Would you let your toddler drive this robot?

Whether they're riding Segways or cleaning buildings, some of the most aggressively animated robots are coming out of South Korean R&D labs. But they also have a softer side too--at least, that's what we hope.

The Ringbo is a robotic vehicle for children that can be steered with game-like joysticks sticking out of its head like a pair of antennae. It can run for an hour on a 6- or 8-hour charge, according to OhGizmo, which added that it's not exactly sure why. We're equally baffled, especially given that this is supposedly designed for kids who are two- or three-years-old, with a 66lb weight limit. (Would you let your toddlers drive anything on their own?).

Maybe it's some kind of scheme by the gaming industry to hook them on joysticks as soon as their motor skills are far enough developed. Or, if we're lucky, maybe a future version will teach them how to do the dishes.

Via Crave CNET

Sega Mobile offers a handful of games for free

Sonic the Hedgehog has seen a platform or four.

The spikey-furred rodent first brought to life by Sega in 1991 for proprietary consoles rolled with technology's punches onto TV, Xbox, PS3, and recently, onto mobile phones. April saw the spawning of Sega Mobile, when several flagship games, including Sonic the Hedgehog, were ported to mobile phone format and offered to cell phone gamers for subscription or sale through their carrier's Web portals. Now Sega Mobile is offering Sonic Jump, Afterburner II, and Golden Axe free of charge for US residents.

The catch, as you may have guessed, is that the games are ad-supported, offered through a partnership with content distributor Greystripe. Sega's games are available for select cell phone models via GameJump.com or from the mobile Web at http://gjmp.tw. In addition to showing advertisements, the GameJump policy warns that users may be charged between 5 US cents and 15 US cents for the data transfer of each freshly served ad; something to keep in mind if you're not on a data plan.

Via Crave CNET

From Speed Racer to Typeracer

Ready, set, type! Not quite what the Wachowski Brothers would have envisioned, but this cool, new site site should fuel the competitive streak in computer speed junkies at the keyboard. Typeracer not only lets you practice your typing speed, it allows you to race against others in the competitive typing pit, with a scoreboard keeping tabs on the race leaders and their wpm scores. Be warned. If you don't want to get sucked into this new addiction, steer clear. Otherwise, fastest fingers win!

Via Shiny Shiny

Sony Ericsson looking to add data functions to digicams

It's only a matter of time before someone decided that enough was enough with mobile phones crammed with imaging features. Surprisingly, it's Sony Ericsson that wants to turn the tables around.

The firm has just filed four patents, with one of it looking to apply GSM (used in mobile phones) as a data-transfer medium in cameras. Other possibly useful proposals include installing presets into the built-in memory of shooters, therefore providing convenient access to popular picture-sharing Web sites (like Flickr or Picasa) or to connect to personal hardware like PCs or printers.

In a world that is getting more and more connected, if these ideas take off, it's going to spark another round in the digital imaging revolution.

Via Unwired View | Photo credit: Unwired View

Drop the claw for lobsters

We've all seen these machines. You pop in a coin or two and control a claw to pick up a soft toy or some sweets. Here's one with a twist--you play for live lobsters. According to this photo taken in Osaka, Japan, 200 yen (about US$2) will give you a chance to lower the claw to catch, well, a clawed creature. It's a bargain given how expensive lobsters are, but chances are, like most of these machines, they're rigged to pay out at intervals.

You know all those cases of little boys getting stuck inside these soft toy machines because they try to reach the toys through the exit door? Well, don't let your child try that on this machine, because aside from getting embarrassing stares from the rapt audience, we suspect he'll be in for quite a pinch.

Via Boing Boing Gadgets | Photo credit: Gavin Anderson on Flickr

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