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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.
'Stranger Things' action figures cash in on '80s nostalgia
Netflix's Stranger Things is ultimately one long nostalgia trip for kids from the '80s, so it only makes sense that it you'd see tributes to every last facet of '80s culture, right? Funko agrees. It's preparing Stranger Things action figures that are bound to rekindle memories of playing with GI Joe or She-Ra toys as a kid. The collection will include two packs of three figurines that mostly center around the kids at the heart of the series, complete with character-appropriate props. Eleven has a box of Eggo waffles, for instance, while Lucas is packing a slingshot.
Sphero ditches the robots for a storytelling Spider-Man toy
Sphero is moving beyond cute, connected rolling balls fast. Less than a month after introducing a tie-in for the animated movie franchise Cars, the company's now taking the wraps off of its first non-robotic product. And it's another toy built in partnership with Disney. Meet Sphero's Spider-Man, a replica of the beloved Marvel superhero than listens and responds to your voice commands. Unlike with its versions of BB-8 and Ultimate Lightning McQueen though, this Spider-Man doesn't depend on an app to be fully functional.
Anki's cute Cozmo robot is coming to Canada in July
Outside of its robotic remote control cars, last year Anki released a palm-sized robot companion called Cozmo. As adorable as it is intelligent, it rolls around on its tank treads using its arm to interact with the environment and a built-in camera to recognize you or even your pets. Since its debut last fall it has received at least one software update, but was only on sale in the US. Starting next month that will change when it goes on sale in Canada for $250 CA, before it expands to the UK, France, Germany and Nordic countries in September. Even if you live in the US, starting today you can order a $180 Collector's Edition of the bot that comes in a new Liquid Metal finish. Not sure if it's worth the cash? Check out our video and see if you can live without one of these rolling off of your desk every day.
Sphero's latest app-controlled toy is a 'Cars 3' tie-in
Sphero's made a name for itself with connected, rolling toys like the Ollie, SPRK and, perhaps most famously, the Star Wars-inspired BB-8. Of course, the company couldn't have brought its replica of the Force Awakens character to market without Disney's approval, and the two seem to be keen on working together. Today, Sphero introduced its first app-controlled car, based on the "Ultimate Lighting McQueen" personality from Pixar's Cars franchise. Sphero says the new toy is its most animatronic device yet, featuring six motors for steering, drifting, lifting and moving up and down, as well as animated eyes and a mouth that make it feel more realistic.
US senator wants to make sure the FTC takes smart toys seriously
It's not just parents that are worrying about the security of connected toys. Senator Mark Warner has sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission grilling it about efforts to protect kids' privacy when they use smart toys like the CloudPets you see above. He's particularly worried that FTC Acting Chairwoman Maureen Ohlhausen is shrugging off concerns about how companies handle kids' data. In recent statements, she argued that the FTC should focus on "objective, concrete harms," such as financial damage or health risks -- toy data leaks might not fit under that bill.
Your kid's new Spanish tutor is a creepy robot
A lot of well-meaning parents really, really want their child to learn a second language. However, it's hard to teach a language when you don't actually speak it yourself. Flash cards, videos and apps are all great, but real retention only happens through regular social interaction. Enter Flash Robotics' EMYS, a Kickstarter project that isn't just another mechanical assistant -- it's a friend that chats, plays and makes sure your kid walks away with some knowledge of the Spanish language.
The Etch A Sketch gets an LCD makeover but retains its magic
We've all labored over an Etch A Sketch at some point in our lives, painstakingly turning the two knobs to create a single-line black drawing on the gray screen. It's a classic toy that hasn't changed much over its sixty years of existence, because it hasn't needed to. Regardless, Spin Master's decided to mix things up a bit, replacing the aluminum powder mechanism with a black LCD screen. Now, you can use a handheld stylus to create drawings in rainbow colors. But at least you still erase it the same way.
Spin Master's BB-8 is still cute and you can get one this year
The cute spherical BB-8 was one of the many highlights of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Spin Master's near life-size replica of him was one of our favorite things about last year's Toy Fair. Unfortunately, 2016 came and went without seeing the adorable robotic companion on the silver screen -- or this particular toy on store shelves. That looks to change later this year with the announced release of the $230 Hero Droid BB-8, just in time for the bot's appearance in the next episode of the Star Wars saga.
Barbie Hello Hologram is a tiny virtual friend for girls
Smart home speakers like the Echo and Google Home can tell you the weather, play music and look up stuff for you. However, they stop short of attaching a face to those actions, and certainly don't have any sense of sartorial style. Mattel's latest creation, the Barbie Hello Hologram, rectifies that by placing the iconic doll into her own tiny holographic world and letting children talk to her directly. She can chat about the weather, crack corny jokes and even dance. Barbie can dab with the best of them.
Bop It! Maker edition will get your creative juices flowing
Bop It! 2016's got nothing on this year's iteration of the '90s musical toy. Hasbro has just launched a Bop It! Maker edition, and if that name isn't obvious enough, it promises the most personalized game you've ever played. The latest version allows you create your own moves by naming them, performing them and recording a sound for them. You can store up to 10 custom moves your friends can try to imitate later, so go crazy and make up some awkward and complex commands for maximum laughs. Bop It! Maker will cost you $20, just like last year's version. It will be available at retailers and on the HasbroToyShop website in the fall, but the company will showcase it at Toy Fair 2017 in New York.
