iRobot Roomba 780 ($599)

Who doesn’t like a freshly swept floor, or a just-vacuumed carpet? Well, meet Roomba, the floor-sweeping and carpet-vacuuming robot who has nothing but time to scoot around your house, sucking up dust, dirt, grime and even pet hair. The programmable Roomba (read my review) will navigate its way around your furniture while avoiding tumbles down stairs, and it comes with both a charging dock and a remote.

Mint Cleaner ($199)

No, it doesn’t do carpets, but the Mint Clearer is an ace at sweeping hard-wood floors. Just give it a Swiffer cloth, place the “indoor GPS” navigation cubes at strategic locations around your house, and let the Mint (check out my hands-on impressions) work its magic.

iZon Remote Room Monitor ($130)

Want to keep tabs on the nursery, your home office, or even the babysitter? Just put the iZon Remote Room Monitor in the room you want to keep an eye on, then watch a live video feed on your iPhone or iPad. The free iZon app can also alert you whenever the remote camera detects sound or movement—and yes, it works anywhere in the world, so long as you’re in range of a Wi-Fi or 3G signal.

Belkin iPad Chef Stand ($40)

Want to pull up recipes on your iPad without mucking it up with messy hands? Say hellow to Belkin and its clever iPad chef stand, which comes with a “non-slip” base and a touchscreen-friendly stylus that you can clean in the sink.

Philips GoLite Blu Light Therapy Device ($199)

Here’s the perfect antidote for anyone with the winter blues. Armed with “Bluewave” technology that mimics the light of a clear, blue sky, the GoLite Blu Plus promises to give you a daily boost after just minutes of use. Just turn it on, put it at arm’s length, set the timer, and (supposedly, anyway) you should start feeling better within 15 minutes or so.

The post Holiday Gift Guide: 5 gadgets for around the house appeared first on here's the thing.

Also: eyes-on with the affordable Mint floor-cleaning robot; what you need to know about Windows 8; the new “Smart Lists” on Facebook; and my first impressions of “Star Wars” on Blu-ray. (Dazzled, I am.)

How to send multiple photos from your iPhone at once (quick tip)
The iPhone’s Photos app has an option for sending a bunch of photos at once, either via email or SMS—but it’s easy to miss. Here’s how it works. Read more…

7 questions—and answers—about Windows 8
What are the new features in Windows 8? Will it work on your PC? What about your old programs? And when is Windows 8 going on sale? Read on for the answers. Read more…

Mint (and new Mint Plus) floor-cleaning robot: a cheaper, Swiffer-using alternative to the Roomba
It won’t vacuum your rugs, but the inexpensive Mint and its new big brother, the Mint Plus, will sweep hardwood floors with wet or dry Swiffer cloths. Read more…

1080p, 720p, and 480p: What do they all mean? (HDTV tip)
Puzzled by all the numbers—and the letters—when it comes to shopping for an HDTV? You’re not the only one. Read more…

First impressions of “Star Wars” on Blu-ray: The Force is strong with this one
Still don’t own a Blu-ray player? If not, you’ll have four more reasons to get one as of Friday: Luke, Han, Leia, and Darth. Read more…

“Kitchen-safe” iPad stand, stylus lets you tap and swipe with messy hands
Belkin’s brilliant new iPad chef stand comes with a “non-slip” rubber base and its own, “kitchen-safe” stylus. Read more…

5 things to like about Facebook’s revamped “Friend Lists”
Facebook’s redesigned friends lists are now easier to deal with, particularly when it comes to deciding who you want to share with … and who you don’t. Read more…

Price prediction site Decide.com zeroes in on smartphones
Decide.com offers shopping advice and predicts pricing trends for HDTVs, laptops, cameras—and now smartphones, including Android phones and the iPhone. Read more…

Epson MegaPlex turns your iPhone, iPad into a big-screen projector (eyes-on)
Just dock your iPhone, iPad, or iPad Touch into Epson’s new video projector, and presto—you’re at the movies. Read more…

Powerbag carrying case charges gadgets while you’re on the go
The amped-up Powerbag will give your laptop, cell phone, iPod, or other portable gizmos an in-transit boost—literally. Read more…

Facebook tests option for summary email notifications rather than individual messages
Feeling bombarded by email messages whenever you post an update or leave a comment on Facebook? Well, relief may soon be on the way. Read more…

Need help with one of your gadgets? Let me know!

The post Week in review: Sending multiple photos from your iPhone; a Swiffer-using, floor-cleaning robot; “Star Wars” on Blu-ray appeared first on here's the thing.

Enter the Mint Floor Cleaner and its new big brother, the Mint Plus, which I saw for the first time at a Manhattan trade show Wednesday night.

A good $100 cheaper than the most inexpensive Roomba model, the $199 Mint robot exchanges the Roomba’s circular body for a square shape, all the better for tackling tough-to-reach corners.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dVORwuW6zs&w=550]

And instead of vacuuming up dust and dirt, the Mint sweeps your hardwood floors with dry or wet microfiber cloths—so yes, we’re basically talking a robotic Swiffer (and the Mint does, indeed, work with Swiffer refill cloths).

Like the Roomba, the self-guided Mint feels its way around your floor, scooting around obstacles and avoiding stairs with the help of a compact, cube-shaped module that sends out a wireless navigation signal. (“Indoor GPS” is how Mint manufacturer Evolution Robotics describes it.)

The new, $299 Mint Plus, which boasts more battery life and a wider cleaning area than the original Mint.

The Mint, which has been on the market for more than a year now, will sweep 800 square-feet of floor space for about three hours on a single charge.

And then there’s the just-announced, $299 Mint Plus, which will go for four hours and cover up to 2,000 square feet, provided you’ve got two NorthStar navigation cubes handy. (An extra cube goes for $39.)

Pretty neat—although if you’ve got carpeted floors to clean, you’re better off ponying up for a Roomba.

So, any Mint owners with experiences (good or bad, of course) they’d like to share?

The post Mint (and new Mint Plus) floor-cleaning robot: a cheaper, Swiffer-using alternative to the Roomba appeared first on here's the thing.