Summer 2008 is about to hit again and it's about time you start packing for the beach once again. Aside from the usual pack lunches, swimwears, and towels, have you given thought about what gadgets that will keep you in touch with your life back in the big city? Here are a few ideas that can help you out:

USB Mini Fridge – We all know that you can't travel around without your laptop to churn up a few proposals and letters while hamming it up on the shore. So why make life harder for yourself as your force yourself on a warm beverage? Pack this mini fridge that you can plug directly into your USB port. It chills one can at a time and is perfect as you take a break between those Word docs and Excel sheets. More here.

Earthmate GPS – Going out of town? Thinking of getting lost on a summer weekend? Well, if you end up pushing it a little too far, pack this mini-GPS module along with the rest of your knapsack and you should be able to find yourself back on the road. Otherwise, it's just a really nifty device to have along for the ride as you record your trip to show others who you might recommend your trip to. Oh, and did we mention that it's waterproof? Snorkeling takes a different turn. Details here.

Digital Hero 3 – Planned the best summer vacation of your life that's filled with adventure and rough experiences that might not be the best of situations for your regular digital camera? Check out GoPro's Digital Hero that’s a 3 megapixel, wrist-mounted, waterproof digital camera that can capture all of your trekking moments. It saves everything onto SD Cards which makes this a lightweight heavyweight. Get it here.

Driv-N – Need your PC? Put it in the car. Really, you can and it will let you browse the web, play DVDs, and stay connected. The CPU goes in the trunk and you can install the screen into your dashboard. It comes with free speech-recognition for hands-free operation. Neat and price; but definitely one for the summer as you’re driving along the countryside.
Details here.