The Buzz

Charlotte, the Game

Although one may have thought that every commercial opportunity had been squeezed out of the beloved children’s book Charlotte’s Web, turns out it ain’t so. Sega has announced a video game version of the E.B. White classic. The game, which will be available in Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and PC CD-ROM formats, is due out this fall in conjunction with the upcoming feature film from Paramount Pictures. Gamers can play Wilbur the pig or Templeton the rat in helping Charlotte find her missing spider hatchlings. For more information, visit www.sega.com.

iPod Tops Beer on Campus

As if we needed more evidence that the iPod has achieved world domination, it seems that the device is popular on college campuses—more popular, in fact, than beer. According to the biannual Lifestyle & Media Study by research firm Student Monitor, 73 percent of college students identify the iPod as the number one “in” thing on campus. Beer—for years the traditional favorite—tied with Facebook, the college networking site, registering with 71 percent of respondents as “da bomb” on campus.

Hear a Good Read

Audiobooks are nice, but a single volume can mean dealing with several CDs or cassettes. And digital downloads and MP3 players can also be a hassle for some. Now there’s Playaway, the first self-playing digital audiobook, according to manufacturer Findaway World. Not a CD or MP3 player and not software, Playaway is a self-contained, preloaded digital format audiobook that fits in your palm. $34.95–$49.95. www.playawaydigital.com.

Virtual Teen Hangout

The Lounge is a virtual nightclub designed just for teens. Created by Doppelganger, an instant-messaging service provider, the nightclub is an online 3-D space where teens can hang out, listen to music, and dance, however mechanically, via avatars, which teens design themselves. AOL Instant Messenger users can connect to their existing Buddy List to coordinate club visits with the rest of their posse. Registration is free. www.pcdmusiclounge.com.

A Heart Monitor for Your Home—or Library

Did I leave the iron on? If you ask yourself this question after leaving the house—and who hasn’t?—there’s a new product called Home Heartbeat. Created by Eaton Electrical, Home Heartbeat uses radio technology to let you know when an electrical appliance is on or something else is happening at home via a small controller or your cellphone. The product consists of a base station, sensors, and a Home Key device, which you program to tell the base station and sensors what to alert you about. Prices start at $175 for the base station and one sensor.