Meet The Follow Up to Sphero: Ollie

Posted on 04/09/2014 by Tam Yue

The company that gave us the Sphero, Orbotix, has come up with a new app controlled bot called Ollie. Ollie is similar to Sphero in that you can still control this bot with your iOS or Android device.

Ollie can reach speeds up to 14mph and comes with two rubber tire covers that help maneuver through different types of terrain. These wheel covers come in different colors to help you customize your bot and you also have the option to purchase a limited addtion “goth-black” Ollie for a limited time. Ollie is programmable just like Sphero, so it can provide hours of entertainment.

A major difference is the shape. Ollie is cylindrical which gives it a different control capability and some are saying it is a bit tougher to control. Another difference is the way it is charged. Sphero is charged by induction charging and comes with a docking station, while Ollie is charged through a USB. It’s range is 100 ft so it might be hard to keep up with going top speed.

According to the video below, Ollie is pretty durable. Looks like it can take a pretty good collision as well as a rather large free fall drop.

This bot will run you $99 compared to the latest version of the Sphero at $129.

Via Fast Company

Fun Ball Sphero Is A Programmable Robot

Posted on 07/04/2014 by Radhika Seth

Remember Sphero, the fun robotic ball you can control from your smartphone? We got a chance to learn more about it and discovered that it is also a completely programmable robot! In short, the fun robotic ball brings programming off the computer and into real life by letting you be the master. Bet you’d want to try one, which is why they are running a National Robotics Week Sphero 2.0 Sale!

Sphero allows you to program the ball to do fun things like drive autonomously, follow unique patterns, dance, and more. Kids as young as seven can learn how to program and you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to get started. Check out this cool dance sequence that a Sphero owner created:

Orbotix, the company behind Sphero, is celebrating National Robotics Week with a special offer!

Yanko Design readers get Sphero for $99 (normally $129).
Visit here before Monday, April 14th to get the discounted price.

They’ve also created 5 lessons to get you started learning how to program Sphero. These lessons are available to download at GoSphero.com/Education

Some Facts:

Students from elementary school to college courses can learn with Sphero – the only thing that changes is the software.
Beginners can use the app MacroLab. The macro system developed for Sphero has very practical applications, such as teaching kids and adults procedural thinking and basic programming skills.
With MacroLab, you can arrange commands and settings in any combination you choose to make Sphero do your bidding.
You can easily create a macro to have Sphero flash a color sequence. Boom, now you’re a programmer!
More advanced users can try orbBasic. This app allows you to actually type in code for Sphero to execute.
Even more advanced users can utilizes Sphero’s software development kits to create their own apps.
In fact, half of the 30+ apps available for Sphero have actually been created by third-party developers.

See how the girls club Little Miss Geek is using Sphero to teach girls how to program in the video below.

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(Fun Ball Sphero Is A Programmable Robot was originally posted on Yanko Design)

Sphero, My Super Hero

Posted on 26/11/2013 by Radhika Seth

It’s that time of the year when you get the jitters and start hunting high and low for the perfect gift. Allow me to put you out of your despair, and give you the heads-up on a product that appeals to all ages (young and old) across the board. Sphero. My Superhero! Yes, it’s that kinda thing that appeals to the gamer, the techie robotic kind, the shy, the friendly, the design freak, the outdoorsy and the indoors. In short…everyone! This sophisticated and programmable robot is the buzz-word for today!

At its core, Sphero is a robotic ball that you can drive around using your smartphone or tablet. But that’s just the beginning. Since there are millions of ways you can use the Sphero, it’s a guarantee that you won’t get tired or bored of it. Interestingly, you can use it as a muse for your pets! What I like most about it is that you can get creative with the way you use it.

For example, you can build an obstacle course using the ramps that come included in the box or play a high-tech version of golf using the Sphero Golf app. The possibilities are endless. Top of my head, I can think of taking it to the pool with me, play tag with it, innovate with awesome augmented reality games like Sharky The Beaver or indulge in tabletop games like ColorGrab.

Sphero travels easily and gives you over an hour of non-stop play. Its deigned creatively with cable free induction charging. You can use iOS and Android systems to control the play and the system comes with 25 free games and apps available for download.

To make the Sphero more durable and fun, there is a special Nubby cover designed. It essentially converts the Sphero into the ultimate off-road robot, giving strategic advantage navigating over gravel, water, and concrete. Nubby also protects against scratches and scuffs. Here’s the fun part of it all, Orbotix has a limited edition version called Sphero 2.0 Revealed that is sold exclusively at Apple Stores.

As a special gesture, when you buy a Sphero from the online store, you can get a free Nubby cover with your purchase!

Use the coupon code “YANKONUBBY” during checkout at store.gosphero.com

Learn More about the Sphero here.

Designer: Orbotix [ Buy Now ]

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Timeless Designs - Explore wonderful concepts from around the world!
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(Sphero, My Super Hero was originally posted on Yanko Design)

Daily Roundup: Tablet buyer’s guide, Outlook goes down, Windows 8.1 launch date, and more!

Posted on 14/08/2013 by David Fishman

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

Comments

Sphero 2.0 rolls out at speeds ‘slightly slower than a Lamborghini’ (video)

Posted on 14/08/2013 by Brian Heater

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.

