This Gadget Is Tuned In to Karaoke Enthusiasts

How would you like to have karaoke contests at home, at the beach, in your car--anywhere an FM radio can go?

That’s possible with Leadsinger, a portable, wireless microphone with interchangeable computerized instrumental music cartridges inside. The unusual mike communicates with any FM receiver (stereo, Walkman, boombox, car radio) so you can sing along with the music of Sinatra, the Beatles or Hootie & the Blowfish.

Just out from E.S. Electrosales Co. in New York, Leadsinger transmits your voice with background instrumental music over the speaker system tuned to 87.9 FM, an otherwise blank radio frequency. It also can be used as a wireless microphone without any music so, say, “Monday Night Football” fans can do their own play-by-play while watching the game.

Using six AAA batteries, Leadsinger operates as a wireless device anywhere within 50 feet of an FM radio, or it can be used with the 20-foot AC adapter accessory.

Dubbed by company reps as “a band in your hand,” Leadsinger ($199.95) includes 40 assorted pre-programmed songs. Additional music cartridges of 15 to 30 songs ($25 to $49.95) are available in nearly every category of popular music and international music from France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Japan, South Korea, Israel, China and Portugal. For information, call (800) 531-LEAD.

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Hush Little Baby: Now you can rockabye baby with a high-tech infant mattress called Nature’s Cradle. A microprocessor in the mattress controls the linear and horizontal rocking mechanism, and the sound of amniotic fluid and a heartbeat are digitally reproduced and piped through the unit under the newborn.

A softly covered positioning system of bolsters secures the infant on top of a pad. The unit is operated according to the baby’s age and can be set to either night or day rhythm. The sound and motion will slowly diminish over 16 weeks so the newborn doesn’t develop any dependency, the company says. After four months, the mattress can serve as a standard mattress as long as the baby sleeps in a crib.

With an FDA clearance and a seal of approval from the Lamaze Institute for Family Education, Nature’s Cradle ($359) has just been launched nationwide by Infant Advantage Inc. in San Ramon, Calif. A company representative says the unit has undergone five years of clinical trials and studies, which have shown that Nature’s Cradle babies cry about 65% less, have less colic, and sleep for longer periods at night than infants placed in traditional cribs.

For info, call (800) CRADLE-U.

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Climate Control: Snow bunnies and skiers will want to check out this winter’s Windbloc Convertible Glove / Mitt from Manzella.

The hand wear is made of Polartec climate-control fabric, a fleece with a windproof, breathable water-resistant barrier that’s designed to protect your hands from wind and snow. It easily converts from a mitten to a half-fingered glove with a Pittards leather patch on the palm. A Velcro tab secures the mitten flap back when being used as a glove.

Available in four colors, the Glove / Mitt ($22.50) is sold in outdoor specialty stores and catalogs. Call Manzella at (800) 645-6837.