Lego MINDSTORMS have long been the subject of big geek love, giving us the ability to build and control our own robots. With EV3, they get even better for iOS users, since the control part can now be done with -- wait for it! -- our iPhones, iPads, and iPods.
There will be 17 models offered initially. The only bad news? It doesn't ship until later this year. We'll keep you updated, of course, and in the meantime Mobile Nations's own Ashley Esqueda braved snake bites and robot roulette at CES 2013 to capture the video proof above, so check it out.
Then let me know what kind of robot army... I mean, peaceful robot companions... you're going to build.
If you've ever watched the Transformers and wished you had one -- not a manual toy but an actual transforming model -- then stop reading and watch the video above. Done freaking out over the rolling out? Good.
During a visit to Boulder, Colorado and Colorado University, U.S. President Barack Obama had the chance to test drive a Sphero -- an iPhone controlled rolling robot. Obama first watches the Sphero roll around, remarking "how cool is that, you can make the ball do all kinds of stuff", before taking the iPhone and taking control of the robot himself. Surrounded by Secret Service -- and co-eds -- the President of the United States gave it a whirl, seemed to enjoy himself, and complimented the inventor, a Boulder native.
Should you pick up League of Evil 2? Only if you're a sucker for over 100 levels of punishment.
League of Evil 2 launched on iOS last week, making a big splash in the top 25. It's a pretty straightforward platform game with some smooth cortoon graphics. If there's one thing evil scientists hate more than irate lab monkeys and the pesky PETA people that inevitably follow, it's mercenaries with a cyborg arm and the singular goal of making them little more than a pile of gibs and goo.
Georgia and Ashley Esqueda talk Android Xoom 2, geek dating dos and don'ts, how to rock (and not rock) your BlackBerry, advice for celebrity sexters, iHelicopters and Whale Trail for iPhone and iPad, and the next creepy step towards robot apocalypse. This is Girls Gone Gadgets! [NSFW-L]
If you're not a fan of quasi-offensive Taiwanese 3D animated technology humour, then move right along. Otherwise, hit play after the break and enjoy some iPhone and iPad.
Xinhuanet reports that future iPads and iPhones might just be built by robots, that is if manufacturing giant Foxconn goes ahead with plans to replace workers with up to 1 million mechs:
[Foxconn] currently has 10,000 robots and the number will be increased to 300,000 next year and 1 million in three years, according to [Foxconn founder and chairman, Terry Gou].
Gou announced the robotics initiative during a company dance party, which presumably they'll have less of in the future. Unless, of course, they're replacing workers with dancing robots.
