Out of the box, the iPod is basically a one-trick pony. The games and applications found under the â€Extras†menu get old faster than Britney. But thanks to four years of work by a crafty group of programmers, you can now use your iPod´s processing power and scroll-wheel interface to play dozens of games, record voice memos, or browse Wikipedia, all without messing up the existing software or your music.

The secret is iPodLinux, an alternative operating system you can install free alongside the existing one on any iPod model.

1. ONE CAMCORDER THAT CREDIBLY DOUBLES AS A STILL CAMERAWe're not convinced a single device can be great at both stills and video, but Sony's DCR-IP220-the first digital camcorder with a 2-megapixel CCD-is as close as
it gets. It's even packed with great camera features, including an intelligent pop-up flash and Hologram Autofocus and Night Framing for low-light situations. Price: $1,999. www.sony.com
2. FRIDGE MORE FROZEN THAN COLD