At the 2018 Toy Fair, Mattel showed off a new augmented reality app that works with its Hot Wheels toys. Specifically, the application renders real-time 3D models of Hot Wheels Cities playsets when you aim your camera at their boxes in stores. The rendering shows the fully-assembled set, and you can even press a “Try Me!” button onscreen to send a virtual Hot Wheels car through the track. Mattel says that they will be releasing this Hot Wheels AR app in Fall 2018. They aren’t the first toy company to use this idea, either: Lego debuted a similar in-store AR app in 2016. Meanwhile, Lego AR-Studio
Nintendo Labo, or how Google Cardboard changed everything
Nintendo Labo is the newest cool weird project from Nintendo. Labo is difficult to define, but perhaps the best way to describe it is an assortment of cardboard-based games and applications for the Nintendo Switch. Labo comes in kits, and there are two kits at the time of the announcement. The Variety Kit offers an RC Car, Fishing Rod, House, Motorbike and Piano. Each of these peripherals are built with a combination of Joy-cons, cardboard and the Switch itself. There’s also a Robot Kit, which creates a wearable robot suit reminiscent of the previously-canceled Project Giant Robot for Wii U. If the idea of cardboard-based
Book publisher launches traditional book-VR combo for kids
Hollywood, California-based book publisher Quantum Storey announced this week that it has launched the world’s first virtual reality book series for children. Aimed at younger kids, their “Operation YOU” series combines traditional printed books with virtual reality. The books include access to a companion Android and iOS app, as well as Google Cardboard goggles. The first title in the series, which is now available exclusively at Walmart, is entitled “Morning Nightmare.” It confronts the challenges children experience boarding school busses. According to the company, the VR app places children in the book’s environment in the first person, virtually transforming them into the book’s main character.
CNN News Drone got appproved
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s Small UAS Rule (also known as Part 107) has provisions to obtaining waivers to the usual requirements for flying drones in the United States. For example, you’re not generally allowed to fly drones at night, although the FAA has granted quite a few waivers allowing flight after dark. But another rule is that you can’t fly drones over people who are not part of your operations, and until about a week ago, the FAA hadn’t waived that rule for anybody. Now it has, for CNN. The FAA is allowing the cable news network to use a drone to obtain video over uninvolved people, even crowds assembled at
Videos: Apple Releases Four New Apple Watch Advertisements
The four ads, titled Beijing, Berlin, Closer and Goals, all have one thing in common – they showcase how an Apple Watch will help transform your daily lives. From getting directions to making sure where and what to see in different towns and cities, to other potentially interesting social interaction related possibilities. Even the tech savvy individuals will be impressed, specially with some health oriented aspects. While some have spurned these ads, titling them not to Apple’s standards, we find them interesting. They promote the options of the product rather well, putting things you can do with it in perspective. This might be a reaction
Toys: Star Wars The Force Awakens Tie Fighter
With the highly expected Star Wars The Force Awakens a few months away, we are finally getting our geek inner selves excited. Earlier today at the San Diego Comic Con, the Hasbro toy company has released their first toy for this movie series: a Tie Fighter. This behemoth standing at an incredible 26-inches tall, will make any geek warm inside. In the video below, you will see this amazing piece of movie merchandise standing next to six inch action figures which will give you a good idea how sweet it really is. It does look great overall, but it also comes with a hefty price tag