HARDWARE
$150
Whisper out loud
There are scads of new cell phones released every quarter, but the Samsung SCH-N150 is the only one that lets you chat it up without being overheard. As the first portable with a whisper mode, you can speak in a hushed voice and still be audible on the other end. The phone samples the input sound level and amplifies it.
One of my friends called while I was watching Zoolander at the theater. He clearly heard my take on the film, but thankfully the people in front of me didn't - or at least no one shushed me.
The phone has a 2-inch-wide bottom (to accommodate the keypad) and a 1.75-inch-wide top, so it's easy to find which way is up once the lights go down in the theater.
Samsung: (800) 726 7864, www.samsungusa.com.
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