We've all done it. We're rolling in our '83 Datsun or Dad's 2000 Explorer. We hear a new song that sounds like Madonna circa 1987 and we say, "What's this song called? I want to go home and download it, so I don't have to buy another CD for just one song — that Vanilla Ice album really sucked except for `Ice, Ice Baby.'"

But then at the end of the new song, the smart-mouthed DJ starts talking about how Britney is denying her alleged surgery to distance her nipple from the rest of her body, and they never get around to saying the title of the song.

What do you do? Whip out that cell phone! ConneXus, a company out of Pennsylvania, has a free service called *CD where you hit *23 on your phone, punch in the station's frequency and then get the title of the track you just heard, as well as titles of other songs you heard earlier in the day on the same station.

Then you can be a sucker and actually buy the CD using your cell phone instead of just downloading the songs from one of the dozens of MP3 sites the University hasn't blocked. I would mention them, but I don't want to give anyone any ideas.

ConneXus runs this service by using sound-recognition technology on a dozen of the top radio stations in each city. Then the song is compared to a database with one million tracks stored in it.

Spiffy, you say? The best thing about it is, it doesn't cost a thing. The bad news is that it's only available in Philly and San Francisco. But the company is monitoring radio stations in 32 other cities, looking to expand the service.

Do you think South Bend is one of those lucky towns? I don't. Has anyone ever used the words "lucky" and "South Bend" in the same sentence? I'll have to do some research on that one.

It seems everyone is getting DVD players these days. Good ol' VHS is going off to join Beta in VCR heaven because the tapes just can't keep pace with the multiple camera angles and director's commentary added on DVDs.

Resist the urge to buy "Weekend at Bernie's" because the NFL has now caught the DVD wave with "The NFL's Greatest Moments in Super Bowl History" ($25). As you watch each play, you can interact with the DVD by hitting one of the icons. Each icon provides more in-depth information about the play, like different camera angles and the chance to listen to the opposing team's announcers.

I like this product because I always wanted to hear the Buffalo Bills announcers during those four Super Bowl losses. I bet they would say something like, "Scott Norwood is the best place-kicker in football" right before he choked it in Super Bowl XXV.

Also available on the NFL DVD are screen savers and trivia games. This product might help you get your football fix during the off-season without watching the XFL.

Here's a good present for your parents after you win the lottery: the DC06 robotic vacuum cleaner made by a company in England.

Like the robotic lawnmower featured in this column earlier this year, it uses sensors to negotiate around your living room while vacuuming in a spiral motion. The crazy Brits behind it claim it "has more sensors than the Mars lander."

While that may not be good news for NASA, it's good news for your glass coffee table.

The vacuum costs $3,500. If you're wondering how many snooty butlers you could hire to vacuum for less than $3,500, the answer is five.

For people that don't want the dry British wit that comes with a butler, you can buy an I-Robot-LE from iRobot for under $5,000. The company says you can control it from anywhere using the Internet, even letting you "hold a remote conversation with your babysitter."

I thought people normally just gave the babysitter the number they would be at, but I guess I'm wrong.

The I-Robot-LE also climbs stairs, just like a real babysitter.

Here, trust your kid to a robot. That's a great idea. Then tell them to talk to strangers and sit really close to the TV.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.

• Get something for nothing - Internet sites offer freebies
  
• New technologies can identify songs, babysit your kids