The Sphero BB-8 Thread (official)

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Anyone have BB-8 by Sphero? Any videos of him learning about living room, or scaring your cat? Has he caused any trouble?

I think it is the most advanced toy I've ever seen, without actually serving a useful side function. He is just made to make you smile.

 

[drt]

My friend has one, he described it as being equal parts super awesome and really disappointing.

The disappointment comes from the fact that the "robot" lives entirely inside the APP on your phone. There is no sensor, speakers, mics, camera, or projector on the BB8 itself, and BB8's head is kind of an afterthought, it has no mechanisms at all inside it. You can actually drive the Sphero Ball around without the head if you want.

However, he says driving him around is fun, and the patrol mode has personality, even though apparently the obstacle mapping kind of sucks, and it seems to forget what it's mapped out when you turn the app off.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I own one also but haven't opened him up yet. Originally I got him for myself but I actually decided to give it to the kids for Christmas. So we have a little wait until we get to open it.

 

[drt]

I wonder if the bigger but simpler Target one would be more fun for kids?

Or are you giving them a gift like a bowling ball that says "Homer" on it?

 

[Awesome Possum]

I pre-ordered one through Think Geek. Hopefully he will be annoying my cat soon.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

I found this fan comic on tumblr, after searching BB-8. Experience the horror.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

One of my co-workers brought one in a few weeks back. It was amazing watching him control it from his phone. Very cool!

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

If you say "It's a Trap" he'll run like there's no tomorrow.

It's so fun.. if you have him in "drive" and he goes fast in a straight line and hits your for, he'll back away a few inches and shake it off, as if he was really alive.

While in patrol mode he found his way into my kitchen and got into all kinds of trouble, as he made his way into the gap between my fridge and my counter!

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Just updated my droid. Now he has new messages from C-3P0 and R2-D2. I heard a Phasma message also came out, but I don't have it