No-Escape TV

Clearly, the reason you go to the beach is to watch satellite TV. Since your line of sight to a position over the equator is unlikely to be obstructed there, your biggest problem will be deflecting glare from the 17-inch LCD TV built into DirecTV's new Sat-Go, a 25-pound attaché case that packs the TV, receiver, dish antenna, and a laptop-style battery that's said to be good for hours, but not necessarily until the tide comes in. A cigarette-lighter adapter lets you power the system from your parked SUV. Sat-Go is expected this summer for between $1,000 and $1,300 plus a DirecTV subscription. Don't forget the cooler. — Michael Antonoff