Childsplay

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The World’s Smallest RC Helicopter for US$100

November 1, 2006 The lines between manpackable UAVs for the military and high end Radio Controlled toys blurred some time ago, and when we saw the latest toy from Interactive Toy Concepts, we began to wonder just how far this trend might go, given the trend towards miniaturisation of everything. The Micro Mosquito is claimed to be the Worlds smallest, lightest and quietest full function indoor R/C helicopter and weighs only 15 grams – that’s hellishly impressive, but the startling bit is the retail price of just over US$100. We’re sure it’s not the smallest, because military contractors around the world no doubt have much smaller versions in the labs – but this one does have the advantage of being available on retail shelves within the next few weeks and is certain to be there only a short while. Read More

Bosch and LEGO create a new dishwasher that also cleans plastic playthings

By Mike Hanlon

October 31, 2006 Lego’s colourful interlocking plastic bricks are one of the most successful toys of all time, no doubt offering early inspiration to many successful architects, designers and creative thinkers. How successful? Well, on average, everyone on earth possesses 52 LEGO bricks and the design is soon to celebrate its 50th birthday. Now Lego is entering a new phase of cooperation with an equally well-known brand in the form of Bosch – the two recently announced a partnership to create the first dishwasher for plastic toys and dishes. Thanks to the specially developed LEGO 40 °C wash program, building blocks, rattles and other playthings can be gently washed to remove all the germs gathered during active duty on the floor. The LEGO bricks can be washed in a special removable storage basket in the shape of a red “ToyBox” which sits securely in the bottom basket. Read More

Remote control Robotic Insectoid

By Mike Hanlon

October 27, 2006 Whenever we get shown the next generation of high tech toys we get the feeling we were cheated by having our childhoods a decade or three too soon, and the new N.S.E.C.T. robotic attack creature from Mattel/Tyco had the usual effect. Hot on the heels of last year's smash-hit Toy Industry Association “Boy Toy of the Year" Shell Shocker creature, the latest Tyco R/C creation to emerge from labs is named the N.S.E.C.T. (New Science of Experimental Combat Technology) and features Variable Motion Technology, allowing it to move just like a spider. All six legs work in conjunction with one another to help the N.S.E.C.T. creature scurry across the floor and overcome various obstacles. “Armor plated” and ready to go, the N.S.E.C.T. creature comes equipped with an assortment of weaponry seldom seen in the R/C aisle. Besides its intimidating appearance, the creature also features a pinching claw that allows it to pick up and transport objects. However, its greatest weapon is concealed and with the press of a button, the creature’s eyes change color from a cautionary yellow to an angry red as its wings rise to reveal a hidden cannon that can be adjusted for targeting. Press another button and the N.S.E.C.T. creature fires its six foam suction cup darts in rapid-fire succession or one at a time. The N.S.E.C.T. creature is available in two colors and frequencies (for head-to-head battles or multi-bug attacks) for a suggested retail price of US$100, each sold separately, subject to availability and comes with batteries and a charger. Read More

Digital and Powerslide versions rejuvenate Scalextric

By Mike Hanlon

October 11, 2006 In the early fifties, Scalex gave the world the slot car phenomenon and for the next quarter century, a Scalextric slot car set was part of every adolescent’s dreams. Then came the remote control craze and a plethora of other indoor activities and the brand dropped in popularity. Now there’s a new range of Scalextric using digital technologies that are starting to rejuvenate the indoor action sport and you can change lanes, overtake or block your opponents and brake into corners for a much more realistic experience. Up to four cars can now move into the inner or outer lanes at the touch of a button on the hand throttles to take them past their track rivals. There’s also a completely new variation on the Scalextric based around the latest racing craze of Drifting. Like Drifting, the new GBP75 Scalextric Powerslide racing set demands the ultimate in car control and requires drivers to maintain and manoeuvre controlled slides at high speeds. The cars are fitted with 'guideblade' systems which allow them to spin 360 degrees and travel in both directions around the figure-of-eight track. Oh to be a kid again! Read More

The Amazing Allysen doll

By Mike Hanlon

October 9, 2006 It’s gonna be an interactive Christmas and we’ll be featuring quite a few new high-tech toys over coming months, which brings us to the Amazing Allysen – Allysen is an older sibling of the interactive Amanda, which flew off the shelves in 2005. Allysen has a larger vocabulary and engages her playmate (aka owner) as a best friend by talking about topics ranging from fashion to music. The Amazing Allysen doll recognizes and responds to key words and phrases with lifelike facial expressions and real emotions. Allysen really gets to know you, collecting information about you as you play together, then retrieving the facts from time to time and including them in conversation. Allysen will also recognize her clothing, tops and jeans, shoes, hair accessories and can hold her mobile phone to her ear. You can even choose fun ring tones for Allysen’s cell phone. Read More

