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Pleo lover and former Ugobe CTO John Sosoka separates robo-mind and robo-body with two new companies

by Tim Stevens posted Sep 1st 2009 at 9:52AM

Why did Pleo-maker Ugobe fail? There are many reasons, but former CTO John Sosoka thinks one of them is that the one company tried to do too much, working on both hardware and software for the lovable little paleolithic guy. Live and learn, as they say, and so his next venture is not one but two companies: the first, Vita Robotica, to develop a "completely new implementation of a brain for robots;" the other, Pulse-Robotics, to work on a sort of robo-OS for the thing. It sounds smart, but don't get your hopes up for a next-gen Pleo that can not only look cute but perhaps forage for food or do something useful. Sosoka is now focused on creating companion robots of the sort that could perhaps provide an alternative to therapy dogs. And here we thought dancing to Britney Spears was the pinnacle of robo-evolution.

Pleo IP adopted by Pleo's big-hearted manufacturer, Jetta Company Limited

by Paul Miller posted Jun 9th 2009 at 12:08AM

It's the feel bad and then feel good again story of the year: bankrupt Ugobe's intellectual property and assets, including the intensely lovable and yet nearly unloved Pleo, are being snapped up by Jetta Company Limited, which currently manufactures the robotic baby dino. The company plans on re-launching Pleo, and says that all its manufacturing processes for Pleo and related accessories are still intact. Better yet, the company is well established and no stranger to robots: it also builds parts for iRobot's consumer products. Could this be love?

Video: surviving Pleo loses remaining autonomy, gets controlled by Wii Nunchuk

by Darren Murph posted Apr 25th 2009 at 8:14AM

Aw, how timely. Shortly after the Pleo lineage fell victim to economic pressures, an all-too-cute video has surfaced showing a remaining creature being controlled by a Wii Nunchuk. In reality, the underlying abuse here is quite sad -- for those unaware, Pleo was designed to be entirely autonomous, and the first step to regaining control over it is to implement a "Pleo Stunner" in order to shock him into silence. From there, an XBee-based solution is used to tap into his control system and override every single instinct the poor sap ever had. If you're into this type of sadistic torture (or you're just an aspiring dictator), check the read link for all the instructions you need to fulfill your own evil desires. For those just interested in a good chuckle, the vid's after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Video: surviving Pleo loses remaining autonomy, gets controlled by Wii Nunchuk

Engadget Podcast 143 - 04.24.2009

by Trent Wolbe posted Apr 24th 2009 at 1:04PM

In case you aren't hip to the Twittersphere, Josh, Nilay, Paul and Engadget's own Twitter bot put out their feelers for listener questions this week, and got a lot of great material for discussion. Inquisitive minds wanted to know which wild conjectures these fine men believe about the Zune HD, how particularly evil Time Warner Cable is, and other matters related to Chinese phone manufacturers and The End Times. If you failed to seize upon this opportunity to ask, or found your own question heartlessly ignored, make sure to take advantage of the various avenues of contact listed below and ask away!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Ghostbusters

00:02:36 - Is this the Zune HD?
00:23:08 - Time Warner Cable lays out broadband capping plans, says $150 for "unlimited" use
00:28:25 - Time Warner Cable to axe DOCSIS 3.0 trials without tiered billing?
00:33:53 - Time Warner and Embarq can't compete with city-owned ISP, trying to outlaw it
00:47:37 - Ugobe files for bankruptcy, Pleo facing extinction
00:53:28 - Keepin' it real fake
01:09:03 - T-Mobile Sidekick LX 2009 video hands-on

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Ugobe expects Pleo IP to fetch a pretty penny

by Nilay Patel posted Apr 22nd 2009 at 7:33PM

Scientists may never fully understand why Pleo went extinct, but we've got a big hint for future generations -- it's probably because Ugobe was shipping products to customers who couldn't pay for them. That's at least the story according to Ugobe CEO Caleb Chung, who says that his robosaur was selling well to customers in Europe and Asia, but that the worldwide credit crunch meant that Pleos were just sitting in crates waiting for payment to arrive. It's unfortunate, but there's a silver lining -- the Pleo IP is expected to be a hot commodity during the bankruptcy liquidation, and not just with toymakers. Chung says he sees potential interest from lots of unexpected bidders "because robotics are the next PCs." We'll see about that -- hopefully Pleo is about to evolve.

