Toys

The 404 1,206: Where we pick our own product placement (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Bridget checks out the tech side of Toy Fair NY.

- "Disney Infinity" receives new "Monsters University" images.

- Ubooly is soft, squishy and smart thanks to the iPhone.

- Barbie gets a digital makeover at Toy Fair.

- Buy Griff's "Back to the Future II" hoverboard for $13,000.

- Microsoft's Xbox Entertainment Studio working on interactive TV.… Read more

Barbie gets digital makeover at Toy Fair

It's playtime for CNET Update:

When it comes to the tech at Toy Fair, Apple steals the spotlight. Many tech-related toys at the 2013 Toy Fair integrate with an iPad or iPhone. Mattel is diving into this growing trend with several toys that offer an augmented reality experience using iPad apps. But it also wouldn't be a Toy Fair without a few cool robots.

Toys featured in the video include:

- Tomy's BattroBorg: Players use Wii-like controllers to throw punches and wirelessly control the arms of tiny boxing robots. A robot will deactivate after five hits to … Read more

Buy Griff's 'Back to the Future' hoverboard for $13,000

Griff Tannen was a prototypical bully, he just happened to be in the future so he had advanced bullying tools at his disposal. Those implements included bionic implants and a "Pit Bull" hoverboard, which you can now buy on eBay.

In "Back to the Future Part II," Marty McFly rocked a good-guy hoverboard done up in friendly pink, green, and yellow colors. Griff's hoverboard, though, was the Darth Vader to McFly's Luke Skywalker. It was black and red and spiky all over with what looked like two little booster rockets below.… Read more

The 404 1,205: Where we paint by numbers (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Hacker exposes George Bush's family photos, portraits.

Wait, so PS4 won't have better graphics?

- J.J. Abrams may direct a Portal and/or Half-Life movie!

- Snow panic has driven Weather.com completely insane.

- Patent troll says he owns "podcasting," sues Adam Corolla, HowStuffWorks.… Read more

The 404 1,204: Where we're BioShocked by space rocks (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Clouds and strife: Building the world of BioShock Infinite.

- The bootleg games of Nairobi's Diamond Plaza.

- Leaked video appears to reveal Google's touch Chromebook.

- Someone forgot to pay their bill at MichelinGuides.com, now Michel in Guides.

- The FBI's official tips to avoid being sexually extorted online.… Read more

The 404 1,203: Where we do not pass Go (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Hasbro let the Internet choose the new Monopoly token and this is what they picked.

- Pebble watch gets growing pains.

- USPS to stop Saturday mail delivery.

- "Walkie Talkies" are shoes you can use as phones.

- Beyonce's publicist desperately wants these removed from the Internet.… Read more

Monopoly fans diss robot, choose cat as new token

Ladies and gentlemen, the iron has left the building.

Or rather, the board. In the biggest shakeup of the classic board game Monopoly since Monopoly Live, the iron has gone straight to jail and it won't be getting a release card.

In a reality TV-like vote by Monopoly fans around the world to choose a new token, the iron proved the least popular, garnering support of only 7.6 percent.

Players voted on Facebook for a replacement among five proposed tokens: a robot, a helicopter, a guitar, a diamond ring, and a cat. … Read more