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Poochi the robot dog can talk with your 3DS (and play rock-paper-scissors)
You can count on Japan to perpetually push the idea of robot pets -- and some of us are okay with that. Poochi is the latest effort from Sega Toys, and it can interact with with a downloadable app / mini-game on Nintendo's 3DS. This particular robot pet series has been on sale in Japan (and the US) for several years, but this is a notable evolution: the blue and pink pet substitutes communicate with 3DSes wirelessly, translating yips and barks into, well, Japanese. It sings (the way a cartoon robot dog should), and can even play rock-paper-scissors with you if you're feeling particularly lonely. Courtesy of the 3DS connection, there's several more mini-games and even a Nintendogs-ish interaction screen -- which is kind of confusing when the dog's right in front of you in real life. Poochi has sensors on its back, nose and tail, and there's handy color indicators on its face to indicate how it's feeling. The robot (and companion app) launches today, priced at 6,000 yen -- around $58. We've added the (surprisingly intense) TV ad after the break. We're still waiting on an alpha-male version.
Sega Toys' Dream Cat Venus is sure to be your favorite fake pet ever
Sega Toys has unveiled yet another iteration of the fake cat we've come to know and love, and this time, it's even more "real" than before. Dream Cat Venus -- as this one's been dubbed -- has sensors in its forehead, and touch sensors in its body so that it can react when petted. Apparently more lifelike than previous version Smile, Venus also purrs when certain words are spoken. Sega Toys says this is the right choice for those who just don't have the time for a real pet. We're also pretty sure it's non-allergenic (unlike real felines), cheaper to own (doesn't eat or need to see the vet), and totally won't mind if you head out on vacation for three weeks at a pop without telling him. We'll still feel the guilt though. This kitty's going to be available starting July 30th in Japan for about $110. Warning: Read link is a PDF[Via Slashgear]
Sega Toys makes indoor fireworks infinitely safer, to Elvis Costello's dismay
Lovers of pyrotechnics everywhere have always struggled with the quandary: what to do on a rainy day? Well, firebugs, get a load of this: Sega Toys Japan has heard your prayers and answered 'em in the form of the Uchiage Hanabi. This is essentially a projector that displays "fireworks" on the walls and ceilings, with realistic movement and sound. And if that weren't enough, you can create your own fireworks and program your own shows. Now you can have Bastille Day, every day, in the privacy of your apartment! Out August 1, with a list price of $168. Video after the break.[Via Japan Trend Shop]
Video: Sega Toys' Love Trainer says "the love making, will now begin" [update: it's a hoax!]
Look, times are hard. And since they couldn't quite tap the market with their Body Trainer / FiTrainer, Dr. Itami (pictured not training for love) and Sega Toys have repackaged their MP3 player and heart rate monitor with verbal coaching as, get this, the Love Trainer. No seriously, the company that brought you the iDog is now pushing the already questionable workout companion as a "unisex sex enhancer." Phrases like "please exercise a little bit harder" have been changed to a breathy, "Following the beat, make love much harder!" We're not sure what, "Please confirm, the heart rate sensor!" could possibly mean in the middle of the ol' somethin' somethin' but it can't be good. Fortunately for Linux fans, the $80 Love Trainer can also be used without a partner. Video foolishness after the break with mildly NSFW content.Update: We've been contacted by Dr. Itami himself about the matter... It's all an elaborate hoax![Thanks, Chris T.]
ITAMI FiTrainer headset: it's like a coach on your head
Remember that Body Trainer headset unveiled by Sega Toys earlier this year? If not, there's hardly a better time to refresh your memory given that it's coming to US soil via ITAMI. The rebadged FiTrainer comes equipped with a heart sensor and built-in one-liners to keep you going when your muscles are just dying to return to the couch. ITAMI also has the nerve to claim that "Wii Fit is history, while the FiTrainer is the future." At any rate, the headset packs a trio of exercise modes -- walking, jogging and aerobics -- and by utilizing proprietary algorithms and subliminal encouragement from a variety of Pokémons, it tells you exactly how to exercise in order to "achieve maximum results." We're only told that the device is "coming soon," but you can certainly procrastinate signing up to hear more so that you completely avoid ever bringing this nuisance / assistant into your life.[Via I4U News, thanks Chris]
Sega's HomeStar Spa: Plane-arium edition
