I've been getting a lot of requests from readers for more do-it-yourself gear and gadgets. Electronics are fine, they say, but some of us are fixing up the house (good idea in this real estate downturn) and want the lowdown on the latest tools and gear that can make projects easier. I'm with you, I'm doing some work on my place right now as well.

One of the trends I'm seeing is that everything now has lasers on it. Measuring tools, on cutting tools for greater accuracy, and where it started, leveling tools.

Craftsman has a pair of laser levels that you should make an essential part of your basic tool kit. The Digital LaserTracs look like standard 24- or 10-inch medium-duty levels with vertical and horizontal bubble vials, but one end holds a laser, giving you the ability to hang pictures, shelves, or molding, down the entire length of your house if you want. At precise angles.

The LaserTrac's backlit LCD display shows you the exact angle you're at, let's you save up to nine angles, and beeps to let you know when you've hit 0, 45 or 90 degrees. There's also a tripod thread and a magnetic base to free up your hands to handle the important stuff. Like pointing out to your buddies where to put the boxes of tiles they're lugging up from the truck.

$69.99 - 24-inch LaserTrac
$49.99 - 10-inch LaserTrac
$99.99 - Combo pack
www.craftsman.com

Flash drives, jump drives, USB drives... I've heard them called a lot of things, but these small devices with big storage capabilities are becoming the most indispensable electronic accessory you can own.

Since the cost has come down (you can get a GIGs worth of storage for under $20) they've made burning CDs to transfer large amounts of data as outdated as floppy discs.

RiDATA's YEGO USB flash drive has all the typical standard features you'll want - its own on-board software for true Plug & Play, USB 2.0 compliance, 1GB, 2GB and 4GB storage capacities, LED indicator lights, powers itself from your USB port, etc. - and it goes a step further.

For those of you with few ports to spare, the YEGO has two additional USB ports in the top part of its "Y" design. When it occupies a precious port, it gives you one back, plus an extra to use. And if 4GB of storage isn't enough for you, you can daisy-chain several YEGOs for a mini "network" of external drives.

Now you'll have to figure out something to do with all those blank CDs you've got lying around.

From $17 to about $50
www.ritekusa.com for where to buy

Voicemail is annoying. It's intrusive. And it's inconvenient. It's also a necessity.

I rarely answer my cell phone during the day, unless I'm expecting a call (or it's that feisty redhead from last night). Everything else goes right to voicemail. And I'll get whatever info I need, and return my calls, when I have the time.

The irony is that retrieving my voicemail is itself a pain in the ass. Usually I listen to them in the car (I know, not the best time to be on the cell phone. But I do use an earpiece.), and if I have to take notes, or write down a number or email address, I'm screwed. And I end up saving the message to replay later when I have a pen, (and am not operating a 2,000 lb. vehicle during rush hour). And we all that have that one friend who seems to think if he doesn't leave every last friggin detail on the recording, you won't get back to him. One minute of relevant info surrounded by 20 minutes of rambling. skipping to the important part would save a ton of time and aggravation.

To make getting your messages less of a hassle, there are some new services that let you opt to get your voicemail sent as text to your phone or email. SimulScribe is one of them.

Its voice recognition "technology" converts your message to text that's sent to any email enabled device ...More

We're a gadget obsessed nation. And we wouldn't dream of hiking, kayaking, camping, or even lying on the beach this summer, without our cell phone, PDA, iPod, PSP, GPS, digital camera, or any other hand-held communication/entertainment device/electronic leash.

The problem is running out of power when you're miles deep in the woods. Especially if you need to use your cell phone for an emergency. (Or to order a pizza.) And since there are no power outlets on trees (I've looked), you're S.O.L. - unless you can harness some juice from the sun.

Solio is a compact, universal "hybrid" charger that fits in a pocket or pack, fans out to grab energy from the sun, and recharges virtually all your electronics. The "hybrid" part comes in for you ex-scouts who like to "always be prepared" - you can also pre-charge the Solio in a wall outlet, and the power can be stored for up to a year. ...More

I'm one of those guys that knows just enough about cars to get by. I can fill the fluids, tell when the engine is running rough, when the tires and brakes need replacing. And that's about it. The Check Engine light comes on and it's off to the professional. Which is where things get sticky.

As guys, it's assumed it's in our genes to know all about cars and how to fix them. But many of us don't know enough to sound intelligent, let alone diagnose and repair a major problem. And without in-depth knowledge of ever-increasing technology and engineering, you (and your wallet) are at the mercy of your mechanic.

SAM (for Smart Auto Management) is a new technology that's out to change that. And give you the ammo you need to keep your mechanic honest. ...More

Why? Because it's smart. It's convenient. It's fair. And it's designed to eliminate parking tickets. So basically it runs contradictory to everything city governments were built on.

I understand that parking meters are necessary. What I don't understand is why cities insist on using antiquated systems. Or why the whole thing has to be so damn adversarial. (If you've ever stood, quarters in hand, pleading with a smirking meter maid writing a $30 ticket, your meter expired for just 2 minutes, while she shakes her head and tells you it's too late, gimme an Amen.)

I do my fair share of metered parking when I go out downtown. Much of the time I'm going to dinner with a date. Who wants to interrupt an interesting conversation - that's getting more and more interesting as the wine flows - to leave and run three blocks to throw another bunch of change into a "2 Hours Maximum" parking meter? (While that smarmy waiter/actor/model/personal trainer hits on your girl.)

I just got some info on Photo Violation Technologies, a company out of Vancouver, BC that has developed a new, technologically advanced meter called the PhotoViolationMeter, that not only makes paying for parking easier, it makes getting a ticket as outdated as David Hasselhoff's hair. ...More