Filed under: Robots

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Source: Go Sphero

Sphero’s Augmented Reality Engine gets fully realized in Sharky the Beaver (video)

Posted on 16/11/2012 by Joe Pollicino

Been keeping up to date with the quirky robotic ball named Sphero? We've been wondering when its Augmented Reality Engine would finalize into a full-fledged app since we first witnessed it as E3 as a simple 2D tech demo. Well, Today is the day that this Android and iOS-controlled ball makes it first official-release steps into the world of AR -- the engine has grown up, powering Orbotix's latest free app, Sharky the Beaver. While the game itself is still admittedly silly and demo-like since we saw an early adaptation in August, there's no question that the AGR is now is a polished state.

As a refresher, unlike other implementations that require a stationary marker, Sphero serves as one that can move around your area, while also relaying information about its position. The 3D character on screen rotates its directions as you spin Sphero, and, as you can see above, it even allows you to pick the ball up while it's being tracked. The frame-rate of tracking in the app itself looked very smooth, and it does an admirable job keeping track of the ball, even if it ends up off-screen. At the point, gameplay is limited to flicking cupcakes on the ground that Sharky goes to automatically, and there's no word on if and when we'll see the features shown off in the early version (namely, the part where the Sharky part of the name was actually a key element, as you chased people on-screen to get their cupcakes). All in all, we're more curious than anything to see what else the folks at Orbotix will come up with in the realm of AR -- for more in the meantime, check out the our video hands-on after the break.

Gallery: Sphero Sharky the Beaver hands-on

Continue reading Sphero's Augmented Reality Engine gets fully realized in Sharky the Beaver (video)

Filed under: Misc, Robots, Software

Sphero's Augmented Reality Engine gets fully realized in Sharky the Beaver (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sphero gets an improved, multifunction Drive app, we go hands-on

Posted on 16/10/2012 by Michael Gorman

Just about a year ago we got to review Orbotix's Sphero, and while it was an amusing little remote control orb, its controls left a lot to be desired. A couple months ago, the company gave Sphero some new firmware that included the "Vector Drive" feature, which eliminated Sphero's meandering ways and gave it far more precise steering. Now, the company has improved its Drive app and combined it with the old Sphero and Cam apps. This new version of Drive has a tool that lets users aim the ball with a single finger -- a small, but welcome improvement over the old, fidgety two-finger method. Additionally, the app has a new Auto Heading function that keeps Sphero aware of the orientation of its controller to provide a much more intuitive driving experience. After giving it a go ourselves, we can attest that it's a marked improvement over the prior iterations of Drive. We no longer had to plan out Sphero's routes, and we could drive feeling confident that the ball would roll as directed. Check out how the refreshed controls work in our video after the break.

Continue reading Sphero gets an improved, multifunction Drive app, we go hands-on

Filed under: Robots

Sphero gets an improved, multifunction Drive app, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 21:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sphero gets a firmware upgrade and new apps, we get another look at its Augmented Reality Engine (video)

Posted on 28/08/2012 by Joe Pollicino

You remember Sphero, right? Last we checked in with its creators from Orbotix at E3, the $130 robotic ball was getting ready to act as a 3D controller and the guide point for an Augmented Reality Engine. This week, along with the release of a firmware upgrade, a few new free apps have been released, including two that'll let you use that 3D controller functionality. Better yet, Orbotix has given us a sneak peek at the progress it's made on the AGR since we last checked it out. Join us past the break if you're curious to find out more.

Continue reading Sphero gets a firmware upgrade and new apps, we get another look at its Augmented Reality Engine (video)

Filed under: Misc, Gaming, Peripherals

Sphero gets a firmware upgrade and new apps, we get another look at its Augmented Reality Engine (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change the Orbotix Sphero?

Posted on 18/06/2012 by Daniel Cooper

Orbotix's novelty smartphone-controlled robotic cue ball is so fun, even The President has been snapped playing with one. It's a toy, and as such doesn't really serve a function beyond chasing your pets around the kitchen. When we reviewed it, we found that the steering was sluggish and frankly, the novelty wore off pretty quickly. But how about you out there? What have you spent your time doing with the thing, or has it sat untouched on a shelf for the past few months? We wanna know, and the moment for you to tell us is in the comments below.

Continue reading How would you change the Orbotix Sphero?

How would you change the Orbotix Sphero? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Jun 2012 22:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orbotix pits Sphero as advanced 3D controller, details upcoming Augmented Reality Engine (hands-on)

Posted on 10/06/2012 by Joe Pollicino

During the wind down of E3, we were able to spend a few fleeting moments with the folks from Orbotix to talk about its latest batch of upcoming software for Sphero. If you're unfamiliar with the gizmo, it's essentially a Bluetooth-enabled robotic ball that can be controlled using your Android or iOS device. While Sphero is certainly a unique toy, we grew bored of it quickly -- it ended up best serving us as spendy dog toy during our review. The toy does have constant app development in its favor however, and the company insists that it will continue to offer free apps that open up the roller's capabilities. Head past the break where we'll detail two new advancements on the platform: augmented reality and advanced 3D control support.

Gallery: Sphero Exile and Augmented Reality Engine (hands-on)