Gizmodo: prime

Transformer-Themed Bearbricks Protect The All Spark, Steal Food From Campers

Adrian Covert — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:43:30 EDT

Considering that we love Transformers and toys, it's no surprise that we're drooling over these Transformer-themed Bearbricks. The foursome of Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee and Barricade were spotted at this year's Wonder Festival in Tokyo. The specialty toys from Japan come in various themes and colors, and this batch is to commemorate the Transformers Movie. They will be sold in packs of two, with the choice of Optimus Prime/Megatron or Bumblebee/Barricade. Sadly, these are Japan only, selling for 1,890 Yen. [ToysREvil via Hype Beast]

Transformers Beatmix Bumblebee Remixes Your Music, Dances Too

kevinhall2 — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 18:20:00 EDT

Plug Beatmix Bumblebee into your MP3 player and he'll dance to his own mix of your music library, adding beats and sound clips from the movie, for as long as his four AA batteries last. Since he plugs into portables, you'll be able to take him everywhere. Transformers get-togethers. Work. Put an upside down hat next to him on street corners. As a Transformer, though, it looks like poor BM Bumblebee is forever locked in robot mode.

Don't blame us if he's a terrible DJ. Or if he dances off a table. It's your $60. But the marketing pitch is worth a chuckle:

Prime always told him there'd be days like this, but thankfully, this is a fun day because Bumblebee is dancing! Beatmix Bumblebee captures the personality of this big screen hero and allows you to morph your music into more than meets the ear with a beat builder and movie sound effects. Don't box him in—let him free and let him dance!

What kind of days, Prime? "Dancing Days?" Who knew the leader of the Autobots was a Led-head.

Product page [Entertainment Earth via Nerd Approved]

Why Megatron Will Never Beat Optimus Prime

Brian Lam — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 19:37:34 EDT

Megatron, man. What happened to you? Before this Michael Bay movie, you had some balls. You used to turn into a giant gun, or a gun that Starscream could pick up and shoot those goody-two-shoes Autobots with. A giant gun so big that Dirty Harry would have splat like a bug on a 80mph windshield if he had to deal with the recoil. Some kind of crazy f'd up die-cast Decepticon Walther P-38. But no more.

Now look at you.

The build quality is *excellent* and better than the Optimus Prime by Hasbro. I know, you've got batteries and sound effects now. (Still no Biew Biew Biew). And you've got some translucent under-wings that are spring-loaded and neon. And you have a chain-whip/grappling hook, secured to a spring-loaded three-pronged claw. But what's with all the ornate armor? Who redesigned you without asking any of the legions of Transformer fanboys?

You're all frilly. You call them spikes, but it looks like robot lace. And If you're way easier to transform, its because you don't really transform into anything but a frilly fake jet that observes zero laws of aerodynamics. Your wings look like wings on a paper airplane that I made in 3rd grade that crashed into Mrs. Pendleton's boob. Really, all you do to transform is fold out the wings on your back, flip your head up, and put giant spikes onto your arms. And your legs don't really transform into anything, they just sit underneath and back like a duck's while it squats on some eggs. Really. You look like a sissy gundam reject.

SPOILER: Autobots win in your new movie. Sorry, but what do you expect when a Red White and Blue 18-wheeler Cab goes head to head with a transformer that transforms into nothing? Prime is going to kick your ass.
Please go find your dignity and your bullets and turn back into the Megatron we all knew and feared would take over the Earth. – Brian Lam

RIP Die Cast Megatron

Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet: Transformer Fantasies Just Got a Bit Easier

www.gizmodo.com — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 04:33:46 EST

So there I am, striding around town with my Optimus Prime helmet on, when I see my old gym teacher. Never what you might call friends, he and I. So, feeling brave, I go up to him and roar - my voice is totally transformed - not only do I look like the leader of the Autobots, but I sound like him too. Anyway, I look up at the little worm who made my life a misery at High School, and I thunder: "Mr Skinner, you will PAY for the sins you have visited upon the weedy and the un-jock-like." And then it kinda falls apart, because when I try to lift him up by the throat, I just can't.
So there you have it. The Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet. It does great things for your voice, but you can forget about invincibility, or turning into a truck. Coming soon from Hasbro, to a comic shop near you, but no price as yet. Who cares? We want. – Ad Dugdale

Optimus Prime Speaketh [Ubergizmo]

Prime PM-304AF Music Player

Charlie White — Tue, 16 May 2006 09:50:57 EDT

This little Prime PM-304AF music player is less than 3 inches tall and has a 1.5 inch LCD and an FM tuner inside. It's available in a variety of embedded flash capacities from 64MB up to 2GB, and in addition to all that music playback goodness, it can give you up to 36 hours of voice record time.

Prime says the 304AF's battery will give you 15 hours of playback, and it weighs scarcely more than an ounce. It supports MP3, WMA, and WAV audio formats as well DivX conversion. So what if it's the next victim to be mowed down by the iPod juggernaunt? We kinda like its dual-boxy, shiny style.

Product Page [Prime]