Cool Gadgets for Girls: Fi-Hi USB Mix Tape

Cost: $18 at fredflare.com

The gimmick: Don't you miss making mix tapes for friends? You don't have to! Pop this faux "cassette" into your computer's USB port and create a mix with up to 100 MP3's. Or, if you prefer, it also stores photos and videos.

What the experts say: Tech-girl site Popgadget writes, "these 512mb drives can be a romantic symbol of un-hope for holding downloads of songs... to send to your unresponsive crush." And Her Nashville says, "thankfully someone has put [old cassettes] to good use."

Upside: Two sticky labels are included so you can customize your tape for that special someone (or yourself!), and the retractable USB jack connects to both PCs and Macs. Did we mention the retro-charm factor?

Downside: Sadly, you can't play it in your old Walkman.