LEGO's got some sweet sets on the way, all part of a new sort of under-brand branding: Powered Up! You won't necessarily find a "Powered Up" or "Powered Up Platform" logo on every radical new set - instead, there'll be a mix of sorts. Every one of these sets coming later this year (and beyond) will be able to be controlled with its own unique app - or the already existing app for LEGO Boost!
SlashGear covered the beginning of the 2018 New York Auto Show this week with some drool-worthy photos of tomorrow's most excellent vehicles. Meanwhile here at home base we're taking a peek at high-end cars on a much smaller scale: LEGO. While you're welcome to look at the human-sized cars we've captured in NYC this week in photos, we've also got a closer look at set of pocket-sized cars you'll potentially find a bit closer to home.
Today we've got a sneak peek of the first in what we hope is a long line of Wizarding World of Harry Potter LEGO sets through the next few years. This is Hogwarts, a set that's sort of a remake of a set released by LEGO a few years ago. Back when the "Hogwarts Castle" set was made, they went for the full deal, mashing the entire castle into 1290 pieces. This time they've begun creating the castle piece by piece, starting with the Great Hall in 878 pieces.
The folks behind the LEGO Ideas set Ship in a Bottle flipped lego conventions on their head when they made the Leviathan. That's the name of the ship, and the bottle comes with, too. Fan creator Jake Sadovich of Idaho created the original, and LEGO brought it to life. This set's coming to stores very soon.
Sony's aibo is back and, more than a decade after the robot dog project was shuttered, there's a newer, smarter version to steal your heart. Benefiting from the latest in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and the cloud, the new aibo it wraps the cutting-edge in a seriously cute design. Read on for the five big things you need to know.
Tech giants might be scrambling to put smart speakers in your living room, but Sony is more interested in letting a smart robot dog roam around instead. It may not have changed the name, but its new aibo (not spelled as Aibo this time) is so different from its predecessor it should have been given a different name. But, then again, it was a name that many have fallen in love with and, by the looks of it, they will fall in love with the new aibo all over again.
There are many theories on things that make humans happy. Some swear by scents, others with touch. This latest thing to come from Japan would have us believe that our worries can be swept away by the hypnotic movement of cats' and dogs' tails. But not everyone has the predisposition, or the luxury, to keep such furry critters. So what is a human to do? Since robots are predicted to replace us soon, why not start with our pets? Enter Qoobo, which is practically, a headless, limbless robotic cat that will still wag and curl its tail in approval.
Sphero's R2-D2 is getting an Imperial counterpart, with a limited-edition R2-Q5 joining the remote-control lineup. Expected to be a hit at NY Comic Con when it goes on sale from today, the R2-Q5 is not only a standalone toy but will interact with other Sphero-powered Star Wars figures the company has already launched.
Your teddy bear doesn't need to be a (sometimes freaky) robot to be cool and hi-tech. It just needs an iPad or an iPhone. And maybe some imagination. Well, actually, you and your kid will need those if you want to fully experience what Parker has a to offer. A traditional teddy bear toy in all but one sense, Seedling wants kids to enjoy a timeless classic toy while sprinkling some digital wizardry using the magic of augmented reality.
Sphero's attentions may have been on Star Wars lately, and its incredible R2-D2 robot, but the company still found time to make a new 'bot of its own, Sphero Mini. Condensing much of what makes its smartphone-controlled spherical robot great into a roughly billiard ball size, it's the new entry-level model in the company's range. Best of all is the price.
Propel, largely known for its lightweight remote-controlled drones and helicopters, has officially announced the US release of its line of Star Wars battle drones. Already available to order, at launch, pilots can try to bullseye womp rats in Luke Skywalker’s classic X-Wing, shoot Jedi from the sky with Darth Vader’s TIE Advanced, or dodge trees on the Speeder Bike made famous by the Endor forest chase in Return of the Jedi.
We may only be heading into September, but I'm calling it: you're looking at Sphero's R2-D2, and it's going to be the must-have toy of the 2017 holidays. Revealed today as part of the Star Wars "Force Friday" event, the remote-control R2-D2 - and its cousin from the Dark Side, Sphero's new BB-9E droid - looks set to be a must-have for fans of the movie, whether they're kids or otherwise. Indeed, it could well end up being Sphero's most popular robot to-date.