The great (digital) outdoors

Don't forget the TV
For all-out wireless outdoor media, there’s the Sharp Aquos LC-15L1U-S—a 15” television, less than 3 inches thick, that will also wirelessly pull a signal from your cable, satellite or DVD box.  But make sure that you’ve got a shady spot for viewing; LCDs tend to wash out in sunlight.  But maybe you just want a nice radio.  In that case, this year’s best option is the trim Tivoli PAL AM-FM radio, in a rubberized cabinet with built-in nickel metal hydride batteries. The PAL—for Portable Audio Laboratory—has classic Henry Kloss audio quality along with an extremely precise tuner.  It comes in eight colors ranging from Sunset Red to Electric Blue—or if you want, in white and chrome to match your iPod. 

Finally, if your idea of media includes the Internet, then here’s the perfect device for outdoor browsing: the Fujitsu Stylistic ST5021 Tablet PC.  It’s a thin, light slate model, with full wireless capability and a long-life battery.  But what sets it apart is the unique front-lit LCD screen—which gives you full brightness both indoors and in sunlight. Laptop in the backyard: pitiful workaholic.  Wireless tablet: cool Internet dude.

Technology to cut the grass, zap the bugs
One regular but not necessarily desirable outdoor activity is lawn mowing, and that’s where the RoboMower RL-1000 comes in: a battery-powered robotic wonder that’s equivalent to a traditional 5.5 horsepower version with 21” cutting blades—only, of course, you don’t have to push it yourself.  While there have been several robot lawnmowers on the market, this $1,700 version is the first with a docking station for automatic battery recharging.  What that means is that you can program it once and then not have to think about it again for the rest of the summer. Each week it will automatically depart from the charging station at your appointed time to mow the lawn—even in the middle of the night (the electric motor is very quiet).  Probotics, one of the distributors of the RoboMower, also offers robot pool cleaners if you’d like to offload that chore as well.

Mosquitoes are another undesirable aspect of outdoor life, and here the technologists have been hard at work. Unfortunately, whether you zap them or trap them, there’s no infallible way to remove mosquitoes from your backyard and there’s still controversy over how well any method really works.  But the trapping technique, which burns propane gas to mimic a warm mammal’s carbon dioxide, has a high-tech incarnation in the new American Biophysics Mosquito Magnet Pro. For $1195 you get not only the CO2, but an additional pheromone-based attractant, rechargeable NiMH batteries plus an industrial strength solar panel.  If that doesn’t attract your mosquitoes, then they just don’t appreciate technology.

Barbecue grills, the most primal of outdoor gadgets, are a matter of such religious fervor that one’s choice is probably best left to personal preference: gas, coals or electric, free-standing or built-in, moderately-priced or the cost of a small import automobile.  Even at stratospheric prices, however, the industry hasn’t so far seen fit to add many digital frills.  But the one device that no griller can be without—the barbecue thermometer—has definitely gone high tech.  Weber’s Barbecue Beeper Digital Thermometer is a two-piece wireless set: you stick the probe into your meat of choice and set the exact degree of doneness you desire.  Then you clip the remote readout to your belt and wander amidst your guests; a beep signals when it’s time to serve.  And while we’re shopping Weber, we should also mention their unique Chill Indoor/Outdoor Refrigerator: an elegant silver cylinder a bit over three feet tall, with a lift-off lid, that will keep a dozen six-packs as frosty as you’d like.

When night finally falls on your outdoor frolics, switch on the Essential Gear 12 LED Lantern—tomorrow’s light source today, it’s bright, dimmable and cool (no insects attracted), as well as able to run for twelve full days on a single set of D cells. But before you flick on those LEDs, here’s one final gadget: the Excalibur Electronics Night Navigator.  It’s a 10 by 13 inch tablet device with a back-lit LCD screen and a built-in electromagnetic compass.  Program in the time, date and location, aim it at the night sky and it will show you a map with all the major stars identified (as long as you’re somewhere in North America).  Even better, you can dial in a constellation you want to find, aim the device at the sky and it will beep when you’re pointing at the target.  And if you see a shooting star, go ahead: make a wish for your own RoboMower. 

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