Hasta La Gadget!

[CES 2014] We have seen the robotic sphere known as Sphero introduced in the past, and right now, Orbotix, the ones behind the Sphero, have decided to make some modifications to it by elongating the Sphero into a tube that is similar in nature to a cylinder, all the while lowering the price point to touch $99 a pop, to make it a really interesting toy. Too bad the mad holiday shopping season is already over to gauge whether the Sphero 2B is really able to make an impact or not, but I guess at the very least, we will be able to have some sort of benchmark to fall back on as it is released to the masses later this year.

The Sphero 2B is said to be twice as fast as the current model, and we cannot wait for Fall to arrive as that is when it will hit the market. You will be able to launch the Sphero 2B using high-speed tricks and jumps, and since it comes in a tubular design, it will also exhibit a great degree of agility. Not only that, customizable tires as well as accessories would be able to make anything possible with the Sphero 2B. There are also advanced multiplayer games to enjoy with the Sphero 2B, and being fully programmable, it lets you embrace your inner hacker. The Sphero 2B will play nice with iOS or Android devices over Bluetooth LE, and it will be powered by USB charging capability with a durable polycarbonate body to boot. [Product Page]

Sphero 2B Introduced original content from Ubergizmo.

Get ready for the next generation of playing with your balls.

Sphero, the robotic ball out of Orbotix that can be controlled with just a smartphone, has now grown up a bit, with the company launching Sphero 2.0 today.

Sphero 2.0 is twice as fast, rolling at a clip of about seven feet per second, and it’s three times as brightly lit as the first generation ball. According to co-founder Chief Software Architect, Adam Wilson, the second-gen robot isn’t just faster and stronger, it’s actually smarter.

Sphero 2.0 is now equipped with a different user interface, letting you “level up” as you get more and more control over the ball. When you start, you’ll be at a somewhat limited speed. The more you level up by completing challenges (such as driving for a whole minute without hitting anything), the faster your Sphero will roll, and the more LED colors you’ll have access to.

Even with other Sphero games, such as tag, you can level up and get more speed.

Along with the upgraded robot, Sphero 2.0 also comes with an inductive charger and two little ramps right out of the box, so you can work on getting some air.

As an added accessory, you can also pick up something the Orbotix guys are calling a “Nubby Protector,” which is a little rubber cover that gives the Sphero some extra traction, especially when you’re playing around in the pool. Covers come in red, clear, blue or yellow.

But Sphero 2.0 isn’t the only robot rushing around — Orbotix is also introducing Sphero Revealed, an Apple-exclusive version of the device that has a partially clear shell so users can see the inner-workings of the robot.

Sphero 2.0 is meant to reach a new demographic. Obviously, nerds and tech geeks lean toward the Sphero considering it’s one of the more advanced consumer robots available on the market. But Orbotix wants to reach younger kids, who automatically seem to enjoy the idea of leveling up and giving their Spheros an identity.

Plus, getting on board with a younger demographic allows for more educational opportunities with the Sphero.

Sphero 2.0 is currently compatible with up to 25 different applications and games, along with the standard Sphero app.

According to Wilson, the two-year break between new models is about what we should expect from Orbotix moving forward, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t working on other things. Wilson revealed that the company has things in the pipeline, including stuff to show at CES in January. So there’s plenty to look forward to.

If you’re interested in getting your hands on a Sphero 2.0, which costs $129.99, pre-order begins today with in-store availability starts on August 31. And if you’re really excited about seeing the guts of a Sphero, hold out until September 4 and you can pick up a translucent Sphero Revealed in Apple Stores.

The original Sphero will also drop down to $109.99 at retail.

Meet Sharky the Beaver, Sphero‘s first augmented reality character for their little robotic spheres. Over the past few months, Orbotix has been developing many new ways to use the toy. With this new app, the company is making its first step into the world of augmented reality.

As a reminder, Sphero is a ball with an internal motor. You can control it using a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet. It also has a built-in gyroscope, accelerometer and compass.

Now they’re working on Augmented Reality with Sharky the Beaver. It will transform your sphere into a cute walking 3D character that you control with your phone or tablet. In order to see the character, you have to keep the sphere in sight and look at it through the camera of your device.

You can throw virtual cupcakes and the little beaver will run toward those cupcakes. In the real reality, the sphere will roll toward an invisible cupcake. The virtual character was really smooth and everyone seemed to love the idea, if not the toy.

Sharky is just the first augmented reality application, with new characters and games potentially coming soon. With regular firmware updates, more than 20 apps, and an SDK that fuels Sphero hackathons — and sometimes even result in a Kickstarter campaign – it looks like Sphero is here to stay.

Just about a year ago we got to review Orbotix’s Sphero, and while it was an amusing little remote control orb, its controls left a lot to be desired. A couple months ago, the company gave Sphero some new firmware that included the “Vector Drive” feature, which eliminated Sphero’s meandering ways and gave it far more precise steering. Now, the company has improved its Drive app and combined it with the old Sphero and Cam apps. This new version of Drive has a tool that lets users aim the ball with a single finger — a small, but welcome improvement over the old, fidgety two-finger method. Additionally, the app has a new Auto Heading function that keeps Sphero aware of the orientation of its controller to provide a much more intuitive driving experience. After giving it a go ourselves, we can attest that it’s a marked improvement over the prior iterations of Drive. We no longer had to plan out Sphero’s routes, and we could drive feeling confident that the ball would roll as directed. Check out how the refreshed controls work in our video after the break.

Continue reading Sphero gets an improved, multifunction Drive app, we go hands-on

Filed under: Robots

Sphero gets an improved, multifunction Drive app, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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