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Meet R2-D2 and BB-9E, Sphero’s new ‘Star Wars’ toys
It's been nearly two years since Sphero introduced its app-controlled BB-8, a replica of the cute rolling droid that first appeared in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. That toy quickly became one of the most coveted by fans of Disney's franchise, and it wasn't long before the company followed it up with a Battle-Worn Edition, designed to look as rugged as the character does in film. And today at IFA 2017, Sphero announced it is expanding its connected-toy universe with two more Star Wars droids, R2-D2 and BB-9E. Naturally, Sphero worked closely alongside Lucasfilm to bring these to life, just as it did with BB-8. The idea, as you might expect, is to make them as close to the real thing as possible.
Lenovo’s first augmented-reality glasses are a 'Star Wars' exclusive
Compared to virtual reality, augmented reality has been slow to take off. Sure, phone-based augmented reality is getting a bit of a boost right now -- Apple and Google are certainly investing in it -- but there's still a dearth of commercially available headsets. Devices like HoloLens and the Meta 2 are too expensive, and while there are startups that promise more affordable models, they're still years away from being on store shelves. Lenovo, however, has come with a solution -- and it's partnered with Disney to bring it to the masses. The caveat? It works with only one game (at least for now) and that's Star Wars: Jedi Challenges.
'Star Wars' BB-8 toy torn apart to see how it works
If your social feeds are anything like mine, they're full of folks squeeing with delight over their new BB-8 droid today. The folks at uBreakiFix got one too, but instead of playing with Star Wars: The Force Awakens' charmer, they cut it apart to see what makes the toy tick. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the little rascal operates on a gyroscope, pair of wheels and sizable counterweight to keep everything balanced inside its plastic case. Meanwhile, a magnet keeps the adorable android's head attached to the spherical body. The video below is brief, but that won't make it easier to watch for anyone who's lusting after the $150 tie-in (and either can't afford or find one) from a galaxy far, far away. I'm truly sorry.
Where to buy Sphero's BB-8 'Star Wars' toy in the UK
The Force Awakens is still a few months away, but already Star Wars fans have fallen in love with one of the film's supporting characters: BB-8. The rolling droid is a spiritual successor to R2-D2 and now, thanks to Sphero, you can buy your own miniaturised version. It connects to iOS and Android devices and, using the companion app, you can switch it between three different behavioural modes: Driving, Holographic Messaging and Patrol. But where can you buy this little curiosity on "Force Friday?" We've got you covered.
