An R2 Of Your Own 175
skywalker404 writes: "Hasbro is releasing a 15" tall, functioning R2 unit. 'We built in all the feistiness of R2D2,' said Jeff Popper, director of marketing for Hasbro. 'He has the same charisma and charm that we have come to know in R2D2.' And apparently 'Hasbro also has programmed secret commands into R2D2 - putting an emphasis on the upper end of the "8-and-over" target market.' Rocky Mountain News has this article on it. You can also go to the (very meager) website that Hasbro has made just for it."
Too bad there is no bluetooth support. (Score:1, Insightful)
R2 as copilot (Score:5, Funny)
Re:R2 as copilot (Score:1)
Re:R2 as copilot - cut the crap (Score:1)
Besides, what the fuck does his post have to do with you anyway, asshat?
Re:R2 as copilot - cut the crap (Score:1)
Secret commands, eh? (Score:5, Funny)
A bunch of computer geeks
A toy like this
"Secret commands"
I have a feeling that there are going to be a lot of calls from concerned parents after some of these commands get discovered.
Re:Secret commands, eh? (Score:1)
Oh dear.
Re:Secret commands, eh? (Score:2)
This is a dangerous toy (Score:4, Funny)
The R2 Droid has memory archives of many Star Wars characters, and will react at the mention of their names.
Kid: I saw The Phantom Menace last night. Jar-jar is so cool!
R2: Whee-a-whoo! KILL DESTROY KILL DESTROY...
You meant... (Score:2)
right?
Re:You meant... (Score:2, Funny)
No. I think that he means:
(Added text to defeat lameness filter.)
Re:You meant... (Score:2)
EX-TERM-INATE! EX-TERM-INATE!
Re:You meant... (Score:2)
Wonder how it would respond to "klaatu barata nikto", however...
Sounds familiar (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Sounds familiar (Score:1)
Repeat (Score:1)
MyGeekdom.com [mygeekdom.com] The Sublime, The Ridiculous, and The News!
At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:5, Insightful)
Actually, this is so interesting that I will try and approach Hasbro [hasbro.com] about whether they could publish the complete specs for the hardware on board(or if someone from Hasbro reads this, publish it here). Then, if we get the specs, I will publish a "R2D2 new brains challenge", at this site [openchallenge.org].
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:3, Informative)
So far, the marketing video [vendaria.com] gives best source for quesses on the hardware.
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:1)
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:2)
You'll still need Windows Media Player (or something compatible), but the direct URL to the video is mms://vendariawm.fplive.net/vendaria/onair/obpOaDy qImLLKIKLvLluEN003501200160.asf. (I would've made it a link, but /. would've mangled it...as it is, you'll need to filter out the space in the middle.)
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:1)
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:2)
Not to be crude, but for $100 it had better be able to give head before I would pay for it.
I think Hasbro has overestimated the Star Wars appeal. Or are there really that many
Now, when the day comes that $100 buys me a droid that can fetch a beer out of the fridge without me pre-loading it, then I would still save my money and walk to the fridge. But then, like I said, I guess I'm not geeky enough.
Let's be honest: if this wasn't Star Wars merchandise no one would give a shit. If it understood the names of 20 characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and beeped and chirped when the owner spoke those names, would anyone except for CmdrTaco buy it?
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:2)
I don't know if that turns it into capable of being used in practical applications - but I believe that if the bot was freely programmable (and controlled by for example CLinux [uclinux.org]) - you could enhance it's possibilities quite much.
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:2)
I think Hasbro has overestimated the Star Wars appeal. Or are there really that many /. readers out there so enamored of the Star Wars universe that $100 seems reasonable for a glorified beer-fetcher?
Yes. I think The Simpsons said it best:
Skinner: Here's Ralph Wiggum's entry... Pre-packaged "Star Wars" characters, still in their display box? Are those the limited-edition action figures?
Ralph: What's a diarama?
And of course, Ralph won.
