Insteon LED bulb: dimmer than thou

    The light switch has been working perfectly since 1884, but we doubt it will be around for much longer. The reason? This network-connected LED bulb, which gets a 60W bulb's worth of brightness from 8W of power and doesn't need a switch — you brighten, dim and extinguish it with an app. Sadly, so far it's only available in the US, but it's definitely going to be so much more convenient than hitting a switch on the wall. Now if I can just find my phone... wait, I've put the PIN in wrong. Let's just sit in the dark instead.
US$30, smarthome.com

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Spiderpodium Tablet: arach for your tablet

    If you listen to the moaning doomsayers, the only thing being manufactured in Britain these days is a vague sense of unease. Not true: the world's most useful gadget stand is made in Exeter, from British steel, and comes in a box fashioned in Manchester. Unlike the legions of stands and shields that cater exclusively for the iPad, the Spiderpodlum will wrap its legs around any tablet, and even doubles as a tripod (or hexapod, or possibly octopod) for your DSLR. What say you to that, moaning doomsayers?£25, breffo.com

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Securifi Almond: router all evil

    If you've ever sat by your router, trying to guess the IP address and then the login details (192.168.1.something?), then you'll know how un-user-friendly they tend to be. If you haven't, then your neighbours probably have, right before they started stealing your broadband. The Almond is the first router to have its own touchscreen, with a simple user interface that makes setting up and controlling your network easy — and secure. Take that, neighbours.£tba (due autumn)  securifi.com

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JVC Addixxion: crack shooter

    The thing about the JVC Addixxion is, you think you can handle it. You'll just take it for a bit of orienteering, you tell yourself, get some 1080p (or 720p@60fps) footage of you map-reading. It's shockproof, too, so maybe a little climbing. Oh, it's also freezeproof and has Vi-Fi for turning your smartphone into a monitor, so maybe just one more snowboarding trip... Before you know it, you're addicted to extreme sports, everything you own has an 'X' In the name, and you're wearing a ridiculous hat. Small doses, people.£300, jvc.co.uk

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Garmin Swim: pool shark

    It's a classic mistake: you plan to do a couple of lengths of your local pool, but you keep losing count and starting again until, by the time you towel off, it's a decade since you entered the pool and you've exercised yourself into a giant scaly man-shark. Next time, let this watch do the counting — and the timing, and graphing of your performance. It'll even tell you what stroke you were doing at the time, and clean your new gills.
£130, garmin.com

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