MUSIC TO YOUR EARS (AND THEIRS): Do your shy, retiring scholars put on earphones and listen to music on the school bus? Help them connect with others and make friends with ShareBuds MX earphones ($40-$50) that split the signal from a music player to two connected sets of stereo earphones.
Another, goofier conversation starter: iBlink earphones ($25 at www.jr.com). Lights on each ear bud and the line-mounted switch pulse in time to the music.
OTHER ABLE CLASS MATES: A Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 ($35-$50) lightens the work at a laptop or desktop computer. A tiny transceiver plugs into a PC or Mac USB port, while the small cordless mouse boasts advanced "Bluetrack" technology that functions on virtually any surface, even carpet.
Go old-school nerdy with a Yubz Talk Mobile retro handset ($45 at www.YUBZ.com) that plugs into a mobile phone. It reduces the radiation associated with cell phones by upward of 95 percent, claims the maker. An extra-cost adapter cable is required for some mobiles, including iPhone.
Flaunt your environmental correctness with a Samsung Reclaim from Sprint, the first mobile phone in the U.S. constructed from eco-friendly materials. Also messaging-friendly, it goes on sale Sunday at $50 (after rebates) with a service contract.
Everyone sends a student packing with a spike-protection power strip for plugging in dorm-room gear. But the kid should also have a multi-port Ethernet Switch for the room's high-speed Internet line. Five- and seven-port models from Dynex, Netgear, Linksys and Belkin go for as little as $20.
One such connectable device of merit is the Roku Digital Video Player ($99 from www.roku.com). This small, set-top box offers Netflix subscribers ($9 and up per month) instant Internet access to tens of thousands of movies and TV episodes.
Now go hit those books!
Send e-mail to takiffj@phillynews.com
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