WowWee’s official site for the Rovio mobile WiFi webcam has gone live, with videos and other information about the web-connected platform. However, while it claims the robot is available now, the Rovio itself is proving difficult to find on any of the US sites linked to; in fact, the estimated shipping date from Hammacher Schlemmer has slipped to December 17th 2008.
Back when WowWee announced their impressive Rovio WiFi mobile webcam, they also showed the creepy Mr Personality robot. Based on the same omni-directional platform as the Rovio and the Tri-Bot, Mr Personality is a gurning, giggling, wise-cracking “robot companion” with an LCD display for a face. I was hoping WowWee had forgotten about Mr Personality – because he scares me – but sadly not; there’s a new video of the monstrous beast in action in preparation for his imminent launch.
While we wait for the first Rovio reviews, WowWee are drubbing up enthusiasm for the WiFi-enabled remote webcam with some new demo videos. Intended to give an overview of the robot and its functionality, the three clips show everything from using Rovio remotely through the web interface, using the webcam on its adjustable arm, and directing it to return to the charging base.
WowWee’s Rovio doesn’t officially start shipping until next Friday, but our friend Robert Oschler at RobotsRule has managed somehow to score a pre-release sample. He’s put together an unboxing gallery to keep us sated while he reviews the WiFi-enabled mobile webcam, including the Rovio itself and the NorthStar docking and recharging station that creates a digital map for the robot to follow.
WowWee’s Rovio remote surveillance robot, announced at CES 2008, has finally shown up for pre-order in the US. Previously an exclusive with UK-based retailer Red5, the WiFi-enabled mobile webcam platform is now listed at Hammacher Schlemmer (although, as usual, not by brand name) with a pre-order tag of $299. Ship date is given as September 26th.
Anybody waiting anxiously for the latest robots from WowWee’s stables should grab their credit cards and begin whistling with glee, as both the Femisapien (aka Sega’s Kissing Robot) and Tri-Bot models are now available to buy. Femisapien, you may remember, is the first “female” ‘bot from WowWee, with a clever new programming system in which you merely have to reposition the robot’s limbs in order to teach her new routines.
WowWee seem to be in a routine of releasing new robots every couple of months, and it’s now the turn of the Femisapien – also known as SEGA’s E.M.A. or ‘Kissing Robot’ – to go through the Robots Rule review process. What makes her particularly special is the way WowWee encourage you to interact and programme her; yes, you can use their remote control, but the Femisapien will just as happily respond to touch and tapping, together with hand gestures and even posing her limbs for the robot to memorize.
Check out the video demo of the Femisapien after the cut
We’ve learnt to expect great things from WowWee’s ever-increasing robot range, and while their next creation – the Alive Cub – might not be able to wander your house or play games of laser tag with you, it’ll probably be a hit with a new, younger audience. Basically a robotic version of a baby animal, the Alive Cubs are plush and interactive; RoboCommunity have unboxed the White Tiger version, and you can see their demo video after the cut.
WowWee’s Tri-Bot is still down at eToys for official US release on August 21st, but an eagle-eyed visitor to a Radio Shack near San Francisco has spotted the omni-directional robot already on the shelves. There’s currently no sign of Tri-Bot on Radio Shack’s online store, and it’s still listed for pre-order at WowWee’s.
WowWee’s RoboRemote is an aftermarket IR remote control for the company’s full range of current and future robots. Intended to make programming the robots more straightforward, it connects via USB to a computer and, with the included software, lets you script macros and routines that are then blasted across via infra-red. All well and good, but not quite enough for the guys over at RoboCommunity; they’ve been exploring ways to add new sensors and inputs to the WowWee stable courtesy of a hacked RoboRemote.
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