Sure, you don't need any of this stuff. But how cool would it be to be able to plug your iPod into a George Foreman grill out on your patio? If you can't see any point in that, you might fail to appreciate MP3-playing swim goggles, a one-drink cooler that plugs into a USB port, or a wristwatch camera. And if you can't see the cool in those, then you desperately need a summer vacation.

The summer's übergadget--which as of this writing is slated to appear June 29--isn't just one great gadget, but three: an innovative phone, the next step in iPod tech, and a handheld Wi-Fi device with the first truly creative approach to wireless e-mail since the BlackBerry. Summer may be over before you get one. Advance orders have been heavy, even at anticipated prices of $499 and $599.

Vacations are about taking it easy, so carry your Myvu video goggles. Connect them to your iPod, dip yourself in cocoa butter, lie back, and watch a show, enjoying the illusion of viewing it on a good-sized TV screen. The $300 eyewear includes earbuds, and the battery pack's good for up to eight hours, Myvu says--and doubles as an iPod protective case. Playback controls are in the connector cable, and AC and car chargers are included.

How do you get high-quality audio underwater? It's obvious--bone conduction. Finis' SwiMP3 MP3 player clips to swim goggles so its transducers press against your cheek or other bones and let you listen to your favorite tunes underwater. The $199 MP3 player's rechargeable battery and 256 Mbytes of memory provide four hours of music. It plays MP3 and WMA files and comes with software to manage your music.

You've got an iPod dock in your car, alarm clock, stereo, and stroller, and now here's one more: The George Foreman GIPOD200 puts a dock, a 10-watt amplifier, and a speaker on an indoor/outdoor electric grill. The $170, 200-square-inch grill's nonstick coating makes cleanup easy, and the center channel drains fat away from food (and, presumably, your iPod).

AT&T Remote Monitor is a software-hardware-services package that lets you monitor your house from afar. For $10 a month, you can view live video from eight cameras, monitor doors and windows, control lights, and more using a PC or a Web-enabled AT&T phone. The $99 starter kit includes a gateway controller that plugs into your home router and an IP camera with pan and tilt.

I-mate's Momento is a wireless digital picture frame that communicates with your PC and the Web. You can sort your pictures on your computer, then stream them to Momento. And the Momento Live Online subscription service lets you upload pictures from anywhere and send them to other Momento Live users. Frames run $199 for a 7-inch model and $299 for a 10.2-inch one.