My kiddo is loving his activity ball. I looked up exactly what one he has, it's the Bright Starts Clack and Slide Activity Ball. It was cheap (under $10) but it's easy for him to pick up and wave around and it makes noise and is full of colors and textures he likes to chew on since he's teething. He's also got a wooden Plan Toys rainbow colored roller rattle he likes. Again, it's easy to gnaw!
If I'm playing with him, my brother and SIL bought his the really beautiful Pacific Northwest tribes salmon puppet with really lovely native designs in white, black, bright blue and red. He'll laugh and laugh if I get it out and play with him.
I bought some electronic stuff, a piano, some learning toys, that dreadful singing soccer ball and he's ok with them but he seems to like the other stuff better for now.
And none of it is better than zippers on our clothes or my glasses. Hot pink and black glasses with rhinestones on the corners were a much better idea before I had a baby.