[Via SlashGear]

Ugobe files for bankruptcy, Pleo facing extinction

by Nilay Patel posted Apr 20th 2009 at 9:33PM

Looks like Pleo couldn't dodge that meteor -- everyone's favorite lovable robot dinosaur company Ugobe has laid off all its employees and filed for bankruptcy. That confirms a month of speculation that things were on the brink -- Ugobe's website has been up and down for a while, and a major supplier filed suit a couple weeks ago for nonpayment. There's a chance that some other toymaker will swoop in and pick up the pieces during the liquidation, but we wouldn't hold our breath -- Pleo owners, feel free to commiserate in the comments.

Painful bonus: Link your pics of the Pleo going extinct on our comment form here and we'll make a gallery. C'mon. You know you want to do it.

Gallery: Images of Pleo's extinction

[Thanks, Andrew]

Continue reading Ugobe files for bankruptcy, Pleo facing extinction

Pleo-maker Ugobe not totally dead, not totally okay

by Nilay Patel posted Apr 3rd 2009 at 7:43PM

It certainly seemed like Ugobe was dead-forever a few days ago when we noted that the company's website was seemingly gone and no one was answering the phones, but it's apparently not all bad: the site's back up, and CEO Caleb Chung told the Idaho Business Review today that the company will respond in an "organized way" with a press release coming in the "next few weeks." Uh, okay, but that isn't going to distract anyone from the half-million lawsuit just filed that alleges Pleo and Co. are in breach of contract for failure to pay supplier Arrow Electronics. We'll see how it plays out -- something tells us Pleo's gonna have a hard time dodging this meteor.

[Via RobotsRule]

Has Pleo-maker Ugobe folded?

by Joshua Topolsky posted Mar 30th 2009 at 7:37PM

We don't have any official word on this as of yet, but as our main man Ryan Block noted in a tweet earlier (and Wired speculated on back in February), it looks like Pleo-maker Ugobe may -- in fact -- be extinct. As of this writing, the company's site was offline, and calls to the dino-bot factory have gone unanswered (though their voicemail system seems to be humming along just fine). While we haven't heard a peep one way or another from the folks in charge, Wired reported in its article that the company was struggling months ago to stay afloat in our sinking economy. Could it be that people just don't have a spare $350 to drop on a robotic toys these days? Say it ain't so. Whatever the case, you can be sure that just like actual dinosaurs, the legacy Pleo will leave behind is rich, storied, and often violent. How about you there in / on the Interverse... heard any news about Ugobe lately?

Update: A few of you wrote in to let us know that the Ugobe site is back up. Maybe Pleo ain't extinct yet?

Pleo roundup: spy cam / XBee hacks, dino visits the day spa

by Darren Murph posted Aug 8th 2008 at 8:02AM

Oh Pleo, it's been far too long since we've seen you out and about! Thankfully, we've stumbled upon a handful of Pleo news all at once, so we hope you're ready to catch up with your favorite dinosaur. First up is a pair of useful hacks from GRIP: a spy cam hack -- which transmits images from the pet to a PC sans wires -- and an XBee hack, which allows users to monitor Pleo's sensors and control its servos in real time. For those looking for less work and more laughs, you'll definitely want to venture on past the break. Wondering what's there? Pleo visits the day spa -- need we say more?

Read - Pleo hacks
Read - Pleo's day spa adventures

Continue reading Pleo roundup: spy cam / XBee hacks, dino visits the day spa

Pleo's site turns one, little bugger's price temporarily drops over $100

by Ryan Block posted Jun 30th 2008 at 2:32AM

Although Pleo's only been out for about six months, UGOBE opened up shop at PleoWorld about a year ago, and to celebrate they're selling the robo-dino-pets at over $100 off the regular $350 price tag. The promo goes on until July 11th, and apparently all you need to do is pop in a promo code (PLEOWORLDISONE) and you'll get yours for a cool $235, which is an especially great deal if your intention is only to slaughter it.

