While we've gotten a look at the MyDeskFriend gadgets before, Pingo is the first one to actually be released. He's bringing a lot of cuteness, an internal speaker, a microphone, some freaky LED eyes, two proximity sensors, three ground sensors, and a two-wheel drive.

Basically this penguin bot is a ridiculously interactive alert system for news, email, Facebook updates, and whatever else you set him to check for. I say "ridiculously interactive," because Pingo reacts to pokes, shakes, and voice commands and can be nurtured and played with as if a pet. I'm sure all of those things would turn more annoying than useful or entertaining quickly, but the damn thing is way to freakin' cute for me to care.

At $149, Pingo is definitely more expensive than the Furbies it acts and looks like, but—never mind the features—the minimal creepiness is worth the price difference.

A FACEBOOK FRIEND YOU'LL NEVER IGNORE: MYDESKFRIEND, A TINY ROBOTIC PENGUIN, PLAYS, READS, CONNECTS TO WEB AND FACEBOOK

New York, NY ( December 7, 2009) – Pingo is one Facebook friend you'll never ignore.

Tiny and irresistibly cute, Pingo is the first official mydeskfriend, a tiny robotic penguin launching today at www.mydeskfriend.com.

An ideal holiday gift for anyone passionate about the latest in gadgets, robotic toys, and consumer electronics, the interactive playmate can zoom around desktops, express moods, respond to voice commands, sing songs, and read aloud email messages, headlines, stock quotes, and weather.

The device integrates into its owners' Facebook account via a Facebook application that allows users to give their device its own name, profile, and personality, as well as nurture its moods and manage its daily life.

Owners can set mydeskfriend up to read RSS newsfeeds from their news sites and blogs, spoil it with food and vitamins from a Facebook gift page, and lull it to sleep by gently rocking it in their hands. Pingo can follow fingers around a desktop, while sensory devices ensure that it never falls off a desk when moving around on its own.

Friends who have their own devices can play and communicate via Facebook, including poking, sending messages, and giving Facebook gifts directly from one Pingo to another.

The device can fit in the palm of hand and displays its moods, like happy and angry, by changing the color of its LED-lit eyes.

mydeskfriend retails for $149.99 and is available for purchase at www.mydeskfriend.com. Orders must be placed before December 14th in order to arrive by December 23rd via priority delivery service. The device is compatible with the following systems: Mac OS (10.5 and 10.6), Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

mydeskfriend is developed by Arimaz, a Switzerland-based company specializing in creating entertainment robotic devices and Internet-connected toys.

"mydeskfriend is the first of a new generation of Internet-connected robotic devices," said Pierre Bureau, the CEO of Arimaz. "It's fun, entertaining, and helpful, keeping you connected to the Internet and Facebook even when you're not online."

About Arimaz

Arimaz SA is a company active in the fields of entertainment robotics and interactive toys. Arimaz creates, develops and market products integrating the latest technologies in domains such as electronics, wireless communication and artificial intelligence. For information, contact www.arimaz.com.

[Arimaz]

The gadget's apparently based on a Japanese show about "a high school boy, his transforming cell-phone robot, and his six detective partners that fight against an internet-based criminal organization." Guess it might not be too upset if I compared it to a Transformer after all then. I'll still keep the "cute" remark and the $135 I'd pay for the phone to myself though. [XL-Shop via Technabob]

Like the tauntaun sleeping bag, the USB Pet Rock is another case of an April Fools Day joke turning into a real product. This is the joke video from earlier in the year:

You can order your own USB Pet Rock for $10 at ThinkGeek. Just don't ask me to tell you what to do with it. I still try to feed Fido without success. [ThinkGeek via OhGizmo!]

Just like a real steam boat, this six-inch version moves because of expanding steam pushing away from water. Mimicking the real thing further, there's a compact boiler and motor made of copper pipes and even a heat shield. You get things started by lighting a small "lamp" filled with olive oil and watching the steam come out before the boat zips across the bathtub.

The instructions provide the in depth details on the physics and go step-by-step from cutting and building the hull to putting together the boiler. All that's missing is a guide on how to whistle like Mickey Mouse. [Duckworks via Make]

Still only mini game demos though, and we won't hear much more until the Tokyo Game Show on September 24. Hopefully we'll get to see some live demos of real games, along with a finalized name and date to expect it in Spring.

Also See: How Sony's PlayStation Motion Controller Works

Beyond that, it appears to be a fairly standard 3-channel helicopter. The way I see it, a USB device should involve the computer in more ways than just a power source. It certainly wouldn't be the first RC device to do so. Still, if you are looking to do something other than work at work, Brando's helicopter isn't going to break the bank at $40. Then again, you could forgo the USB functionality and LEDs, saving yourself a few bucks in the process. [Brando]

It launches in September for just $99, and is meant to be a social media companion. Your friends can interact with it via your Facebook page, and it can read messages off of Facebook to you. Its eyes reflect its mood, and will memorize 10-15 short vocal commands.

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.It doesn't actually seem to do much, but it is kind of a neat toy for office workers and people who are in front of their computers all day. [MyDeskFriend via GetRobo via Technabob]

The Atomic Energy Lab set was only available from 1951 to 1952 and sold for a whopping $50 (that's without inflation).

