Evolta robot climbs Grand Canyon cliff

On May 24, a 17-centimeter tall, 130-gram Panasonic Evolta battery mascot robot scaled a 500-meter cliff at the Grand Canyon in a publicity stunt to showcase the endurance of the Evolta AA alkaline battery, which the Guinness Book of World Records recently recognized as the longest-lasting of its kind. Powered by a pair of Evoltas, the robot hoisted itself up a 530-meter length of rope suspended next to the cliff, reaching the top after a grueling 6 hours and 45 minutes.

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X-Arcade Tankstick Arcade Controller Review

If you are a fan of old school arcade games or just want a joystick that actually feels like a joystick we have just the thing for you. Today we are going to put the X-Arcade Tankstick through its paces and see if it really makes a difference. Read on for all the details on the X-Arcade Tankstick.

Disney WALL-E Robot Toys

Disney announced a new robotic toy today that is programmable and built in conjunction with Pixar, Thinkway Toys and WowWee. The robotic toys are inspired by WALL-E from the film of the same name hitting the big screen this summer. Disney also says that a flying Tinker Bell toy is coming as well.

The first toy will be an iDance WALL-E dancing boombox available in June and the Tinker Bell flying toy will be available in the fall. Another WALL-E toy due in the fall is called the Ultimate WALL-E. This toy features 10 motors providing for advanced movement and animation.

Ultimate WALL-E is programmed by a remote that is easy enough for kids to operate and the toy features a follow-me and voice activated mode. Ultimate WALL-E sounds very similar to the Plea robot dinosaur with emotion states and sensors to allow him to detect people in the room and navigate around obstacles. Ultimate WALL-E will retail for $189.99 this fall.

Via Disney

Takara Tomy Air Guitar Pro from Japan

Takara Tomy introduced the fun Air Guitar Pro in Japan last year. In the wake of Guitar Hero: On Tour I stumbled over them again and also found a must see Japanese video review of these Air Guitar gadgets.

This toy consists of the upper neck of a guitar featuring an infrared sensor that senses your air guitar moves. The guitar had has seven buttons on the front to press to hold down chords and also buttons on the side to identify the chords as major, minor, augmented, or diminished.

It is best to watch the video below even if you do not understand Japanese, it still explains the Takara Tomy Air Guitar Pro very well and in an entertaining way. Why the reviewer has something sticking out of his nose - I do not know.

The Takara Tomy Air Guitar Pro comes as Electric, Acoustic and as Ukulele of Lilo and Stitch. Gadget shops Himeyashop and Audio Cubes export them world-wide. Prices range from $32 to $55.99.

Radio-Controlled SWAT Crawler

You won't know what's more amazing: watching the look on your friends faces when they see this SWAT vehicle climbing up their way or the fact that the SWAT sweeper actually crawls up a wall without any assistance. Designed using special vacuum technology used by the military, the SWAT Crawler is able to suction itself to a regular wall and climb vertically up the wall. But there is more that is amazing about this product. We took it around the office, from office to office and cube to cube. We crawled it along the wall the whole time. We went up the wall, down the wall, across the wall. The SWAT Crawler went anywhere we told it to go with the greatest of ease. You and your kids will have so much fun making this amazing little machine crawl around your house like nothing you've seen before. Turn off the TV, and enjoy hours of entertainment with the SWAT Crawler.

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The Eagle-Eye Radio-Controlled Helicopter

You'll have the time of your life flying our RC Helicopter. Get your kid off the computer and from in front of the TV and outside for some quality time with Dad or Grandpa. We think that you'll enjoy it as much as he does. It's great for developing young hand/eye coordination. We guarantee this to be the easiest RC helicopter on the market to fly. It's strong, durable and a blast to fly! We took it out for a test flight and the entire staff here at Gadget Universe fell in love with it. We think you will too. Get one for you and your kid. Please for first time use, fly over grass away from trees and other possible obstacles. This will ensure that you do not damage the helicopter or anything else.

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Flying Robot Revolution: WowWee FlyTech Dragonfly

FROM GIFTS.GIZMODO.COM: In the same category of the enormously popular toy R/C helicopters is WowWee's FlyTech Dragonfly. Rather than a propeller, this guy flaps his wings furiously to fly around. It has a remote and can be controlled in two different modes — beginner and expert.

via [gizmodo]