Gadgets: The Monster GO-DJ portable mixer

Monster has found a way to shrink the DJ booth into a pocket-size device. The company, known for its audio cables and headphones, this month introduced the GO-DJ, a portable turntable and mixer.

The slim device, which looks like the removable faceplate of a car stereo, offers the ability to play, mix and record digital music from a personal collection via an auxiliary line-in or SD card port (microphone and headphones ports included).

Dual LCD touch screens flank an analog control panel with hardware knobs used to cue tracks, control volume, cross-fade and add special effects (seven are included, along with two dozen sample sounds and a 16-beat step sequencer).

Music is assigned to a digital turntable on each LCD screen, and can then be looped, scratched or mixed with other music or sound effects with the touch of a finger. An auto-sync tool makes matching beats easy. Swiping horizontally on the bottom of the LCD screens reveals five more screens, each with a different function.

But small touch screens usually mean simple navigation. Not so with the GO-DJ, which is really intended for the serious DJ.

LED bulbs are dropping in price — usually under $10 — and they last much longer than incandescent bulbs while using far less electricity.

You will pay a bit more for the TCP smart LED home lighting system, but each bulb has an Internet connection that lets you control them from your phone or tablet.

The TCP lights aren't as fancy or expensive as the Philips Hue LEDs, which connect to the Internet and can change colors. But they can do quite a bit if you decide to control them with an app available for Apple and Android products.

Using the app, lights can be turned on and off and dimmed from your phone or tablet, or on a schedule. You can also do settings for different occasions.

If you get the hang of the app and want to add more bulbs, they are $17 each at Home Depot ($28 list). According to the manufacturer, the app can handle up to 250 bulbs.