# Cool stuff they COULD make, but won't **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191 "2001-11-08T14:53:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/1 "2001-11-08T14:53:58Z")
I recall watching VH1’s _Classic Albums_ series in which artists discus their most popular albums like _Aja, Rumours, Face Value,_ etc. In it the artists go back into the studio and “un-mix” the songs showing you how they were constructed. I think this would cool to be able to buy a CD and, using an included program, de-construct the entire album. It would have to cost more, of course, but I think it would be worth it. The record companies would never do this since it could allow anyone to make their own mix of the album. Still… What’s on your wish list of “things they won’t make, but could”? ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/2 "2001-11-08T18:05:20Z")
Cars that run on water. It’s a conspiracy I tell you! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/3 "2001-11-08T18:37:32Z")
A video recorder you can set remotely, e.g. by phone. So you go to work, you read the paper, you see there’s a TV show you want to tape that night but you’re not going to be back home in time to watch it or set the vid. So you just ‘dial in’ to your VCR and set it remotely. Obviously possible with current technology. Yet steadfastly not invented. Not even by Sony. I haven’t quite worked out why not, but perhaps it’s just part of the general conspiracy to make life not quite as good as it could be. Like the fact that (here in the UK) it is legally compulsory to buy a BBC TV licence if you have a TV set even if you never, in your whole life, want to watch a single second of the BBC’s appallig output. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/4 "2001-11-08T18:56:44Z")
Well, the OP is kinda vaguely Cafe Society, but the subsequent posts are either MPSIMS or IMHO. {flips a coin} IMHO it is. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/5 "2001-11-08T19:12:00Z")
Make super-cheap, super-efficient passenger cars for city driving that are physically incapable of going over 40 mph. Bah, you say. I’d never buy it. What if they got 60 mpg? You’d only have to buy gas once a month, and it’d cost you ten bucks. What if they cost $5,000? ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/6 "2001-11-08T19:21:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ianzin \* > \*\*A video recorder you can set remotely, e.g. by phone. So you go to work, you read the paper, you see there’s a TV show you want to tape that night but you’re not going to be back home in time to watch it or set the vid. So you just ‘dial in’ to your VCR and set it remotely. > > Obviously possible with current technology. Yet steadfastly not invented. Not even by Sony. > \*\* Such devices are being developed. The reason you have not seen them yet is probably because marketing research showed they were not cost effective (not enough people would buy them). Now with digital TV and home networks coming to market, it is just a logical next step. ---
**Author:** ![bobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@bobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/7 "2001-11-08T19:29:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ianzin \* > \*\*A video recorder you can set remotely, e.g. by phone. So you go to work, you read the paper, you see there’s a TV show you want to tape that night but you’re not going to be back home in time to watch it or set the vid. So you just ‘dial in’ to your VCR and set it remotely. > > Obviously possible with current technology. Yet steadfastly not invented. Not even by Sony. > \*\* This does exist… and it doesn’t use crappy 70s technology (video tape)… take Mr. Computer, install linux, install TV tuner card, code up a little daemon, when you send it a particular e-mail (or you could set it to answer your phone too, and then a particular tone) will activate it to start recording channel X at time T for minutes M, store to HDD… ofcourse that’s basically a Tivo now, but a cool hack none-the-less well I guess technically “they” didn’t make, but you did… Any ethernet-equipped Tivo owners out there know if this is already implemented? If so, then “they” did make it. If it is, there’s one more reason for me to buy one. ---
**Author:** ![audient](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@audient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audient)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/8 "2001-11-08T19:39:50Z")
here’s my invention idea. I’m not gonna get around to it, so go ahead & steal it. make yourself a zillion… ATM card readers that don’t care which damn way you insert the card. Just takes three more sensors. ---
**Author:** ![audient](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@audient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audient)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/9 "2001-11-08T19:42:52Z")
oh, and **Mr. Blue Sky** , I already have the capability to remix a recording however I like. I just do it with my own recordings : ) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/10 "2001-11-08T19:50:54Z")
