BirdMIKE is a small computer in itself. It plays back birdsounds instantly whenever it touches "soundspots" that are printed on the various publications in the BirdMIKE range of products. It has been replaced with the more powerful PENpal. The basic difference is as follows:

1. 2GB v 4GB of memory. So PENpal is designed for you to make as many field guides as you wish whereas BirdMIKE would run out of space.
2. Expandable memory. you can increase the memory of PENpal to 16GB so that it can hold alot more content, either fieldguides or mp3 music. 4GB gives about 250 hours of audio content.
3. PENpal has a thick rubber protective sleeve - colours can be changed.
4. PENpal also runs on rechargeable batteries if you wish, and recharging can be done through the pen.
5. Both will run on all the printed publications.
   

Currently the publications include the following media - British Birds Diary, plastic encapsulated water-proof Field Guide, re-peelable Picture Stickers of birds and the sounds, Quiz Cards, Fridge Magnets of bird sounds, Sticky Labels. A new addition is the British Birds Guide, which is a 6 ring binder of 270 species with illustrations, seasonal maps, all sound enabled.

BirdMIKE is capable of storing about 120 hours of human conversation or bird sounds with its 2 GB memory. For example, the 270 British Birds Calls, Songs and Geoff Sample's advice take up only 180MB. That means there is about 1800 MB free for your own recordings.

BirdMIKE runs on 2 AAA batteries which are available nearly anywhere in the world. You can use AAA re-chargeable batteries. We chose these instead of built-in rechargeable batteries so that you do not always have to remember to take a charger! (The duration of the batteries varies according to use, mainly on the volume set for the sound. At Birdfair, a pen would run the whole 8 hours continuously on with volume set at loud!)

The built-in speakers give a loud sound which many of you could hear at Birdfair across 35m! (We had to turn the volume down!) There is also a 3.5mm port for earphones or power speakers.

The built-in USB is version 2.1, the latest, that ensures that you can back up your sound files quickly and easily to a computer if you so wish. The USB cable will link to the internet via a computer in order to download more content, like bird sounds from other countries or regions, audio enabled books and educational charts and many more publications that BirdMIKE can read.

BirdMIKE is part of the TalkingPEN family of products and associated websites are www.mantralingua.com (children's educational resources), www.rnib.co.uk. Your BirdMIKE can access all the Talking Books, Posters and Sticky Label publications that are available at these sites

Birdfair is Europe's largest annual Birding exhibition.