25 Best Back-to-School Gadgets

Some students need nothing short of a bullhorn blaring in their face in order to wake up; others might appreciate a more subtle approach. Philips' Wake-Up Light looks like a soothing plastic pillow with an iPod dock attached; just set its internal lamp to gradually illuminate in the morning — perfect for mimicking a sunrise, even if you're getting up before the crack of dawn to finish a paper. You can set the clock radio or your iPod tunes to come on as the lamp begins to glow, or you can even choose from a selection of "natural" wake-up sounds, ranging from "morning birds in the forest" to "sounds of the African jungle."

Price: $199, available Aug. 22