- Strawberry toothpaste. - Unscratchable CD’s & DVD’s. - Holographic TV. - Beer-flavored soda. - PIP for Dish Network. - Butt kazoos - Guitars w/ lighted finger placements from an inserted song card. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/11 "2001-11-08T20:13:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*\* Strawberry toothpaste. > > - Unscratchable CD’s & DVD’s. > - Holographic TV. > - Beer-flavored soda. > - PIP for Dish Network. > - Butt kazoos > - Guitars w/ lighted finger placements from an inserted song card. \*\* well, i can do without butt kazoos and strawberry toothpaste, but the rest of these ideas are shear genius! i would like to have a goddamn 1968 Camaro! no stinkin’ airbags or big, heavy bumpers! i want a nice metal car with a big ole’ hurkin’ V8, pumping out tons of power. why must we be content with the new shit? we made em’ just fine in the late 60’s if you ask me. thats what i want! thats what they wont make, a brand-new made in 2001 1969 Camaro! p.s. --Dish Networks sucks! ---
**Author:** ![Enigma42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/87869e/32.png) [@Enigma42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enigma42)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/12 "2001-11-08T20:34:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Any ethernet-equipped Tivo owners out there know if this is already implemented? If so, then “they” did make it. If it is, there’s one more reason for me to buy one. I don’t know if TiVo offers a similar feature (or a better one!), but ReplayTV type units have something like this. You register online and then you can add shows to be recorded via a website. When your unit calls the main servers the next time, it downloads the new instructions. There is an obvious limitation in that the instructions don’t take effect immediately. So it will only really help you if the show you program is at least the next day. > [@](#): > > - Strawberry toothpaste. Sounds good! Haven’t seen strawberry specifically, but I have used grape toothpaste. It tasted like a diet grape soda, so it wasn’t all that great really. If only they could make it taste like jam. . . > [@](#): > > - Beer-flavored soda. Maybe I’m missing your point, but wouldn’t that be about the same thing as the non-alcholic beer? Does that stuff actually sell well anyway? 🙂 > [@](#): > > - Guitars w/ lighted finger placements from an inserted song card. I recently played one that had little LEDs in the fingerboard that lit up to show you scales and chords. There were some switches on the body of the guitar where you could select the key and the mode and then the lights would show you the scale. It also had a port on the back labeled ‘Interface’. The sales guy told me that you could hook it up to a midi device and it would light the appropriate LED as the song played. I didn’t try that out, and I honestly doubted the sales guy at the time. This was a used guitar, and it looked at least a few years old. I can’t remember the name, but I’ll see if it is still there next time I go back to that store. It was pretty neat, but it had to be the heaviest guitar I’ve every played! Quite a shock for me, since I normally play a Parker, which are some of the lightest elec. guitars around (or at least they were when I got it!). My shoulder and back were hurting after only a few minutes. ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/13 "2001-11-08T20:46:37Z")
Ummmm…I’m pretty sure my boyfriend already HAS a butt kazoo. At least…it sure makes a similar SOUND… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MrPeabody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@MrPeabody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrPeabody)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/14 "2001-11-08T22:18:41Z")
Space Food sSicks. I know they did but now they won’t. I hate that. ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/15 "2001-11-08T22:32:00Z")
[x-files theme] Heavier than air flying machines. Don’t laugh, I really think it could be done. [/x-files theme] ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/16 "2001-11-08T22:39:41Z")
> [@](#): > > butt kazoos and strawberry toothpaste I would think the invention of a butt kazoo would **require** the invention of strawberry toothpaste! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/17 "2001-11-08T22:54:42Z")
[People Kibble!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=53966) ---
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/18 "2001-11-08T23:04:06Z")
They already make people kibble. Purina Monkey Chow (formulated for primates of all statures, including us) I posted about this like a year ago an no one was interested… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CheapBastid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@CheapBastid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheapBastid)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/19 "2001-11-08T23:08:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MrPeabody \* > \*\*Space Food sSicks. > I know they did but now they won’t. > > I hate that. \*\* Now you’ve done it! You made me cry! [sub]The still do make 'em in Australia, but they don’t taste or look the same, dammit[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![audient](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@audient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audient)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2001, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191/20 "2001-11-08T23:21:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*\* Strawberry toothpaste. > \*\* [Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry for Kids](http://www.tomsofmaine.com/toms/product.asp?dept%5Fid=400&pf%5Fid=TP%2DChild) but for some reason, they don’t make butt kazoos [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-stuff-they-could-make-but-wont/92191.md?page=2)