toys

You don't even have to ask: Of course she has a pink laptop.

Earlier on Friday, toymaker Mattel announced the results of an online contest to name the profession that the latest edition of Barbie dolls would have, and ultimately two were named: alongside "News Anchor" was the popular-vote winner, "Computer Engineer Barbie." Yes, she has a Bluetooth headset, a pink laptop, a smartphone, and hot-pink glasses. Oh, and she wears sparkly black leggings and a neon green shirt patterned with binary code, the sort of outfit that was probably only acceptable among Burning Man attendees in the late 1990s who liked to talk about "cyberspace." Actually, judging by that outfit, a Pets.com sock puppet would make a great accessory for the new doll.

According to a release from Mattel, the unveiling of Computer Engineer Barbie--she'll hit stores this fall--coincides with "a year-long, global brand initiative to inspire girls of all ages." The social-media-centric "I Can Be" poll that pitted Computer Engineer and News Anchor alongside Surgeon, Architect, and Environmentalist (over half a million votes were cast) is a big part of some image repair for the iconic doll, which has often been decked by feminists for promoting unhealthy body image, materialism, conformity, and the pigeonholing of women into traditional roles.

Some of the other options in the "I Can Be" series that were already in stores at the time of the contest are "Ballerina," "Bride," and "Babysitter." Enough said. But, to be fair, the two newest entries are the 125th and 126th careers for Barbie throughout her five-decade history, so there have been some more interesting ones in the mix over the years: numerous U.S. military officers, astronauts, chefs, diplomats, and um, wedding stylists.

The fact that there is a "Computer Engineer Barbie" is notable not only because it's a legitimate new "professional" entry into the series, but especially because computer science is a field in which women continue to be dramatically underrepresented--way more so than among, say, news anchors or architects.

There are, obviously, two sides to this.… Read more

LEGO Photo is a free photo-manipulation app that automatically creates pointillist versions of your snapshots using virtual Lego blocks.

As with similar fun-with-photos apps, you can either use pictures from your device or you can snap a new pic from directly within the app. Once you choose (or take) a picture, the app spends a few seconds "Lego-izing" the image. You then tap the screen to see the transformed image, and then continue tapping to cycle through numerous different palettes, from primary colors to shades of gray. Once you're done, you can save your creation to your … Read more

We know you Android fans love your smartphones, be they the original T-Mobile G1 or the brand-new Nexus One. But putting up a poster of your phone is probably a little weird. Why not purchase an adorable Android mini collectible and display that instead?

This series of vinyl Android toys is made by artist Andrew Bell, and there are 12 different Android designs packed in blind-boxed cases of 16. Each mini Android is 3 inches tall and has arms and head that rotate. Dyzplastic will offer them later this month as well as specialty retailers. No word on pricing, but … Read more

Have hundreds of Facebook friends and still feel lonely and bored? Well, that's not new. What is new is the fact I probably have just what you want. It's a robotic penguin which, apart from being cute, can bring Facebook connections to life, quite literally.

About the size of a small chicken egg and taking the shape a penguin, the new device is called Pingo. It's an interactive electronic playmate that can move around your desk, express moods, respond to voice commands, sing songs, and read aloud e-mail messages, headlines, stock quotes, and weather.

Despite its little … Read more

With the holiday shopping season creeping up, you may have a child on your shopping list who longs for a special toy. However, you may worry that the toy you are considering is unsafe for your child and perhaps the environment. Thankfully, there are resources online that offer advice on which products may be unsafe to your child.

If you're a parent, this set of resources is definitely worth checking out.

Consumer Product Safety Commission There is probably no better place to go first when looking for safe children's toys than the U.S. government's Consumer Product Safety Commission page.

When you get to the CPSC site, you'll be able to search for all the recalls and issues that have arisen with toys. You can also see some of the most recent recalls by simply clicking on the appropriate month above the search box. In either case, the site lists all the recalls during the specified period, why it was recalled, and information on how to return the item. The site also features images of the products to help you determine if the toy you've purchased is of concern. Even better, you can follow the CPSC on Twitter or Facebook to receive updates on new recalls as they are announced. The CPSC Web site, while poorly designed, is a must-see for any parent.

GoodGuide If you're looking for data on what you should be providing your kids with, GoodGuide is the place to be.

GoodGuide offers a listing of healthy foods, household products, and toys that are suitable for children. GoodGuide's Toy section lists the level of lead, mercury, chlorine, and other harmful chemicals in the toy. Green means the toy doesn't have contain the respective harmful chemical, while red means that there are high levels of a chemical in a toy. You can also dig down into each listing to determine if the company that created the product has a good reputation. I was impressed by the number of toys GoodGuide offered. I think any parent will like GoodGuide.… Read more

Souptoys is a fun and imaginative game in which users manipulate all kinds of onscreen toys with delightful effects. In a world where violent children's games are all too common, Souptoys is refreshingly innocent and surprisingly fun.

Souptoys isn't a game as much as a set of onscreen toys, as is suggested by the fact that its components are kept in a virtual toy box. What will you find in the toy box? Anything you'd find in a real one: balls, stuffed animals, blocks, roller skates, and much more, plus a few things you probably wouldn't … Read more

Oh my awesome! If you're looking to turn your digital SLR into a toy camera, Lomography's new adapters for Diana F+ lenses let you do it for cheap. They were announced a few days ago, but that doesn't make them any less cool.

The $12 adapters are available for Canon EOS and Nikon F-series dSLRs and can be used with the Diana F+ Fisheye, Telephoto, Wide, Close-Up, and Super Wide lenses. Kits with an adapter and a lens can be purchased for between $50 to $60 depending on lens type.

The plastic lenses produce a large variety of creative effects, … Read more

Back at CES in January, there was some hype surrounding some new mind-control products that were due to arrive before the holiday season. Well, two of the more prominent ones, the Star Wars The Force Trainer and Mattel's Mindflex are now shipping.

While images of youngsters decked out in full Star Wars regalia, showing off their Jedi-like powers may seem rather amusing, the question remains whether telekinesis toys and games will become the next big thing--or not.

Both products require you to strap on a lightweight headset that contains sensors to measure your brainwave activity. Focus your concentration, and … Read more