Here’s a nifty gift for that Star Wars fan-boy/girl in your life. It’s the LEGO Star Wars Magnet Set featuring Darth Vader, a Snowtrooper, and a Shadow Trooper – all for $14.99. Yup.. have Vader stare at you every time you get a drink from the fridge.

Not a fan of those characters? No problem – there are several other magnet sets available including a Clone Wars Magnet Set consisting of Yoda, Mace Windu, and Count Dooku and a set consisting of Chewbacca, Vader, and Obi-wan. You’ll also find a slew of other LEGO related Star Wars toys and accessories here. Enjoy!

Via 7Gadgets.com, Ubergizmo

Technorati Tags: LEGO, LEGO Star Wars Magnet Set

OK, along the lines of “25 useless facts about me” (or something like that) that you’re seeing pop up all over Facebook, here’s one fact – I love ants. Yes. I love ants. As a kid, I made ant farms up the wazoo. I read every single National Geographic magazine article about ants, I watched every single documentary on television regarding ants. I love ants.

Soo, you can imagine my excitement when I found out that Innovation First announced a new addition to their HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures product lineup called the HEXBUG Ant. Yes, this is indeed a robotic ant – complete with legs, antenna, and hooked claws. It moves along quickly using wheel legs and avoids objects in its path thanks to front and rear touch sensors. The inner body comes loaded with robotic “guts” which is “protected by a hard, transparent exoskeleton casing.”

The HEXBUG Ant will be available in five colors and is due to come out in April exclusively at RadioShack stores across the U.S.

Other models in the HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures product lineup include:

• HEXBUG Inchworm
• HEXBUG Crab
• HEXBUG Original

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Innovation First, HEXBUG Ant, Robotic Ant

The Rubik’s Cube meets touch sensor technology with the introduction of the new “Rubik’s TouchCube” by Techno Source – the “first completely electronic solvable Cube.” Sure to cause some controversy with Rubik’s Cube purists, the TouchCube looks like a standard Rubik’s Cube from afar but when you get up close and personal, you realize things are not quite the same. The six sides of the cube are completely touch driven with the cube featuring a built-in accelerometer, and colored lights for each of the squares. You simply move blocks and faces through simple finger swipes. Yes, touch technology is appearing everywhere these days.

The TouchCube attempts to mimic the game play of the traditional Rubik’s Cube – “swipe a finger across three squares and the lights will follow, “turning” a side of the Cube; make an “L” shape to turn the top face of the Cube a quarter turn.” Worried that holding the cube with your fingers will throw the motion sensors off? No worries – the built-in accelerometer helps the Cube recognize only movements made on the top side of the cube (though.. I’ll miss being able to move blocks around in all sorts of angles..)

Other features of the Rubik’s TouchCube include:

• Built-in solver program which you can use to provide hints or use to simply watch the cube solve itself
• Internal memory so it’ll remember where you left off with the cube
• Choice of sound effects – do you want that traditional clicking sound from moving the cube squares?
• The TouchCube also acts as a stress relief device – dock the cube on the display stand and watch the colors slide around while the cube recharges.

The Rubik’s TouchCube will be on display at the upcoming American International Toy Fair and will be available this fall for a price of $149.99.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Techno Source, Rubik's Cube, Rubik's TouchCube

Come on now. How can you not love this collection of LEGO Vipers? I mean.. they’re just plain awesome right? RIGHT!

But wait.. there’s more! In fact, there’s a collection of 35 Vipers, Raptors, Cylon Raiders, and custom figurines from the famed television series – Battlestar Galactica – all on display over at DVICE.com courtesy of organizer Ryan Wood.

Now if I only had the time (and the LEGO pieces) to make my own Viper.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Battlestar Galactica, LEGO

Wanna have a little fun the next time your friends are over? Serve them a drink with some of these Shark Fin-shaped ice cubes inside and see what their reactions are like. I doubt you’ll actually scare them but hey – you never know.

Play.com is currently taking pre-orders for the ice cubes at a price of £5.99.

[Check it out via GearFuse.com]

Technorati Tags: Shark Fin Ice Cubes

Fans of the WowWee Alive Cubs will be thrilled to hear that the company will be expanding their Alive lineup for 2009. Four new variations will join the lineup including the Alive Seal Pup, Alive Husky Puppy, Alive Koala Joey, and Alive Leopard Cub. Here are their pictures:

Features include:

• Animated facial and vocal expressions triggered by users’ touch
• Comes with adoption papers and a family portrait

If you’re looking for something a wee bit smaller, WowWee will be introducing a smaller Alive lineup called the 8 inch WowWee Alive Minis. Features include:

• Feeding bottle the cubs can sense
• Touch and tilt sensors which trigger soft sounds from snoring to gurgling which indicate moods

Finally, if you want a stuffed robotic animal/pet to snuggle up against when you sleep, then the WowWee Alive Sleeping Cuties are right for you. These pets are “perfect to cuddle up with for a nap” and feature:

• Cuties make gentle slumbering sounds
• Have animated eyes
• Curl up in a cozy napping position when you pet them
• Available in four varieties – Labradoodle Puppy, Beagle Puppy, Cinnamon Persian Kitten, and White Persian Kitten

Technorati Tags: WowWee Alive Cubs, WowWee Alive Minis, WowWee Alive Sleeping Cuties, CES 2009

I thought this was absolutely cool – a miniature display of a battlefield full of Japanese warriors. This is courtesy of Boford Japan which also makes other miniature products including weapons, a dinosaur museum, and other figures.

Technorati Tags: Boford Japan, Miniature Warriors

If you’re bored of the Transformers – how about a different take on robots? These are the Kami-Robo wresters as created and marketed by MySweetLord Entertainment. Oh and these are not plastic or die cast metal robots – they’re made of paper and wire. You can check out more of the cast of characters at http://kamiroboent.com/top_en.html

Technorati Tags: Kami-Robo wrestlers

On display at NYC’s Japan C exhibit, is Sega Toys “Sega Piano” – the world’s smallest grand piano. This piano features a manual and auto mode. The manual allows you to play the piano (yes those keys are somewhat tiny!) while the auto mode allows the piano to play from 50 to 100 pre-loaded musical selections. If you’re into piano pieces, it’s actually pretty neat to see this tiny piano sitting in the corner playing back scores.

Technorati Tags: Sega Toys, Sega Piano

Since I was already at the Diamond Select Toys website, I couldn’t help but notice their line of Battestar Galactica toys here – ranging from Action Figures to Statues. My favorites include the Cylon Centurion Figure pictured below:

The Caprica Six Exclusive Figure:

The Cylon Raider Statue:

The BSG Mark II Viper Statue:

and of course.. the Galactica Statue:

Awesome stuff..

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Diamond Select Toys, Battlestar Galactica, Statues, Figures