Tech Tools: Summer Fun

We often think of summer as a time to slow down and enjoy the simple things, such as a barbecue or a hike in the woods. But don’t give up your gadgets just yet. What if your phone could help you grill the perfect steak whilst wirelessly streaming audio to the ideal sound system for your pool party? What if the simple act of walking during your hike could power your phone or laptop later on? Here are six nonintrusive, clever ways to enhance your summer fun.

Bluetooth Meat Thermometer: iGrill

The Weber grilling app is a wonderful stealth cooking tool, but one thing it can’t do is check the temperature of your grilled chicken for you. Since you’re already using your phone while grilling, why not keep everything consistent? The iGrill meat thermometer checks the temperature of your grilled meats and delivers the information via Bluetooth to an app on your phone. Not that we recommend grilling anything from far away or leaving fires unattended, but for slower cooking scenarios, put the lid on the grill and check the ball game without worrying about over- or under-doing things. Bonus: It works in the oven, too. $79.99, iGrillInc.com

Kinetic Charger: nPower PEG

When you show this useful gadget off to friends, be prepared for several Shake Weight jokes—the charging motion of the nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator) vaguely resembles the motion used in the now-infamous television commercials. It’s worth enduring the minor ribbing—the PEG is a kinetic charger for all of your portable devices. You don’t need to shake it at all; it’s designed to create energy at the slightest jostling. So throw this in your backpack and the mere motion of you walking on your next hike will produce enough juice to recharge your phone, tablet or laptop. $169.99, coming this summer, nPowerPEG.com

Grilling App: Weber's on the Grill

We’re not all grill-meisters. No matter how comfortable you may seem grill-side, your fragile charade can be shattered by one overcooked filet mignon. Weber, king of the American grill, is here to help—go download the On the Grill app for iPad, iPhone and Android devices and relax. It includes a multitude of recipes and a built-in timer for various cuts of meat. Impress friends and family as you casually check texts and game scores on your phone while effortlessly achieving the perfect sear; they don’t need to know that you’re actually obsessively checking the timer to make sure you don’t ruin the rib eye. $4.99 via Apple App Store & Google Play

Rugged Camera: GoPro Wi-Fi BacPac + Wi-Fi Remote Combo Kit

At first glance, GoPro cameras look like toys—the HD HERO2 even lacks an LCD screen (though you can buy one that snaps onto the back as an accessory)—but they’re the first choice of outdoor enthusiasts, from surfers to skydivers, mainly because of their high-resolution footage and the plethora of mounts and accessories designed for them. The Wi-Fi BacPac + Wi-Fi Remote accessory allows you to control your camera if it’s mounted to, say, a model airplane you’re flying, controlling when the camera records while sending a live preview of your footage to your iPad or mobile phone. $299.99 (for camera); $99.99 (for Wi-Fi accessory) at GoPro.com

Wireless Earphones: Outdoor Technology Bluetooth Tag Headphones

These wireless earphones have a neck loop and hang like dog tags, hence the name. The real selling point here, however, is the quality Bluetooth performance you’ll get from them without dropping a ton of money, allowing you to throw your phone in your backpack and focus on the hike, jog or bike ride. Because they’re manufactured by Outdoor Technology, you can rest assured they’ll be the ideal choice for your next excursion, and the multiple ear tips come in various sizes to ensure a secure fit. $69.95, OutdoorTechnology.com

Portable Wireless Speaker: Beatbox Portable by Dr. Dre

Getting music for outdoor gatherings is always a challenge. Portable radios often sound like garbage, while wired boom boxes are rarely an option poolside or in the park. Beats by Dr. Dre, which started as a headphone line from the famous hip-hop star and Monster Cables, recently solved this dilemma: The Beatbox Portable offers powerful bass and sounds great at any volume. Not only can it run on batteries (six D-cells), but it streams music wirelessly from just about any Bluetooth device, eliminating the need for any cables whatsoever. $449.95 at BeatsByDre.com