Homestar EXTRA from Sega Toys coming soon

What we first reported on as the Homestar EX has now become the Homestar EXTRA, and now we have a better idea as to what’s inside this major upgrade in the best-selling home planetarium series from Sega Toys.

While the other Homestar models are basically for home use only, the EXTRA is not made to replace the current Homestar Pro (shop link). Instead it’s being marketed to fashionable bars, hotels, schools, and upscale customers as a new model for more professional purposes.

Improved features include 5 times the illumination of the Homestar Pro, making it possible to use with dim room lighting, and a multifunction remote control. The shooting star function, once only random in timing, is now random in placement as well.

Also using large Star Discs, the Homestar EXTRA projects from 45,000 to over 120,000 stars and clusters compared to 10,000 for the Homestar Pro. Of course, the size is considerably larger as can be seen in the comparison photo, but the resulting projections are a marked improvement and a new landmark in planetariums for the average star gazer.

Photo from IT Media

Unfortunately, it looks like we’re going to be waiting a little while as well. The Homestar Extra will be released in December of this year for about $7-800 dollars and sold only in Japan, but will surely be available for import from day one.

Tags: gadgets, Homestar, Lifestyle, Sega Toys
Category: Technology & Gadget Trends
Other categories: Marketing & Ad Trends, Fashion & Lifestyle Trends, Press coverage

iDog Clip from Sega Toys dances with you

It’s been some time since the iDog from Sega Toys debuted in Japan. In fact, it was one of the original products in this new age of digital lifestyle goods coming out of the Japanese market, and set the stage for what has been several years of fun and weird gadgets. iDog Clip is no exception.

iDog Clip is just what it sounds like: The ear-dancing and LED light-displaying canine (head anyway) clips to your shirt or bag to beat to the music wherever you go. Just plug it into your music player, and you can get the sound directly through the built-in speaker. The best feature is that you can also plug in your headphones as well, eliminating the speaker sound, but keeping the motion as you listen to whatever it is you kids are listening to these days.

Product page

Tags: iDog, iDog Clip, Lifestyle, music, Sega Toys, Toys
Category: Technology & Gadget Trends
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HomeStar Spa planetarium from Sega Toys

UPDATE#2: JapanTrendShop now carries the Homestar Spa.

UPDATE: The even newer Homestar EX!

It’s been awhile, but we’re finally getting a nice update to the immensely popular Homestar “Home Planetarium” series from Sega Toys.

After the original Homestar became so popular, the much-improved Homestar Pro and the portable Homestar Pure hit the market. However, aside from some special editions, there hasn’t been an update in over a year.

Coming soon, the Homestar Spa is a home planetarium for your bathroom!

Homestar Spa is combining elements of popular ambient and bath toys for adults (JapanTrendShop has tons), with waterproof design and additional projection elements such as “flowers” and “kaleidoscope“.

While not yet out on the market, HomeStar Spa will be debuting at the upcoming Tokyo Toy Show, and we’ll be there as always for in-depth coverage of this year’s latest gadgets and toys, including plenty of photos and video.

Tags: Homestar, Homestar Spa, lighting, Planetariums, Sega Toys, Tokyo Toy Show, Toys
Category: Technology & Gadget Trends
Other categories: Marketing & Ad Trends, Fashion & Lifestyle Trends, Press coverage

Music Robot ODO from Sega Toys

In the wake of the Sony Rolly, the original iPod dock on wheels Miuro from ZMP has collaborated with Sega Toys to produce Music Robot ODO, a Miuro-like speaker robot that costs significantly less than the original but still bumps out the tunes.

Music Robot ODO doesn’t have the wireless LAN or camera features of the Miuro (among other missing features), but at a tenth of the Miuro’s over $1000 price it’s hard to complain. The LCD screen in the front changes the “emotion” of ODO as it dances along to the tempo of the music, and the remote control gives motion control as well so you can drive it into a loved ones room while playing Never gonna give you up. It’s a rolling Rickroll for the masses!

Check out the demo video…

via AFPBB News

Tags: iPod, Miuro, Sega Toys
Category: Technology & Gadget Trends
Other categories: Marketing & Ad Trends, Fashion & Lifestyle Trends, Press coverage