Acer Pawbo Munch, WagTag and iPuppyGo bring smart tech for pet owners

Acer has just taken the wraps off new products for pet owners, the Pawbo iPuppyGo, WagTag, and Munch. Each name corresponds pretty well to each product's purpose; the Pawbo Munch, for example, is a smart dispenser that dishes out treats to pets even if you're not home. The products utilize technology like 3G, GPS, connectivity with a mobile app, and more to give pet owners a modern hand in carrying for their dogs and/or cats.

It appears the iPuppyGo and WagTag are both designed for dogs specifically, whereas the Munch treat dispenser can be used with cats as well. The iPuppyGo is described as something like the a fitness and health device for pets — it can track their activity levels, provide insight into their health and mood, how much exercise they get, and their sleep patterns. All of this information is available on the pet owners' smartphone via an app.

The iPuppyGo has a diameter of 35mm and attaches to the dog's collar; it'll be available in five different colors. The companion app, meanwhile, has a Treasure Hunting game that turns taking your dog out for a walk into something like a game.

The Pawbo WagTag, meanwhile, is a location tracker that shows where a pet is located. This is made possible via a combination of 3G network access, AGPS and GPS, plus WiFi. The tracker is built into a collar and can go days before needing recharged, according to Acer.

Pet owners who let their dogs outside are able to set up geo-fencing zones so that they get alerts when the dog either enters or leaves these zones. As well, there are alerts for when the dog is exhibiting unusual barking behaviors, which itself triggers a recording function so that the pet owner can hear what may be causing the dog to bark. The WagTag also features sensors for temperature, impacts, and it has a 'virtual leash' that issues an alert if the dog wanders too far away from its owner.

Finally, there's the Pawbo Munch, a smart dispensing system that gives a pet treats of any shape or size. Munch works with an app to dispense the treats; pet owners are given control of when and how much the pets get. The system features a game of sorts for pets described as being like a slot machine; they reward the pets for their interaction.

Acer hasn't yet revealed exactly when these devices will be available, nor what they will cost.