New York City: Two recent shows both featured the latest and greatest in consumer electronics, and we were there. The buzz is BORING is out, COOL is in--and terabyte storage is here to stay.

Great style and sleek design was apparent everywhere. Pocket Mouse (IceRage, www.icerage.net, $70), in six colors (pink, green, aqua and others), is small and perfect for your laptop; it features touch sensor controls, and the USB model self stores its cable and plug. Want Bluetooth? It’s got that too.

Gateway One (Gateway, Inc., www.gateway.com, from $1,299) was unveiled at a press preview. It’s a new, elegant, integrated computer and 19 inch smooth screen display housed in a slim 17 x 17 x 4 inch aluminum clad case. The included wireless keyboard, wireless mouse and remote control each come in a plexiglass frame, and the unit sports USB and firewire ports, a memory card reader and a CD/DVD-RW optical drive along the computer’s edge. Desktop wire clutter is reduced by having only a single wire connecting the unit to its power brick, which can be stowed out of the way. The brick contains additional USB, ethernet and digital audio ports. The front panel is the speaker, and an optional TV tuner is available for this black beauty.

HP TouchSmart IQ770 (HP, www.hp.com, $1,799) is another integrated 19-inch monitor and computer. Not nearly as elegant as above but does sport a touch screen on which you can drag and drop files and the like. Includes wireless keyboard, mouse and remote. Oh, it does TV too.

Ceiva Digital Photo Frame (Ceiva Logic, www.ceiva.com, 7-inch, $149.99, 8-inch $199.99, refrigerator model, $249.99), besides being a bright, stylish photo frame with a choice of bevels, offers a solution to how family and friends can share photos with you. Using Ceiva’s optional PicturePlan service, friends and family can upload their photos to the service; each night your photo frame calls the service to check for and download photos for you to view. An optional wireless adapter connects the frame to your wireless network. A special model photo frame connects to a dedicated socket on the new Whirlpool centralpark refrigerator, displaying photos on the front of your stainless steel refrigerator--no magnets needed.

MagicJack (magicJack, www.magicjack.com, $39.99 setup fee includes first year subscription, $19.99/year thereafter) allows unlimited US long distance calling using the Internet and magicJack’s own network. Connect the small device to the USB port of an Internet connected computer and plug any analog phone into the magicJack’s phone jack. The device sets itself up automatically, assigns you a phone number, and then lets you make unlimited calls to land lines or cell phones in the US. magicJack to magicJack numbers are free globally. Take your magicJack with you worldwide, and calls to US land lines or cell phones are free.

FLY Fusion Pentop Computer (LeapFrog Enterprises, www.leapfrog.com, $79.99) is a smart pen that you use to write in a smart notebook. Whatever you write (text, diagrams, math formulas, and the like) is stored in the Pen’s memory and can be downloaded via USB port into your computer. Handwriting (actually printing) recognition translates text into a Word document. Optional modules help with math, French and Spanish homework and also allow you to play games or create and record your own original songs. You can even play your favorite MP3 music.

Microsoft Student (Microsoft, www.microsoft.com/student, $49.95) includes Microsoft Encarta 2008, Learning Essentials, Microsoft Math and a foreign language translate/conjugate dictionary. This suite of programs is an invaluable aide to students as a reference and offers help in completing homework assignments using the included tips and templates. Also included are links to more than 2,500 trusted Web sites for additional reference material and help. For more advanced math functions, Microsoft Math 3.0 is available as a stand-alone program downloadable from www.microsoft.com/math, $19.95.

Memory Mixer version 2 (Lasting Impressions for Paper, www.lastingimpressions.com, Windows or Mac, version 2, $79.95, lite version, $39.95) is a terrific program for creating scrapbook pages on screen using your digital photos and journaling (text). Add backgrounds, decorations and other embellishments included with the program, and you have wonderful pages that you can print at home, at a photo lab or put in a bound album using the Lasting Impressions Web site. You can also make a virtual album and add music, narration and video clips; burn it to a CD or DVD, e-mail it or upload to a Web site for family and friends to share.

SimulScribe (SimulScribe, www.simulscribe.com) is an amazingly useful service that picks up your voicemail and transcribes it into text that is sent to your mobile phone as a text message or e-mail. Then, rather then having to listen through endless voicemails, you can skim each message quickly and, if needed, listen to the recorded voicemail directly from the e-mail or text message or from your regular carrier’s voicemail service. Using this service you can check your voicemails during meetings, classes, in the theater or at sporting events and the like. Very practical.

Lightning Bug (Interactive Toy Concepts, www.interactivetoy.com, $59.99) is a cute (7 inch, 1 ounce) battery-operated remote control helicopter that is unusually stable and flies easily around the house (even in the dark), with green eyes glowing. (Tony wants one!)

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