Tomy Hi-Kara karaoke cube is world's smallest

Sometimes it's best to not ask why. In the case of the Tomy Hi-Kara, which they claim is the world's smallest karaoke machine (unless others have something to say about it), we will simply list off some specifications and dimensions then allow you to judge amongst yourselves, because, really, yeah. The Hi-Kara measures just 2.75 x 2.75 x 2.75-inches in a cube format with a 2.4-inch screen that displays lyrics and happy fun animations. You have to download songs onto a proprietary cartridge from the Hi-Kara website. Finally, a headset / microphone serves microphone and listening duties for up to two people. It comes in white and pink. There you have it. We'll be over here.

[Minilap @ Jun 17th 2008 1:10PM]

Is she legal?

[Low Ranked @ Jun 17th 2008 1:17PM]

I'm telling Chris Hansen.

[Flashpoint @ Jun 17th 2008 1:25PM]

"Legal" is subjective to the country you find yourself in.

Age of Consent isn't the same all over the world.

HERE IS THE AGE OF CONSENT GLOBAL MAP !!!!!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Age_of_Consent.png

[Minilap @ Jun 17th 2008 1:29PM]

Thanks for the handy map Flash point. I might modify the colors before using it but it's a good start.

[OneLove @ Jun 17th 2008 1:33PM]

she is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njrmL1y3ul8

[Flashpoint @ Jun 17th 2008 1:59PM]

Minilap...


I just get so tired of everyone thinking the entire world has to do everything like America.

age of consent.
age of purchasing alcohol/tobacco
age of signing legal documents...

THEY DON'T

and what's funny is, if you take a look at most of the societies where the age of consent is lower than Americas, for the most part, they are less violent, with far lower murder rates, far fewer rapes and far fewer cases of single parent homes.

[gad get @ Jun 17th 2008 2:08PM]

Is this what they mean when they talk about society objectifying women? A guy sees a picture of some cute girl on the internet, and the first thought that comes to mind is: is she over the age of consent?
Seriously, perverts, get real girlfriends! And I don't mean love bots!

[Jason Barlow @ Jun 17th 2008 2:48PM]

Hey, Flashpoint. You are a stupid C.H.U.D.!! In Japan (where this photo was taken), the age of consent is 14. If you have ever spent any time in Japan, you would know that the country is full of molesters and rapists and killers. Take your whiney, holier-than-though self and try posting something that makes sense and actually relates to what the thread is about.

[happy_penguin @ Jun 17th 2008 2:48PM]

Some of those places have an age of consent as low as 9. I don't care what anyone else thinks, that's disgusting.

[IndusCreed @ Jun 17th 2008 3:05PM]

whats up with all the butt ugly asian girls today?

[gad get @ Jun 17th 2008 3:47PM]

@ happy_penguin

Just one country with that sick policy: Yemen.

[Lars @ Jun 17th 2008 3:54PM]

Flash does have a point though. I mean, we should really be more focused on teaching people to be responsible, instead of just making laws to restrict age groups. Yes, consenting at 9 years old is just wrong... But for example, having to wait until you're 25 before being able to rent a car is pretty stupid. Instead, maybe just a credit check and DMV history should be all that's required. You could be a good businessman or even a millionaire at age 24, yet you can't even rent a car. I actually encountered this at my job. My boss is from a different country so he's not familiar with all the crazy laws we have. It's quite embarrassing to tell that to your boss.
"So, I need you to go to X, rent a car and we'll put you up in this hotel-"
"Um, well, actually I can't do that."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the thing is... I'm not old enough to rent a car."

In regards to age of consent, it seems like instead there should be some kind of caveat to prevent younger people from getting taken advantage of. A friend of mine almost got thrown in jail right after turning 18, because his girlfriend's parents didn't like him, so they called the cops once he hit 18. His girlfriend was a few months younger, but it doesn't matter, an 18 year old getting busy with a 17 year old is considered rape.

And in my experience, often the more restricted people are, the more they screw up when those restrictions are lifted. I have a lot of religious friends and it seems when their parents are really strict the kids go nuts when they go off to college or move out... like get crazy drunk all the time, start doing drugs, get thrown in jail, etc. Whereas the less restricted ones don't tend to do that.


Ugh, that was long winded, sorry. Regarding the actual article... Cute. (the karaoke box, I mean). I could imagine girls into karaoke totally digging that.

[fh @ Jun 17th 2008 5:58PM]

She's 11.

[NG @ Jun 17th 2008 7:56PM]

Dude, no matter what country you are in, thats just morally incorrect

[phanbouy @ Jun 17th 2008 9:20PM]

to all would be peder-asses who've posted already:

we know how repellant you are to women in real life, but must you do everything you can to chase them away from posting here too?

[phanbouy @ Jun 17th 2008 9:22PM]

@Flashpoint "and what's funny is, if you take a look at most of the societies where the age of consent is lower than Americas, for the most part, they are less violent, with far lower murder rates, far fewer rapes and far fewer cases of single parent homes."

worst internet correlation of all time

[Richard @ Jun 17th 2008 1:12PM]

Who care if she's legal, is not like this is nude or anything.

