Honey, I Can Barely Hear You!

Traffic's a good one. That should do the trick next time you jolt up in bed half an hour past starting hours at the office. Instead of calling the boss with yet another lame excuse, such as "I'm really sorry, but I'm stuck in traffic," this time you'll actually have the sound to prove it. Sort of prove it, at least.

Simeda, a Munich-based software company, came up with the idea, and is now marketing the SounderCover program to those in search of the perfect excuse. Apart from the traffic sound, there's also construction noise, thunder and a dentist drill. A ringing phone sound comes in handy to cut of those friends that just won't stop talking.

The sounds can be allocated to certain people so that they'll hear the same thing the next time they call. Unfaithful people might also find the gadget quite useful, although at least one of the options is likely to grow old rather quickly: "Honey, I Can Barely Hear You! I'm at the circus parade!"