Live Interactive Virtual Electronics promises to forever change doll play

By Mike Hanlon

October 5, 2006 According to toy industry analysts, traditional doll sales have taken a recent dip, in large part due to the fact that young girls are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their play tastes and are craving the stimulation offered by interactive, digitally driven toy concepts. A new doll concept that was previewed for the first time yesterday at the Toy Wishes Holiday Preview looks set to answer this unmet need, blending computerized, state of the art toy designs with the joy of imaginary play to create the world's first ever fully interactive fashion doll. Read More

Collector Cards and Video Gaming come together using RFID

By Mike Hanlon

October 2, 2006 Collector cards have been with us for 120 years, so it’d be fair to say that many a business tycoon learned the fundamental laws of supply and demand with a stack of two and a half inches by three and a half inch cards in their hands. Now the time-honoured tween hobby that has kept boys entertained until they found out about girls is going high tech, with the first-of-its-kind HyperScan hybrid game system that uses RFID technology, allowing players to scan collectible game cards, enhance and modify their game skills, and make their video game characters more powerful over time and permanently add statistics to each card for future play. The US$70 HyperScan system arrives on retail shelves across America later this month. Read More

It’s a plane, it’s a boat - it’s the insane all-terrain Storm Launcher!

By Mike Hanlon

September 13, 2006 As electric motors get more powerful, and materials get lighter and stronger, the toys we are creating get more fantastic with each passing year. Toy creator Spin Master knew it had a winner on its hands long before it announced the Storm Launcher to the world, but it didn’t quite expect the reaction it encountered when a pre-sale went on-line and sold out in five days, making the omnipotent flying, floating, go anywhere toy arguably the most anticipated R/C vehicle of all time. The Air Hogs R/C Storm Launcher is a ground-effect all-terrain vehicle that has no wings but flies and no wheels but rips across any surface. If you are in any doubt about wanting one, check out this video and if you’re an aspiring toy inventor, read the story of inventors Michael Connally and Ernest Butler who SpinMaster signed ahead of other hungry toy companies with a handsome advance for the rights to their invention, and five per cent ongoing royalties for the US$80 category buster. Read More

Disney’s line of digital cameras for tots and tweens

By Mike Hanlon

September 8, 2006 Children of today will be the first generation to capture their own images, and that hasn’t been lost on the Disney entertainment empire which has launched a new Disney Pix line features digital cameras, camcorders and peripherals that allow young kids and tweens to shoot, edit, print and share their digital photographs. Starting at just U$20 the designs are character-themed for all ages, including "High School Musical," "Cars," "Disney Princess," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Tinker Bell." The Digital Cameras all come with Disney Pix software starting with the U$20 Disney Pix Micro (an ultra-small camera with a storage capacity of 24 photos) for tots, the slightly-upmarket US$50 Disney Pix Click (200 VGA 640 x 480 photos, 2X digital zoom, built-in auto flash, TV output), the range-topping US$80 Disney Pix Max (3 MPX images, 1.5" colour LCD screen, 4X digital zoom, expandable memory card slot, built-in auto flash, TV output), and a US$30 Keychain Digital keychain Brag Book, an ultra-small digital photo album that stores 50 photos and has a 1.1" LCD screen. There’s just one camcorder – the US$80 Disney Princess Digital Movie Maker, a digital with 32MB of built-in memory, 640 x 480 video resolution and a built-in microphone, pitched for girls to edit their own videos and add music, animation, sound effects, titles and credits with the accompanying software. Read More

Oregon Scientific SmartGlobe – educational toy par excellence

By Mike Hanlon

August 16, 2006 We love educational toys because inquisitive little minds are like computers (garbage in, garbage out) and the more compelling the toy, the better the grasp of the subject will be. With the SmartGlobe, Oregon Scientific has taken the traditional globe and integrated interactive technology to create something much greater than the original all- you- can- do- is- look- at- it globe with more than 30 activities and the potential for hours of fun and head-to-head game play for up to four people about world facts. Indeed, the SmartGlobe has been designed for both children and adults, and can be customised with three age-based knowledge levels from 5-8, 9-14 and 15 to adult. Now while we give this ten out of ten as an educational toy, we figure there’s some serious mileage to be had by hooking the Smartglobe together with Google Maps to create something even more special – maybe that’s next year’s model. Read More

