GRIFFIN BEACON (griffintechnology.com; $79) 

WHAT IT IS: A small receiver that connects to your home theater. 

HOW IT HELPS: Allows you to control the whole setup via iPhone. Your components will be in sync, thanks to an app that knows which devices you want on, depending on what activity you want to do. (Hit the “watch movie” button and the DVD, stereo, and TV all come on.) And since it uses Bluetooth, you can flip channels even if a cereal bowl is in the way.