Parrot

CES 2012 and Consumer Robotics: Informative yet confusing... and bad food!

by Frank Tobe, Editor, The Robot Report

CES 2012 was a mammoth display of the trend toward smart, connected devices for every form of consumer activity: toys, appliances, entertainment, health, mobility, etc. More than 20,000 new products were launched at this year’s CES and a large portion of them could be considered "smart."

"Smart" (robotic-like) products profess to add value, assure safety, and provide convenience through connectivity... claims that in many cases are true, particularly with in-car infotainment systems.

3,100 exhibitors, 1.86 million sq ft of exhibition space, 153,000 attendees of which 34,000 were international and only one good food stand (Nathan's hot dogs – you can't ruin a Nathan's hot dog). Massive crowding, slow moving, loud, extravagant and wonderful. Thin TVs – so thin they looked like they couldn't stand up by themselves without bending – 3D with and without glasses, projectors, smart appliances, and apps for everything from TVs to refrigerators to scales.Read more

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Brookstone Announces Parrot AR.Drone Event on Black Friday

by jessica on Tue, 2010-11-16 05:00

Brookstone recently announced plans for its 2010 Black Friday Holiday Season kick-off. The company will host an interactive Parrot AR.Drone Flight School Event Friday, November 26, at the Fashion Centre Mall in Pentagon City, Arlington, VA. This event will let AR.Drone fans pilot the flying video game for themselves—and the first 10 people to buy an AR.Drone at this event will receive an Apple iPod touch. Brookstone also predicted hot gift trends for 2010.

AR.Drone Flight School—Plus iPod touch Giveaway: Brookstone is teaming up with Parrot, the creators of the AR.Drone, to give consumers their first hands-on training as well as offer expert flight demonstrations. This Black Friday Event will take place at the Fashion Centre Mall, Pentagon City, and run from 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fans are advised to arrive early to buy one of the first 10 AR.Drones and receive a free iPod touch player.Read more

Parrot's A.R.Drone Hits the U.S. in September

by jessica on Mon, 2010-07-19 05:00

Remember the A.R.Drone gaming helicopter we told you about in January? Parrot just announced the release of the product in the United States.

Available in September for $299, the A.R.Drone is a quadricopter, a helicopter with on-board Wi-Fi, that you fly piloted with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. It is the first fully-integrated Augmented Reality device and features two cameras, one on the front and one underneath facing the ground. It streams what the drone is seeing onto your iPhone's screen.

The AR.Drone can be used both inside and outside, thanks to the two hulls. The full hull shield protects the device from impacts indoors, with the streamlined hull giving you better control outside.

The quadricopter was initially designed for the Apple platforms but will also be available on other platforms in the coming months. Get more information at www.parrot.com or http://ardrone.parrot.com/parrot-ar-drone/en.

2010 CES Roundup

by jessica on Sat, 2010-01-09 05:00

Has it been hard to keep up with all the news at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics show? We've made it a bit easier for you. Here are some of the most newsworthy product announcements so far….along with a few others you may have missed:

Samsung Unveils World's Slimmest LED TV

Boxee Box Debuts at CES

Panasonic Intros Full HD 3D Plasma TVs

Parrot Unveils Cool Augmented Reality Gaming for iPhone

Klipsch LightSpeaker Gives You Sound and Light

Skiff E-Reader: Largest, Slimmest to Date

Sanyo eneloop bike hits the US

Don't worry, that's not all! We will continue to cover CES news next week! Be sure to check back!

Parrot Unveils Augmented Reality Gaming for iPhone

Parrot AR.Drone allows video games to become reality.

Parrot today reveals an augmented reality gaming experience for use with the iPhone and iPod touch. The intuitive Parrot AR.Drone, a quadricopter piloted with an iPhone or iPod touch, allows adults or kids to fly in a real-world environment while simultaneously playing a video game from the device's screen.

The Parrot AR.Drone combines the best of today's wireless, video and gaming technologies to allow real-world objects and conditions, like a tree or wind, to become a part of the video gaming experience. The Parrot AR.Drone received a 2010 CES Innovations award for Electronic Gaming Hardware and will be demonstrated live throughout the week at the 2010 Consumers Electronics Show. To see the AR.Drone in action and hear more about its development, go to www.parrot.com. Parrot has been building innovative wireless technologies for vehicles, home and beyond for more than 15 years. The AR.Drone project brings Parrot's expertise in wireless technology to the gaming community.Read more

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New Parrot Car Stereo Features iPod/iPhone Dock

by jessica on Tue, 2009-09-08 00:30

Parrot just announced a new car stereo with a dock for the iPod or iPhone, the Parrot RKi8400. The RKi8400 is an FM/AM RDS Bluetooth car stereo with a USB port, an SD Card reader, and offers hands-free phone functions. It has a cool little storage compartment located behind the removable front panel – perfect for hiding your iPhone or iPod when you leave the car (that is, if you don't take it with you).

"With the RKi8400, Parrot allows users to take advantage of the iPhone in car through a system that is easy to use and fully integrated in any vehicle," said Henri Seydoux, founder and CEO of Parrot. "All iPhone functions -- music, navigation of the music directory and playlists and Bluetooth phone capabilities -- have been adapted for in-car use. Parrot's application of its renowned acoustic quality and voice recognition capabilities to the iPhone is sure to please even the most discerning listeners."

The Parrot RKi8400 is available now for $399.99.