Learning to read and play music via a video game

By Mike Hanlon

July 20, 2006 According to the U.S. Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) executive director Gary L. Ingle, Fisher-Price’s “I Can Play Piano” is “the most innovative approach to piano fundamentals we've seen.” The US$80 educational toy uses video game technology to introduce children to learning, playing and appreciating music via Piano Wizard technology. The Piano Wizard method is inherently different from other music-teaching approaches because it introduces actual playing of real music with an simple interactive video game. The technology allows virtually anyone to play songs within minutes and transforms the tedious and traditional methods of piano practice into an exciting video game. Piano Wizard can make the first few years of a child's musical experience fun instead of torture, because children can now actually play to learn piano. The colour-coded plug and play piano keyboard plugs into any TV and becomes a colourful game with fun, moving images that tell kids what note to play and when to play it. Suitable for ages 4 through 8 years, children learn at their own pace and children of different ages and stages of development can play together. The better they play, the higher their score, with positive feedback and unconditional applause to encourage them every step of the way. Before long, children are playing the game and reading and playing music. Read More

Remote-control car with infrared video

By Mike Hanlon

July 11, 2006 Before the Berlin Wall came down, genuinely useful surveillance gear was difficult to procure. With the sudden defrosting of the Cold War, both sides became very commercial and all sorts of previously classified and very clever equipment became not just procurable, but affordable. Nowadays, much of the gadgetry that Q might have handed to 007 a decade or two ago is available, quite literally, at your local toy shop. Wild Planet toys have a complete range of spy gear ideal for indulging a techie’s second childhood but we forsee some delicate problems with the company’s latest creation. The Spy Video Car is a completely silent, remote controlled electric car with a video camera AND infrared night vision that transmits wirelessly to a headset worn by the err … perpetrator. It’s ideal for checking out what’s happening up to 25 metres away and although the sticker says it’s suitable for ages 6 and above, we’re a trifle fearful of what sort of X-rated action an inquisitive mind and the Spy Video Car might find themselves exposed to in mum and dad’s bedroom. The toy uses a high quality OmniVision CMOS image sensor and using the infrared video will transmit a very clear image of the action in complete darkness. Check out the video and images inside. Read More

World’s most cost-efficient hydrogen fuel cell car on sale today

By Mike Hanlon

June 23, 2006 We can’t speak highly enough of the educational and sheer novelty aspects of the H-racer fuel cell car we first wrote up in May. Measuring only 16cm x 7cm (6.5" x 2.8" inches!), the H-racer is the smallest hydrogen car in the world and uses a real fuel cell that converts hydrogen fuel into electrical energy without combustion. The only exhaust is water and the car does not use any batteries! In terms of price, well the H-racer is only $40. $80 buys you the entire set including the car, the refuelling station and its solar panel. In the future, the Hydrogen Station will be able to “refuel” other compatible and innovative hydrogen powered gadgets or toys. The car is now officially on sale online. Read More

The rear-wheel-steer tricycle

By Mike Hanlon

June 3, 2006 We never cease to be amazed at just how many combinations for three and four wheeled conveyances are possible in the quest to have some fun. Yet another completely new layout for the humble tricycle arrived on our desk this week and it's a far cry from the picture you see in your mind's eye when the word tricycle is mentioned. The new layout has been trademarked DriftRider and it's a reclining trike with a fixed front wheel and steering via both rear wheels. Offering a human-powered experience akin to that of the new motorsport known as drifting, we could see the US$170 DriftRider becoming a Christmas sensation as a new wave of tweens comes to grips with the machine's ability to slide, drift and do quite spectacular things. Check out the image gallery then the video - still images don't do the stunt capabilities justice. Read More

RoboReptile – new advanced reptile robot

By Mike Hanlon

May 23, 2006 Mark Tilden is a master roboticist, with his creations for WOWWEE such as Robosapien I and Robosapien II, RoboPet and Roboraptor among the most sought after toys each year and we recently reported that we expect coming generations to be much smarter – already Wowwee has sold more robots than any other company on the planet and each new generation gets a fair bit smarter than the last. Now there’s a new Wowwee robot about to be set loose – Roboreptile is a highly interactive, seeing and hearing 72cm long cyber-reptilian with a 28 function remote control. Roboreptile has direct control functions, free roam, program mode and guard mode capabilities. Incorporating a complex array of sensors (vision, touch and stereo sound sensors) and advanced artificial intelligence, this futuristic reptile achieves new levels of awareness. No firm pricing just yet but expect a price in the US$120 area when the beastie becomes available in July. Read More

