Your Technology

By Anita Hamilton

TEMPTING TUNES RealNetworks is making it harder than ever to resist the allure of digital music. Last week it announced a $30 version of its popular RealJukebox music player and recorder (available at real.com) which lets people make exact digital replicas of songs from their CDs in the MP3 format, with no degradation of sound quality--an MP3 first. With a 10-band graphic equalizer, users can fine-tune playback; new "skins" (colorful covers) can also be superimposed on the user interface so it looks as spiffy as the music sounds.

WE INTERRUPT THIS CALL...Ever miss a call because you were online and didn't have a separate telephone line? With Actiontec's new 56K Call Waiting Modem ($130), you'll never miss a call again. The phone actually rings while you're surfing away. If you choose to answer, you have seven seconds to take a message and get back to your e-mail. But what if the call is from a cute guy asking you out for a date? Then keep talking, and let the modem silently disconnect your online session. Phew!

SO MANY BARGAINS, SO LITTLE TIME If you crave good deals but can't bother clipping ads, Shoppinglist.com may help. The site scans ads placed in newspapers by department, sports and drug stores in 26 metro areas from Boston to San Diego; then it picks out specials and neatly arranges them by category so you can find a deal in seconds. We thought early listings on this new site were a bit sparse, but it's still a handy shopping guide.

--By Anita Hamilton