Nikko's R2-D2 Skype callin' and media playin' oddities

It's hard to tell if this is some sort of elaborate hoax or just hasn't hit the wires yet, but a certain nikkor2d2.com purports to detail some rather decked RC R2-D2 bots, and who are we to stand in the way of awesome? Both bots look to be fully capable of rolling themselves around, and even feature edge detection sensors a la Roomba to keep from any nasty falls. But that's par for the course for RC-centric Nikko, what's much more interesting is the Skype and webcam functionality built into the R2-D2 C.S, thanks to a handy lightsaber remote that plugs into your PC and allows for wireless bot operation. The lightsaber seems to double as the Skype handset, and of course lightsaber sound effects are a given. R2-D2 M.E.S takes the Star Wars geekery to a whole new level, featuring a projector for repeat viewings of cute princesses in dire straits (you know, "help me Obi Whosit, you're my only yada yada"). R2 can even tilt back for ceiling projection, if that's more your style. In lieu of a lightsaber, you get an odd Millenium Falcon remote, and M.E.S Artoo houses a memory card slot, USB plug and iPod dock in addition to the usual DVD slot and video inputs that you'd expect for your video playback experience. We're completely in the dark when it comes to price and availability on these things, but perhaps we'll be spotting 'em this upcoming week in Vegas.

[Thanks, Erwin]

[Juicy @ Oct 11th 2008 2:06PM]

I got charged for the web cam and never received the r2d2 webcam. Nikko have not replied to several attempts to find out what the hell is happening. Plus the account i set up shows no orders made. Fucked!!

[body piercing @ Jan 17th 2009 11:50AM]

r2d2!

[jennylanny @ Jan 18th 2009 8:57AM]

this is great!

[rob @ Jan 6th 2007 11:10PM]

what happened to the main page?

and r2-d2 looks cool

[Matt @ Jan 6th 2007 11:13PM]

try scrolling down next time. ok?





http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/06/engadget-now-optimized-for-ces/

[Istrancis @ Jan 7th 2007 4:24PM]

@ Rob

The Engadget show has been optimized for CES, so that all the latest news from said Consumer Electronics Show can be brought to us in bitesized chunks for our enjoyment. If you don't like it, you can change it at the top of the main page.

Regular Engadget = http://www.engadget.com
CES Optimized Engadget = http://ces.engadget.com

Hope that clears it up!!!

Oh, and R2D2, W00T!!!! This is the motivation I need to get Skype!!!

[Jill Foster @ Jan 6th 2007 11:17PM]

This Star Wars gadgetry-Skype set indeed is The Awesome. If you see them in Vegas (and therefore price them), please share w/ us plebians absent from CES this year. Thanks and have fun this week.

[Shell @ Jan 6th 2007 11:25PM]

No offense but this really sounds like a waste of money. Regardless of functionality, the whole "R2-D2" setup kills it.

(P.S. check out my blog at http://blog.dotshell.net)

[kyle allen @ Jan 7th 2007 12:31AM]

holy cow!!! thats ausome!! does it have little rockets in its feet?

[Christian @ Jan 7th 2007 11:41PM]

I so want this! actually, not the skype one but the projector one!

[erwin @ Jan 10th 2007 4:15AM]

Not quite a hoax, Nikko shows the works on www.nikkor2d2.com