Mega Roundup: part 5

Collection of 2007's best Gadgets, Goods and Gizmos

Remote Patrol

Be your own housesitter. The Wi-Fi chip in this robot lets you maneuver it-and its webcam-from any Internet connection. If you catch Fido on the couch, yell "Off!" through the 'bot's built-in VoIP phone. Erector Spyke $300; erector-sets.com

Ringing in the Rain

Keep talking through clumsy mishaps and dips in the pool. This cellphone survives in up to three feet of water by protecting vulnerable hinge areas with O-ring seals and water-resistant speakers. Casio G´zOne Type-V $300; verizonwireless.com

HD for Free

Your cable or satellite company would be more than happy to fill your new HDTV with high-definition channels (upping your monthly fee in the process), but in most major markets, all you need is a special antenna to pull in the free over-the-air high-def signal broadcast by your local networks and public channels. This USB antenna doubles as a DVR, plugging into your Mac to record free high-def shows TiVo-style. You can plug in your regular cable box too. Miglia TVMini HD+ About $165; miglia.com

Natural Sleep

Turns out there are healthier ways to wake up than being yanked out of a dream by the traffic report. This clock/LED lamp/sound-maker was designed with the support of sleep researchers and implements your unique metabolic cycle and circadian rhythm to maximize your shut-eye. The lamp replicates natural light, slowly dimming each night to lull you to sleep and brightening each morning to wake you gently-supposedly increasing your a.m. energy and lucidity. CNightCove About $2,350; zyken.com

Under Wraps

A bulky waterproof iPod case is nice and all, but sometimes you just want to jump in without having to worry about wrapping it up. Enter the first iPod waterproofed from the inside out. The impervious coatings are applied to the 'Pod's inner workings, leaving it aesthetically identical to any other Shuffle and secure up to 10 feet. Clip it to your goggles and dive in. Waterproofed iPod Shuffle From $150; swimman.net

This new Guitar

If your ax-wielding talent isn't limited to feverish rounds of Guitar Hero, you´ll appreciate Gibson´s latest digital foray. The guitar features individual pickups for each string, a high-definition, all-digital signal stream and the latest production software. Pretty easy on the eyes, too. Les Paul HD.6X Pro Digital Guitar $5,000; gibson.com

Rock and Stroll

If pushing the little one around is taking a toll on your need for speed, it may be time for the Strollometer. With eight functions that measure everything from distance to maximum speed, at last you can get some fun out of the whole ordeal. Apart from, you know, the joys of selfless love. Strollometer $40; strollometer.com

Brush with Frequency

Clean your teeth with the same technology that scrubs surgeons´ scalpels. A transducer in this device emits ultrasound waves, whipping your toothpaste into a pulsating froth of microscopic bubbles that penetrate under the gumline and between teeth. Ultreo $150; ultreo.com

Speaker of the House and Car

This system acts like an ordinary boom box when you plug in your MP3 player. But connect it to your car's stereo through an optional dock, and it becomes a subwoofer to pump up the bump in your ride. Blaupunkt Velocity 2Go From $400; blaupunkt.com

Get the Show on the Road

Watch HBO anywhere you go. The first portable satellite TV looks like a briefcase but opens up to reveal a 17-inch LCD. The antenna, no longer a dish, unfolds from the top cover. DIRECTV Sat-Go Price not set; directv.com

Source: Popular Science