Unless you live in a doorman building or your house is located in a theft-free neighborhood, the downside of online shopping--especially during the holidays--is the fear that your packages might get swiped. For most of us, the new DoorBot is the doorman-slash-security-camera we've always wanted. Sleek and wireless, it easily attaches to your home and uses low-voltage Wi-Fi to beam live video of whoever rings your doorbell directly to your phone so you can see who’s there and communicate with them intercom-style.

"Usually, when I tell my wife about my invention ideas, she correctly tells me they are bad," says Jamie Siminoff, chief inventor for the company. "Then one night I showed her my idea for the DoorBot, and she told me that I did not just reinvent the doorbell, but I gave her the feeling of having gates on the house for a fraction of the price. Now when I travel, she can answer the door from a comfortable, safe area in the house."