Pouring It On

Why is it that coffee always seems to get an extra edge from technology? Krups, the maker of high-end coffee and espresso makers, has recognized the discrepancy and teamed up with Heineken to give beer a boost too. The companies’ combined effort, the BeerTender, is an upscale offering for those who take time to enjoy beer — specifically those 5-liter Heineken and Heineken Light kegs that have been appearing recently on store shelves.

The BeerTender comes in two models: the B90 (pictured), with its ample volume and temperature indicator, and the B95, with an LCD display. The B90 keeps your keg at a constant 38 degrees (the B95 offers a variable temperature setting) and pours smooth golden goodness just like the local watering hole. Like any spigot with a keg attached (be it at your corner bar or in a bucket of ice at a backyard barbecue), the BeerTender kicks out quite a bit of foam on the first few pours. But after it settles down, it pours 10.5 pints worth of Heine, a nice amount to keep on tap for a summer barbecue. $279 ($299 for the B95; beertender.com)

Twenty-First-Century Tea

Tea has made a big comeback recently, partly due to the health benefits associated with drinking it, and partly due to all-in-one brewing devices like the Zarafina Tea Maker Suite. The Tea Maker Suite takes the preparation technique out of the equation, brewing perfect tea from bags or loose leaf at the flip of a switch. It even includes variable water heating settings for different tea varieties. But it especially stands out in its use of metal and ceramic instead of cheaper plastic — that might be fine for coffee but not for brewing a proper cup of tea. ($99; zarafina.com)

Carbonated Offset

Assigning a nickel’s worth of value to bottles and cans did a lot to increase recycling — but even better would be to use fewer containers in the first place. Consumers looking for a tasty way to go green will find it in the Soda Club Penguin, a device that makes carbonated beverages. The Penguin pumps a bottle of water full of CO₂. After that, users can add Soda Club’s flavored syrup to the fizzy drink to make more than 20 flavors, including diet selections. And get this: the Penguin doesn’t just decrease bottling waste — it also reduces your carbon footprint, because it makes your drinks without using electric or battery power. ($199; sodaclub.com)

Light Housekeeping

No one wants dust or dust mite eggs in their home. But you can get rid of them using the Halo Ultraviolet Vacuum, a heavy-duty cleaner that uses no heavy-duty cleaning agents. This vacuum sucks up all sorts of ickiness and kills about 99 percent of common germs and 90 percent of flea eggs by blasting the floor with ultraviolet light. Then, the Halo sucks up the detritus and traps it in a specially filtered bag, so everyone can breathe easier. ($399; gethalo.com)

Get-Together Grill

The Evo Professional Wheeled Cart is one attractive barbecue grill that won’t be placed in the corner, out of sight. This 48,000 BTU bad boy is what the professionals use at events nationwide to sear, sauté, grill, toast, boil, stir-fry, and simmer all manner of meals on its 30-inch top. Its two independent hot zones should ensure that if the afternoon barbecue stretches into the evening, you’ll be all set to keep on cooking. ($3,150; evoamerica.com)

Little Big Shot

Shutterbugs seeking to ditch their point-and-shoot cameras should make the leap for the new Nikon D60, a powerful entry-level single-lens reflex (SLR) shooter that keeps the wallet in mind. Based on the popular compact design of the company’s D40, this new Nikon packs 10.2 megapixels, intuitive controls, and a snappy eye sensor that helps conserve battery power. The camera also has a quick startup and can shoot three frames per second to catch that perfect moment. Even better, it comes standard with an 18–55 mm lens, which saves you from having to buy a necessary accessory. ($749; nikon.com)

Those bursts of color timed to your favorite songs don’t happen through sheer luck. According to Jim Souza of Pyro Spectaculars, the outfit behind the big July 4th displays in New York and Boston, the planning for his shows begins with a custom-designed computer program that taps the company’s extensive database of fireworks to coordinate the display. Souza spends months working with the orchestra and considering the show’s variables (such as event theme and location) before it’s time to load the firing instructions into the Pyro Spectacular field controller. Basically a heavy-duty computer, the field controller sends info over a wire to firing modules located at various points around the fireworks site. Using this device makes lighting the fireworks relatively simple, Sousa says, “because you’re just manning the controls.”

There are fail-safes in place, of course. For example, Pyro Spectaculars always deploys two field controllers, in case one malfunctions. Another safety precaution is the “dead man switch,” which Souza says must always be held down to keep the show progressing.

To properly time the big bursts and little skyrockets, the field controller works in conjunction with a computer file provided by the orchestra. The file contains time code information that helps the field controller determine the exact launch time and location of the particular firework. Prompted by this time code, the field controller signals the firing module to ignite an electric match that’s connected to the lifting charge. This lights the time fuse and, ultimately, makes a big scene up in the sky.