Editor's Note: Between the time of my playing with the Gizmondo and the publishing of this article, Gizmondo Inc., the marketing arm of Tiger Telematics, liquidated all of its assets. The Web site is no longer active and Tiger is in the process of obtaining funding to relaunch the product.

The MSN Encarta online dictionary defines a "gizmo" as a "device or piece of equipment: a gadget, especially a mechanical or electrical device considered to be more complicated than necessary."

Given this fact, it puzzles me as to why Tiger Telematics Inc. would name its new "I can do anything" device Gizmondo ($399 or $229 with annoying Smart Ads). This all-in-one, do everything wunderkind is far from being complicated and delivers a vast array of functionality to those of us that are hungry for something to replace the multitude of gadgets we carry around with us every day.

The small, hand-held device uses Microsoft's CE operating system and can be used to:

• Play games.
• Take digital photos with its built-in digital camera.
• Track or map using a built-in GPS receiver.
• Send and deliver text and multimedia messages.
• Listen to music.
• Watch videos.
• Play games against others and message wirelessly using Bluetooth technology.

The only thing that prevents the Gizmondo from being the ultimate everyman device is the size of the keys that control its basic functions --- on/off, brightness, sound, etc. I found myself either hitting two buttons at once or having to press each one two or three times to get them to work.

Other features of the Gizmondo include:

• A Samsung ARM 400mhz processor.
• An NVIDIA GoForce 3D graphics 128-bit accelerator.
• A 3D wireless media processor.
• 64 megabytes of memory.
• A 2.8-inch TFT screen.
• An SD slot to play games or to be used for SD memory cards.
• A removable SIM card for easy upgrades.
• A stereo headset socket and built-in speakers.
• Tri-band GSM.
• A USB port to connect it to a computer.
• A rechargeable battery.
• A built-in 640x480 digital camera.

According to the folks at Tiger, about 90 games are planned for the device, many of them developed by the company and others in cooperation with major game makers such as Disney, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft.

For more information, check out the company's Web site at www.gizmondo.com.

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