OTHER TECH

Walkman Bean MP3 player Yes, the screen is a little small - only a single-line monochrome readout - but at least Sony's NW-E305 Bean ($120) has a screen, which one-ups the iPod shuffle. And although it's not as slim as its Apple rival, it has curves that are inviting to hold, even while running. But white earbuds? Spare me. Still, they sound just fine, despite being slightly less comfortable than the iPod's. And the option to switch to FM at any time is appreciated. The best part just may be the easy-to-use SonicStage software, although the downloads from Sony's Connect.com music store could be a little more convenient to transfer. In all, the 2.75-inch-long, 512-MB-capacity Bean is a worthy stocking stuffer. Available in blue or white. (The NW-E307, $150, which comes in pink or black, boasts 1 GB of storage.) - Peter Pachal sonystyle.com

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