Jonathan Takiff: Think high-tech gadgets for back-to-school supplies

IN MY DAY, we shopped for school supplies at the drug store. Today, parents (and students) do serious splurging at electronics emporiums or the high-tech department of a favorite discount megastore. So let's consider some of the things you've probably thought about buying - and some you probably haven't - that will enhance your favorite students' lives and maybe even yours, too.

E-READER RELIEF: Prevent back aches by sending your kids off to school with one of those sleek, light e-book readers that hold hundreds, even thousands of tomes. Public domain books are downloadable for free (sorry, Penguin Classics) from the makers' own e-book stores and Project Gutenberg. And some devices - Sony Readers - also support the ePub standard for free checkouts from public libraries.

Amazon's newly improved, 6-inch screen version of the Kindle boasts lower prices - $139 for a model that downloads via Wi-Fi, $189 for a version that nabs content via free 3G wireless connection, too.

Barnes & Noble's 6-inch Nook screen is $149 (in the Wi-Fi-only version) and allows purchased books to be loaned out (for two weeks) to other Nook users.

The most compact, 5-inch screen Sony Reader Pocket Edition PRS-300BC is now on special sale (and may be a closeout) at Sears.com for $99.99, but requires a PC connection for loading.

WAKE 'EM/SHAKE 'EM: How's your sleepyhead going to wake up in time for those 8 a.m. classes? Treat him/her to one of the cool new high-tech alarm clocks that does more than ring a bell or rattle a rock radio station.

The iHome iA5 enhanced alarm clock ($80-$90) docks an iPod or iPhone for charging and for waking or nodding off to stored music. The compact device also works with a free iHome app that delivers time and weather updates to the iPhone screen and can deliver a custom message to Facebook and Twitter buds about your sleep schedule.

"Yo! I'm up! Meet me in 10 on the track!"

If there's a good Wi-Fi signal in the dorm room, the Internet-serviced Sony Dash ($179 discounted) makes a most charming bed-table companion.

This sleek, 7-inch color touch-screened tablet offers customizable alarms for each day of the week, ideal for the student with an irratic schedule. Wake to varied sound effects or music from Internet radio stations - newly added SHOUTcast channels, Pandora, Slacker and more.

Simultaneously, the Dash displays a five-day weather forecast and up-to-the-minute news, gossip and sports scores streaming from CNBC, Reuters, the New York Times, Engadget, Slate, Onion, ESPN and CBS Sports.com, all to to keep the day's conversations very current. For chilling out, the Dash serves up videos, most notably movies and TV shows from Netflix (requires an account).

SOUND REINFORCEMENT: Sometimes students want to share the tunes, sometimes they want to keep them to themselves. Offering a decent crank with surprisingly strong bass are Altec Lansing FX3022 Expressionist powered speakers for desktop PC and MP3 player use.

Their cone shape with hidden, down-firing bass drivers makes for an intriguing decor statement and a compact alternative to the usual three-piece PC system with separate subwoofer. The bass - maybe too table-rattling for some tastes - can be tamed with equalizer adjustments on a computer or portable music player.

While I winced at the original $129.99 price, these speakers are now being fairly traded at amazon.com for $49.99 in white, and $69.96 in black.

For solo listening, ear-covering, DJ-style headphones with a touch of "bling" are a hot new thing from brands like Monster (with the trendsetting Beats by Dr. Dre line); Skullcandy, with the Jay-Z-"consulted" Roc Nation Aviators; and the Crossfade LP headphones from v-moda.

Along with traffic-stopping looks (available in assorted colors and finishes) the $249 Crossfades boast excellent sound, memory-foam padding in cups and headband for comfort and noise isolation, both long and short connecting cables (the later with mobile phone controls) and a "skull"-shaped carrying case that's a fashion statement unto itself.

Need lulling music or radio blather to fall asleep?

