To set up the eMarker, we inserted the included CR2025 battery into the unit, connected its USB cradle to our PC, and visited the eMarker.com Web site to download and install the driver software. Then we inserted the eMarker into its cradle and followed the onscreen instructions to register the unit for the free eMarker service (a process that included checking local coverage and listing our favorite radio stations). The entire setup process took only a couple of minutes.

This sounds rather complicated, until you remind yourself that the eMarker is little more than a digital clock. When you press the eMarker's button--the only control on the unit--you aren't actually saving information from the radio, just recording a timestamp. To determine the song information, you'll need to insert the eMarker into its cradle and connect to the eMarker Web site (a process very much analogous to PDA synchronization). The eMarker site then displays playlist information from the available radio stations in your area. (Playlist information is provided by Broadcast Data Systems, which covers about 1,100 radio stations across the country. To check whether stations in your area are covered, visit www.emarker.com/coverage/index.jhtml.)

In our tests of the eMarker, we listened to a variety of pop, rock, and country stations (classical, jazz, college radio, and AM stations are not yet included) and pressed the bookmark button upon hearing songs of interest. (Unfortunately, you can only bookmark up to 10 songs at a time.) Later, we connected to our PC and the eMarker Web site, and our PC displayed various choices on screen that intelligently corresponded to songs we might have bookmarked. Thanks to eMarker's well-designed Web site, with a few mouse clicks we were able to listen to audio clips, view information about the songs' artists, and even visit online retailers where we could purchase the CD. Note that the eMarker works only with PCs with USB connectivity (Mac support is promised), meaning that you must be using Windows 98.

If you enjoy pop music and would like some help in recognizing the songs and artists that rock your world, the small, easy-to-use Sony eMarker is an inexpensive and fun gadget to connect you to your music.

Pros:

• One-button operation
• Very easy to set up and use
• Free Web-based service

• Not available in all areas
• Does not include jazz and classical station

Product Description
Do you remember the last time you heard a great song on the radio, but you couldn't figure out what the name of the song was? With the Sony eMarker, you can bookmark songs with a simple press of a button (the eMarker remembers the time the song was playing). After plugging your eMarker into your PC, visit the eMarker Web site to find out what song you were listening to. You can also listen to a preview of the song, find out more about the artist, or even buy the album directly from an online...