So it’s up to us to make gadgets that will do the jobs they are too lazy to do. Like fetching our slippers, retrieving the newspaper and fetching our keys for instance. Fetch My Keys is shaped like a dog, because it is the dog that you wish you had. And if there’s any justice, the dog will see it’s likeness, see what it does and be properly shamed. Maybe even feel bad enough to start doing some cool stuff.

All you have to do to find your keys is whistle and the nose will glow and make a noise to lead you to your keys. It will cost you £5.00. (~$8 USD)

[via Chip Chick]

Designed by Jake Frey, the switch cover has a silver bottom section that is magnetized. Assuming you have a metal keyring, all you need to do when you come in the door is stick the keys to the light switch cover. That is pretty cool, and you probably won’t forget your keys there. The cover comes in a standard single switch size.

I wonder what effect the magnet in the cover would have the newer “intelligent” car keys that have RFID chips in them  – hopefully nothing. You can order one of these right now for $24.95 (USD) over at Fancy.

The keyboard jacket was made by Julien David who attached over 900 keys to it. This jacket is unisex, so it’s also fine for geekettes. Sadly, if you don’t like it or something in your life, you can’t just hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart, or CTRL-Z to undo.

Still, if you want to stand out from the crowd, this jacket will do it. Admittedly, it’s not for the right reasons, but sometimes, any reason will do.

[MakeUseOf via LeetLady]

The exact launch date for the keyboard isn’t known nor is the price. It will have interchangeable keysets as I already mentioned with special keysets being offered for specific game titles. It supports macro recording and has keys good for 15M key presses each. Those keys have also been tuned so that different amounts of force are needed to activate different keys. Commonly used keys need less force to activate.

This isn’t the first time this interchangeable keyset tech has made it to market. This was around several years back from Ideazon in a keyboard called the ZBoard. I had one and it was pretty cool. Unsurprisingly, that keyboard was snapped up by SteelSeries and what we see here is the latest version.

They’re available at Geekware for $15 (USD), and are also available in classic gray.

The Ketron SD8 differentiates itself from the keyboard pack by offering a keyboard that isn’t based on the traditional 88-keyed piano, but instead on the chromatic scale that you might find on an accordion.

There’s 120 keys on the left side, and 52 keys on the right for a total of 172 keys. The synthesizer has a built in multi-track sequencer with editing capabilities, and four individual audio outputs too. There’s also an on-board drum machine, with a variety of catchy acoustic and Latin loops. Also along for the ride is a complete multi-effect DSP which lets you crank out all sorts of effects on top of your chromatic stylings.

This polyphonic synth is designed to produce a variety of musical styles, but definitely is best suited to Latin and maybe the occasional Polka. Here’s a couple of fun video clips of the SD8 in action:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Damn. Now I want to dance the Pasodoble. Too bad I have a complete lack of rhythm or coordination.

I haven’t been able to find any U.S. retailers who currently stock the SD8, but a quick Google search of “Ketron SD8” turns up plenty of suppliers in Europe who are ready for you to plunk down about €3500 (appx. $5000 USD) for yours. Expect to pay a couple hundred extra bucks for one with a built-in hard drive.

Weird Al needs one of these.

Unfortunately, however, in order to pull this one off, you’re gonna need more than just an old keyboard. While there’s a detailed tutorial available, it might just require materials or steps that seem foreign to you. If you have a dremel tool lying around, though, or are familiar with jewelry-making, then you’re a few quick steps away from your own keyboard earrings.

What keys to choose? Your initials? Arrow keys? A two-tiered set so you can use WASD? That would require some thought.

[Craft Bits via Crafty Crafty]

The electronic lock pick gun can be used to “open most of pin tumble locks, dimple locks, cross locks, 2-side and 4-side auto locks.” It runs on 6V rechargeable batteries and also has a LED light on its nose, so thieves locksmiths won’t have a problem if they have to work in the dark.

The gun pops locks easily thanks to its 6 different picks and its “strong vibratility.” Awesome.

You can buy an electronic lock pick gun at DealExtreme for $50.53 USD (free shipping).

[Please don't use one of these to break into my place - ED.]

[via Gadgetizer]

The Tonal Plexus series of keyboards is a micro-tonal input device featuring rows and rows of buttons which generate tones with far more precision than an 88-key piano can handle.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Created by H-Pi Intstruments, the Tonal Plexus comes in variants from a compact 2-octave, 422 key controller, all the way up to a gigantic 8-octave keyboard with a whopping 1688 keys.

The keyboard layout is based on a traditional piano keyboard pattern of 7 white and 5 black keys, but each key gets a bunch of additional variants, including 7 naturals, 7 sharps, 7 flats, 7 double-sharps, 7 double flats, 6 triple-sharps and 6 triple-flats.

In case you’re keeping count, that’s 211 unique keys per octave. For some reason, I don’t think that you’ll ever run out of notes on this keyboard.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Prices range from about $1300 to $3800, depending on the number of keys and whether or not you choose to include the optional synthesizer/amplifier module, or you just need a MIDI controller. You can check out the complete catalog here.

[via DeviantSynth]

My Touch Keys is a overlay that sits on your iPhone’s screen and has cutouts which line up with the location of the on-screen keyboard (portrait mode only). The static-cling sheets use their subtle divots to give you feedback on the location of the keys, even if you’re not looking at the screen.

I’d be concerned that the ridges on the film might get in the way of other, non-keyboarding activities, but the makers claim that you can still use the screen without interference. At just $7.99 a pair (including shipping), it’s not too much of a gamble, so if you have any desire to improve your iPhone typing accuracy and speed, you can grab one here.

[via Phonemag via Ubergizmo]

Once folded in two, the keyboard measures in at just 23.3″ (w) x 14.5″ (l), which should fall below the FAA regulation carry-on size, assuming it’s less than about 7-inches thick when it’s in its carrying bag. The Vax 77 weighs in at about 25 pounds, which should make it a bit easier to haul around than other keyboards, which usually weigh around twice as much.

The keyboard features 76 weighted keys and can control any MIDI or USB connected synthesizer module. The keyboard can pass all kinds of detailed data about key presses to a sound module including pressure, attack and release velocity. It even offers what’s considered a holy grail in electronic keyboards, polyphonic aftertouch.

Once released, each Vax 77 will be custom made to order, and buyers can choose from several colors as well as the weighting of your keys. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but the makers of the keyboard hope to keep the price in reach for working musicians, whatever that means.

If they figure out how to fold up a baby grand piano, I’ll buy one.

[via Music Thing]