Toy makers creating more iPod-friendly products

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Toy makers creating more iPod-friendly products

Following the success of iPod-friendly toys like the i-Dog and iZ, toy makers are releasing several new products aimed at iPod-toting pre-teens. The toys, being shown at this week’s American International Toy Fair trade expo, include electronic musical instruments, chairs with built-in speakers, and new interactive products.

Blue Box, known for its military toys and preschool products, is coming out with a line of Apple-like white electronic musical instruments that allow children to jam to music on their iPod. The toy collection includes a stage mike, mixer, drumsticks and guitar.

MGA Entertainment is releasing a new kid’s chair under its popular Bratz brand that doubles as an iPod speaker. The company is also introducing palm-sized Petz—a rabbit, pig, frog, and cat—that can be connected to an iPod and respond to the music by moving and lighting up.

Corgi has announced the iCar, a 1:24 scale model car that rocks to the music from your iPod. It’s available in two models—a Cadillac Escalade and a Nissan 240SX—and also features “colored lights that illuminate the wheel wells, rims, undercarriage, engine and trunk areas, and the high-quality speaker pumps out the sound.”

Spin Master has introduced two iPod-friendly toys—the iDrum and iMix. The toys are plastic cases for the iPod that also allow kids to enhance their tunes. The iDrum features a small drum pad on the back of the case, enabling a child to create beats and rhythms, while the iMix lets them create scratching DJ sounds over the music.

For those with younger children, Baby Einstein Co. has introduced a rocking chair that connects to an iPod, and Emerson Radio has an iPod-compatible SpongeBob SquarePants speaker system. And the list goes on. “The iPod is the No. 1 toy. My view is why fight them? Why not join them?” said Isaac Larian, chief executive of MGA.

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Comments

1

2005 - the year of the iPod
2006 - the year of the iPod accessory

Posted by Lester on February 14, 2006 at 7:44 AM (PDT)

2

So what crowd are they going after? How many of these things to they actually expect to sell? I just can’t see many children who are into toy cars having iPods. These all seemed to be aimed at children that in my opinion would be waaaay too young for an iPod. I didn’t start expanding my music collection until I was 11 or 12 and even then CDs were perfectly satisfactory. This seems pretty out there.

Posted by Werewolf on February 14, 2006 at 9:16 AM (PDT)

3

There are a lot of adults who collect toys and use these things and its cute to have the brand on useful objects. I think mainly adults and teens will buy these. Great idea for smaller toy brands to help keep up with the electronics craze too.

~*~
Bratz World
http://www.bratzworld.tv

Posted by sfb on February 14, 2006 at 9:26 AM (PDT)

4

Apparently 2010 is the year of the iCar. That is, if you believe the Corgi site.

http://www.corgi-usa.com/code/search_results.php?search=1&cat_search_id=icar

Posted by particleman on February 14, 2006 at 11:25 AM (PDT)

5

This thing is OK, but a little to “out there” for me. Im 12 and have had my nano for awhile but still, ear phones and a transmitter is fine in my opinon.
but a lawn mower with speakers would be nice.

Posted by LawnBoy on February 14, 2006 at 3:36 PM (PDT)

6

How would you hear the music over the lawnmower? You’d need some serious sound to be able to actually listen to your music. An iPod mount or holder for the lawnmower would be cool. Then all you’d need is some noise canceling earphones and you’d be all set.

Posted by Werewolf on February 14, 2006 at 8:18 PM (PDT)

7

...but a lawn mower with speakers would be nice

LOL. Spoken like a true lawn warrior. The alternator need to juice the power amps might eat up all your gasoline, though (heh); might have to cut down on the number of subs…

Posted by flatline response on February 15, 2006 at 12:23 PM (PDT)

8

It’s sad in this day and age how often I see something that could be described as “the dumbest thing ever”, but the iCar definitely fits the bill.

Posted by rainking187 on February 15, 2006 at 5:33 PM (PDT)

9

“the dumbest thing ever�?, but the iCar definitely fits the bill.

I know exactly what you mean. Like, who ever saw a thumpin’ Cadillac Escalator, even in toy form, without spinner wheels?!? Corgi, y’all should be ashamed.

Posted by flatline response on February 16, 2006 at 2:44 AM (PDT)

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