OTHER TECH

SeV Performance long-sleeve networked T-shirt $40 scottevest.com The last thing anybody needs is another T-shirt - but this one really is different. The chest pocket is designed to hold your iPod, MP3 player, cellphone, or other portable device without having the weight stretch the pocket out of shape, pull at the neckline, or generally make you feel like a gadget geek with a device jiggling around in your shirt.

The pocket can hold portables as big as Apple's 60-GB iPod without discomfort. I ran flights of stairs with an iPod nano and then a Motorola Razr phone and hardly knew the gear was there.

A hidden loop lets you thread earbud wires from the pocket to the collar.

The shirt is made from 3M Quick Dry fabric, which wicks moisture away from your body, keeping you cooler and more comfortable - perfect for the gym or just running around town doing errands.

Two hidden pockets are also part of the T-shirt's Personal Area Network, making it easy to run wires through the shirt's lining.

The stylish three-pocket, long-sleeve version comes in red, blue, black, or white. (There's a short-sleeve "T" for $35.) More colors are on the way. - Jamie Sorcher

Hopscotch Bob time manager $100 hopscotchtechnology.com Ever hear parents lament that their kids weren't watching enough TV? I doubt it. Many kids spend far too much time camped in front of the boob tube, with parents unsure what to do. Instead of fighting the "just 10 more minutes" battle day after day, let BOB be your enforcer, managing how much and when they can watch.

Six user accounts with individual PIN codes let you manage viewing time for multiple family members. When time's up, BOB cuts the power and says, "No time left! Go do something fun!" Just make sure you keep your master PIN safe or you might find yourself locked out!

BOB is well-built and feels like it'll be around for the long haul. Large buttons make it easy for small fingers to operate, and the rubberized finish helps with the inevitable cleanup.

It can also teach kids how to manage their schedules. Accounts are given time by the day or for the week. Viewing can be blocked at specified times, say for homework during the week, or to thwart late-night viewing.

BOB can manage any device that requires power - TVs, videogame systems, stereos, computers. A locking cover will keep older kids from defeating BOB and stealing more time. It even includes a "cool down" feature - 90 seconds of beeping where the user is instructed to power down the TV - perfect for protecting the lamps inside LCD and DLP sets.

FlyTime lets you temporarily add - or subtract - time from a user's account. Perfect for when the game goes into overtime - or if someone forgot to clean his or her room. - John Sciacca