People are getting tazered pretty much every minute these days. Could it just be that they’re not familiar with what Tazers are? I think so! Our kids should know the look and shape of a Tazer, so in case they’re hopped up on angel dust and can’t understand what an officer is saying to them, they’ll at least recognize that object and know to hit the deck, hands behind head. That’s why they should… → Read More
Here’s a toy for the youngsters: a Ride In Dalek. It allows your kid to be the mutant in a mechanical shell. There is an electric motor that allows for 360-degree movement and there is an illuminated cockpit with 10 different sound effects and Dalek phrases. Also, the manipulator and arms can be moved.
The whole thing breaks down into three pieces for charging and storage. (Kinda jealous of kids… → Read More
The 3D craze we’re currently witnessing isn’t limited to the home electronics market and movie theaters, it seems: Sega Toys in Japan announced [JP] the so-called 3D Spray Art Pro, a toy that makes it possible to spray “graffiti” on paper, which can then be viewed in 3D. → Read More
Would you buy a toy fish that flew in the air wagging its tail as if it were swimming? If you answered yes, then check this out: it’s called Air Swimmers. Air Swimmers consist of a helium-filled balloon with motorized fins that flap in the air. From the video you can see it looks pretty cool and the ‘swimming’ doesn’t look too bad either. One battery in the fish, three in the remote, and the bag… → Read More
NERF goes way back — all I’ll say is that I hated those foam arrows. Now, NERF wants to do something else, because they just licensed their name for a ton of electronics. The new toys will make their debut in time for the holiday season this year. → Read More
Remember when kids used imagination when they played with cars? You may be too young to remember driving a die-cast Hot Wheels Ford across the carpet while making vroom-vroom noises, but now that this Lightning McQueen Alive 1:55 scale car is around, you’ll never have to use your brain for fun again. → Read More
So you like to go fishing but have to sit in school or in your office all day? Takara Tomy might have the solution for you: their so-called “Virtual Master Real” [PDF] is essentially a fishing game built into some kind of “electronic fishing reel”. → Read More
Say, for example, you’re a self-styled office despot. Grown men fear you, women are in awe of your power, and children cower at your feet (all of this is in your head and your co-workers actually hate you, but pay that no mind). What can you do to add that delicate touch of insanity to your already vicious reign? Desk mounted ordnance, that’s what. That’s where the $39 Brando USB… → Read More
Although this might actually also work as a gag gift your favorite photographer, it might be a pretty cool thing to give a kid, too. I mean really, if you want them to like the idea of interchangeable lenses and cameras, a little thing like this would be great way to introduce them. → Read More
Every year around this time, we rush to the toy store in search of bargains for the wee ones, hoping to find that one glorious item hidden among the picked-over dross that is a post-Black Friday Toys ‘R’ Us. But be warned, shoppers: all is not as it seems. You see, lurking in the depths of our nation’s toy shelves, are some of the worst, most horrific toys you can ever imagine… → Read More
In 2006, Sega Toys in Japan started selling a whole series of robotic animals: dogs, hamsters, and puppies, for example. One of the most impressive toy robots was the so-called Dream Cat Venus released last year, and Sega Toys now has a new robo cat in its line-up, the Sakadachi Nyachi [JP]. It’s not as realistic as Venus, but it’s much cuter. → Read More
My son has it tough. He comes home from school now and asks if “Anything came from UPS” and most of the time he’s disappointed – just some dumb phone or something. But a few days ago he was pleasantly surprised. Inside a big old box was a Tonka Ricochet RC Car, a remote control car with a few crazy tricks up its sleeve.
The car runs on a rechargeable 9.6 volt battery and lasts about fifteen… → Read More
Looking for a Covenant Energy sword to hang on the wall of your man cave? Well, better hurry. The formerly $99 stainless steel stabby thing has been reduced to $44, and as a result there’s only three left in their inventory at Amazon.com. It even includes a wooden wall plaque to hang it from. [via Destructoid] → Read More
These little wood and magnet “Mr. Cube” robots are so cute, they should have called them Mr. Cute. Am I right or am I right?! Okay, stop looking at me like that. But they are neat little things, and a designer or toy fiend in your life might be delighted to find one on his or her desk one day. Too bad there are no plans to sell them just yet. → Read More
The 3D hype is now entering the toy market as well. Takara Tomy announced [JP, PDF] the so-called 3D Shot Cam today, a simple photo camera with two lenses. This “toy version of Fujifilm’s FinePix REAL 3D W3” is aimed at children aged 12 and older who have to use a special viewer to view images shot with the camera in 3D (see below). → Read More
In our childhood years, long before we ever put our hands on CPUs, cell phones, or e-book readers, there were toys and household items that served as the foundation for our future geek obsessions. Maybe you were fascinated by the cockpit of your X-Wing fighter as a child. Maybe you scribbled detailed blueprints for Spiderman’s web shooters during your math class. Maybe you took a wooden kitchen… → Read More
We at CrunchGear are patient and kind. And we love kids. That’s why when Jake Woolf sent us an email requesting us to make a toy that makes fake electricity bolts move, we had to design at least a mock-up for him. Here is his email, verbatim and this is what we thought he might like. Thoughts, Jake? Can anyone build this for Jake so he can see it in action?