The world’s smallest hydrogen car hits the showroom floor

By Mike Hanlon

May 19, 2006 Educational toys are a gift that keeps giving for a whole lifetime and every now and again we see a toy that makes the perfect educational gift. It’s no secret that the hydrogen economy is dawning and hydrogen fuel cells will play a major role in the future energy equation of the planet. Similarly, 75% of the jobs which school age children will do have not yet been invented. Add all that together and its an unavoidable conclusion that the H-racer offers a compelling gift for any child at just US$80. The H-Racer hits the market next month as the world’s smallest hydrogen car and comes with its own matching Hydrogen Refueling Station. As a toy, it is a simple construction kit (no soldering required) within a valuable educational context. As a promotional gift, it combines concept, design and practicality, allowing observation of the car’s fuel tank filling up with Hydrogen. As a new energy kit, the car clearly demonstrates how to obtain unlimited storable fuel from just water and sun, then powering a car with it using a fuel cell. Manufacturer Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies makes a range of commercial and industrial fuel cell products and is hence seeking international distribution partners. Read More

The Walkodile – ingenious child safety walker

By Mike Hanlon

May 12, 2006 UPDATED IMAGE LIBRARY This rates as one of the best and most sensible ideas we’ve ever seen. Anyone who has ever tried to orchestrate a public outing for more than two children under the age of eight years knows the dangers. Children don’t have the ability to judge speed, distance and danger so they make unpredictable and vulnerable pedestrians with matters often made much worse due to arousal levels heightened by the proximity of other children. The Walkodile child safety walker is a significant development in the field of child safety as it offers a stress-free method of shepherding a group of primary school age children in public. The UKP200 Walkodile links four to six children to a central flexible spine, which they can hold on to whilst they walk. Each child is fitted with a high visibility, adjustable harness and joined to the Walkodile, which has been very successful in both formal and informal tests, as supervisors are able to steer six children by holding the hand of just one of the lead children. Quite predictably invented by a school teacher (that’s the inventor Elaine Stephen pictured), the Walkodile means no more lost children and a greatly reduced possibility of much worse. Read More

Nature Backpack allows kids to explore nature

By Mike Hanlon

April 17, 2006 The greatest gift you can give a child (other than unconditional love) is a good education. So we think the new all-in-one nature backpacks from Home Science Tools are a winning concept. The go-anywhere backpacks get children out into nature where they can become an insect-collecting entomologist, a rock hound, a bird watcher, a botanist, or just a nature observer. The series of six different kits range in price from US$60 to $90 and provide everything children need to explore and learn about the world around them, including quality, hands-on tools; field guides; and instructions for getting the most out of the kits. The (pictured) first-of-its-kind Young Naturalist's Kit facilitates catching and observing insects, identifying and pressing flowers, watching the habits of birds and small animals, and making a record of everything they see. The kit contains a sturdy backpack, three field guides (birds, insects and wildflowers), the Watching Nature book, a deluxe insect net, a pop-up insect habitat, compact binoculars, a magnifying glass, a plant press, collection bags, ruler, nature notebook, and instructions. Read More

Innovative new safety phone for kids

By Mike Hanlon

April 5, 2006 i-Kids is a new ‘pre-teen’ mobile handset with GPS (Global Positioning System) functionality that has been designed to meet the needs of parents with children in primary school at the same time as enabling children to go out and play confidently with the perception of independence. Unlike other mobile phones, the handset can only dial four numbers and does not include SMS functionality, which means that parents can control and minimise usage. Most importantly, the phone can alert parents when a child moves out of a predetermined ‘safety zone’, such as their school or the local park, and parents can check a child’s location at anytime on a computer based map or on their WAP capable mobile phone. The i-Kids phone can even be located when it is turned off, meaning that parents can always find their child’s location. Plans are underway to diversify the range of the service by applying 'i-Kids' service's mobile security functions (location inquiry) to boats, automobiles, motorcycles, or any other valuable item. Read More

Dora's Talking Kitchen wins two 'Toy of the Year' awards

By Mike Hanlon

February 14, 2006 With all the glitz and glamour of awards season in full swing, honors were bestowed Saturday night on America's preschool sweetheart -- Dora the Explorer -- when she won her second 'Toy of the Year' (T.O.T.Y) Award as "Most Popular Property" of the Year by the Toy Industry Association. As the star of Nickelodeon's highly popular preschool series, Dora the Explorer, Dora also received the prestigious "Best Girl Toy" award at the TIA gala which every year celebrates the most innovative toys. Dora continued her winning streak, claiming the "Property of the Year" prize for the second year in a row. The honor is reserved for the licensor with the brand or property that generated the most interest and excitement throughout the toy industry. By focusing on licensed product that delivers to girls high quality play experiences consistent with the show's values, Dora has resonated with both girls and their parents. Read More

