There's a class of people out there who we like to call the weather-challenged. You may know someone like this. Or you may be weather-challenged yourself. But it comes down to this: There are a lot of folks who have a tendency to walk out of their homes e...

Dedicated forecasting device; receives a week's worth of free AccuWeather forecasts via a proprietary wireless network that covers 150 U.S. cities and their surrounding areas; shows UV index, pollen and air quality alerts, and wind speed in addition to we...

Pricey; no alarm; won't work in some rural areas.

While it's expensive, the 7-Day Forecaster makes for a sure-to-please gift for those who count themselves among the weather-challenged.

Everyone knows that the earbuds that come packaged with smart phones these days aren't the most comfortable in the world. The 3.5mm Stereo Audio Adapter for the HTC Mogul is a small accessory that you can connect to the mini USB port and then use to plug

Targus, maker of protective bags and cases for laptops and other gadgets, is making its first foray into the digital audio space with the SoundUp, a sound enhancer and headphone splitter for iPods and other MP3 players. The device's closest competition is...

The Targus SoundUp does a satisfactory job amping up sound coming from an audio source, and it gives music a more open sound. It's relatively inexpensive and includes a headphone splitter for sharing with a friend.

The Targus SoundUp reprocesses music, making it sound more overprocessed than enhanced. Music sounds more muffled listening through the unit without enhancement activated than it does straight from the source.

The Targus SoundUp is a decent sound enhancer for those looking to open up the sound of their digital music while sharing it with a friend, but the Creative Xmod is better at actual sound enhancement.

This might surprise you, but the sensor bar for the Nintendo Wii doesn't really sense anything. It actually emits light for the Wii remote's sensors to detect: The sensor bar contains two LEDs that emit invisible infrared light, which the Wiimote uses to

Wireless sensor bar for the Wii; sturdier than the wired version included with the console; affordable.

Must be turned on manually; power saver mode is more annoying than convenient; requires an endless supply of four AA batteries.

The Wireless Sensor Bar is invaluable for large, complicated Wii-equipped home theater setups, but you don't really need it if your Wii is right next to your television.

Solar power is a hot topic nowadays, and even Bluetooth speakerphones are getting in on the action. While a complete switch of the all the world's speakerphones to solar energy won't make much of a dent in total energy conservation, the idea of including

The Anycom Solar Car Kit makes inventive use of an integrated solar panel to extend its already impressive battery life as a Bluetooth speakerphone. The device features a stylish design and delivers clear, albeit tinny, call quality.

The simplicity of the device's hardware leads to a complicated user experience, as drivers have to learn a list of specific button-pushing combinations to access its full feature set.

For those who can master its controls, the sleek Anycom Solar Car Kit is a decent-sounding Bluetooth speakerphone with a good battery life and a cool--if gimmicky--solar-charging option.

The rich and famous have expensive security systems, complete with swiveling cameras and closed-circuit TV systems. But for those of us who can't afford these multithousand-dollar professionally installed packages, a handful of companies are putting out d...

A relatively affordable, do-it-yourself home monitoring system that allows you to view your property remotely via the Web, turn appliances and lighting on and off, and receive e-mail alerts or text messages when motion sensors are activated. The system wa...

Enabling live video is a little tricky to set up and may require a call or two to tech support. The Web-based monitoring service is pretty user friendly but there's still a little room for improvement. On top of the initial investment for hardware, you ha...

While it may not be able to completely take the place of a professionally installed home security system, the iControl Advanced Starter Kit is a relatively affordable way to monitor your home from afar via a personal Web-based portal that includes a live

All you need for a good run is a quality pair of sneakers, a dog by your side, and an MP3 player. Now add one more thing: The Motion Lingo Adeo Fitness Companion. This small device (3.0 by 2.0 by 0.6 inches; 2.1 ounces) works with any portable music playe...

The Motion Lingo Adeo Fitness Companion uses GPS data to keep track of your running, biking, or hiking session and give audio updates. It plugs into any portable music player so that you can get updates and listen to music at the same time, but it also wo...

The included MotionTrak software interface is confusing, and player controls make using the Motion Lingo Adeo Fitness Companion more difficult than it should be. Plus, there's no screen on the device, and locking on to GPS satellites can take several minu...

The Motion Lingo Adeo Fitness Companion is a big help for outdoor exercise enthusiasts; it's like having a private coach with you as you run, bike, or hike.