my name is jake woolf and i’m 10… → Read More
Ah, Brookstone. Whenever I’m at the mall, I make a point of stopping by you and seeing all the things I will never buy. Weather-proof foot massager? Check. Combination laser pointer/tire gauge? Check. And now — iPhone-controlled quadcopter? Double check. → Read More
Do you remember the “Potato Chip Hand” we’ve shown you earlier this year? The silly gadget allowed users to pick up potato chips and protected fingers from getting greasy when eating potato chip. And now maker Takara Tomy is giving us the “Popcorn Hand”, which does the same – but for popcorn. → Read More
Our wee friend Peter Ha got to play with some new Tron gear including the slowest, quietest light bike you’ll ever have the chance to see. Here it is in all its poky glory. → Read More
We got the chance to play with WowWee’s Paper Jamz Guitar and Amp (a drum set is also available), coming out in July. These are cool toys for budding musicians and allow you to play along to your favorite songs or play some freestyle chords.
The toys have capitative surfaces, which means you can actually perform multitouch actions. There are no moving buttons except for the power switch and… → Read More
Oh, overprotective mothers, is there anything you can’t ruin? Some moms got together and created the ToySociety in Australia created a “Make One, Drop One” program for kids. Essentially, you make a nice toy for your little one you leave another one in a plastic bag hanging from a spot unavailable to dogs and their pee. The mission is basically: “So, you’d like to be… → Read More
Major toymaker Bandai yesterday announced the Hyper Telescope [JP], which is being marketed as a “science toy” for kids. It’s the ideal gadget if you want your kid to become an astronomer, as it allows users to observe the sky and view relevant information on connected displays or within the device itself. All that needs to be done is to specify one’s location on earth and the current time. → Read More
I was just outside trying to shoot a water rocket I bought at a science museum, recalling the heady days I once spent shooting a similar rocket into the air when I was a young lad. Sadly, the poorly built rocket failed and the pump started just sucking in water, leading me to the Internet for solace. The sweet Internet doth offer succor, friends, in the form of the Aquapod Bottle Launcher. While… → Read More
When it’s winter outside, you can’t play golf! There’s not even a close substitute. I mean, what are you going to do? Play it as a video game or something? Name me one golf video game! No, for those of us going absolutely bat-shit stir crazy waiting for winter to end, maybe this $13 desktop golf set will help. → Read More
Zibits (pronounced, it seems, like “ribbits”) are tiny IR controlled robots that do two things: they move forward and spin. With these building blocks of locomotion you can do fascinating things like move forward and spin, spin and move forward, or just move forward or just spin. The possibilities, obviously, are endless. These guys cost $10 and are available in March. And yes, they… → Read More
Electronics for kids have always been a fascination of mine. When I first saw the iXL I immediately thought of the first and best piece of kids consumer electronics, the PXL-2000. Sadly, this device, the Fisher-Price iXL, has no camera – there are two little eyes on it that are actually light sensors – but it has a bright, crisp screen and can play games, MP3s, and you can even paint over photos… → Read More
Truly sad news, sports fans. The inventor of the Frisbee, Walter Frederick Morrison, has died at the age of 90 at his home in Utah. Aside from a plain ol’ ball, has there ever been a more universal toy? → Read More
I don’t want to be a Fussy Freddy here but these new digital Rubik’s Cubes make it impossible to peel off the stickers and rearrange them. So what you’re left with is the insurmountable task of actually completing the puzzles yourself. Some people like that, though. → Read More
The Wild Planet Spy Video TRAKR is a toy with a mission. You send it into enemy territory, turn on the video camera, and start watching what’s going on in distant rooms. It has a built-in speaker and microphone, as well, so you can announce your presence at opportune times. Or not. → Read More
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