Venturi MiniBroadcasting tunes from iPod or Zune to your car stereo, while maintaining any decent semblance of sound quality can be a bitch with most FM-based peripherals. Thankfully, this adapter-which plugs into cigarette lighters and enables solid album playback, USB charging capabilities, and hands-free Bluetooth audio streaming and calling-largely renders the issue moot. A simple, scroll-wheel-based interface, auto pause options when fielding incoming calls, and bright OLED display only further make using it a song and dance.
www.myventuri.com / $129.00
DPG-1200Billed as a "PC-on-TV Player," this nifty media extender allows you to effortlessly stream videos from desktop or notebook computer straight to your television set using composite or component video cables. Wireless file retrieval makes surfing YouTube shorts or Hollywood trailers simple, with a user-friendly, trackball-enabled remote letting you control your system from the living room without breaking a sweat. Music, photos, and flicks are all fair game, although the neighbors probably won't appreciate your 50-inch screenings of Deep Throat.
www.dlink.com / $239.99
Nyko Front Man
Got a crippling addiction to living room staples Rock Band or Guitar Hero III for PlayStation3? Grab this versatile axe peripheral, compatible with both games, which lets you wirelessly power through solos from 25 feet away for nearly 80 hours off of three AA batteries. Attractive styling proves nicely complemented by fret buttons; strum/whammy bar options, and a tilt sensor ensure wannabe arena headliners can enjoy the ultimate in head-banging geekery. Wii models also available.
www.nyko.com / $59.99
ClearboostNow here's an interesting two-for-one deal: A protective, hard-shell case designed to keep your iPhone safe, while improving the handset's reception quality. Simply wrap it around your pricey conversation piece cum cell phone and voila: Suddenly, all your calls, e-mails, and Internet connections become much more reliable, and the device is less likely to be ruined when you accidentally drop it on the pavement. Exciting the actual gizmo isn't, but it more than makes up for spiritual shortcomings in pure functionality.
www.griffintechnology.com / $29.99
Mcgyver
Inventive as the prime-time hero it draws its name from, this handy wrist-mounted gizmo-a watch that stores and plays 1GB of digital music in MP3 or WMA format-also proves just as entertaining. Use it to queue up your favorite Kenny G track in 3-D stereo sound, record voice memos or double as a USB drive capable of holding documents, applications, and other important files. Laugh if you will, but James Bond wishes he had it so good.
www.skullcandy.com / $199.95