drop numbers into the Sudoku grid. (For those not in the know, the goal of the game is to use each numeral, from 1 to 9, just once in each row, column and 3-by-3 square.) In the ‘‘easy’’ mode, the wrong answers flash, which is helpful feedback for novice players or children. Some of the boxes are prefilled, but there is a good degree of mental juggling required, which may explain the game’s addictive quality. Perhaps there should be a warning label. Other features include four challenge levels, a timer and back-lighting. A game will stay in memory until solved, and the device goes to sleep if left unattended, preserving the two AA batteries. The Mega Screen could be a lifesaver for someone stuck in an airport—or sharing a long car trip with a smart but bored child.

No wires for CD-quality music from laptop

Laptops, while great for portable productivity, aren’t exactly known for their big, booming audio systems. You can pack big sound for less than a pound, however, with the Sonic Bluetooth portable speakers, which let you stream music from your computer without audio cables. The Sonic speakers use Bluetooth A2DP technology, which can stream CD-quality stereo music over a short-range wireless connection. They come with a built-in microphone, so they can also be used to answer calls coming in over the Internet or through compatible Bluetooth mobile phones and hand-held organizers. An audio cable is included for connecting an iPod or other music player. The speakers are 7.6 inches wide and 3 inches high, and are available at several online shops; links to stores can be found at myblueant.com. The rechargeable battery in the unit can stream audio for up to 10 hours between charges. For those who like to listen to music while working, the speakers politely pause the song when a phone call comes in and resume it when the conversation ends.