Every week, a pile of new gadgets lands in my inbox, and most weeks, I skim right past them. This batch caught my eye though. CNN rounded up the standout product launches from the past few days, and three of them genuinely interest me. Let me walk you through them.

First up is the latest Schlage smart lock. I've been recommending Schlage to anyone who will listen for years. My family has used their locks forever, and they've always been reliable. CNN doesn't share a lot of specifics about what's new in this particular model so I won't pretend to know. But I always say technology should work for you, solving actual problems instead of creating new ones. A lock that lets you stop hiding spare keys under the fake rock? That solves a real problem.

Then there's the ModRetro, which CNN describes as a modern take on the N64. This one made me smile. I remember Christmas morning 1996 like it was yesterday. My family gathered around the TV to take turns on Mario Kart, the graphics were blocky, the controller was bizarre, and we loved every second of it. ModRetro is taking that whole experience and shrinking it into a handheld. My granddaughter Jess spotted it online last week and immediately texted me about it. She's never even played a real N64, but a whole generation is discovering these games for the first time on retro handhelds. I think that's wonderful.

Dyson also has what CNN calls a "new and improved" vacuum out this week. And before you roll your eyes at the price tag, because yes it's a Dyson and they are not shy about pricing, I'll admit I'm curious. I went through three different stick vacuums before I finally understood why people pay the premium. The cheaper ones would lose suction after six months and end up in a closet collecting dust. CNN hasn't shared specifics on what's improved yet, so I'm not going to guess. I'll be watching for real reviews before I make any declarations.

A few other launches made the list too, including some wellness gadgets and a couple of accessories I haven't had time to dig into yet. If any of them turn out to be worth your money, you know I'll let you know. For now, the Schlage lock is the one I'd tell a family member to look at first. Smart locks are one of those things you don't realize you needed until you've lived with one for a month. Then you can't imagine going back to keys.