Artiphon Orba is like half a techno-grapefruit that lets you compose songs and loops in seconds

Pianos? Guitars? Drums? They’re all a bit much like hard work when you’ve got a top-ten hit in your head that just has to come out. So try Orba ($89) instead. Half a sphere, this palm-friendly piece of kit was inspired by shakers and hand drums, and influenced by the creators getting a bit obsessed with grapefruits and bowls of miso soup. Its form might be unconventional, but it’s also portable and immediate. There’s a large button to instantly switch between drum, bass, chord and lead parts. A raft of sensors lets you tap, slide, shape, tilt and spin Orba, smashing out beats, forming ear-smashing bass, and crafting riffs that will stick in people’s heads for months. And when you’re ready to take the next step to superstardom, Orba can plug into music apps via MIDI – or an amp over its 3.5mm output when you’re doing that headliner slot at Glastonbury.

Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.