Hasbro's cute new robo-dog teaches coding on the sly
Toy makers are coming up with more and more ways to encourage children to learn STEM skills, and Hasbro is trying to do that in a somewhat futuristic way. The company is releasing a $120 robotic dog toy called Proto Max as part of its FurReal Friends line of animatronic pets that children can customize via an app. To be clear, you'll be tweaking this robo-dog's behavior and character, not the colors of its eyes or fur or the shape of its nose or face. That initially sounded a bit too much like pet Westworld to me, but after a brief demonstration, I was persuaded to quiet my internal ethics police.
Amazon club gives your kid a science toy every month
A well-made educational toy can do a lot to foster curious young minds. But what if you're not sure where to start shopping, or wonder which toys are appropriate at your kid's age? Amazon is taking an unusual step to help out. It just launched a STEM Club that delivers one pre-selected science, tech, engineering or math toy to your door each month in exchange for a $20 subscription fee. The internet retailer gives you a choice of age ranges (3-4, 5-7 and 8-13), and promises to pick only the best toys from "top trusted brands." Shipping is free, too.
Mario and pals are coming back to UK Happy Meals this week
The most famous Italian plumber, well... ever has been unexpectedly popping up all over the place lately. But skateboard shoes, late-night TV and smartphones were just the beginning. Now Mario is sliding back into Happy Meals from McDonald's according to Nintendo Life. His appearance is flawlessly timed ahead of this week's big livestream for the Wii U successor, Switch, too.
Lightseekers brings your video game into the real world
Action figures can look a little staid next to video games where your character can walk, talk and fire all manner of weaponry. But there's still something special about the tactile experience of holding a cool character in your hand, which is why we've seen game developers embrace the world of toys with products like Skylanders, Amiibo and LEGO Dimensions. But, while placing a figure on a base can unlock characters or entire worlds, the interaction between game and toy tends to end there. Lightseekers, launching today on Kickstarter, changes that dynamic by making its action figures a living (and almost breathing) part of its games.
'Star Wars' drones can do aerial stunts and shoot lasers
When Propel releases its official Star Wars drones this fall, fans could challenge fellow fans to a space battle in their own backyard. The RC toy company has launched small replica quadcopters of the Millennium Falcon, an X-Wing, a TIE fighter and a speeder bike. According to Wired, their propellers are clear and are attached to their underside to be as inconspicuous and true to the movies as possible.
Xiaomi made a toy tablet that turns into a Transformers robot
Xiaomi and Hasbro gave Soundwave, the Transformers robot that can turn into a microcasette recorder, a makeover fit for the new era. The two teamed up to create a tablet that unfolds into a shiny 190mm version of the Decepticon. Xiaomi's international division VP Hugo Barra said on Facebook that his team "worked really hard to ensure that [its] color, details and feel are exactly the same as" the Mi Pad 2. You'll need to be a bit of a puzzle lover to enjoy assembling and disassembling it, since it takes 30 steps to each time to do so, but that just makes it more fun to play with.
Radio Flyer's Tesla Model S for kids hits the sidewalk in May
Thanks to Radio Flyer, your kid can have their very own Tesla Model S this spring. The toymaker teamed up with Elon Musk & Co. to create a version of the all-electric sedan for younger drivers. The Tesla Model S for Kids (catchy name, for sure) retains its EV roots by packing in Flight Speed lithium-ion battery tech. The feature not only increases range -- er, playtime -- but also makes quick work of the recharging process, which takes as little as three hours. The battery is also removable, so you can keep a spare charged up. In fact, the charging unit itself looks an awful lot like those used for the full-size cars, and it connects to the kids version in a similar fashion.
Engadget giveaway: Win a pair of Vortex robots courtesy of DFRobot!
Since most kids have already mastered the art of iPad password cracking and in-app purchasing, we should probably give them something productive to do. The arduino-based Vortex from DFRobot is a STEM-reinforcing plaything that can help kids learn to code. It comes with preinstalled programs, so you can have fun racing, bumping and spinning right out of the box, but the variations are endless. Open-source hardware and the WhenDo app's graphical programming interface mean the sky's the limit with Vortex. These little bots are laden with proximity and ground sensors, LEDs and speakers — not to mention all the optional add-ons — to help bring them to life. DFRobot has given us a pair of two-robot packs for a couple lucky Engadget readers this week. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this hackable robot duo.
littleBits Gizmos and Gadgets Kit gives kids a range of DIY projects
Do you know an aspiring young maker? If so, littleBits is looking to lend a hand with its new Gadgets & Gizmos Kit. The collection of tech includes everything those young inventors will need to complete 12 different projects, learning about electronics, robots and more along the way. If you're not familiar, littleBits has been making Lego-like kits that allow kids (both young and old) to make a piece of tech in minutes. Previous boxes include projects for the smart home and a build your own synthesizer option. For the Gizmos & Gadgets Kit, the projects range from a bubble machine to a wirelessly-controlled robotic rover and games. If you're looking to get started, the Gizmos & Gadgets Kit includes a set of 15 electronic blocks and it'll be available this month for $200. While you wait, check out the Bitbot in action after the break.
