Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips

Tip: How to Bookmark Your iPod Voice Recordings

You've used your Apple iPod to make voice recordings. Now you want to bookmark and name various sections of your recordings for easy access. For instance, let's say you recorded an hour-long meeting. The first 10 minutes of the meeting were spent discussing the price of Kentucky Wonder beans (I'm glad you attended this meeting and not me). You want to label and bookmark the bean section so you can go to it easily. Trouble is, Apple iTunes doesn't provide that capability.

Here's a workaround: Download and install Audacity, a free audio editing program. Then open your iPod-recorded file (or any other WAV or MP3 recording) in Audacity. The program's Label Track feature lets you annotate segments of an audio file, add markers, notes, and so on.

Tip: How to Buy Used Gear

Buying used electronics can save you money--or throw you into Dante's inferno, if you're not careful. When buying used notebooks and PDAs, look for something that's less than a year old, advises PC World "Gadget Freak" columnist Dan Tynan. Our man Dan says make sure you know the store you're buying from, read the warranty's fine print, and beware online stores with ridiculously low prices.

Wireless News: Sony Ericsson's Blogging Phone

For those who aren't satisfied with simply talking on a cell phone, Sony Ericsson has announced new phones that let users take pictures, then upload them to a Google blog. The new K800 and K790 phones feature cameras with autofocus, red-eye reduction, digital zoom, and a flash. The phones will be available worldwide in the second quarter and cost about $415.

Suggestion Box

Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket? Tell me about it. However, I regret that I'm unable to respond to tech-support questions, due to the volume of e-mail I receive.

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