Robot mower takes orders via phone

I am no fan of robotic mowers. My experiences with the machines have been marred by battery failures, jammed blades, and bumper shells that refuse to stay in place. Programming some robotic mowers' onboard computers can also be a bit of a pain.

That said, if you have a giant lawn and deep pockets, you could argue that Kyodo America's latest LawnBott, the LB3500 (lawnbott.com), has enough features to justify its $3,200-plus price tag.

The LB3500 can trim yards up to 38,000 square feet (most of that in about an hour) and climb slopes up to 30 degrees. It has a cutting width of 14 inches.

After manicuring your lawn to 1 to 3 inches, or if its two Lithium-ion batteries are running low, the LB3500 returns to its base station for a recharge.

The LB3500 also has a rain detector, which will send it back to base when the skies open up.

But one of the LB3500's coolest features might be its Bluetooth capability. You can program and control the robot from your cellphone or PDA. That means you will not have to stand squinting over a two-line display, in the sun, trying to make the thing work.

A blade-stop proximity sensor detector and a 360-degree bumper shell will help ensure the LB3500 doesn't claim any victims other than your crabgrass and dandelions.

Theft is also an issue for robotic lawnmowers, apparently. Kyodo hopes to foil would-be thieves with an alarm that sounds when someone tries to make off with the 28-pound machine.

T-Mobile users last week got their first crack at the BlackBerry Pearl 8120, which further blurs the line between work and fun with new ringtone and media-playing features and with Wi-Fi connectivity.

The 8120 also uses RIM's SureType keyboard technology, which should make your keyboard-to-phone keypad transition smoother.

SureType automatically extracts new words from incoming e-mails and adds them to your custom word list, so you won't have to type out each letter in your replies. The technology also uses industry-specific word lists.

T-Mobile is currently offering the 8120 for about $150, after rebates and with a calling plan.

Whether your are growing mushrooms in Medway or hibiscus in Holbrook, a little hardware can help you manage your irrigation and perhaps trim your water bill.

Cyber-Rain XCI (it's costs about $350 at Smarthome.com) can tell when your garden needs watering. Think of it as a PC-based load-balancing system for your in-ground sprinkler system. On cool, moist days, your garden gets less water from the system. On hot, dry ones, the Cyber-Rain system opens the floodgates.

The system also has eight programmable zones, so you can soak your fresh grass seeds, while keeping your roses dry, for example.

Anyone can install the Cyber-Rain system, without skills or special tools, according to Smarthome.

The system also keeps track of your water consumption.

If Wii Sports left you shvitzing and wanting more, you can place your pre-order now for Wii Fit, which will keep track of your workout accomplishments in front of the TV. Nintendo last week set the MSRP for Wii Fit, which will come bundled with the Wii Balance Board workout tool, at about $90. The package, to be released May 21, will include yoga, aerobics, and many other types of workouts for the stay-at-home exerciser. Nintendo says it has already sold 1.4 million copies of Wii Fit in Japan (Think Dance Dance Revolution) since Dec. 1.