IMAGINARY Internet girlfriends aside, technology seems to be coming between us, not bringing couples together. We spend too much time focusing on screens instead of loved ones.

It's gotten so bad that a recent poll indicated that many would be as upset about breaking our iPad's screen as we would over a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend.

So how about a Valentine's Day tech idea that might heat things up instead of cooling them down?

The $2.99 LaDiDa app turns karaoke on its head by allowing you to create love songs--or any type of songs--on your iPhone.

Choose a style and tempo, sing or rap into your phone, and LaDiDa analyzes your voice and composes background music that makes the song sound pretty good.

The app is only $2.99 in the iTunes store. And the sentiment would mean more than a $299 gift. Maybe more than a $2,999 one, depending on how heartfelt a song it is and how materialistic your significant other is.

And you can use the money you save for a romantic dinner. Or a cruise.

If you simply must go with a device with a breakable screen, I'd recommend the $399 iPad Mini (16 GB Wi-Fi).

I had my doubts about the Mini until I tried one out. Why would I want a 7.87- by 5.3-inch tablet instead of a 10-inch one?

Those doubts fell away as soon as I started playing with the Mini.

It's thinner at 0.28 inch and lighter at 0.68 of a pound and it has a gorgeous screen.

It's the perfect size for thumb typing, too.

It's big enough to do just about anything you'd do on a full-size tablet and small enough to be easier to pack.

I do love the Mini. But if I had to pick between dropping the Mini and dropping my wife, I'd hang onto Lisa.

Michael Zitz: 540/846-5163
Email: mikez@freelancestar.com