Tablets & Appcessories Improv Electronics Redefines Note-Taking
T
he Boogie Board Sync 9.7 LCD eWriter, from Improv Electronics, takes electronic note-taking to a new level. This e-writer offers the simple, pressuresensitive handwriting experience of paper and pen, but better. Users can save hundreds of pages to memory; transfer files to a computer, tablet, or smartphone; share messages with Evernote, OCR, or Adobe Illustrator; or collaborate on the big screen instantly and wirelessly via Bluetooth. There is also free software for direct social sharing and Virtual Whiteboard Mode.
Orbotix’s Sphero 2B Is Ready to Roll
O
rbotix has added the Sphero 2B to its Sphero family. The Sphero 2B comes with interchangeable parts such as tires and hubcaps for different terrains, and is fast and maneuverable, with the ablility to reach speeds of up to 14 feet per second. With only two points of contact, it can also turn on a dime and launch off of steep inclines. With seven new apps, Orbotix’s consumer-friendly robot now has more than 35 games. Sphero 2B is made for open play, offering interactive player versus player and multiplayer games, and is designed to inspire future inventors. Sphero 2B will be available worldwide starting this fall, with accessories and customizable parts to be announced at a later date.
178 • THE TOY BOOK
Tosy Robotics Gets Groovy
D
iscoRobo, from Tosy Robotics, represents a new generation of entertaining and interactive high-tech toys. Kids can play their favorite tunes, dance along, and chat with this intuitive robot that uses beat detection technology to match any music with 56 dance moves. DiscoRobo’s face lights up with funny facial expressions that change as he dances. He can also dance to other sounds: beat box, drum beats, handclaps, and even footsteps. On his special stage, DiscoRobo can stand on his head for the ultimate break dance. With a new smartphone app (available for iOS, Android, and Windows), kids can chat with DiscoRobo or choreograph his dance steps. In chat mode, kids can type in questions and DiscoRobo will respond with witty remarks. If kids pair two DiscoRobo robots together facing each other, the robots will chat with one another. In dance mode, just a shake of the phone or a swipe across the virtual on-screen DiscoRobo makes the actual robot react and mimic the movements. Kids can control DiscoRobo’s actions as they view him through their smartphone cameras while they play favorite songs from their own music libraries. DiscoRobo’s stage is a highquality, portable MP3 player speaker with internal memory for music storage and music device connectivity. This portable, battery-operated system comes in four colors to match each DiscoRobo (blue, pink, red, and purple).
FEBRUARY 2014