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:1, Informative)
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:2)
Hehe, this time, it was not a troll. If Hasbro replies to the request I sent to them and publishes the specs, you could really turn this into something fun - by replacing the software and maybe adding a few cheap new pieces of HW - you could get a rather good bot platform for $100. :)
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:2)
Like R2, that follows your Slashdot postings and rates the comments made on them. Upon detecting comments like the one I am commenting to now, it would hop into an miniature airplane, fly to the other side of the world, recognize you by forming a profile based on vocabilary and image, flap you on the cheek, assimilate you, and fly back while playing the startwars theme on background.
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:2)
> Find the nearest walking trail and follow it as long as you can. You need fresh air.
hehe! do I have this effective geekcamouflage, cool :) I will have to show this to my two kids when they start thinking I am a dinosaur :)
Re:At $100, this could be a good platform (Score:2)
What I find much more tedious is that whenever a bunch of people want to do something fun with hardware or software, a bunch of people like you come out of the woodworks who put it down. Go back to hacking MS SQL Server and stop bothering us.
Love the details (Score:1)
R2D2 operates on eight batteries...
Sheesh. What *kind* of batteries? AA? Car? Anti-aircraft? What?
Re:Love the details (Score:1)
Remember, this is a consumer product--and unless otherwise stated, consumer products follow standards. (If it wasn't going to be standard, they'd say "9-volt battery" or "battery pack." doing otherwise runs the risk of bad press.)
Re:Love the details (Score:1)
Requires 4 AA and 4 "D" alkaline batteries (not included)
Comment removed (Score:4, Interesting)
Yeah... (Score:1)
"Fully Operational?" (Score:2)
(Actually...whenever someone advertises a robot as "fully operational" or "fully functional" I can't help but think of Data from Star Trek saying "Yes, I am fully functional." You have to remember the context to get that...)
Re:"Fully Operational?" (Score:2)
Re:"Fully Operational?" (Score:1)
I wonder if... (Score:1)
Obligatory... (Score:5, Funny)
Salesman: We have this R2 droid toy.
Father: No, this looks cheap, I'm looking for something real impressive.
Salesman: This is the droid you're looking for.
Father: This is the droid I'm looking for.
Salesman: You want to pay cash.
Father: I want to pay cash.
Re:Obligatory... (Score:1)
Boy oh Boy oh Boy (Score:1)
Re:Boy oh Boy oh Boy (Score:1)
And as for the every boy needs a droid they ripped that off from Everyone needs a log. Come and get your log. Your gonna love it log. Log. By Blammo.
Re:Boy oh Boy oh Boy (Score:1)
Whir bleep (Score:1)
What mission? (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
secret commands ? (Score:1)
Deliver hologramatic mesage to wussy jedi who's been hiding on Tatooine for so long that he's forgotten a) that the force is created by micro-organisms, b) how to fight with a light-sabre and not look like a girl.
?
Or maybe, since these commands at aimed at "older children" it's stuff like beating you off, finding good pr0n you don't need a credit card for, "boosting" cars and getting you good deals on crack.
graspee
I hope. (Score:1)
sucky sucky
Re:I hope. (Score:1)
Something tells me.... (Score:2)
Re:Something tells me.... (Score:1)
Good for parties? (Score:1)
Re:Good for parties? (Score:1)
Now if you'll excuse me I have to go put on my Jabba the Hut pajamas, watch Return of the Jedi for the 15th time this year, and wax my lightsaber.
Re:Good for parties? (Score:1)
wow. a new phrase for masturbating. may the force be with you.
Re:Good for parties? (Score:1)
Re:Good for parties? (Score:1)
I can forsee this one... (Score:2)
"R2, go get me a beer."
Charisma and charm? (Score:2)
1st question I ask mine (Score:1)
Owners should operate the robot indoors only, the company says - and never in Jundland Wastes, home of the dangerous Tusken Raiders.
If it flips out when you ask it about Vader, I want to see what happens when mention the only place never to operate it.
Hey R2, for our vacation we are going to Jundland Wastes.
Re: (Score:1)
Re:1st question I ask mine (Score:1)
Atari's prototype robot (Score:1)
There is a story and pictures about Kermit, the Grass Valley-designed (Grass Valley was the original Atari's research facility) robot that former Atari coin-op designer/programmer Owen Rubin [orubin.com] rescued after it was abandoned. You can read the story and view the pictures here [orubin.com].
