Sphero Robotic Ball – iOS and Android Controlled Gaming System

The smartphone-controlled Sphero combines two time tested holiday favorites: the ball and the remote-control car. The three-inch orb rolls with consistent speed (about three feet per second) in any direction as a pair of motorized wheels in the ball push it forward or backward. When the user of the iDevice (or even an Android!) signals a change in direction, the wheels rotate around an axis to shift course. Sphero communicates via Bluetooth with several iOS and Android apps, including a driving game and virtual golf. In development: freeze-tag and other multiplayer games for Sphero-on-Sphero combat.

The controls work well overall. (though it does sometimes get confused after it collides into objects, which it definitely will) and we never quite got over that little-kid glee of hiding behind walls (in this case, cubicle walls) and sending this cheerful little blinking ball into offices and conference rooms. We’re really looking forward to seeing what developers can do with it, but more importantly, we’re really looking forward to seeing how our cats react to it. It’ll be released in the coming weeks and cost $130 (the apps are free).

$130 at Amazon Now