By David Wallace

Just listening is a good start to using portable media devices, but pocket recorders have been popular for memos and reminders for decades. Instead of paper and pen, these tiny wonders let you speak diary entries, observations or to-do items. They got small thanks to magnetic tape mini-cassettes in the late 1970s, but are now approaching CD-quality stereo and delivering some surprising new 21st century tricks.

"Pocket memos" can record in stereo and show the recording levels, produce editable online files using direct USB connections to computers, even play back downloaded MP3 files like those ‘more famous' media players. Philips, Olympus, Sony and other brands offer "instant on" features that record when noise activates the device—and improvements in voice-transcription such as Naturally Speaking quickly turn spoken-word notes into printed documents.

Specialized devices for news reporting or medical and legal users are focusing new attention on this segment. For instance, the Philips DPM-9600 provides real-time encryption and password-protection to keep any other users from retrieving files. Philips claims its unit is the first to comply with U.S. laws on protecting medical records. Less top-secret details can be recorded on an MP3 player, with TuneTalk accessories from Belkin that turn a "playback-only" device into a recorder.

When you've got something to say, record it while it's fresh, then share it with the world. Instead of typing out a lengthy e-mail, record your message. Save it and attach it to a much shorter e-mail when you get online at thousands of iPass Wi-Fi hotspots. It will sound more personal and could be the start of your own podcast.