For most of us, high-tech and consumer electronics are like the weather: We complain a lot but don't do anything about it. So periodically you come across products that solve those complaints and make you wish you had done more than just gripe.

Top of my list: SimulScribe. It is a $10-per-month voicemail service that you can use to replace your cellphone, office, or home voice mailboxes - or any combination of them. That alone is valuable, giving users a needed central collection point for messages. But the key innovation in SimulScribe is that it uses speech recognition technology to transcribe your voicemail and then sends it along to you as an email that contains both the transcript and an audio file. Transcriptions aren't perfect - bad connections and certain voices fool it - but they are usually good enough to give you the gist of the message and let you assess its urgency. When in doubt, you play the audio.

This is a huge time-saver: no wasted calls to check on empty mailboxes; you get the messages as they come in. It is a plus for smartphone users, as you can discretely check your voicemail on-screen without making a call. I personally find it helpful since I pay little attention to my cell while I am using my office phone and vice versa. My guess is that sooner or later, all voice mailboxes will work this way.

Case in point

Apple iPod users have a plethora of cases available for their players along with a multitude of other accessories that employ iPod docking connections. Typically, though, you have to remove your iPod from the case to put them in the dock. Malden-based CableJive has a solution for you: its iPod Dock Extender Cable. Basically, it's an extension cord for the iPod. Plug one end into a device dock, the other into your player through your case's dock connector opening, and you are in business. The company also makes a cable to allow Bose SoundDock users to hook up devices that don't use iPod dock connectors.

The German company SendStation, which specializes in iPod docking solutions, has a lower-priced option that also supports video and synching functions. Its Dock Extender is a ¾" high plug to let your case clear the dock. It also has a clever support accessory to keep your iPod standing upright. Alas, the adapter does not fit all cases or all devices with docks, so you will need to check to see if it will meet your needs.

Running on empty

While we are on the subject of iPods, battery life on long trips remains their Achilles' heel. To me the most practical solution is to use an external battery pack that employs conventional batteries. That way when there is no electrical outlet at hand, you just put in fresh batteries. Griffin Technologies' TuneJuice 2 uses four AAAs to solve your problem. The universal power accessory company iGo went a step further: Its powerXtender (2 AA cells) works with iGo's exchangeable power tips to let you use it with almost any device, including cell phones and PDAs as well as iPods.

Back-savers

What part of your body has more natural padding: your back or your tush? BBP Bags pondered the subject and produced a line of computer backpacks with pads at the bottom that rest on your bottom. I originally tested their products because of the clever way they convert from a backpack to a messenger bag or briefcase. But when I discovered how comfortable the on-the-tush configuration was, I realized that this was a major advance in computer bag ergonomics.

Eek, no mouse

Microsoft doesn't initially spring to mind as somebody with products in this category, but its Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000 is a long-overdue device. Instead of having to schlep both a mouse and a presenter remote with you, this does both. Dual function is limited to Windows computers, though. On a Mac, only the mouse controls work.

Backup plan

Suppose that you could back up your computer to an external hard drive and use that backup as a duplicate system you could run in an emergency. That's the basis for the Mac SuperDuper software, a must-have for Apple users. I haven't been able to find a Windows counterpart - the problem there is Windows' ancient system of assigning letters to drives, which could result in scrambled drive references on the backup system. But anyone who could figure out a solution would be doing PC users a huge favor.

Al Gordon is a Massachusetts-based media and political consultant who also writes about technology. You can read more of his articles at www.algordon.com/techblog.html and e-mail him at eagle@algordon.com.