Who needs to buy a droid? (Score:2)
Just you wait... (Score:1)
What's old, is new again. (Score:2)
Anyone remember Omnibot [geocities.com]?
Doublespeak (Score:1)
"Even though he is stubborn at times, you can trust this dependable Droid to be your devoted helper and friend."
What do they mean, he can be stubborn? Oh. I see. They mean that his programming is faulty and he just plain isn't going to work correctly at times.
Guess that's what you get for a $100 robot.
Or if you prefer your own light saber (Score:4, Funny)
Check these [parksabers.com] guys out. Came across this while searching Google. It's a fully-functional light saber. Of course, by fully functional I mean "has a glass blade" instead of a laser one, and "would break in actual combat" instead of "kicking ass." But still.
Re:Or if you prefer your own light saber (Score:1)
Re:Or if you prefer your own light saber (Score:2)
Gee, d'ya think?
Re:Or if you prefer your own light saber (Score:1)
Re:Or if you prefer your own light saber (Score:1)
One thing that was whined about in the old thread was the price. Actually, the price of a Parks Saber ($200 and up) is pretty reasonable considering that
Upper End of Inifinity? (Score:1)
What exactly is the "upper end" of an "-and-over" market? 110? Will Hasbro start running advertising materials in rest homes?
Re:Upper End of Inifinity? (Score:1)
Re:Upper End of Inifinity? (Score:1)
Definitely.
It was meant to be funny. :-)
Hmm... (Score:1, Troll)
WARNING, LINK IS NOT WORK-SAFE (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Hmm... (Score:1)
fully functional? (Score:4, Funny)
- Can be submerged in a degoba swamp
- Can interface with major computer systems via rotating phallic appendage thingie
- Projects holograms of hot chicks in mid-air
- Has a built-in stun gun
- Repairs space ships in mid-flight
- Can traverse miles of scorching desert
- and of course can fire a light saber out of it's head
Schweet.Read the fine print... (Score:1)
Re:Read the fine print... (Score:2)
Re:Read the fine print... (Score:1)
Well of course, everyone knows each Jedi must construct their own personal light saber as part of their training using...
Ah shit, I should have stopped talking long ago, shouldn't I?
15" and fully functional? (Score:2)
Oh, it's a toy robot. Nevermind.
Re: (Score:1)
Re:Posted before? (Score:1)
Not sure if I want one (Score:1)
I want to see the PR spin on this. "Oh, no, we mean before it was evil. I mean, really evil. I mean, we wiped his memory so we're sure he doesn't remember anything, but just in case, remember to take the batteries out before you go to sleep."
Re:Not sure if I want one (Score:1)
</moe>
How good is the voice recognition? (Score:2)
So what happens, in passing, when you say 'hey R2, what do you think of Ralph Nader?'
Oh the fun.
Droid? (Score:1)
Furby (Score:1)
Just what I've been waiting for... I can see it now:
Da-loo-laah, C3PO {whistle whistle} Hmmmm... No..see..you! {launches into twee little song}
Techno-Polly eat your heart out.
Marketing info reveals secret featur (Score:2)
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
Box Size (in inches): 10.5 x 7.5 x 17.5
Shipping weight: 0.039198 pounds. -----
ASIN: B000063KCP
SKN: 527772
It seems R2 comes with an anti-gravity module. Figure a 15" metal robot should weigh a few pounds at least. The packaging and box should weigh a few ounces to maybe two pounds. Yet the shipping weight of the entire deal is just over 1/2 of an ounce. R2 must be generating a hover field that supports its own weight and most of the box and packaging. Hope it doesn't get blown away when I open the front door!
r2-linux (Score:1)
that's all i want to know..........
Move along, move along... (Score:2)
'We built in all the feistiness of R2D2' (Score:1)
It really has the thrusters from episode 2 (Score:1)
Nifty preview video at Wal-Mart site (Score:1)
Re:Who is more gay? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Secret commands revealed (Score:2, Funny)
"It's the one that says 'bad motherfucker' on it
"Call one of my bitches"
After which the R2 unit will respons with "I'm on the motherfucker, the shit is under control, I will be sending the wookie directly"
Re:Secret commands revealed (Score:1)
In Morse code, I presume.