The Top 10 Summer Gadgets Of 2010

They can snap pictures and play music, send emails and browse the web, but water and sand are lethal. Let's face it: most gadgets aren't made for the shore.

However, there are ways to protect or improve dry-ground gizmos and make them into beach buddies. There are also some sand-ready devices that can turn any seashore getaway into a high-tech event.

The geekiest beach bums can check surf conditions before arriving at the beach, take a swim with headphones on, read a Kindle while it floats in the water, dive deep and capture photos or video, use a sonar watch to see what critters live nearby, lounge on a towel that plays music, mix tasty cocktails without leaving the sand, charge all their devices using the power of the sun, and rest comfortably knowing that there's a robotic lifeguard patrolling the waters. It's all possible in 2010.

Check out 10 hot summer gadgets that are a must for any tech-obsessed beach bum, then take a look at (and accessorize with) the geekiest bikinis of all time.

Hi-Sun Towel With Built-In Speakers

The Hi-Sun Beach Towel, which can be worn as a backpack, converts into a towel with integrated speakers that connect to an MP3 player. The manufacturers made the speakers removable, so you can wash the towel without damaging the electric components.

Fish Finder Watch

Hammacher Schlemmer's $140 gadget doubles as a wristwatch and fish tracker: the remote sonar sensor (RSS), which comes with the watch, is placed in the water and will send real-time information back on what wildlife is located nearby.

SwiMP3

Take your tunes underwater with you--without damaging your MP3 player. The Finis SwiMP3 underwater earphones can store up to 1GB of music, about 240 songs, and last for up to eight hours. The device transmits sound via "bone conduction" technology, which sends vibrations through the cheekbones to the inner ear.

Waterproof Skin For Your Kindle

For those who like to use their eReader under the sun, on the beach, or by the pool, it's a good idea to spring for a waterproof skin--just in case. The M-Edge Guardian Case, for instance, protects devices like the Kindle that have a 6-inch display. Coated in non-reflective plastic, the M-Edge protects eReaders in up to a meter of water. It also floats on the water's surface for hands-free reading. Its $79.99 price tag may discourage some users, but it will save the accident-prone from replacing a water-damaged Kindle.

The Oakley Surf Report App

This free surfer app (for iPhone) reports surfing conditions at thousands of beaches around the world. It can track current conditions and provide two-day forecasts for wave height, surf temperature, swell direction and commute information. The Surf Report also delivers news about professional surfers and stats for surfing teams.

Hamilton Beach Thermal Cooler Plus Blender

After you've pruned in the surf and baked under the summer sun, quench your thirst with a fresh smoothie with a portable blender. These battery-powered devices can be life-saver on a hot day. As an added plus, they come with an insulator skin to keep drinks frosty.

Freeloader Solar Charger

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Wouldn't it be great if you could keep all your devices charged during a visit to the shore? Now you can. The Freeloader recharges or runs small devices using solar energy. It comes with 11 adapters that are compatible with iPods, cell phones, small cameras and GPS devices. Best of all, the Freeloader comes with a CamCaddy charger, which connects to larger battery packs for digital cameras, camcorders or digital SLRs. (Available for $50 at ThinkGeek.)

Robot Lifeguard

EMILY the Robot Lifeguard is a motor-powered flotation device that uses sonar to locate drowning persons. Human lifeguards control the device remotely from shore, but it could be independent as soon as 2011. Lifeguards can also communicate with the victim via EMILY's on-board camera and speakers. Although EMILY currently patrols only Malibu's Zuma Beach, famous for its excellent surfing conditions and occasional rip currents, 24 more beaches will soon employ the device, according to PopSci.

Eco Extreme Case

The multipurpose Eco Extreme waterproof case will protect a range of devices, from an iPhone or iPod Touch to a BlackBerry or Droid. At $50 it doesn't come cheap--but for hikers, bikers, and beach bums who are hard on their gadgets, it may be worth the investment.

Waterproof Camera Case

A $55 waterproof camera cases turns ordinary digital cameras into scuba equipment. Aquapac also makes cases in many sizes for different types of cameras, smartphones, iPods and other gadgets.