Hasta La Gadget!

A child’s imagination is truly something worth admiring, that is for sure. The thing is, we adults sometimes work to stifle such imagination, but here is one particular toy that you might just be interested in – the $89.95 Children’s Animating/Projecting Camera from the folks over at Hammacher. This is no ordinary camera by itself, no sir. This particular shooter will allow kids to apply colorful, zany animations to pictures, before these images are then projected onto a wall. Prior to pressing the shutter button, kids will have the ability to line up shots thanks to the 1.75” LCD display, where they have a choice of one of 50 animated effects that are provided by the camera’s built-in editing software.

Among these would include seven overlay scenes, where among them would be a flying superhero, a gyrating disco dancer, or a goal-scoring soccer star. Not only that, children also have the ability to apply for other effects, where among them are an elephant trunk and ears, a viking hat, or even a mohawk. All it takes is a flip of a lever in order to convert the camera into a projector, and when you turn off the lights and hold the camera 24″ from a wall, it will show off a child’s show, where before that there will be the drawback of animated curtains and applause from the integrated speaker. Capable of stashing up to 1,000 JPEG images, the Children’s Animating/Projecting Camera will be powered by a quartet of AA batteries.
[ Children’s Animating/Projecting Camera offers plenty of fun this holiday season copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

A child is one who has plenty of imagination, so much so that when you hand him or her a normal cardboard box, they will be able to turn it into a spaceship, a time machine, a race car, the list goes on and on. Having said that, how about a specially manufactured piece of cardboard that will literally add some color and light to your child’s life? We are talking about the £39.99 Cardboard Rocket, where it is a snap to assemble, not to mention ready to be painted as well as decorated. Oh yeah, and the trees of the hills will undoubtedly be relaxed, since the Cardboard Rocket itself is made out of environmentally friendly cardboard.

The Cardboard Rocket will be avaialble in white (all the easier for you to paint it with afterwards), and comes in a sturdy corrugated cardboard outer for storage when not in use. Following in the footsteps of furniture giant IKEA when it comes to its packaging, the Cardboard Rocket would be flat-packed, measuring around 113cm x 105cm x 5.5cm. Once it has been fully assembled and constructed, it will measure around 90cm x 162cm x 90cm. Needless to say, at such dimensions, adults are strictly prohibited from joining in the adventures of your child’s imagination.
[ Cardboard Rocket is combustible but fun for sure copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

If you’re trying to eat healthier, it’s a good idea to know exactly what goes into the food you consume. And while that’s not exactly the goal Bandai had in mind when it created these sushi transformers that turn into what they’re made from, it’s justification enough to collect all five.

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There were a series of delightful sounds that our computers used to make when they had to connect to dial-up. While it would take some time to decipher it into the English language (“Skreeeeeeeech-bee-duummmmm.”), just about anyone can hear it and know what it is. For some, this was a nightmarish experience, and was something to avoid having to listen to at all costs.

On the other hand, there are those who saw this as a musical delight. Such perplexing tones and pitches could likely make some beautiful music, and with the Music Modem, you’ll be able to experiment. This is a synth instrument that will allow you to use these ancient sounds as part of your tunes. There are three modes, which consist of classic modem, newer modem, or music sound bank. The first two of these options will give you 8 different modem sounds that have a various ‘note’.

The other will give you 5 sets of tones that are in a standard 8-note scale. There is a AUX in and out, an on and off switch, and it only needs 3 AA batteries to function. While I don’t think that $30 is too high of an asking price for this ‘instrument’, I will say that you likely won’t want to buy it unless you want to use it for music or just to annoy people. It certainly is a novelty item, and would likely end up being another dust collector on the shelf after a week.

Available for purchase on ThinkGeek
[ The Music Modem will smack you in the face with nostalgia copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

R2-D2, the most famous astromech droid in the world of Star Wars, has more or less saved the Rebel Alliance one time too many, and is a beloved character for many. This hunk of metal is far more intelligent than the verbose C3-PO, and we are quite sure that it is made out of extremely dense metal. Well, with the $79.95 RC Inflatable R2-D2, you can be quite sure that it will live up to its reputation by coming in a lightweight and inflatable body, all without sacrificing on its maneuverability as a genuine astromech droid.

In order to inflate this variant of R2-D2, we are sad to say that it is not smart enough to do so itself, but rather, you will have to manually perform the inflation process using the included foot pump. When fully inflated, the R2-D2 would stand at an impressive 26″ in height, sporting drive units underneath which will allow him to perform zippy 360-degree spins, full forward, back, and turning. Thanks to its inflatable body, it will come with an extremely low center of gravity, letting him remain upright even when descending down the stairs. R2-D2 is also able to right himself should he tip, whenever he attempts a flip off a ramp. Sporting a 25-foot range, both he and the remote are powered by one 9-volt and a quartet of AA batteries.
[ RC Inflatable R2-D2 is far lighter than the real thing copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]