HighGear TrailAudio
Price: $225
HighGear touts its new 4-ounce digital audio player as rugged enough for outdoor pursuits. About the same size and shape as a pocketknife, the splash-proof TrailAudio comes with a detachable clip that protects its Universal Serial Bus port and can be attached to a backpack. Equipped with an FM radio and a blue backlit display, the device can broadcast and record FM radio, store data, and play downloaded tunes in MP3, Windows Media Audio and Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation formats. A version with 256 megabytes of flash memory costs $180, while a 512MB model is $225. The unit includes a one-month free trial membership to Napster’s music listening service, plus five free music downloads. It runs for about 12 hours on one AAA battery and ships with a sturdy pair of headphones.