V-Tech Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 A robotic ball you control with your phone? What's not to like? Well, we managed to find a few things when we took a look at the first generation back in 2011 -- that's what we do. Most of the criticisms of the original Sphero came down to pricing and the admittedly short list of things it could actually do at the time. Sure it was pretty great at driving feline friends completely nuts -- but that alone wasn't enough to justify the $130 price tag. Orbotix has made some improvements since then, and more importantly, the open API has given users a much fuller experience, with around 20 or so compatible titles currently available on the iPhone. This month, the company is refreshing the device itself, with the simply titled Sphero 2.0. The particularly astute among you will no doubt notice that nothing has really changed here from an aesthetic standpoint. Nope, it's the same white plastic ball with the cartoony Sphero mascot on one side and all of the fine print (FCC info, "Made in China," etc.) on the other, with a series of interlinking, barely visible lines across its surface. There have been some hardware changes to the toy, but everything's on the inside, namely brighter lights and faster speeds -- as the company insists in its press material, it's "only slightly slower than a Lamborghini." Of course, scale's important here. The color lights inside have been improved as well, with three times the brightness of its predecessor. Though, like the last version, the entire body doesn't actually light up due to the opacity of internal components. Orbotix suggests you put on some sunglasses so you don't blind yourself, but don't worry. We think you'll be just fine. The company also claims the 'bot is "smarter," though we've yet to see those brains really manifest themselves -- perhaps when more apps take advantage of the brighter ball. The Bluetooth has also been improved -- and indeed, we didn't have any problems keeping the ball connected with our handset. The packaging is also surprisingly cool this time out. Lift up the top of the box, and you'll see the Sphero sitting on a stand sandwiched between two triangular pieces of plastic. Those are, get this, ramps. Orbotix says you'll be able to get around a foot of air at full speed. We weren't able to get it quite that high -- mostly because we're still working on getting it to go over the ramp just right when it's moving that fast. The company insists that the ball can handle that much air, and indeed we found it to be quite tough as we rammed it into a few walls when we were first getting started. If you're still worried, though, Orbotix is offering up silicone "Nubby Covers," cases that slip over the ball for added ruggedness. They also offer up a bit more traction for off-roading with the thing. Pre-orders for the second-gen Sphero open up today. It'll run you $129, when it starts shipping at the end of the month. The first-gen will also remain available, now priced at $109. Interested parties can also pick up the special edition Sphero Revealed, a $129 Apple Store exclusive, which features a partially transparent shell, giving you a peak at the ball's inner-workings. http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/14/sphero-2/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey B. Veteran Posted August 14, 2013 Veteran Share Posted August 14, 2013 wanted one of those for so long but cannot pay that much for a rolling ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 So, how fast does it move? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HawkMan Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Why don't they have lights on the underside of the controller board as well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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