You gotta love the ingenuity of iPod makers-music/video only iPods are a thing of the past. With the help of companies like Belkin life only gets easier. Or does it?

This particular product is designed to "plug and play" on your iPod.

In theory, studying could not be easier than recording an important lecture and listening to it over and over. Try recording your speeches, a church pulpit message, or a private note to yourself. Writers and journalists have an ideal way to record interviews. New parents can share first words of a baby with those far away family and friends through email. Patients can record their trip to the doctor. Mystery shoppers can record information effortlessly without being noticed. Heck, you closet singers can record your singing and learn the truth to why we want you to stay in the closet.

This Voice Recorder doesn't stop there, though, it doubles as a travel alarm clock: "WAKE UP!" Furthermore, as I barely touched on, you are able to connect to your computer or laptop to burn your files or to transfer them to email.

Packaging Reveals:

Front
(says "for iPod" quite a few times on packaging)
~Records through high-quality omnidirectional microphone
~Features 16mm speaker for quick playback
~Works with iPod software version 2.1 or later
~Lifetime warranty (but not for misuse)
~F8E462

Back
~Recording indicator LED indicates recording status of Voice Recorder
~High quality omnidirectional microphone-easily records personal memos, notes, and interviews on the go
~Built in speaker delivers high quality sound instantly and easily
~No software to install-support is already built into the iPod; features plug-and-play technology
~Comes in ultracompact design, packs and travels easily, includes protective storage cap
~iPod remote/headphone connector attaches securely to your iPod

NOTE: iPod software version 2.1 or later REQUIRED; iPod creates audio files in mono (true) WAV FORMAT

Includes a plastic cover to keep the Voice Recorder clean and safe, and instructions.

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But...I'll never know. Our family of nine has two Apple computers, two Apple laptops, two video iPods, four Nano iPods, two iPhones, and one Shuffle. This product works in not one of them!

Of course, I'm one of those people who won't take "no" for an answer. Not only did I try [to connect it to] everything I could get my hands on that's made by Apple, but I scrounged the 'Net for more information on how others did it.

I'm not alone. Sigh.

According to consumers, the Voice Recorder is a great addition to your iPod OR it doesn't work because it doesn't fit. Never both. You see, the product does state it attaches "securely." It can't, however, because there is a prong-like thing, about three millimeters high directly next to the connector. There's no place for that prong to slip into, nor does it bend or move. Because there is copper on the prong, I'm guessing you need it.

Beginning with the consumers singing praises, the Voice Recorder is an amazing tool with few complaints.

The chief complaint? It works too well, picking up all sounds. However, if you are looking for something with hi-fidelity, this simply isn't the recorder for you. In other words, this is not for recording a concert. It's for recording meaningful information you may need to hear again for any reason. If you are listening to a sermon, for instance, you'll pick up the whispers, the movement of pages, babies crying, the coughs... but since you can focus on the content you need, who cares? I mean, heck, if you are there in person, you'd hear all that and be able to push it down in favor of The Word.

The secondary complaint from nearly half of the consumers who were able to plug and play, is that it freezes often. The majority suggest it's due to recording nothing for a short length of time. One journalist states he's encountered the problem, but it's easily corrected by rebooting. Is it in sleep mode, you think? You know, like your computer?

It's a small price to pay, really. If I could plug and play, I surely would.

The flip side is the side I'm on, there's no way around it not fitting to our iPods. I've read it doesn't work on the "newer iPods," but frankly, I am unsure what that means. Aren't they all pretty new? Also, not on the mini-iPods. I do not know what else to tell you. If you can try it before you buy it, you'd be a fool not to, but I cannot think of any one place that will allow you to do that. Mass merchandisers who have an offline business should have one opened to be used with the help of an employee. A company paying for one they open for testing is far less expensive than having return after return and customers will be grateful. Online merchandisers will be handling grumpy consumers to be sure.

"Alas, poor Yorick..."

It has me wondering: why doesn't it say anywhere on the package that it does NOT fit all iPods? It merely says which version or higher you must own in order for the software to work. It is misleading.

Recommended:
No