The present invention involves a microelectronic device capable of audio playback of highlights, in conjunction with products such as a gift box or a "base" for nostalgia and memorabilia such as a gift or music box (20) with its base (22) and hingedly attached lid (24), or a base supporting an object of interest. A switch (26) or light sensor or other actuation device is mounted in or on the base and is coupled to a circuit board (28) also disposed in the base. The switch is open and the circuit is inactive when lid (24) rests atop base (22), but the switch closes when the lid is opened to activate the circuit board. In the alternative a manual switch, such as a press-button switch, may be used to activate the replay function. The circuit board, when activated, audibly reproduces "highlights", which is audio information sufficiently long to cover a significant event, e.g., a portion of a political speech, a play from a sporting event, a climatic point of a drama or movie, or a broadcast news event yet short enough not to take an inordinate amount of time from the present. Further, the "highlights" should be able to be played in a multiple, consecutive or semi-random order. A ROM chip (30) digitally stores a plurality of highlights which are retrieved and audibly reproduced by a processor (34) on the circuit board when actuated by the switch. The circuit board may be disposed in a gift, music or keepsake box, sports and entertainment memorabilia, cards, frames, statuettes, bases, clocks, and similar items.