I think the next big thing or feature to be found in upcoming generations of MP3 players is recording.

As host of the Computer America radio show, I decided to send my co-host out to the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and record interviews to be used later on in the week. But this time, we decided to give it a try using the MP3 recorder/players instead of the traditional tape recorders that continue to be used by so many broadcasters. What we discovered is that while the quality of the audio recordings were on par or even better than those made on traditional tape recorders, the controls required for making a quality recording using one or more external microphones were sorely lacking. What we needed was some kind of tiny, battery-powered portable microphone mixer and I found one.

Palm-sized mixer

The MixPre from Sound Devices is a fit-in-the-palm-of-your-hand, 2-pound device that lets you connect one or two balanced XLR microphones to the inputs of a variety of recording devices. Using two AA batteries, the MixPre includes just about every feature and ability you’d find in a much larger professional audio mixing board. These include features like seven-segment sunlight-readable LED meters that instantly indicate the volume levels, automatic limiters that prevent clipping and distortion, the ability to pan the audio image from left, center or right outputs, audio filters and lots more.

The entire package comes wrapped in a solidly constructed casing that can take much of the abuse that’s expected from recording in the field. You should know that the MixPre will most likely cost a lot more than your MP3 device as it sells for $855. At that price, the MixPre is aimed squarely at the recording professional. But if you are looking for a top-of-the-line portable microphone mixer to enhance whatever recording device you choose to use, then the MixPre is the way to go. www.sounddevices.com

Google Suggest

Google is the world’s most widely used search engine and yet it still continues to improve with new features and abilities. The latest offering is still in beta but you should definitely check it out. Google Suggest looks and works pretty much like the regular flavor of Google but with a big difference. As with Google, you are presented with the home page simple search box into which you type the words you want to use as search identifiers. But with Google Suggest, as you type each letter you are instantly presented with a listing of search terms that match what Google has to offer. Continue to type more letters and the instant list continues to change.

As you type, Google offers the suggestions along with the number of corresponding matching results that appear along side of each suggestion in the list. When you see what you want, you use the arrow keys to scroll down to the selection or use the mouse.

While Google Suggest remains in the test phase, don’t let that prevent you from bookmarking it. I have it bookmarked and it’s already becoming my search page of choice. Check it out: labs.google.com/suggest

Craig Crossman is the host of the radio show “Computer America.”

(http://www.computeramerica.com/) heard nationwide. Send questions to him at ccrossmancomputeramerica.com or 340 S. Ocean Blvd., Suite 4B, Palm Beach, Fla. 33480. Please include your phone number.)