Macally iVoice II - $49.00
This cute little white space egg lets you bring audio into your Mac by way of a built-in microphone or 1/8" stereo line in jack that connects to your USB port. Though the iVoice II is great for digitizing audio from any external audio source (CD player, tape player, record player), it's real charm comes out during voice conferencing. Now that I have DSL at home, I can fire up iChat and talk to my Mac-wielding friend in California for free, and the iVoice II makes it easy and fun -- I feel kind of like a radio announcer when I speak into the stand-up microphone.

My PowerBook recognized iVoice II as soon as I plugged in the integrated USB cable. Gotta love true Plug-And-Play capabilities. The built-in mic works very well for voice applications (including speech recognition apps), and a line out jack lets you route the audio through headphones or stereo speakers. You can also, of course, bypass the iVoice II and send audio out through your Mac's built-in analog speakers or headphone jack. The iVoice also accepts standard PC headsets (the kind with the built-in boom mics) and features a mute switch and mode switch and indicator light that lets you toggle between microphone and line in input. Built-in feet make sure your iVoice II stands upright like a good microphonEgg should.

All in all this is a great all-in-one solution for voice recognition and analog audio in/out, and Macally has done a great job of wrapping the functionality in an attractive, easy-to-use package. iVoice II sells for $49.00 direct from Macally.

Boostaroo - $29.95
Boostaroo has updated their eponymous portable audio amplifier by adding an LED power indicator light and enclosing the unit in a transluscent ice white casing. Boostaroo's functionality remains the same -- it boosts any 1/8" audio signal by as much as 40% while also splitting the signal in three -- and the new look is both attractive and practical. My only complaint with the original model was that I'd often forget to turn it off and inadvertantly drain the two AA batteries that gave it power. The new LED indicator helps remind folks like me that, in fact, my Boostaroo is still on even when the music is over.

Boostaroo works great with my PowerBook and iPod, providing three clean, clear stereo outputs with a noticable volume gain. The unit is small enough to carry with you, and it's 1/8" output jacks are compatible with most headphones and personal speaker units. Boostaroo recommends using the device to combat noisy environments such as airplane cabins. Me, I like using it while practicing the drums: I can plug my headphones into Boostaroo, plug that into my PowerBook, and play along to my entire iTunes collection.

Be forewarned: Exposure to high decible levels can damage your hearing over time. Used wisely, though, Boostaroo is a great gadget for audio lovers who want to share the music and/or need a little extra bang in their beats. Boostaroo is available direct from boostaroo.com and sells for $29.95. A dollar more gets you the 3ft. cord model if you need the extra length.