Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

She’s not one of the fembots from the Austin Powers movies, but she’s the next best thing.  Her name is EMA, which stands for Eternal Maiden Actualization.  The maker is Sega Toys, and the target demographic is lonely dudes.  That’s right, according to Reuters she’s being marketed in Japan as a female companion.  She can sing, dance, hand out business cards (?), and of course give kisses.  EMA would make a great girlfriend because not only is she very affectionate, she’s also really low maintenance.  All she needs is some battery power, as that’s what she runs on.

She’ll be available in September for about $175, and Sega hopes for first-year sales of 10,000.  Maybe this could be like a Lars and the Real Girl situation, where not just the Lars character but everyone else could come to see EMA as real!  Except EMA is only 15 inches tall.  But her other measurements would make any girl jealous!

Speaking of robot women, check out this video for comments made about Madonna by singer Dan Gillespie-Sells of The Feeling.  Hilarious!  Unfortunately, unlike EMA, Her Majesty has been unavailable for some time.  But she can still sing and dance though.

Read [MSNBC]

Here’s set of toys Osama Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein might have fallen in love with. Brickarms is a company that sells LEGO-reminiscent testosterone-inspired mini figures complete with their own sets of custom weapons and weapons packs. The minifigs are custom made with LEGO parts themselves and BrickArms just serves as supplier of accessories - an arms dealer, if you will - and offers custom-built weapons of mass destruction for your murderous and sadistic pleasure. I believe they ship to almost any country (as long as it’s on the map!) in the world, and they also give away free weapons with every order. Continue reading for a few more pictures of BrickArms minifigs, custom-made arsenal, and items that are proudly made of SOLID GOLD.

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Now you can completely destroy that scale replica you made of your boss’ office. It’s a Missile Launcher that plugs into your computer’s USB port and can be controlled through Windows XP compatible software. It has three spring-loaded foamy missiles and a launcher that can be pivoted 180 degrees horizontally and 45 degrees vertically using the software. It’s about 7 inches tall, requires 3 AA batteries (what, not USB powered!?), comes with three missiles and costs $40-50. Ready, aim, FIRE!

Order [ThinkGeek]

Gag gift, gadget and cool toy makers Archie McPhee has just released a L’il Sideshow series of toys. You can make your own 4 in. tall freak show starring the Bearded lady, Strong Man, Frog Girl, Lobster Boy, World’s Tallest Man and World’s Shortest Man. Each set costs $13.95 and comes with a 5 1/2 in. x 4 in. plastic stage that includes a tiny vinyl banner.

And, if you post a list of Archie McPhee stuff on your site, blog or other web page with links back to the items, and you’ll be entered for a chance to $100 worth of stuff on your list or $200 in Archie McPhee items. Four winners will be selected on November 15, 2006.

Order [Bearded lady]
Order [Strong Man]
Order [Frog Girl & Lobster Boy]
Order [World’s Tallest man & Shortest man]
Contest [How to Enter]

McFarlane Toys, makes of highly detailed action figures, is releasing a set of “Lost” action figures. A yet-to-be-announced primary cast member will be at the Toys “R” Us International flagship store in New York City on Monday, November 6, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to sign figures. Tickets to the event will be sold through McFarlane’s main site, spawn.com. The price of tickets and figures have not yet been set.

The 6 in. action figures will include a mini prop item, a voice chip and will resemble six characters from the show’s first season: Jack, Kate, Hurley, Locke, Charlie and Shannon. Now when a kid says they lost their toy, they can mean it in more ways than one.

Read [McFarlane Toys] Site [Spawn.com]

Hasbro, makers of the foamy NERF brand products, have joined up with Performance Designed Products, makers of Pelican brand video gaming accessories, to develop a new line of virtually indestructible game accessories. The first product will be a wireless controller for the PS2 featuring Pelican guts and Nerfy outsides. They are expected to be available in stores this Fall for $29.99 and tough enough to “withstand squeezing, throwing, twisting and spiking.” If they are shaped like a Nerf football, however, there might be many breakable household objects that will need to be coated in Nerf.

It’s the perfect gift for the the D&D fan in your family. This 12 in. stuffed 20-sided die produced by Toy Vault not only works but also won’t easily be swallowed or flushed by your little sister, ... although your dog might mistake it for a chew toy. It’s so simple, so silly and so stupid, you’ll wonder why you never asked your mom to make you one.  Head over to Paizo and pick yourself up a a huge die today for just $26.96.

Read [Paizo]

If you have yet to see the new Tickle Me Elmo Version 2, AKA TMX Elmo, you’ll definitely enjoy the video above.  The stuffed animal robot cracks up at a mere touch and rolls all over the place like a spas out of hell.  Elmo and his paralyzed left arm falls to his back and then miraculously gets back up on his two feet.  I tell you, some good R&D dollars can do wonders these days, can’t they?  Another video after the jump.

If you want to have something to shoot at your mom or your little brother (without hurting them), you should check out AirZooka.  AirZooka is a “gun” powered by air impulsion.  It’s easy to use, just pull the elastic and point the gun towards your target.

“The Airzooka is a fun gun that launches harmless rings of air up to 40 feet. You will be amazed when you are able to mess up a persons hair or knock down targets from over 40 feet away. Requiring no batteries, and shoots air, you will never run out of ammo. Because it shoots air, it is safe at any distance.”

This air impulsion effect is a physics phenomenon called “vortex generator.” Tornados are a good example of this effect.  According to Wikipedia:

“A vortex generator is an aerodynamic surface, consisting of a small vane that creates a vortex. They can be found in many devices, but the term is most often used in aircraft design.”

I think this toy is more for getting to know a little more “how stuff works.” I’m not too sure of how it works, but I bet you never heard of “vortex generator” before!  The toys sounds pretty useless to me, but useless or not, according to AirZooka’s official website, they’re are out of stock!

Check it out AirZooka in action after the break.

Rock Beat Drumsticks are portable drumsticks to get you rockin’ anywhere! Each drumstick contains a speaker and switch buttons to turn it On/Off and also an impact sensitive LED. It uses 2x2 AA batteries (not included).

As you may see, it has pretty good sound! Turn yourself into a pro with Rockbeat drumsticks. Not much more to say… good n’loud!  The Rock Bea Drumsticks will run you a mere $18.70.

Check out a demo movie after the break.

Read [Rock Beat Drumsticks]