Crave

(Credit: CScoutJapan)

The theremin may well be our favorite musical instrument here at Crave. We know that's certainly the case with Tim Moynihan, anyway. So in honor of him and his robot musicians, today we offer this rather bizarre variation called the "Matryomin," named after the Russian Matryoska dolls by Japanese "master thereminist" Masami Takeuchi. Gizmowatch says the instrument made by Mandarin Electron--which is basically a theremin stuffed inside one of the dolls--yields "both electric and eclectic sounds" and lends the impression that the wooden toy is "singing to the touch of the player." All of this seems more than a little weird to us, in a Chucky sort of way, especially after watching it in action in the video below. We'll it up to Tim to sort it all out for us.

(Credit: USB Geek)

As much as we liked the "Happy Kid" and "Bubble Head" Webcams, this one has gone too far. The oddly named "GeekPark" USB Webcam (a play on South Park?) is basically the Cabbage Patch equivalent of computer peripherals. The pint-sized dolls have adjustable heads, legs and arms, as well as a camera lense embedded in their torsos.

Perhaps the strangest thing of all is their individual names--"Ms. B," "Mr. G," et al--which are remind us of "Mr. Pink" and "Mr. Brown" from Reservoir Dogs. Which is doubly disturbing, given that these cam-toys look like innocent little Playmobil figures. Something tells us we're giving this way too much thought.

Throw away those beanie babies; they are old news. There is a new sheriff in munchkin town.

Webkinz.com is a Web site children can join and interact in an online society while adopting a physical representation of the pet. The catch is that a Webkinz stuffed animal must be purchased first, followed by entering the "secret code" found on an attached tag. The cute plush toys have been quite popular, grossing over $45 million last year for Canadian gift company Ganz, the creators of Webkinz. Like its TY Beanie-Baby predecessor, Webkinz also has a high collection value, with each one selling from $12 to thousands of dollars at online retailers.

What makes Webkinz different from any other toy is its relation to the online universe. Here are the top five features that differentiate this virtual toy from the typical Mr. Potato Head:

1. Love is for sale: Turns out what mom said was bogus. On Webkinz, the user can buy love. Every time the Webkinz owner logs in, the pet communicates by using thought bubbles, most often loaded with positive comments. If you feed or nurture the pet in some way, it will most likely send a virtual heart or utter something sweet.

2. "Kinz cash": Each Webkinz account starts with 2000 "Kinz cash." This can go fast since the Webkinz and Curio shop offer fantastic virtual retail therapy, from marshmallows to cute furniture for the pets room. Kinz cash can be acquired by playing enjoyable arcade games.

3. Will work for food: Another way to bring home the bacon is by getting a job. Players can flip burgers at the Webkinz burger joint, paint a fence, sell shoes, or be a health assistant to Dr. Quack. These interactive games are fun and require exercise.

4. Free health care: In this country's administration, universal health care is unlikely. Lucky for Webkinz users, Dr. Quack's clinic has free office visits and all Kinz are welcome. He does a pretty good job of assessing what may be wrong with any under-the-weather pet.

5. Cautious chatting: Ganz ensures a safe environment for children by setting a few parameters--all safety measures, according the Webkinz.com. First, kids can chat only with designated friends and cannot add someone who is unknown. Second, a number of the chat forms are premade templates. Finally, children cannot type any numbers, preventing the exchange of personal information.

For more about the personal experience with Webkinz.com, read the CNET News.com Reporter's Notebook on Webkinz.com.

(Credit: Techie Diva)

The only thing surprising about this product is that it didn't come out sooner. After all, even though Barbie is well into middle age (she turned 48 in March), she remains one of the most popular toys in the world.

So it's fitting that Mattel bring this enduring icon into the digital age the "Barbie Girl MP3" player for another generation of tween consumers that marketers covet so much. Not only will the $60 doll-slash-player hold at least 512MB worth of Hilary Duff's greatest hits, but Techie Diva says it also continues to the Barbie dress-up tradition with a set of accessories for another $10. Can a Ken GPS device be far off?

In the '80s, it was the Cabbage Patch doll. In the 1990s, Beanie Babies.

What better toy to rule the millennium age than with a social-networking stuffed animal? A relatively Web-savvy concept by gift company Ganz, these plushies hope to usher in elementary-level children into the Web 2.0 realm.

Love Puppy: would you buy me for $100?

(Credit: Ganz)

Webkinz--stuffed animals that also live virtually through avatars that interact with others in their own online world--have become increasingly popular since their introduction in 2005. Like Beanie Babies, certain they're available for a only limited time, then retired. On eBay, the retired Webkinz Cheeky Pet Dog and Cat are at a whopping starting bid of $3,000. On Amazon, the seasonal Love Puppy is selling for $99. But if you peruse a card shop in your area that carried Ganz toys, you may be able to score a non-seasonal or retired Webkinz for the relative bargain of just $12.

"Actually, a lady before you came in and purchased nearly 100 of the Webkinz," Jean Amirbagheri, manager of a Carlton Cards store in San Francisco, told us. "They've been really popular for events where a bunch of kids get together, like Easter, church functions and birthday parties."

An eBay search for Beanie Babies turned up an auction for 450-plus retired beanies, buddies and teenies for a starting bid of $2,500. An entire case of Cabbage Patch Dolls (six in all) are going for $150, while two "classic" cabbages selling for $2,000.

Will Webkinz retain their value-ad allure? The answer is as clear as the stock market.

(Credit: Gearfuse)

The only question we have about this item is why it's carried on sites with names like Stupidiotic and Fashionfunky--both of which imply something pejorative or embarrassing.

We, by contrast, freely admit that we love the idea of these "Laser Scissors," which Gearfuse says ensures a straight cut every time. The scissors project a laser from Point A to Point B, obviating the need for rulers and faint pencil lines.

Lest there be any doubt about the value of such an invention, just ask any parent who has volunteered to help out in their kids' preschool or kindergarten classes. It's a life-saver.

(Credit: Bumbi)

The "Never-miss-me-again" doll is so creepy, it makes Teddy Ruxpin seem like a Care Bear.

If you must, Popgadget says that Swiss company Bumbi has these dolls with slots for a photo of any face you like. There is also a recording device that allows the wool doll to carry a message recorded in your voice.

(Credit: Mattel)

I haven't checked in with Barbie since I was about 10, but apparently a lot has happened since then. Barbie's sartorial choices notwithstanding (satin halter tops?), the fact is, she's getting kind of geeky.

At the American International Toy Fair going on this week in New York, Mattel introduced a Barbie that connects to an MP3 player and can sing the songs that are playing AND answer the phone. OK, the Chat Divas Barbie Doll doesn't actually sing, she lip syncs and dances to the music. But when the phone rings, you can hold the receiver up to her ear and she'll "answer" the phone.

As one fellow Craver noted, the gadget-toting angle is a cute idea, but there are plenty of songs that should never come out of Barbie's mouth. For instance, I think hearing my favorite childhood toy belting out any Pussycat Dolls song might scar me permanently.