New state-of-the-art amusement park ride

By Mike Hanlon

January 29, 2006 What will they think of next? The entertainment park business is big business. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, Americans made 79 million person-trips to America’s more than 600 theme and amusement parks last year, spending an average of US$839 per trip, not counting transportation. Logically, the most spectacular rides win a greater share of the marketplace. Which is why rides like Dollywood entertainment park's new US$6.5 million Timber Tower get built. When it opens on April 1, Timber Tower will stand 65 feet tall and offer a 150 second (2.5 minute) ride with dual rotation, both from the tower and the ride carrier. Situated in the middle of a 5,100-sq.-ft. pond, Timber Tower will take passengers high into the air where the ride carrier rotates 11 times per minute as it approaches the top of the tower. Once there, Timber Tower will begin a side-to-side swinging motion with six complete "dips" in various directions to a maximum and quite remarkable 60-degree angle. As it plunges towards the full extent of each dip, it will appear to splash riders into the water below, drop passengers within reach of a sawmill blade, then a bear cave, a water geyser, a beaver dam and finally a treacherous log jam. Don’t forget the heart tablets! Read More

Popular Bratz Dolls brand extended to mobile phones

By Mike Hanlon

January 28, 2006 As the penetration of mobile phones in society heads towards ubiquity, it was only a matter of time before the targeting and styling of mobile phones would focus on children and this week consumer entertainment products company MGA Entertainment, the manufacturer of the wildly popular Bratz brand of fashion dolls and accessories, joined forces with Ztar Mobile to bring to market the first Bratz mobile phone. Read More

The Virtual Air Guitar - all you need is a rock'n'roll attitude

By Mike Hanlon

December 1, 2005 As computers learn to enhance and augment every human endeavour, it was only a matter of time before talentless, uncoordinated individuals such as your humble writer could indulge their musical ambitions and produce sounds to match those of their dreams - and the Virtual Air Guitar project is well on the way to setting would-be musicians free, without the need for even an instrument. Playing the Virtual Air Guitar is simple. You pull on a pair of orange gloves (for the image tracking to recognise what your hands are doing), and strum a big chord and that's exactly what happens - you hear a power chord with punchy distortion. Now move your left hand along the imaginary neck and strum again - it's a different chord. You can't play any "wrong" chords here - they have been pre-selected for you. When you're ready, press the switch pedal to change from chord mode to solo mode and you suddenly have a pentatonic minor scale on the three top strings, with fret slides and vibrato. Play hard enough with feeling, and you start getting screaming distortions. It's easy enough that you can pick it up in ten seconds, but especially the solo mode has just enough freedom for every solo to be different. You don't really need to know anything about guitar solos, except for how rock guitarists perform on stage. And there's a virtual drum kit under development too. Read More

Highly-anticipated US$99 Pentop Computer finally hits the shelves

By Mike Hanlon

October 25, 2005 Sometimes we write about technologies well in advance of actually hands-on experiencing them. Such was the case with the PenTop computer and although we were enthusiastic based on the specifications, once we tried it, the gravity and sheer importance of the product really shone through. The Pentop is a new computer platform and it is a significant one. First announced in New York City last January, the new platform transforms pen and paper into an interactive computer. With many creative and engaging learning applications available, the FLY Pentop Computer is targeted primarily at technology-savvy tweens (ages 8 - 13) and their parents. This week the Fly Pentop Computer finally hits the shelves across America Read More

Toy of the Year: Knights' Empire Castle

By Mike Hanlon

October 5, 2005 Disney’s FamilyFun magazine announced the winners of Its 14th annual Toy of The Year Award at the Children's Museum of Manhattan yesterday. Unlike many Industry awards where the winners are chosen by the opinion of journalists, peers or popular vote, Family Fun actually puts the toys to the test with a massive undertaking of testing the most popular toys with large numbers of the real experts - the children themselves. This year 520 toys from 170 manufacturers were tested by 1,400 kids across the US In assembling the Top 10 Toys of 2005. That’s 30,000 hours of testing in total, so we think the results (63 kid-approved playthings organized by age and category) are worth looking at if you’re planning on buying toys soon. The Toy of the Year Award went to the Knights' Empire Castle (pictured) with the 3D Pool Table runner-up. Read More

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