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‘WowWee’ Stories

CES 2008: WowWee unveil Rovio web-controlled webcam & creepy Mr Personality robot

Chris Davies, Jan 5th 2008 Discuss [4]

Set to be bothering the ankles of CES explorers this year are two new 'bots from the WowWee stables: the slick, beetle-like Rovio and the frankly disturbing Mr Personality (shown after the cut). The Rovio, capable of being controlled from any internet-enabled device thanks to its WiFi b/g hookup, has a built-in movable VGA webcam complete with sound, and can stream live footage across the network to wherever you are in the world. Read The Full Story

Remote-control Roboquad turned security guard with Skype hack

Chris Davies, Aug 31st 2007 Discuss [0]

Our robot-obsessed friend Robert Oschler pointed out this awesome hack involving Skype, a WowWee Roboquad and internet connection, that lets you call up your robot from anywhere in the world, control it remotely and - thanks to a head-mounted video camera - stream live media back to you. Here's a clip of the beastie in action: [youtube eK_qg6a29qM] Read The Full Story

Roboquad spider-bot reviewed

Chris Davies, Jul 6th 2007 Discuss [2]

WowWee's Roboquad gives me the creeps. There, I've said it. It's Robosapien may have been a vaguely friendly ape-like bot, but this multi-legged arachnoid/crab hybrid monster thing obviously triggers some long-forgotten childhood fears of mine. Maybe I was attacked by Mark Tilder wearing a spider suit. Anyway, PC Mag have tested out the white beast, and come away sounding more than a little confused. Read The Full Story

Roboquad spider-robot gets pre-orders and commercial

Chris Davies, May 31st 2007 Discuss [0]

As much as I admire the technology inside Wow Wee's latest, the Roboquad, there's something about a scuttling spider-robot that freaks me out. Perhaps it's partly to do with the degree of AI that makes him inquisitive all of his own accord. Using the supplied remote control would be one thing, but having it suddenly dash out from under a chair would be quite another! Anyway, courtesy of our friends over at Robots Rule we've got the first Roboquad commercial: [youtube 5loQgcFFXp4] Read The Full Story

WowWee Dragonfly takes first review flight

Chris Davies, Feb 14th 2007 Discuss [1]

Now I'm no pillar of the community (though those rumours that I shoot at homeless people from the back of a pick-up truck are both libellous and untrue) but even I would draw the line at getting a poor WowWee Dragonfly amped up on full-sugar Dr Pepper and watching it dizzy around the room. Those tricksy devils at PC Magazine obviously have no morals, however, and see nothing wrong in giving the little fella a sip of the good stuff in order to get a decent review. They found him to be tricky to get used to initially, but soon were doing spirals and controlled flights (although only for about 10 seconds before crashing). Build quality was surprisingly resilient to unexpected landings, and battery life matched up to the promised seven minutes per twenty minute charge. Read The Full Story

Watch where you step – WowWee’s Roboboa!

Chris Davies, Jan 11th 2007 Discuss [1]

While I'm jonesing like crazy to get my hands on WowWee's Dragonfly robot, that doesn't mean I'll turn my nose or heels up at any other mechanical wonder that passes my way. So I find very interesting the news from Robosapien.tk forum member RSV3L, who apparently has the occasional conversation with WowWee founder Mark Tilden, about the latest in line to the Robosapien throne: Roboboa. As the name might suggest, it's a robot snake. But actually that does it a disservice - it's a dancing robot snake. We have RSV3L to thank for the following details:

It’s a dancing robot snake with cool lights and moves its’ body in time to music.

It is also a futuristic alarm clock.

More details, as well as links to video of Roboboa in action after the cut!

Read The Full Story

Featured

CES 2007: New WowWee Robots to come, plus Elvis bust

Rue Liu, Jan 6th 2007 Discuss [1]

Talk about celebrity sightings in Las Vegas. Besides Cher, Michael Jackson, and Madonna, who were roaming around the floor of the CES unveiling event, we also saw the singing and swaying bust of Elvis at the Wowwee booth. I’m sure many would love to have a singing Elvis bust, but I was more interested in the new RS Media they had on display. This new robot greeted me in several different personalities, which can be customized by the user. There are many other added features, but I’ll get to that in a later post. In the meantime just enjoy the photos. Oh, and I meant Cher, MJ, and Madonna impersonators of course.