Latest Gear Live Videos
Minutes Gym Digital Video Trainer
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Action, PC,
It may not be a Wii, but the Minutes Gym certainly is an inexpensive alternative. Takara Tomy’s digital video trainer can be plugged into any TV or monitor with a composite video input. After powering up, enter personal and physical data to make a training program. On-screen avatars will guide you through over 100,000,000 3-minute workouts and keep track of your progress for 3 months. The Minutes Gym is available for $73.00.
Read More 
| Japan Trend Shop
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Q-Steer Mario Bros. R/C Cars
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Driving, Nintendo,
TakaraTomy has designed tiny remote control cars for those who want to race the Mario Brothers in the real world. The Q-Steer RC car is only 4 cm long and 2 cm high. Each runs on 2 coin cell batteries for the remote and car. The driver can rev up the speed by pressing the up-right button while not sweating the curves with the car’s suspension design. Pre-order Mario or Luigi or one of their other designs for $32.47 and expect delivery within the next week or so.
Read More | Audio Cubes
Takara Tomy xiao Tip-521 Camera/Printer
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cameras, Corporate News,
Takara Tomy has come up with the xiao Tip-521 camera that not only shoots, but prints borderless, full color photos as well. The compact 5Mpix digital cam has a 2.48-inch LCD, 16MB internal memory and an SD/SDHC card slot. The clever camera will store up to 20 sheets of paper and can store images for later PC downloading using its built-in ZINK printer. Expected out in Japan November 28, no price has been released at this point.
Read More | ZINK
Takara Tomy Bank Quest
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Toys, Video Games,
Takara Tomy has yet another toy for the masses. This time it is Bank Quest, a combination RPG and change bank. The more money you put inside, the more weapons and armor you can “buy” to avenge the baddies. The bank can hold up to about ¥50,000 (~$466.00,) runs on 3 AA batteries (not included,) and should be available for those who have spare change around August. At least in this instance, as opposed to those gathering places we call arcades, you actually get to keep the coinage when you play the game.
Read More | Akihabara News
Takara Tomy Hi-Kara Portable Karaoke Machine
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Music, Portable Audio / Video,
Takara Tomy is releasing a portable karaoke system designed for musically inclined kidlets, although we suspect older crooners will want one, too. The Hi-kara features a 2.4-inch LCD screen with a video and song lyrics. Available in pink or white, the 7cm cube allows the songsters to hear/sing through a headphones/microphone combination. Although preloaded cartridges will be available, blank ones will also be offered. Out October 18, the Hi-kara runs on 4 AA batteries for about 4 1/2 hours of use and will carry a price of ¥10,500 ($97.00.)
Read More | Akihabara News
Jinsei Ginko Makes You Vicariously Rich
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Misc. Tech, Toys,
Don’t throw those pennies away. The Jinsei Ginko (Life Bank) takes Tamagotchi to the next level. Put your extra coinage into it and watch an entire virtual family develop. The more you feed it, the wealthier they become. The monochrome LED display will evolve from abject squalor to a happy marriage, then to a lifestyle of the rich and famous. We’re not quite sure how long it takes to get there, but it’s not like you are going to join the Jet Set anytime soon on your own. At a price ¥4,987 (~$44.00,) check with Takara Tomy for details.
Read More | PingMag
Decepticon Becomes MP3 Player
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Movies, Music, Toys,
Another Transformer is born. Takara Tomy has taken Decepticon and turned it into the Music Label SoundWave MP3 Player. With a miniSD slot, it is simply plug and play and has a frequency range of 60HZ to 16 kHz. It will last up to 6 hours on 1 AAA battery and features a stereo mini-plug output. Included are earphones, weapons, and hands in case you want to make love, not Transformer war. The player will be available December 20, but at this time, only in Japan.
Read More | Audio Cubes
Meowlingual Cat Translation Device is Purr Fun
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Accessories, Misc. Tech, Toys,
As a cat owner, this writer has wished many times that her beloved cat Woody could talk, if only to explain a lot of his
idiosyncracies. If you’re a cat owner, you’ve no doubt wished the same. Well, the folks at Takara Tomy are having fun with the concept by introducing the Meowlingual Cat Translation Device. Like it’s successful predecessor, the Bowlingual Dog Translator (yes, we’re serious), it’s basically a toy that, when held up to your fave feline, “interprets” whatever he/she is meow-ing to you. The “translation” (such as “I can’t stand it”), is then displayed on its screen. It’s all good, silly fun, and a great gift for cat owners. The device will be released in Japan this November, no word on a stateside release. But at 8,800 yen (approx. $74 USD), we think the faux translator’s a tad expensive, so we’ll continue to wait for someone to invent a real one.
Read More | Takara Tomy
Kaleidoscope Projects Light Show
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech, Toys,
Takara Tomy doesn’t just make animated aquariums for adults/kids. It has also developed this UMate Mangekyo Kaleidoscope, which projects a revolving image onto your wall or ceiling in dazzling colors. The Mangekyo (which means kaleidoscope in Japanese) runs on discs, beads, and other objects placed inside it to create original patterns.You can also turn it into a mini-lamp by closing its lid. Our buds at C Scout tell us that they have seen it in action and that the effect is awesome. Look for its release by the end of the summer.
(Thanks, Michael)
Read More | C Scout
Don’t Feed the Fish With Ani-Light
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Smart Home, Misc. Tech,
Takara Tomy will soon be back on the market with the Ani-Light. This animated aquarium features fish, dolphin, and other ocean inhabitants swimming around. You can access their movements by watching the projection on your ceiling. We understand that they form the time before returning to their depths. Once the hatch is closed, you can get a fishy view on the face of the globe. So far there is no release date or price for the prototype Ani-Light, but we will keep on the alert for the illuminating gadget.
Read More | CScout
