Hasta La Gadget!

Perhaps the most terrifying thing about picking up an instrument for the first time is not knowing what to do. Are there strings to pluck or bow, or buttons to push while buzzing your lips into the mouthpiece? It can be quite overwhelming if you don’t have any guidance. While the best instrument to start on is piano, there are other options out there if you just want to have your own jam session.

The Otamatone is something we have seen in the past, but this Deluxe version takes it from a toy to a professional musician grade instrument. It sounds a bit quirky, but could fit in a variety of genres. To use it, slide your finger up and down the neck to produce the pitch, and squeeze the cheeks to give it a little vibrato. There are three octaves to choose from which include lo, medium, and hi (maybe they meant to put high?).

You can connect headphones to practice without anyone listening in, or an amp or speakers so everyone can hear your performance. There is a strap included, as this is fairly large in size. You’ll be able to choose from black or white for the body, and it will cost you around $100. You won’t need to know where to put your fingers as you rely more on listening to the pitch than anything. While in the right hands this can make some decent music, it can be equally as terrifying if not handled well.

Available for purchase on ThinkGeek
[ Otamatone Deluxe is a professional grade instrument you need no formal training to learn to play copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

I guess there could be any number of reasons you don’t want to go outside to engage in your kite-flying  pursuits. Rain, cold weather, Benjamin Franklin-esque electrocution paranoia, fear of zombie apocalypse, or perhaps you simply can not tear yourself away from your favorite soap operas, or the nightly news. Whatever the case may be, I’ve got you covered.

Check out the Homekite, quite possibly the worlds very best (and only) indoor, flyable kite. I know, your thinking you probably don’t have enough of a breeze zipping through your living room, but never fear,  Homekites are powered by a hand crank, and in order to add some degree of difficulty to this indoor flight extravaganza, this crank must be turned continuously in order to keep it aloft.

The kites are super soft and attached to the hand crank by an amazing 2 foot long cord, so they are easily controlled, and unlikely to cause damage during your spine tingling indoor kite flying activities. The developer of the Homekite says it’s a great way to teach youngsters about kinetic energy and basic physics. I happen to think its and even better way to tell someone to go fly a kite, and really mean it.

There are six lively and colorful Homekites that you can choose from including white, black, red, orange and green and if you feel like you really need one, (really?) they can be had for right around 50 bucks from japantrendshop.com, but I know you’re holding out for something substantially more exciting, like the waiting-for-paint-to-dry olympics.
[ Homekite – No Wind? No Park? No Problem! copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

They say that laughter is the best medicine and I guess I would have to agree. Around here some of our best days have nothing to do with big, heavily planned events, but more about the laughter we have shared over something silly. This being said, I’m constantly on the lookout for small items that can add to to my arsenal of pranks and practical jokes…

Check out the Talking Toilet Paper Spindle, designed to make you laugh your, um, butt off, this replacement spindle lets you personalize and record a 9 second message for any unsuspecting soul looking to use your facilities. Set in motion the second your bathroom guest begins to help themselves to some toilet tissue, the Talking Toilet Paper Spindle comes complete with suggestions for websites that contain some useable sound effects and movie quotes, or simply add your own.

So whether you want to make someone laugh, or literally scare the crap out of them, the Talking Toilet Paper Spindle may be for you. I’m thinking it might be just the right place to leave important “To Do” memos for my husband, because he’ll never be able to say he didn’t get the message!

The Talking Toilet Paper Spindle replace most standard toilet paper rollers and require 2 AAA batteries (not included) and with a price tag under 10 bucks, you won’t be able to wipe that… grin off your face. Available now at amazon.com.
[ Talking Toilet Paper Spindle – Get’s you Rolling copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

In every cartoon or TV show, when someone is in a bad mood or sad, a raincloud will appear over their heads and downpour on them. Needless to say, most people don’t want something like that to happen unless they are either in the middle of the desert, or in desperate need of a shower. Thankfully that doesn’t happen in real life, but storms definitely do, and even though the rain isn’t exactly fun all the time, listening to thunder and seeing the lightning is certainly peaceful.

While I doubt anyone is going to want a full-fledged storm cloud in their living room, wouldn’t it be nice to have just the sounds of it happening hanging around? Of course you can get audio or video recordings of it, but they always end up playing in a loop, ruining the chaotic order an actual rainy day has that makes it relaxing in the first place. This Cloud light won’t be as good as the real thing, but it will definitely try. It can’t really function as a lamp, but it would do quite nicely as a nightlight.

It is arduino-controlled and motion-triggered, and once it goes off it will give you a combination of light and sound. This is of course, an artistic project, and as there aren’t likely many of these floating around, it should come as no surprise that it carries a $1,800 price tag. There isn’t any word on being able to change out lights or colors, but this could be a disco ball on the nights you’re not trying to relax.

Available for purchase on the artist’s website RichardClarkson, found via incrediblethings
[ This Cloud light is the only raincloud you’ll want to follow you home copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

I love having a pet, as far as I’m concerned the positives far outweigh the negatives. Sure, having a pet requires some work and expense, then there’s boarding your pet when your on vacation, vet bills, walks in the rain… but all the love and loyalty is almost always worth it. But what about those of us with lifestyles (or apartments) that simply don’t allow a pet?

Welcome, Perfect Polly… the ultimate in pet perfection. Perfect Polly is a genuine simulated parakeet, made of high quality plastic, with breathtaking parakeet-like markings, Perfect Polly will react to your presence by moving her head, flicking her tail feathers and singing you a beautiful tune that only a genuine plastic parrot could. Lifelike enough to annoy even the most discriminating cat, and consuming nothing other than batteries, Perfect Polly never needs water, or her newspapers changed.

Able to stay home alone for months at a time, Perfect Polly will never disappoint your kids by dropping dead, or require them to learn any kind of responsibility for the care of a living thing, fun to take to parties or outdoors, where an authentic Parakeet might be inclined to run for the hills, Perfect Polly will stay right by your side, entertaining you and your friends for… well, as long as the batteries (or your friends) hold out.

Perfect Polly comes with a natural looking perch, or alternatively, you can keep her in a cage, or simply allow her to sit right on your finger. Be advised however, if you’re walking around with a tweeting plastic parrot on your finger I cannot be held responsible for damages to your reputation, or any implied perception of your sanity. If Perfect Polly is the pet for you, you can have one for under 15 bucks from amazon.com. I’m gonna hold out for the automated Perfect Husband … the next logical step don’t you think?
[ Perfect Polly want a Cracker? Didn’t Think So… copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]