-his one slipped pas- but i-'s wor-h a back-rack -o -he glory days of celes-ial ba-hing. No, no- Roman -imes, bu- -he firs- week of June, when Sega -oys in-roduced i-s Homes-ar Plane-arium Spa Edi-ion -o -he rubby-ducky infes-ed wa-ers of -he home ba-h. -he wa-erproof orb projec-s -he nigh- sky on-o -he ceiling or pa--erns such as roses and man-a rays on-o -he -ub below. $65, -ha-'s how much. Oh, damn -his bone disease! [Via Environmental Graffiti, thanks guest-editor Dr. Adams]
Video: Meet Hasbro's Ampbot, the mother of all Rollys
Cross a Segway with a Rolly and Miuro and out pops this A.M.P. soaked in a grey-goo afterbirth of Robotic procreation. The two-wheeled, dancing A.M.P. (Automated Music Personality or Ampbot) from Sega-Hasbro stands 2.4-feet tall and features a MP3 or iPod cradle on its back, stereo speakers, and the ability to follow and interact with its owner. There's a 5-inch mid-range speaker in the chest and a pair of smaller tweeters in the shoulders for a total output of 12 watts. Osamu Takeuchi of Sega Toys says, "The owner can also enjoy being chased around the house by the robot." Uh, yippee? The Ampbot and controller require 6x D and 3x AAA batteries for about 10-hours of continuous music. The stalking begins November for $745 $500 in the US and Japan.Update: Embedded video courtesy of Impress now available after the break. Be warned: the price tag is starting to look modest even at the cost of our own destruction.[Via Physorg and Impress]
WowWee's Femisapien gets detailed, demonstrated on video
Don't deny it -- you blush a little each time you see that image above. If you're secretly eager to learn all that you can about Femisapien and her gracious ways, Robots Rule has the goods. Expectedly, this gal is said to have "the most fluid movements of the WowWee family," and while we won't emphatically agree that including "her own language consisting of emotive sounds" is quite fitting... well, you committed fellows in the house know what's up. The $99 robot is said to be on track for a late summer release, but considering that you just can't wait until then to see her in action, head on past the break for a honest-to-goodness fencing demonstration. There's more where that one came from in the read link, too.[Via SlashGear]
Sega Toys and ZMP team up for Miuro-like Music Robot ODO
ZMP's Miuro may have been doing the whole music-playing, rolling robot thing even before Sony's Rolly stole the spotlight, but it had the slight disadvantage of costing nearly $1,000. The company now looks to be changing that situation, however, with it teaming up with Sega Toys to release a slightly scaled-back but considerable cheaper version of the iPod dock, now dubbed the Music Robot ODO. Among other things, this one drops the built-in WiFi and camera of the Miuro, although it does hang onto the LCD that displays the ODO's "emotion" as it's dancing, and you do get a remote control to keep it from straying too far. No word on a release 'round these parts, naturally, but those in Japan can snag one for the not unreasonable cost of ¥15,540, or about $150.
Sega Toys' dancing I-Spin: like an I-Dog with a woofer orifice
Move over Rolly, there's a cheaper, craplasticer bot ready to stomp out your game. Sega Toys just announced their ¥5,250 ($51) I-Spin dancing robot. Apparently it responds to ambient sounds by rolling around and flipping its ears in time with the beat. After that novelty wears thin, you can directly attach the creature to any audio source where it will live out its remaining years as an external speaker.
Sega Toys' Body Trainer headset coaxes you into working out
Oh sure, we've seen gadgets used as motivational tools before, but Sega Toys is apparently banking on you not being a hothead. Otherwise, you just might fling its Body Trainer headset from your dome as soon as you hear "please exercise a little bit harder" over your incessant panting. Nevertheless, those with oodles of self-control may actually benefit from having a personal trainer (of sorts) in their ear while working out, and by monitoring the wearer's heartbeat via a sensor, it can blurt out messages at the appropriate time to help users through their session(s). Reportedly, this nifty exercise buddy is set to launch in Japan this April for ¥5,775 ($54), and while we've no idea if this thing is destined for US soil, we can definitely see it being used more so for its musical abilities and less for its steadfast encouragement.[Via CNET]
Sega Toys' Yume Neko Smile cat continues to be your waking nightmare
Finally your replicant Owl and Nexus-6 will have a new playmate over at the Bradbury -- namely, Sega Toys' newest iteration of its infamously creepy automaton, the Yume Neko Smile cat. When we last saw this little purr-machine, it was giving blank stares of disapproval while harmfully invading our dreams like a kind of down-coated demon. The new version appears to up the gross-factor to 11 by including even more lifelike movements, all new speech (with moving mouth), and a healthy dose of allergy-irritating dander. Okay, we made that last one up, but with such attention to detail -- including the common cat trait of perfect human speech -- it wouldn't surprise us to see this one causing all kinds of health issues. Watch the charming video after the break, you'll see what we mean.