UGOBE "shocked and appalled" by destruction of Pleo at Maker Faire

by Donald Melanson posted May 9th 2008 at 12:50PM

Uh oh, it looks like we've got a full-fledged robot controversy on our hands. At the heart of it, as you might have guessed, is the recent obliteration of a harmless Pleo by a so-called ComBot known as Vicious Verdict at Maker Faire 2008. According to a UGOBE rep posting on the PleoWorld forum, the company is having none of it, saying that the "stunt" was done without its authorization or approval, and that there was "quite a ruckus" about it in UGOBE's office after they learned of the incident. The rep went on to add that many people, including the UGOBE reps at their Maker Faire booth were "shocked and appalled" by the act, and that they "make emotional bonds with Pleo too." The rep did seemingly confirm that the Pleo in question was in fact provided by the company, however, saying that, "it is perhaps a small consolation to know that the Pleo destroyed was a factory prototype." A cuddly, cuddly factory prototype.

[Via Tech Digest]

Pleo communes with nature, woos Dolphins

by Darren Murph posted May 9th 2008 at 10:54AM

After an absolutely heart-wrenching video of Pleo being annihilated by a sadistic ComBot emerged yesterday, we're thrilled to add a little balance to the whole thing with a totally heartwarming clip today. Down at Sea World, Pleo was politely introduced to a number of animals in the park, though its interactions with the dolphins were particularly special. In the vid posted after the jump, you can go ahead and fast-forward to around the two minute mark -- there you'll find the true definition of a stud. Or maybe the pod just thinks miniature dinosaurs look extraordinarily tasty.

[Thanks, Robert]

Continue reading Pleo communes with nature, woos Dolphins

Pleo gets thoroughly obliterated by demented ComBot

by Darren Murph posted May 8th 2008 at 1:14PM

It's not that we've never seen the insides of Pleo, it's that we've never seen it splayed so inhumanely. During Maker Faire 2008, a middleweight ComBot known as Vicious Verdict was placed in the ring with UGOBE's cuddly dinosaur, and suffice it to say, Pleo didn't stand a chance. The entire death lasts about three minutes, but there's a solid minute of taunting that goes on before the ComBot starts the decimation process. Straight up, this is one of the more haunting things we've ever seen happen to a poor, helpless, animated robot. Vid's after the break for your sickos who dare.

[Via Tech Digest]

Continue reading Pleo gets thoroughly obliterated by demented ComBot

Pleo finally learns to sit with Life OS 1.1

by Darren Murph posted Mar 31st 2008 at 9:58PM

Although Pleo just got upgraded to v1.0.2 earlier this month, UGOBE is taking the Life OS to 1.1 and adding a laundry list of features to boot. Initially available for install only through an SD card (download via USB should hit within a few weeks), the update enables your favorite dino pet to sit, sing a variety of melodies, call for attention, get sick (coughing / sneezing) and change attitudes based on how much attention it gets. As these things always go, there's also the promise of a few unannounced inclusions ("strange habits," as it were), and it should be noted that previous downloads -- Holiday, Love-struck, MySkit, Yapt, etc. -- will need to eventually be re-downloaded in new versions to be compatible with the Life OS 1.1 update. Give the read link some attention to check out the changes, and fire up the download while you're over there.

[Thanks, Caaahl]

Pleo gets older, wiser with Life OS 1.0.2

by Darren Murph posted Mar 5th 2008 at 12:56AM

If Pleo's holiday behavior mode left you thirsty for more, chances are the first bona fide update to its Life OS won't disappoint. Version 1.0.2 enables your dino to explore its surroundings more, engage in fits of singing when encountering groups, and hear erratic noises when sleeping softly. Of note, UGOBE promises the update won't change your Pleo's existing personality, so apparently, there's nothing to lose (but more spare time). Go on, hit up the read link and start that download -- right after you tell Pleo to expect a treat, of course.