The set came with four types of uranium ore, a beta-alpha source (Pb-210), a pure beta source (Ru-106), a gamma source (Zn-65?), a spinthariscope, a cloud chamber with its own short-lived alpha source (Po-210), an electroscope, a geiger counter, a manual, a comic book (Dagwood Splits the Atom) and a government manual "Prospecting for Uranium."

Today, a set of one of these could go for over $5,000 due to the limited quantities that was produced. Maybe the set was produced in limited quantities because dying from radiation at the age of eight wasn't so fun either. [Oak Ridge Associated Universities via Boing Boing]

Here's an idea: get a dozen and control them all using the same channel. In a four star restaurant. 30 minutes of charge equals 5 minutes of sheer dining terror and a few months of painful health inspection investigations. If you're terrible and into that kind of thing. [Gizmine]

This Force Trainer, priced at $90-$100, hooks up to your head via wireless headset and transmits your reading to the toy, which blows air and moves the ball up the chute. Like Brain Training for the DS, you level up gradually depending on your skill. Unlike Brain Training, when you succeed, a white ball jumps clumsily. [USA Today via Geekologie]

The Spyball™ spy-cam is a remote controlled, Wi-Fi enabled, transforming robotic ball that introduces an element of play to telepresence functionality. Affordable, easy-to-use, and rechargeable, the Spyball spy-cam captures video and still images and is equipped with sleek wheels for fast, smooth mobility and 360-degree turns. Transforming from ball to camera and back again, the Spyball spy-cam moves with stealth and in disguise – perfect for spying on siblings or peeking into the kitchen. There is no need to access the Internet to see what the Spyball spycam sees – users can make an Ad hoc connection via any Wi-Fi-enabled device including a PC, laptop, video game console or even a cell phone. The included USB cable allows users to configure a simple home network setup process that will allow the Spyball spycam to be controlled from any remote location via the Internet.

About WowWee
WowWee, an Optimal Group company, is a leading designer, developer, marketer and distributor of innovative hi-tech consumer robotic and entertainment products. The WowWee group of companies maintains operations in Hong Kong, Carlsbad, California; Brussels, Belgium; and Montreal, Quebec.

For more information, please visit the Company's web site at www.wowwee.com.

HONG KONG – January 6, 2009 – WowWee, an Optimal Group company (NASDAQ:OPMR), announced its newest line of innovations scheduled for release in 2009, in advance of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 8-11. Consumers can expect to see items from four lines, including WowWee Technologies™, which now includes a new category of iPod compatible multimedia pico projectors powered by Texas Instruments' DLP® Technology. The other key lines, focusing on cutting-edge entertainment robotics, plush, and flight, are WowWee Robotics™, WowWee Alive™, and WowWee FlyTech™. Highlights include:

WowWee Robotics
The next generation of WowWee's award-winning Robotics line includes two playful companions – the Joebot™ and Roborover™ robots. The Joebot robot is a content-packed, walking, talking interactive buddy with a sense of humor and rhythm. Featuring voice command control, the Joebot robot is capable of responding to key phrases via sound sensors; he can also be controlled by his responsive hands or by the Robosapien™ robot's remote controller. The Joebot robot is not your average Joe – in fact, he can beatbox and dance – just tap out a beat and he will repeat it perfectly while grooving along. His movements are fast and fluid, and he is able to avoid obstacles via infrared sensors or detect if he falls over with tilt sensors. Various modes include Wandering, Patrol, Talk, Guard and Battle Modes. In Battle Mode, for example, he will wander freely while tracking and blasting objects with his hand LEDs; you can even challenge him to a "duel" using any TV (IR) remote controller.

The Roborover robot is a talking, tread-based, roving explorer with an inquisitive personality that grows to become more confident as users navigate and play with him. The Roborover robot is operated via remote-control and features poseable arms, head and waist. This shy little explorer features spoken content, various driving-based games, infrared sensors for obstacle avoidance, and tilt sensors allowing him to perceive when he has fallen over. The Roborover robot also features a "Follow Me" homing function that will trigger this exploratory companion to search for his user – even in the dark! Sensor-based LED headlights will automatically turn on in the dark to illuminate his path.

Information about WowWee's diverse product portfolio – including the latest product announcements for 2009 – is featured on www.wowwee.com.

Unfortunately, there is some assembly required, but it'll teach the young'ns about how monkeys need to often be under direct sunlight. The solar chimp will cost you about £14.19 ($20), and while the product description says its suitable for kids over 8, I don't think anyone over the age of 8 is going be lining up, Hannah Montana tickets style. Your best bet is to hang it by a window and hope your toddler can comprehend "photovoltaic arrays" even though their thoughts will be more, "where's my DS?" [Select Solar via DVICE]

The inventor, going by the name Advanced Engineering, is selling 4- and 8-story kits that both support rebuild and re-implosion. He says he's run out of funding to ship the product, but before his site went down due probably to intense interest, he was still selling a few kits for around $60. We hope he gets enough cash money to keep making these toys, it's a great idea and we're sure he'd have a market for it. [Boing Boing Gadgets]