Gizmodo: wee

WowWee Rovio, Everything the Aibo Should Be

Mark Wilson — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:58:17 EST

WowWee, makers of such fine products as cat-hunting dragonflies, have unveiled a new, fairly badass three-wheeling robot for home use that's not all the different from the specs we've seen in Sony's new rumored AIBO. A webcam-enabled robot featuring a Northstar GPS system, you can spy on anyone in your house from anywhere in the world.

Syncing with your PC via Wi-Fi, WowWee sees users controlling the Rovio through the internet, cellphones, and yes, even game consoles. What's really promising is that instead of just navigating through your hallways via arm-mounted webcam, you can set waypoints (aka bathrooms) within your house and send your ~~evil minion~~ Rovio there with the click of a button.

The Rovio can also roam your house autonomously, recharging itself at a station ala Roomba. And while LEDs will illuminate your dark, cavernous home with ease, WowWee hasn't gone so far as to offer a decent laser cannon to ward off that prick you inevitably catch boinking your wife.

(On an unrelated note, honey, I may be in Vegas, but I see everything. And I mean everything.

Nintendont Wee DVD Player

Mark Wilson — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 11:30:21 EDT

Found at a Tokyo retailer, the "Wee" is not everyone's favorite Nintendo console, but a DVD player that can...play DVDs. Yeah, it's a pretty half-assed knockoff that had better at least come with a "Weemote." Japan, we're disappointed in you. Even if you imported the Wee from China. [kotaku]

Wii WeDock Appears Useful Despite Appallingly Alliterative Appellation

Charlie White — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:15:00 EDT

Looking for a place to stash those WiiMotes and their associated nunchucks? Here's the Wii WeDock, a storage container we didn't notice when the Brandoite junk purveyors were hawking it in a Wii-matching white color last month. But this black one caught our attention because it looks like a garbage bin for biohazard waste.

While that's not a particularly attractive comparison, the Wii WeDock looks surprisingly useful, giving you a place to put both of those Nintendo Wii controllers, out of harm's way and perhaps out of the mouths of children. That's a good thing—we've heard those things can jump up and smack you upside the head. The Wii nunchucks, that is. Or maybe the children, too.

The WeDock's one-touch "springboard" design pops up your weapon with a simple push. And if you get tired of that Nintendo Wii, just use the WeDock to store your used syringes and other biohazards you might have lying around. Or you can put your weed in it. [Brando]

Computers That Fit in Your Pocket

Adam Frucci — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:50:45 EDT

Wired has a really awesome gallery of tiny, tiny computers. You can't help but love a full computer crammed into something the size of a box of matches, can you? Sure, some of these aren't really at that small (Mac Mini? Come on, dudes.), but there are some pretty awesome examples of wee 'puters in here. Although they did forget a pretty tiny computer that would have fit well on the list.

The Gumstix Linux PCs are, as the name states, about the size of a stick of gum but manage to function as full-out computers. They're a hell of a lot smaller than a Mac Mini to boot. But hey, one missing computer doesn't ruin the whole gallery, which you should definitely hop on over and check out. [Wired and Gumstix]

Cat Paw: Almost Useless, Makes You Do Weird Things

www.gizmodo.com — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 08:57:51 EDT

For reasons best kept to yourself—and $20.14—you may want to get your mitts on this synthetic cat's paw. And for another reason, probably best kept to itself, said paw comes with a small bell and a trigger to make it bend. Or something like that.

Apart from doubling up as a key ring and G-spot stroker (if you are that kind of cat lover), this Cat Paw's surface has been specially treated with LSD derivatives that will make you do really weird things when you grab them.

Or at least that's what I could gather looking at the user manual in the gallery bellow. Click on the pics for the Engish subtitles. And if you thought the Japanese Wii safety manual was crazy, you ain't seen nothing yet. – Jesus Diaz

Cat Paws [HobbyStuff4U]

My Cat Vs. The Dragonfly, The Battle to End All Battles

Mark Wilson — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 18:02:02 EST

Let me give you a little background on my cat. She may look innocent, and on many accounts she is. But there are grown men in this world who fear her, as if she is a full-grown lion prepared to maim those who do not refill her water dish with the proper alacrity. (To be fair, half of that description is true).

So when I received my review unit Wow Wee/Flytech R/C Dragonfly, I knew just who to test it on. Surely Anya (my cat) would be leaping through the air, clawing with maximum kitten power to destroy this home intruder. The subtle flapping of wings would be too much for her to resist, and besides, the unit comes with a replacement pair.

So what happened?

In short, Anya was traumatized. She ran from the room and would have nothing to do with the toy from then on. (And caught the typo...it's there forever now).

As for the Dragonfly, in the five minutes I've spent with my unit (that came out wrong but I refuse to rephrase myself), I haven't gotten it to fly properly. Given other reviews out there, I'm sure it's user error. But also given that I was once a strong R/C car enthusiast, I'm shocked at my ineptitude.

And cool feature to note: the Dragonfly is charged directly from the remote control in about 20 minutes for a reported 7 minutes of flight. It's a good idea, be it presumably heavy on AA usage. – Mark Wilson

Robosapien Caught Cross-Dressing as Spidey and Homer

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:55:57 EST

Looks like our favorite hackable robot is going under the knife again. Not content with his previous body, Robosapien is getting a Spider-Man makeover along with the ability to make web-shooting noises and speak with a Spidey-friendly vocab. Also in the works is a Homersapien who will come with a sculpted Homer head and long list of Homer-isms. No word on pricing, but we expect both of them to be as hackable as their predecessors (and hopefully content with their newfound identities). – Louis Ramirez

Robosapien Becomes Spidersapien and Homersapien [Pocket Lint]

Person Dies Trying to Win Nintendo Wii?

Gizloco — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 08:54:02 EST

It's the first day back from the glitz and glamor of CES and what do we have to report? Well, it looks like a woman died in a radio contest trying to win a Nintendo Wii. The contest, called "Hold you wee for a Nintendo Wii," had contestants drink large amounts of water without being able to use the bathroom. Early reports suggest that the woman died of water intoxication. The contest was part of ~~the Kidd Chris show~~ the "Morning Rave," which seems to have just won the prize for Dumbest Radio Contest Ever. (The previous record holder was Opie & Anthony's "Sex for Sam 3," or "Son of Sam 3" as some people mistakingly call it.) Kinda makes this t-shirt a little less funny now. – Nicholas Deleon

Coroner: Water Intoxication May Have Killed Woman [cbs13.com]

Wow Wee: Dragonfly Video

Mark Wilson — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 11:06:03 EST

We've been pretty excited about the R/C Dragonfly from Wow Wee, makers of the Robosapien. Then T3 got their hands on one and posted this video. Verdict was as expected: fun, potentially dangerous (translation: even more fun). They say the steering is "dead easy", but the clips don't tell the same tale. Maybe the left and right steering is tight, but the altitude is tough to control?

Now if only that office were full of jaded employees with mediocre health benefits, we'd really have something to watch. – Mark Wilson

Dragonfly Robot [neatorama]