[Minilap @ Jun 17th 2008 1:21PM]

She might not be naked in that picture, but she has already taken all her cloths off inside my head. Maybe I should change my name to mini pervert.

[gad get @ Jun 17th 2008 4:05PM]

How about, great big pervert.

Or great "pig" pervert?

[Minilap @ Jun 17th 2008 6:11PM]

I think I like the pig better. :D

[John @ Jun 17th 2008 1:15PM]

I bet people at Gizmodo love this!

[Chuckles McGee @ Jun 17th 2008 3:47PM]

Now I can sing karaoke on the train or at the gym. People everywhere will love me and my voice!

[bk7 @ Jun 17th 2008 1:16PM]

So... wheres that Firefox 3 article disappeared to Engadget?

[Minilap @ Jun 17th 2008 1:19PM]

OMF, its 17th.

[Frun @ Jun 17th 2008 1:27PM]

Wondering that myself.

[Frederik @ Jun 17th 2008 1:29PM]

Yeah, and the site is actually pwnd.

[bk7 @ Jun 17th 2008 2:05PM]

Ddid anyone who ticked the box to get an email reminder for Download Day merely get a link to download firefox... v2?

[gad get @ Jun 17th 2008 4:10PM]

I just downloaded it from the Mozilla download page: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-rc.html

[Frankenstein Black @ Jun 17th 2008 2:06PM]

Karaoke is sooooo excruciating! Like chalk squealing against a chalkboard and the chalkboard is the inside of my skull. Please, make this delusional scourge stop!

[jd @ Jun 17th 2008 2:11PM]

oh my god. what is that look on her face? does she want something?
what does she want? why is looking at me like this?

i can't stop starting at her... and i am asian..why does this happen to me?

[Isomorphic @ Jun 17th 2008 2:41PM]

How original..
But uh.. forgive me if I'm wrong but isn't the point of karaoke that the words are easy to see for everyone from a distance
Unless it comes with a TV out it seems a bit pointless..
Also do the headphones mean there are no speakers in the device?
Once again that removes part of the fun of karaoke...
Besides I think I may look a bit silly singing along to my favorite tunes outside which is presumably where this is designed to be used..

[Joe @ Jun 17th 2008 3:15PM]

Well this fills the one-person karaoke machine niche market. Now they could try to perfect it by making a no-person karaoke machine!

[gad get @ Jun 17th 2008 4:00PM]

The more I think about it, the more I realize just how ridiculous the concept is. I mean, come on! It completely defeats the entire purpose of karaoke!

[whowhatme @ Jun 17th 2008 3:21PM]

the headphone-mic combo is perfect for making you look (and sound) like an ass by singing off-key, to music that only you can hear!

[Ryan Trevisol @ Jun 17th 2008 3:41PM]

My thoughts exactly. Now you won't even know how bad you sound!

[raina Lee @ Jun 17th 2008 3:52PM]

um, i got karaoke on my iphone, and one of those griffin plug in karaoke mics, so i think that's the world's smallest karaoke machine.

[scott @ Jun 17th 2008 4:42PM]

you tell em, r-type!

[BratPAQ @ Jun 17th 2008 4:50PM]

its a portable videoke huh? i can take it to the bus, put on the headset, sing my heart out, i wonder if i'll ever reach my destination.

[PenaltyKillah @ Jun 17th 2008 5:43PM]

More like the world's kawaii-est promotional model girl!

TOMY... I played with their regular delicious plastic electronic super happy pow-pow chi-choo-choo-bi trains in my toddler years.

[michas_pi @ Jun 17th 2008 6:27PM]

I'd hit it but I wouldn't tell anyone about it.

[Chris Macdonald @ Jun 19th 2008 4:47PM]

she's like 10!!!!!

[Jagerbombs @ Jun 17th 2008 7:03PM]

It's one thing to sing to background music... but when your voice sucks and your background music is in the headphones you're a sonic menace to society

[94 taurus owner @ Jun 17th 2008 7:31PM]

You know an Ipod Shuffle almost counts as a Karaoke machine,My PSP ,Samsung Beat and Ipod Nano count as Karaoke Machines.

[phanbouy @ Jun 17th 2008 8:39PM]

what about singing along to a mufflerless old clunker car?

[TheBigDog @ Jun 18th 2008 2:45AM]

I would be all over it if this can be hacked to play MP3+G files and a TV out. That would be HOT!

[ShadowKain @ Jun 18th 2008 11:28AM]

The whole point of karaoke is to watch the words and sing along, how can you do that when the screen is that small. You'll look like even more of a goof squinting into the small screen for the next line of "Hammertime!".....FAIL

[shreysshi ganguly @ Jun 18th 2008 12:50PM]

Love the sarcasm in the post... digg it really.
Keep them coming!

[kingu @ Jun 19th 2008 8:55AM]

Pacard bell pulled this off in a smaller manner back in 2005 or something, and Archos did it later.