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In their unending quest to shrink technology, high-tech firms sometimes give up low cost for size. But while the smallest voice recorder, cellular phone, or personal digital assistant isn't always the best, sometimes it is. Here, then, are our picks for top gadgets that also happen to be the smallest.
TELL ME WHAT TO DO
Some of the hottest new products around are handheld devices, known as voice-recorders, that remember what you tell them.
"Our market research shows that users want something they can talk into," says Michael French, analyst at Link Resources. And, says French, the market is responding. We're already seeing voice-controlled telephones and voice-controlled television remotes, he says, adding that as memory prices drop, more devices will debut.
Two of the best products currently available are Voice It ($50-$100; Voice It Technologies, 800-999-3522, ext. 40) and The Voice Organizer (Voice Powered Technology, 800-743-2000). A credit-card sized device, Voice It comes in four models, with from 20 seconds to two minutes of recording time. For longer dictation, The Voice Organizer offers four minutes of recording...