Update - So, I had my jury service, and the answer to my question turns out to be - anything goes.

There were no restrictions on electronics, except that you couldn't use a camera phone to take pictures inside the court building. I had my cell phone with me, and people were using ipods, laptops, and various other electronics.

Jury service in Manhattan has been surprisingly streamlined since the last time I was on. They now release you after two days if you haven't been selected for a case. The first day I was there, all the cases were settled out of court early in the day, no jurors were ever called, and we sere dismissed at noon. The second day, I was called for voir dire in the morning, which was to be finished after lunch. But then the lawyers were called in to talk to the judge, and the case was settled out of court by mid afternoon. At that point there were no more cases, and all the jurors were discharged altogether.

Short and sweet!