Livescribe Sky Smartpen with Evernote

Who makes it: Livescribe

What it costs: $170 to $250

Why we like it: Many of us clutch tablets and smartphones in our hands to take notes on the go, so why the need for a pen and paper? The Sky Smartpen lets users record conversations, take notes and create drawings, and then send them for playback on PCs, iPads and other mobile devices. Using Wi-Fi, users can store information on Evernote's popular file management and archival service.