Sega Toys Brain Checker keeps you on your toes
Though we don't believe this to be one of those "mind-controlled tech toys" Sega Toys was working on, it's pretty evident that it will give your mind a workout. From what we can tell, the Brain Checker is a standalone gizmo designed to stretch your mental muscles with a myriad puzzles, but most everything beyond that is lost in translation. We do know, however, that it can be had in Japan for around ¥5,775 ($51), but who knows if it'll make it's way to any other corners of the globe.[Via Technabob]
Sega Toys, NeuroSky team up for "mind-controlled" toys
Details are still light on this one, but Sega Toys (makers of freaky robots) and the brain-reading folks at NeuroSky have announced that they've teamed up in an effort to develop what they're only describing as "mind-controlled tech toys," which they say will "take 'play' to the next level." Those unspecified toys will apparently make use of NeuroSky's ThinkGear bio-sensor technology which, according to the company, uses "dry active sensors" that eliminate the need for contact gels while also maintaining a small form factor. Given the vagaries of the announcement, however, we wouldn't expect the toys to be hitting store shelves anytime soon, but you can be sure that there'll be plenty of attempts to "repurpose" them whenever they do.[Via Gadget Lab]
Sega Homestar Pro planetarium Winter Edition
We could think of quite a few things we'd rather be doing than gazing at stars projected on the ceilings of the Engadget HQ, but if your social life hasn't reached that higher plane, or perhaps has so far exceeded ours that planetariums are the hip new thing for your crowd, then by all means run out and pick up Sega Toys' Homestar Pro planetarium Winter Edition. The Homestar Pro Winter Edition squeezes together all the greatness that has been the Homestar series onto a sixe piece star disc set for a mere 36,540 yen ($315 US), and will be out on November 15th as a limited edition in Japan.[Thanks, Mike]
Hello Kitty's mini baby grand piano
When your pet mouse isn't zooming around the house in his new plane, the tiny rodent Liberace can entertain your family by jamming on Sega Toys' Hello Kitty mini baby grand piano. The miniscule music maker, which weighs in at 3.6 kg and is 18cm high by 25cm wide, features 100 jazz and classical standards built-in, and takes SD cards of music which it can automatically play on its 0.4cm ivories. The diminutive keys can also be tapped by hand, provided your fingers are disturbingly small. The piano will retail for £275 (or around $554 US), but before you get your credit card out check the video after the break.[Via ShinyShiny]
Sega Toys intros "Private Ocean" dancing sea creatures clock
Sega Toys looks to have dialed back the creepiness factor with its latest product: a desktop device filled with sea creatures ready to do your bidding. Dubbed the "Private Ocean," the device packs low res representations of some 100 different critters, which can swim into formation to display the time if you tap the top of the unit or scatter if you touch the bottom. If that's not enough entertainment for you (which seems hard to believe), you can hook the device up to any audio source and have the little critters dance along to your favorite tunes. No word on what it'll cost, but you'll apparently be able to get one this October (though we're guessing not here).
Sega Toys' MIO pet robot: might chew slippers, jugulars
Sega Toys has another in a long line of personal robotic pets: the MIO. This deer/dog (deg?) sells for ¥9,240 in October or about $75 whenever it escapes Japan. Like any good robopet, the MIO features big doleful eyes capable of expressing joy, anger, and grief in response to your tender grace or heel of your boot. No doubt, the latest entry in Sega Toys' dream pet series helps ease you into the grave by washing away the empty ennui of your existence.
Sega's iSmile animated flower grooves to the music
Animated flowers in the home certainly aren't a new fad, as we've seen talkative ones, printing ones, networked ones, and even petals that douse fires. Sega Toys' latest gizmo takes the electrified flower to another level, as it looks to integrate the bouncy demeanor of the iSmile flower with your music to create a housemate that jumps and grooves to your tunes right alongside of you. The device accepts any musical source via a 3.5-millimeter input jack, and also features a built-in speaker, illuminated petals, moving leaves, and an expressive face to boot. The iSmile even reacts accordingly to the genre of music coming through, as it gracefully grooves to slow jams while shakin' it until the leaves fall off when listening to heavy metal. Sure, this thing desperately needs a speaker pass-through output so you're not stuck utilizing the presumably weak integrated driver, but nevertheless, you can pick up your own iSmile now for just about 40 bucks.
Sega Toys' unveils Movie Carrier camcorder for kids
If you're tired of shuffling through the myriad of grown-up camcorders out there, or just want to get your up-and-coming kid schooled correctly in the realm of technology, Sega Toys' has your device. The 68 x 85 x 40-millimeter handheld Movie Carrier has all the markings of a clichéd holiday gift, but the one difference here is that this bad boy actually records full-motion video. Sporting a CMOS sensor, 4x zoom, 1.5-inch flipout monitor, SD slot, TV outputs, and a kid-friendly pink / blue enclosure, Sega's toyish camcorder records 320 x 240 resolution video and even still pictures in the form of AVI / JPEG onto the included 32MB SD card. While the image quality here is likely to be just marginally above pitiful, you're sure to acquire a few priceless (albeit pixelated) home videos letting this loose in the hands of a youngster, and hey, giving your favorite child the means to catch that oh-so-mischievous one red-handed will only run you ¥13,440 ($114). [Via The Raw Feed]
