While iRobot appears set for a year without significant new consumer robots with the exception of the ConnectR trial-ware, Wowwee is not resting on its laurels. The maker of the Robosapien, Robopanda and the Flytech Dragonfly has plans for 15 new releases this year, and a few appear to cross for the first time into iRobot's territory of USEFUL home robots. The new $299 Rovio could give ConnectR a run for its money at a cheaper price point. A $249 Mr. Personality robot is more in the line of a fun toy, but one that seems a lot more interactive than Robosapien. And the Flytech Bladestar features an auto-piloting helicopter that won't crash on its own due to its on-board sensors. COOL! And just $49. That's the kind of product that could sell millions and get tons of brand recognition.
Maybe I was wrong about Wowwee? And maybe iRobot should have bought them out, and Evolution Robotics as well. Perhaps it's not too late for a merger?
PC Mag's Lance Ulanoff has the story from CES.
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