R2-D2 Webcam & VoIP Phone
November 26, 2007I got my Christmas edition of the Sharper Image catalog over the Black Friday/Thanksgiving weekend and saw some cool gadgets. One of my favorites was a 8" tall Star Wars R2-D2 droid that is a roving webcam transmitting real-time video to your computer with the camera atop R2-D2's dome. The video specs include 62 degree viewing angle, 628x582 resolution, and zoom in/out. Also part of the package is a full-scale light-saber that acts as a USB telephone with its built-in microphone.

It works with Skype and can automatically launch Skype with the 'S' button on the keypad (image right). Using the "Skype Saber" you can drive R2-D2 around, move the camera, take snapshots, and record video. R2-D2 can move forward, backward, left, and right and perform 360 spins. A sensor located on R2-D2's front leg detects desk or table ledges and automatically stops the droid from proceeding. The R2-D2 unit runs on 6 AA batteries and the light saber runs of 2 AA batteries - all batteries are included. This is perfect gift for Christmas for any VoIP & Gadget lovers. Oh wait, that's the name of this blog. Well I'll be damned - better add this to my Christmas list. It's $380 smackaroos, so if I do get this for Christmas, it'll have to be my "big" gift. Maybe I'll just get a unit for a VoIP & Gadgets blog review. Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket!In any event, if you want one, or want to give this to a gadget lover, then head on over to Hammacher Schlemmer and buy one.

Tom Keating

Source: tmcnet.com