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Just because a cable lights up, that doesn't necessarily mean it's smart. To wit, Evergreen Japan has developed one that "dances to the rhythm of the music you are listening to," Gearfuse says, but doesn't do much of anything else except maybe keep you from getting run over by a car at night. They also require a clunky battery box to provide power, diluting whatever cool factor they manage to muster--which probably isn't a huge loss.

Good news, fellow germaphobes. We've seen all manner of gadgets that sterilize surfaces but none that address what we ingest. Until now.

The "SteriPEN UV Light Water Purifier" treats H2O with a germicidal lamp, supposedly rendering it bacteria-free with no chemical aftertaste and "99.99 percent safe to drink," according to Mobile Magazine. With our luck, we'll probably be among the remaining 0.01 percent.

The idea of a "smart cable" has always seemed weird to us. (Where do they keep their brains?) But that's essentially what SoundTech is promising with its "LightSnake" line, which lights up in glowing green when in use.

The company is touting these USB cables as simple tools for garage guitarists and other amateur musicians who don't want to mess around with complicated recording equipment. (Even its name sounds like a rock band.) Dubbed a "sound card in a cable," the LightSnake requires no drivers and will work with a variety of … Read more

She's holding a lit lightbulb in her hand. Is the prophecy true? Is she the chosen one?

No, that's just Amber Nystrom, founder of Social Fusion, holding up the Pharox, an LED light by Lemnis Lighting that's designed to fit into an ordinary lamp socket (there's a battery in this one; the home models just screw in). It offers about the same amount of light as a 40-watt bulb but consumes about 90 percent less energy. If you haven't heard by now, lightbulbs waste a lot of energy. Around 95 percent of the energy turns … Read more

The most exquisite lamps have surfaced on the MAKE magazine blog of all places.

I suppose these lamps technically qualify as homemade tech gadgetry because artist Frank Buchwald handcrafted them himself.

I think his artistic meld of the natural and tech elevate these usable art pieces to more than look-what-I-made-in-my-garage status.

They just seem way too nice to appear in the same blog that showcased the hand-sewn nerd pillows and homemade Hobbit house.

Here in Manhattan we have all these overpriced, semi-trashy, "see and be seen"-type nightclubs that routinely show up in the pages of Us Weekly. They all have one thing in common, aside from the price-gouging on bottle service: each one inevitably features some kind of luminescent gimmick inside, be it a giant tank of jellyfish or a light show on the ceiling. Well, if you can't get enough of that stuff, here's a set of speakers that will bring nightlife into your home--the I-Lit, which feature pulsing colored light to the beat of your music (… Read more

We're open to all lifestyles here at Crave, so far be it from us to pass any judgment on recreational activities involving laser shows that might be enhanced by specific equipment. (We never inhaled, for the record.)

But we have to ask: Is it really necessary to have a portable laser show? Apparently the makers of the "Might Mini Laser" see a market for one, described on Red Ferret as transforming "walls or ceilings into a magical light show experience" in a highly mobile form.

If you decide to try one of these, we suggest … Read more

We're saddened to say that there appears to be an infinite supply of date-repellant products on the market. As if we needed more proof, another example has surfaced in the form of a gadget that pays homage to--what a surprise--Star Trek.

VOS Systems has created a talking light dimmer that Chip Chick says features "the voice of Majel Roddenberry (AKA the computer)." The dimmer is equipped with voice-recognition software so you can do your best William Shatner impersonation on it too.

You'll have plenty of time to practice on Saturday nights. Come to think of it, … Read more

It's touted as a disco enhancement, but it looks a lot more like raver chic to us. Whatever it is, Hammacher Schlemmer's "Dancing Light MP3 Synchronizer" will funkify your party with 33 multicolored LEDs bouncing off a concave mirror to the beat of whatever tunes you choose. It can even be set to four programs, "Andante, Moderato, Allegro and Presto." But if we were going to take this route, we'd just as soon go for the full retro effect with a home laser show. And remember, don't bogart that Nano.