Gizmodo
Announced last year in Japan, the Miuro is now ready to go around the house on its own. The robot speaker on wheels who follows you about like an annoying child (but with better tunes) is available not just in white but in a number of hot fruity colors like Lemon Sunburst and Acid Orange* as well as basic black. Miuro will connect now to your 802.11b/g wireless network to stream music from your PC or play Internet radio. It will also connect to the PC to use the new Autonomous Motion Package, a $166 PC software that uses Miuro's camera to map your home or office and allows you tell him where to go.
In addition to the PC, an extra $133 will buy you the optional Remote Communication Package, which allows you to use your cellphone to send Miuro toddling off to its destination, taking a photo of the place with his built-in camera on arrival. There's a gallery below and full specs and pricing are after the jump.
Miuro can also dance (his speciality being the Two-Wheel High Freedom Twist - which you won't see on Dancing With The Stars and flash his lights in time to the music, something that I am not so sure I want to experience. What I want, however, is:
- The sound system is a Kenwood four-channel digital amplifier, with two non-directional woofers and two software dome tweeters.
- The audio format compatibility (WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC, AIFF, LPCM).
- The two operational modes: Floor and Table, depending on where Miuro is hanging out.
- The Self-Positioning button enables Miuro to find the best connection in the house.
- The battery life: 3-4 hours (although you can buy a hi-capacity batt for $108 that will double its autonomy).
Miuro weights 11 pounds and is 13 inches. Miuri-makers ZMP are expecting to shift between 500 and 1000 units in the second half of this year, but are upping production for 2008, making around 1000 units a month. The software that you need to run Miuro will set you back $166 (that gives the Wheely One his autonomy around the house) and then Miuro himself will cost you $916.
Product page [Miuro via ZMP via PC Watch]
*And there's no pink. Do you know how happy that makes me? Lots.
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Comments
This thing is awesome, now only if it could place my drunken dominos pizza order.
Over a grand.
If it could handle stairs (alone or in pairs) and follow me outdoors without me having to do anything other than tell it to do so, then I'd be interested.
The minute you go somewhere it can't your investment gets left behind too.
There are other solutions that won't drain your bank account as much, though they won't be as charming.
For that price you could adopt a child from a third-world country and tie an iPod around their neck.
I'm pretty sure thats what Brangelina did.
Now now, there are no third worlds, just unexploited industrial labor markets.
strider's right, I bet we could get this cheaper if we tapped the right labor force.
I'd consider this if it had a "chase cat" setting.
Who would win in a robo-war between this guy and that robot vacuum? My bet is on Miuro...it could bore the vacuum to death by playing Gene Autry on repeat!
This is very cool. Wonder if it has shock absorbers.
1. Buy large tin can (ex. Campbell's Tomato Soup)
2. Consume content
3. Excrete content in reaction to bowel movement caused by said content
4. Put iPod + cheap powered speakers, play
5. Bind a tie around can, tie other end to back of pants
6. Drag can around house, feel as stupid as buying $1000++ speakers with wheels.
@strider_mt2k
Nice Ren & Stimpy reference!
I'm so up for buying this, but it can't do stairs. Although, getting it to follow my cat around WILL be the only thing I use it for.
If they put a high-capacity flash drive in it so you can take it places, this could potentially be the new millennium ghetto blaster.
Oh, it does say you can put an iPod in it, doesn't it? I have had too much stimulant.
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