The programmable thermostat just got smarter. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat lets you apply heat and cool right when you need it, and even lets you fiddle with its settings from afar. It links up with your home Wi-Fi network, and lets you jack into its wonders wherever there's a connected computer handy. Sure, you'll pay $385 for this gorgeous touchscreen, but Ecobee says it'll pay for itself in 12 to 18 months.

We're using an internet-connected thermostat now, and can vouch for the geeky thrill of warming up the house from an airport 2000 miles away. By the time we get home, it's as if the heat has been on all week. You'll have to make it through the Fall and most of this Winter without the Smart Thermostat, though — it ships early next year.

Ecobee, via Engadget