5 New Gadgets That Do Double Duty

They don't slice, dice or make julienne fries. But some entries in the latest crop of consumer electronics at the International Consumer Electronics Show--the global gadget-fest which wrapped up over the weekend in Las Vegas--offer a list of capabilities nearly as long as something you'd see on an infomercial.

Like only-on-TV deals, whether such multitasking gadgets perform every job well remains to be seen. But for consumers hoping to pinch pennies while still feeding their appetite for gizmos, it’s worth considering whether some of these multitaskers could end up offering a better deal than purchasing the component gadgets individually.

Here are five new multitaskers that caught our eye at CES:

Three HD camcorders from Sony (SNE) include a built-in GPS unit. (They are models XR520V, XR500V and XR200V.) View maps (from partner Navteq) independently on the LCD screen the next time you get lost. Or use it to tag the location of your videos as you shoot, so you'll never need to remember whether that clip of the kids on skis was from Denver or Aspen.

PRICE: $1,000 and up.

Wannabe secret agents, eat your heart out. LG's GD910 wristwatch offers a touchscreen phone interface that responds to voice commands and even lets you make video calls. (We’ll wait to see how well that works in real life.) 3G connectivity makes for fast data transmission, while the built-in camera and music player offer entertainment.

PRICE: To be announced.

Extend the reach of your cellphone by adding a second provider. Known for its low-cost Internet calls, online phone service Skype is now downloadable to more than 100 mobile phones. Call other Skype users for free, or use your regular provider's data network to make low-cost national or international calls. (The hitch: You'll need an unlimited data plan and, preferably, a fast network connection.)

PRICE: Software is free.

A hard-shelled iPod Shuffle case from Mophie adds new—and unusual—capabilities to the MP3 player. The case offers everything from a bottle opener notch to a wrap for your headphones so they don't get tangled.

PRICE: $15

It’s not surprising that the latest Toshiba TV sets let you veg on your couch with all your cable channels. But if you’re too lazy to grab for your laptop, they’ll let you surf the Web, too. These models use widgets developed by Intel (INTC) and Yahoo (YHOO) to provide weather, news, and other content. Connect to a Microsoft (MSFT) Windows Media Center PC to display any content on your computer, from videos and web pages to work documents.

PRICE: To be announced.