July 2009 Notable Toys — Electronics

This USB Owl bobbles its head. It measures 5.5 cm and is available in white, gray, pink and brown. Launch date: May 6, 2009.

This monkey-faced bank eats and saves coins. The size is approximately 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm. Launch date: June 6, 2009.

Utilizing NeuroSky's ThinkGear technology, the product allows kids to practice their Jedi Master skills, actually using their mind to control movement of a ball. Users wear a headset that measures and interprets brainwave activity, transferring it to the 10" training tower where a sphere moves up and down. It includes Star Wars sound effects and 15 levels of training. Launch date: July 2009.

This TV-based gaming system for preschoolers combines full-body movement, music, education and fun. Combining LeapFrog’s learning products expertise with Disney’s storytelling heritage and preschool TV programs, the system lets kids bring the fun of Playhouse Disney to life at their house. As they groove and play, kids can gain a greater understanding of core preschool skills such as math, language and music. The Zippity system leads kids through eight lively learning games that use an interactive mat for lower-body movement, such as running, dancing, jumping and marching, and a tummy-high joystick, or “bopper,” for upper-body action, such as moving left, right, forward and back. The easy-to-use system with eight learning activities pre-loaded—comes with a foldable mat and bopper, which interacts wirelessly with the Zippity console. Launch date: August 2009.

Got It Reading & Math Game is a two-sided electronic game with two arcade-style joysticks. Word and math questions appear on the screen and players move their cursors to “grab” the correct answers before they are eaten up by the opponent or the friendly monster (also offers solo play). It features bonus rounds, volume control, automatic shut-off and two headphone jacks that allow quiet play. It includes Activity Guide and an AC adapter is available separately. "This game provides the option of either a reading or a math game, providing immediate feedback and play for one or two players," Nancy Davies, group account director for Salmon Borre Group, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 15, 2009.

An electronic dice roll gives players a target number, and kids (or parents) race to add or subtract the light-up numbers one through 9 at their station. Once a player has used all of his numbers, he's scored a knockout. Players can also train for matches in solo mode. The announcer’s voice, starting bell and roaring crowd send fighters into the ring ready to rumble. It features volume control and automatic shut-off, and includes an Activity Guide. An AC adapter is available separately. Launch date: April 2, 2009.

This product is bilingual (English/Spanish) with a total of 140 activities. All activities are designed with a Web-browser format and user-friendly screen-scrolling function to enhance young users' computer skills. It has built-in, one-touch keys for direct access to main modes with real laptop simulated applications included. It's created to help kids learn grammar, math, drawing, logic, music, translation and personal organization. "[A] unique circular touch panel allows for quick file search," Jackie Tam, senior sales manager for Hanzawa, told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2009.

This could be a first guitar for kids and a travel guitar for players of all ages. It includes eight dot position inlays, 1/4 pin pickup, and a silkscreen logo. No assembly is required. Launch date: August 2009.

Whenever there is an awkward pause, individuals can push the button on the key chain-sized theCRICKETtoy™ to hear "Chirp. Chirp." (crickets chirping). "There really is no other item out there like this designed for those awkward moments. It's a great conversation piece and it gets people asking, "Hey, where did you get that?" That's GREAT marketing and branding with multiple impressions throughout the week!" Jeff Anderson, owner of Kardandak Enterprises LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 5, 2008.

Mark-my-time digital bookmarks in neon blue, green and purple are fun and easy to use. A simple and easy way to monitor reading times for either a countdown session with alarm or cumulative sessions monitoring and storing up to 100 hours of achieved reading time.

The MobiCam AV is compact, portable and multi-functional. It is a color, handheld, 900 MHz, wireless monitoring system designed specifically for easy mobility — of both the camera and monitor — so that the MobiCam AV system can be moved to virtually any location within the home, office or other environment, instantly. It has a transmission range of up to 300', automatic see-in-the-dark night vision, and the ability to connect the monitor to a TV or other audio-video device. "The MobiCam AV has an optional Internet Kit. The MobiCam Anywhere Software broadcasts the full-motion images and sound from the camera in real time to a personalized, secure website that you create," Andrew Buckband, national sales manager for MOBI Technologies, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2008.

Game Vault is the second generation from the original Game Chamber. The Game Vault is a storage organizer designed to prevent the loss of games. "The Game Vault makes the child put back the game they are playing before another game will come out. This prevents the game finding [its] way under the car seat, couch or on the plane ... sav[ing] parent hundreds of dollars," Michael Rosenberg, CEO of Daze Products, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2009.