Hasta La Gadget!

Radiohead said “Anyone can play guitar,” but many Guitar Hero and Rock Band pros might be disappointed when they pick up a real ax and try to rock out. That’s where Fretlight comes in. The Fretlight guitar plugs into a USB outlet and lights up as a video teaches you how to become the next Clapton, Hendrix, Malmsteen, or whoever your guitar idol may be.

The concept of light up instruments is not a revolutionary thing; I was playing “Frère Jacques” on my light-up keyboard 15 years ago. Optek brought the Fretlight guitar to us a few years back, but Fretlight is back with new video features, making it even easier to learn guitar.

Take it from someone who’s tried to learn guitar a countless number of times. It’s hard to go back and forth from the guitar to a book, but the little lights helps you to place your fingers in the correct positions, while following the video on your computer.

The Fretlight guitar is a real guitar–nothing like the small, plastic Guitar Hero guitars. Just plug it into a Mac or PC USB port, and the teacher on the video guides you as LEDs light up on the guitar neck. The video player software lights up your guitar in real-time along with the video, allowing you to learn chord progressions, pull-offs, hammer-ons, bends, and all the guitar skills you need to become a rock star. Just follow the teacher, and you can practice at home whenever you want.

It’s both Mac and PC compatible. Check out the Web site for the full selection of videos and guitars. There is a free introductory lesson, but after that, prices vary with each product.

We may have tripped out over Mattel’s MindFlex at CES, but that didn’t stop us from a little extra oohing and ahhing at the Toy Fair in NYC. To refresh your memory, MindFlex is a mind-controlled gaming system that uses biofeedback sensors on its headband to let you control a small foam ball on the MindFlex’s obstacle course. Look for it in the fall for $79.99.

Mattel, of course, had plenty more to show off. Check it out after the jump.

Robots dancing to K-Pop? Seriously, what’s not to love? Robotics kit manufacturer Bioloid had a handful of custom bots on hand at Toy Fair that danced together.

The robots were built using the company’s bipedal humanoid kit, and programmed with the Behavior Control Programmer software kit, which lets users generate unique motions and behaviors, like, say, dancing.

Check out video of the Bioloid bots in action, after the jump.

There are some things on the Toy Fair showroom floor that one can’t help but gawk at–like, say the Orbitwheel Skates. The company describes the round footwear as something of a cross between rollerblading and skateboarding, but really, when you get a chance to watch it in action, it looks altogether different from either.

There are no buckles on the skates–you just slide them on and propel them by twisting your body around, making it possible to do 360-degree turns. According to the woman I spoke with, the skates are also equipped for vert runs.

After the jump, check out video of the Orbitwheels in action.

Fisher-Price had plenty of upgrades to its already successful product lines to show off at this year’s Toy Fair. First outta the gate (literally, at the gate) are the Elmo Tickle Hands ($29.99, left). When activated by pressing Elmo’s nose, the furry gloves laugh and vibrate like the original Tickle Me Elmo. Pressing the nose again activates the Hands’ dance mode, which guides kids step by step through a new dance routine.

More after the jump!