C. Crane's velour-covered Soft Speaker pillow speaker lets you listen without disturbing the roommate. Lay an ear right on this tiny thing, or slide it under your pillow. It has a durable, high-flex, 8-foot cable for connection to any device with a headphone jack. $19.95 at www.ccrane.com or 800-522-8863.

INTERNET FOR ALL: Want your student to win campus popularity contests? Get him or her a mobile phone that can function as a mobile Wi-Fi "hot spot" to share an Internet connection with five or more users. Can't think of a more perfect companion for group study sessions at out-of-the-way locations.

Both AT&T and Verizon Wireless are now offering the Wi-Fi hub-capable Palm Pixi Plus for free on contract. And $199 buys into two of the coolest Android phones with Wi-Fi hubbing - the HTC EVO that works on Sprint's 4G (where available) and 3G networks, and the Motorola Droid X from Verizon.

A personal fave, the latter has the biggest, best touch screen in phone-dom for typing and movie viewing.

For wireless Internet sharing on a budget, look into Virgin Mobile's Wi-Fi Hub Router. This small, battery-powered device operates on the Sprint 3G network and sells for $149 at Best Buy with pay-as-you-go service available from $10 (100 MB) to $60 (5GB).

A CASE OF YOU: No e-reader or mobile phone should venture into the wild without proper padding. Not even the iPhone 4, which boasts rugged "Gorilla" glass only on the front, leaving the back glass panel vulnerable. New from Griffin are low-cost cases ($20 and up) that soften drops and enhance the iPhone 4's good looks, including the semitransparent, prismatic designed Motif and black pattered Reveal Etch.

For users of those pricey (and much loved) Apple iPads, I'm suggesting two slightly oversize shells that can be used as extra insurance and padding without the need to remove the tablet from its official folder case.

Check out the Case Logic PLS-9 Ultra Portable Netbook Sleeve (discounted to $17) and the Targus Neoprene SlipSkin Peel Netbook Slip Case ($10 and up).

EYEWITNESS NEWS: Getting your collegians to send home photos is easy if they're taking snaps on their mobile phone. But if they're shooting serious pictures on a dedicated digital camera, give 'em an Eye-Fi.

This SD-HC compatible memory card with built in Wi-Fi transmitter wirelessly uploads captured images to a favorite photo sharing site - Picasa, Facebook, YouTube and more - for your instant, distant viewing pleasure. The $50 Eye-Fi Connect X2 is newly available at Target.

VIDEO TO GO: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And maybe not keeping in touch with the home team sports and news isn't so swell for his morale, either.

That's where a Slingbox comes in handy. Parental units attach this gizmo to their home cable or satellite TV box and Internet service. The favored son or daughter, way off in schoolville, can load a Slingbox application on a PC or mobile phone, remotely switch channels on your home box and watch . . . whatever channels you're paying for.

To avoid conflicts, consider giving the Slingbox its own cable/sat tuner to play with. A Slingbox Solo goes for about $150; the Slingbox Pro working with multiple standard and high definition source devices sells for $260-$299.

APARTMENT SHARING: Western Digital's My Book AV DVR Expander (about $125) is a godsend for suitemates sharing a DirecTV or Dish Network satellite receiver/DVR or a cable-connected TiVo tuner/recorder. This one-terrabyte external hard drive expands the recording capacity of the video receiver to at least 120 hours of high-def content and way, way more in standard def.

And just announced, Western Digital's WD Livewire system ($139 per pair) lets you neatly share the Internet service (and some audio/video sources) coming into one room with gear located in another room that might be out of Wi-Fi signal range or require a more stable, hardwired Ethernet connection.

How so?

LiveWire turns your place's power line wiring into the signal carrier. One small WD box gets connected to the Internet router and a wall AC outlet - not a power strip!

Then, in the other room where you crave Internet service, just plug the matching WD box directly into a power outlet and use one or more of the special box's four Ethernet jacks to connect to a video game system, Internet-ready TV, PC or the like.

Are we're having some fun now? Class dismissed!

Send e-mail to takiffj@phillynews.com.