Gifts for Gadget Hounds

It's no Leatherman or Swiss Army knife, but for something so tiny (it weighs just an ounce and measures 1" x 2") and affordable, this Buck Metro knife can do a lot of work. The knife has a super sharp, stainless steel blade that you can open and close with one hand. And it's also got a built-in bottle and can opener and fits easily onto a keychain. Some models even come with little LED lights. Available in lots of different colors, it makes a great stocking stuffer.

If Meade had made the MySky when we were in college, we might not have come so dangerously close to failing Astronomy. (Stop laughing.) Unlike our professors, this handheld device makes it fun to learn about the night sky. Just point the MySky at a celestial object and pull the trigger to identify planets, stars, galaxies, and more (it's got GPS so it knows that of which it speaks). Choose from audio, video, still images, maps, and text descriptions, or let the MySky give you a guided tour of the sky from the comfort of your back yard. You can even hook it up to your telescope. And at $399, the MySky is a lot cheaper than most college astronomy classes.

Imagine taking a picture with your digital camera and uploading it to your computer (PC or Mac) or Myspace page without a single wire. You don't need a fancy camera to do this; you just need the Eye-Fi, a 2GB SD card that has a Wi-Fi chip inside. Not only does the Eye-Fi automatically start uploading as soon as you're within range of your home network, it remembers your log-ins and passwords, resizes images when necessary, and costs nothing to use. The Eye-Fi works with almost any camera that uses SD cards.

Making and distributing home movies just got a whole lot easier and a whole lot cheaper, thanks to the Flip Video Ultra. Record up to 60 minutes of video on the 5-ounce camera's internal flash drive. Then connect the camera to your PC or Mac (note the handy USB interface) and upload it to YouTube in just one step. Or use the camera's TV output to watch your videos on your TV. The Flip comes with easy-to-use editing software (just for PCs) and runs on 2 AA batteries. Prices start at $125.

High-def on the road! The Slingbox Solo lets you watch and control your favorite standard- or high-definition TV source (DVR, digital cable, satellite receiver, DVD player) on your laptop or smart phone, so you can watch the World Series/Heroes/Gossip Girl from halfway around the world. It's easy to set up - all you need is a high-speed broadband internet connection - and the laptop SlingPlayer software even has an onscreen remote control that looks exactly like your home TV's remote. Note: The SlingPlayer Mobile software (for smart phones) is sold separately. More Slingbox devices.

It's just like the iPhone, only there's no phone, it's even thinner, and it has Wi-Fi. The new iPod Touch has the same multitouch interface with the same accelerometer technology that makes it go into landscape mode when you turn it sideways. The built-in Safari browser and special YouTube player give you access to hours of entertainment, and if that's not enough, you can always buy more from the iTunes store. The iPod Touch will even name the song that's playing at Starbucks while you wait for your latte, just in case you want to buy the song too.

The latest addition to the entry-level Garmin Nuvi GPS series is the pocket-sized Garmin Nuvi 260. It's not much bigger than a deck of cards, but still has a 3.5" touchscreen display and room for SD cards to expand its memory. The Nuvi 260 is ready to go right out of the box, because it comes preloaded with street maps, points of interest, and more. You can choose 2D or 3D maps, and have it give you turn-by-turn voice instructions that use actual street names (instead of "turn right in 200 feet"). See all Garmin Nuvi GPS devices.

We desperately want the new iRobot Roomba 560. Like its predecessors, you can program this robot vacuum to clean your floors while you're out (or push "Clean" and watch it go, while you sit on the couch with a cocktail), and it automatically adjusts for wood, tile, linoleum, carpets, and rugs. But the new Roomba is a lot more powerful - it picks up more dirt, pet hair, dander, cat litter, crumbs, leaves, and other debris than previous Roombas, and covers every area an average of 4 times. See more Roombas.

Take a look at Oakley's analog chronograph watch, the Detonator. Its "mad science mentality" makes it look like something a futuristic James Bond might wear. The watch features a 7-hand display, a strong 3-D internal frame, and an impact-forged stainless steel case. Although you can't use it to blow things up, the watch does measure 1/5-second intervals, elapsed time, split time, accumulated time, and dual competitor time. It comes in several color combinations (some with carbon fiber!) and a 3-year battery. More Oakley watches.

CNET calls it "one of the best-looking headsets we've ever seen." The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg says its "noise cancellation is far better than on any other cellphone headset I've tried." Engadget named it "wearable product of the year." They're talking about the Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth headset, the perfect combination of design and technology. Designed by the renowned Yves Behar, the Jawbone fits comfortably on either ear, is soft and smooth against your face, and thanks to its noise-canceling technology, provides excellent audio quality. No more shouting or straining to hear. More Bluetooth headsets.