The Homestar Aqua is battery-powered, sized at just 85 x 118 x 87mm and weighs 400g. It projects around 10,000 stars onto a circular area of 1.8m in your bathroom (projection distance: between 1.5 and 2.3m). Buyers can choose between models in pink, black, blue and beige.

Sega Toys will start selling the Homestar Aqua on January 29. It’s Japan only, but as stated above, the Japan Trend Shop lets you pre-order the device already (price: $73).

This video shows the Homestar Aqua in action:

Via Japan Trends

When you take a short glance to the picture above, the first thing to come to your head is that the little cat has a very haughty attitude, while being caressed. However, you should know that the cat isn’t a cat, after all.

< -300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->

Sega Toys are those who brought the Dream Dog DX in the market and they thought it’s a very good idea to release another pet, which is called the Dream Cat Venus. You’ll be surprised to see that the robotic cat acts just like a real one, as it responds to external stimuli, both tactile and auditory. The Dream Cat Venus is the result of the efforts made by a team of researchers from the Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, which is part of the Tohoku University, Japan.

The cat is very mindful of your attitude with regard to it, and will let you know whenever it feels neglected. If you’re willing to spend 10,500 yen (which means approximately $110) on the Dream Cat Venus, then you’ll have the chance to own this soulless soul at your disposal, whenever you feel like it.

(Source: Dvice)

When you take a short glance to the picture above, the first thing to come to your head is that the little cat has a very haughty attitude, while being caressed. However, you should know that the cat isn’t a cat, after all.

< -300x250 Medium Rectangle - center->

Sega Toys are those who brought the Dream Dog DX in the market and they thought it’s a very good idea to release another pet, which is called the Dream Cat Venus. You’ll be surprised to see that the robotic cat acts just like a real one, as it responds to external stimuli, both tactile and auditory. The Dream Cat Venus is the result of the efforts made by a team of researchers from the Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, which is part of the Tohoku University, Japan.

The cat is very mindful of your attitude with regard to it, and will let you know whenever it feels neglected. If you’re willing to spend 10,500 yen (which means approximately $110) on the Dream Cat Venus, then you’ll have the chance to own this soulless soul at your disposal, whenever you feel like it.

(Source: Dvice)

We take a walk on the virtual side in today’s Gadgettes: virtual reality museums, robotic kittens, and fusion in your pocket!

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EPISODE 145

Household gadgets we’d like to see

Canon launches virtual-reality dinosaur exhibit in Japan

Robo-Kitty: Sega Toys unveils the Dream Cat Venus

Handheld fusion reactor on the way?

“Design your own clock” clock

A propos (of) nothing

Vroom: Surf the Web with a Ford GT

It’s About Time

Eris Planetary Sphere watch goes anywhere but the wrist

Pink Watch

Juicy Couture goes geeky

Tool Time

Ript Fusion body-shaping undershirt (thanks, Sam!)

Reverse Gender Gap

Ostrich three in one chair for sunbathing bookworms

BlingRX

Russel Hobbs RHG2TSW crystal encrusted bling toaster (thanks, Colleen!)

Kill Me

Fantasy coach bed for the budding superiority complex

…

Originally posted at Gadgettes, the blog

Here’s something to consider for the next Fourth of July if you’re still feeling the recessionary pinch or want to avoid the holiday throngs. Sega Toys’ Uchiage Hanabi Fireworks Projector (15,540 yen; $166) brings the pyrotechnics and fiery colors right into your (preferably darkened) …

Sega Toys Japan is pretty active when it comes to developing toy robots. They are the company behind the E.M.A. (aka the kissing robot) or the A.M.P. (aka the music robot). But Sega Toys is also selling a lot of animal robots, for example a robo-hamster, baby biddies or a puppy. Their newest robotic animal is called Dream Cat Venus [JP, PDF].

Sega Toys has been selling life-like (well, almost) robo-cats in Japan for about 3 years now. And Venus (designed like a Norwegian Forest Cat) is an upgrade for an older model called “Smile”. Sega Toys says it’s the right choice for people with no time to look after a real animal.

I’ve seen the older model in action quite a few times. And these things are really pretty realistic. Venus can move around, lay down and reacts when you touch it. There is a photo sensor in the forehead and several touch sensors are installed in the body.

Sega Toys worked together with scientists from Tohoku University’s Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer in Northern Japan to make sure Venus reacts realistically when you touch or speak to it. Say “There, there” (in Japanese) and it will purr, for example.

The battery-powered robo cat is sized at 490×240×230mm and drops into Japanese stores July 30 (price: $110). And you even get a comb with it.

Ask spezialised stores Japan Trend Shop, Geek Stuff 4 U or Rinkya to get one shipped outside Japan if you can’t wait for Sega Toys’ international distribution plans.

Sega Toys Japan yesterday unveiled the Uchiagehanabi, a device that brings fireworks indoors. And it’s not only the visuals but also the corresponding sounds (shots, explosions etc.) you get in your very home. The device uses the wall or a ceiling as a backdrop for projecting fireworks patterns.

Sega Toys says that some of the images are as wide as 1.5m, and users can even create remixes of their favorite patterns to get personalized fireworks displays. It’s also possible to “draw” patterns by yourself and let the Uchiagehanabi project them onto your living room wall.

The device comes pre-installed with 55 patterns of various sizes and colors, and users can “program” the Uchiagehanabi in various ways to create fireworks displays (there are 5 customizable projection lenses).

The projector is Japan-only (available starting August 1), but the Japan Trend Shop already lets you pre-order it for $168. Two things are fair regarding this offer: The device will retail over here for almost the same price and the shop lets you pre-order without you having to pay upfront. They will send you an email once the projector is available and then you can decide again if you want to buy it or not (this is a new option introduced by the shop today).

Watch the fireworks projector in action in the video below.

Via Kaden Watch [JP]

I blogged about Sega Toys’ Pekoppa, the plant that listens and reacts to everything a person says, exactly 12 months ago. And the toy seems to have become a hit since then, as Sega Toys today announced the Hanappa, a Pekoppa 2 of sorts [JP, PDF].

The updated toy plant is battery-powered and essentially the same as the Pekoppa 1, meaning the thing “hears” a person’s voice and reacts to it by bowing up and down. However, the Hanappa (size: 80×80×200mm) comes in three variations this time: African Daisy, sun flower and marguerite.

And the flowers don’t just bow this time, but boast a number of additional movements. One of the flowers can act surprised, for instance. Good god.

The Hanappa will be available in Japan starting July 4 for about $30. Ask spezialised stores Japan Trend Shop, Geek Stuff 4 U or Rinkya to get one shipped outside Japan if you can’t wait for Sega Toys’ international distribution plans.