Tuesday, August 26, 2003

By Monica L. Haynes, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Dictionaries that talk, phones that take photos and term papers that fit into a key chain -- welcome to the wonderful world of back-to-school technology.

How do you get a 200,000-word dictionary and thesaurus into your high schooler's backpack without breaking her back? The answer's in the palm of your hand.

It's the Speaking Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary by Franklin. The word you seek doesn't just show up on the screen -- the speaking dictionary actually pronounces it. It spells, it defines, it plays games and it'll help your child get into Harvard.

Well, maybe Harvard is pushing it, but it will at least help him with his papers. In addition to looking up definitions and synonyms, your young scholar can create a customized list of spelling words or review an SAT word list.

Franklin guarantees improved grades with the use of a number of its learning tools, or your money back. How much? Try $119.99, though the device is on sale at OfficeMax for $99.99.

For those who don't want to lug around one more hand-held device, postage-stamp-size versions of the dictionary and an encyclopedia can be plugged right into a personal digital assistant. MDM, a Mountain View, Calif., company founded by Palm veterans, has put the Merriam-Webster's 11th Edition Collegiate Dictionary and the Britannica Concise Encyclopedia on plug-and-play MultiMediaCards that work on Palm OS, Pocket PC and Nokia OK devices with expansion media slots. Each sells for $39.95.

Both the dictionary and the encyclopedia have detailed entries, including maps and illustrations. They also allow you to change the type font. Highlight a word in one entry and you can look up the definition of that word as well.

When you get tired of looking up words, phrases and obscure facts, plug in a game. There's the classic Sonic the Hedgehog and the PopCap puzzle pack with five games; game packs are $29.95 each.

Pen and paper may seem like a chisel and stone in this day and age, but not if they're in the right hands. The Logitech io Personal Digital Pen digitally captures handwritten notes and drawings and allows you to upload the information to your computer via the enclosed cradle.

Just write in your normal handwriting style (the digital pen is also a ball-point pen) in the digital notebook provided. You also get digital Post-it Notes that show up as desktop Post-its when transferred to the computer. For $199.95, you get the digital pen, recharging cradle, AC adapter, software, five ink refills, Mead digital notebook and one pack of Post-it Notes.

If you're old enough to know your phone number, you probably want a cell phone. But cell phones aren't just for talking anymore. Not only will they take your picture, they'll also play your favorite tunes, keep your appointments, message your friends and do your nails. OK, not the nails -- yet -- but definitely the tunes.

Nokia's brand spanking new 3300 music phone is an MP3/AAC player and FM stereo radio with full messaging keypad. It also has swappable multimedia memory cards and a battery life of 15 hours. The phone, which sells for about $250, will automatically pause the music should someone have the audacity to interrupt your flow with a phone call.

Growing in popularity on college campuses are phones like the Nokia 3650 or the LG VX6000, both of which let you take photos of your wild weekend and e-mail them to your friends before you crawl back to the dorm. On second thought, maybe it's better if you just send photos to your parents showing you studying intensely in your room.

Sales of camera phones are expected to reach 55 million this year, more than doubling last year's sales of 25 million. Nearly 70 percent of U.S. households own cell phones, according to the Consumer Electronic Association. But camera phones are so new that the CEA doesn't have statistics on them, said Stephen Gates, CEA's senior communications manager.

To make sure your hands are free for your camera phone, downsize your paperwork. Remember that term paper on a key chain? The Kingston Data Traveler USB flash memory lets you leave the desktop or laptop at home but take your Word documents and other files with you. The size of a portable lighter, the portable memory storage device comes in 32-, 64-, 128- and 256-megabyte capacity. Prices range from $24 to $79.

You'll never worry again about the dog eating your homework again.

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