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FREE TO FLY Amphibious Radio Control 4WD Car review

REVIEW – The FREE TO FLY Amphibious Radio Control 4WD Car is not your typical radio-controlled car, it’s a radio-controlled boat too. That’s what caught my eye and was the reason I had to try it out. And was it worth it? You bet! This car was totally fun to play with and seems to be pretty well made. It does actually drive on water, believe it or not. Will it last? Who knows, but it will be a blast to play with until then!

What is it?

The FREE TO FLY Amphibious Radio Control 4WD Car-Boat-Truck is a radio-controlled car (or boat or truck) with very large wheels that has full function controls (but no brakes), including 360 rotation, and drives on many different types of terrain. It is waterproof and will drive on the water. 

What’s in the box?

  • Amphibious 4WD Radio-Controlled Car
  • Remote Control
  • USB Charging Cable
  • Operating Instructions
  • 6 V/700 mAh Nickel-Cadmium Battery
  • Screwdriver

Hardware specs

  • Waterproof
  • 2.4Ghz Anti-Interference Frequency Remote Technology
  • 6 V/700 mAh Nickel-Cadmium battery – 2 hours charging time will power the car for more than 20 minutes

Design and features

The FREE TO FLY Amphibious Radio Control 4WD Car-Boat-Truck has a pretty cool-looking design, is made of plastic, and has large wheels that have a rubber track for gripping the surface. The wheels are large enough to let the car flip over and drive upside down. The car comes in green, blue, or red.

The top of the car has a fluorescent green silicone On/Off button as shown above. There is also an LED indicator light (the small white circle behind the On/Off button which is actually a silicone covering for the light). The battery compartment is located on the bottom of the car and is watertight. There are also drain ports to allow water to be removed (the green circular silicone plugs seen on the body of the car in the photo above).


The remote control unit is a gun-type design where the trigger is the accelerator. There is a red On/Off switch located on the left side of the remote control (shown in the first photo above) and a red LED indicator light on the right side of the remote (shown in the second photo above).

When both the car and the remote are powered on, pulling the trigger allows you to drive the car forward and pushing the trigger out allows you to drive in reverse. A turn knob is located on the right side of the remote that allows you to steer the car to the right or left. The remote control needs two AA batteries which do NOT come with the car.

The car requires a nickel-cadmium battery that DOES come with the car. You first need to remove the screws of the battery compartment located on the bottom of the car, connect the battery to the connector inside the compartment, lay the battery flat inside the compartment, then screw the battery cover back on.

Immediately, I could see that recharging the batteries would be a pain – requiring me to open the battery compartment, disconnect the battery, connect the battery to the other end of the USB charging cable, then find a USB charging port to charge the battery. The nickel-cadmium battery is a 6.0 V/700 mAh battery. You can also see in the above photo that there is a silicone ring around the battery compartment to make it watertight.

Performance

We had absolutely no difficulty with any of the controls. Every control feature worked as designed. The car is fairly easy to control, although it took some practice to get the hang of it. I first tried it inside our house, which was a bit difficult since the car goes so fast that it is easy to run out of space. It is much easier outside on a street where there is plenty of space.

This car moves pretty fast (we didn’t confirm the speed, but the specs say 16 mph).

When you hold the trigger down the car moves very fast in either the forward or reverse direction (with all four wheels turning), depending on which way you pull or push the trigger. Given the way the car is designed (the front of the car looks very similar to the back of the car), it is sometimes difficult to tell which is forward or reverse. There also isn’t any way to adjust the speed. It either moves at full speed or not at all.

Brakes aren’t really needed since the car comes to a stop fairly quickly when the trigger is released. As the car is moving, the turning knob on the remote control will allow turning, and as long as there is adequate space. When turning the car this way, the controller stops the wheels from spinning on one side, and since the car is moving very fast, it will turn fairly quickly. The turn knob spring-returns to the center position when you let go of it, and does not provide precision steering control. It is more like a three position switch where it is either in the left position (only right side wheels are spinning), center position (all wheels are spinning), or right position (only left side wheels are spinning).

If the accelerator trigger is not pulled or pushed, then turning the turn knob causes the car to spin in a circle very vast (one set of wheels is going forward and the other set is going in reverse). It was fun to make the car spin like this, but it isn’t a very effective method of picking a direction of travel since it spins so very fast. I found it difficult to get the car aligned using this method.

The car drives best on hard surfaces but has some trouble in taller grass and would get stuck if the grass was too tall as shown in the video above. It also had some trouble climbing up a pile of dirt, mostly because of the uneven surface and the fact that the car has no speed control. It would very quickly veer to one side based on the slope and it was difficult to correct it before it tumbled off the pile. We also tried a pile of rocks, and it did okay but not great. This car is definitely best for flat surfaces, and maybe some gently sloping terrain, but not much else beyond that.

One thing the car will do is climb up a wall and then flip over. It is just as easy to control the car when it is driving upside down as it is right-side up.

We took the car to our community pool and drove it off the edge and into the water. It performed well in the pool. The wheels have integral paddles that allow it to move fairly well in the water, and the steering controls worked also.

Given the fact that we live in Texas and it is August, we were not able to test the car out on the snow. Bummer.

The car ran for about 15 minutes before the battery needed to be charged and it took about three hours to charge the battery.  This doesn’t quite meet the documented specifications.

What I like

  • The FREE TO FLY Amphibious Radio Control 4WD Car is fun to drive on large flat surfaces and even more fun to drive in water.
  • The car is reasonably well made and isn’t too difficult to control, as long as you have adequate space.

What I’d change

  • I’d prefer more precise throttle control (instead of just go or stop) so it could be driven at a slower speed. This would make it easier to control and might even help it to drive better on rough terrain.
  • It would be better to be able to charge the battery without having to remove it from the car.

Final thoughts

The FREE TO FLY Amphibious Radio Control 4WD Car is very fun to drive around and even more fun to drive in the water. The controls worked well once I got the hang of the turning knob on the remote control. However, the battery only works for about 15 minutes or so before needing to charge and charging the battery takes about three hours. Charging is also a pain since you have to remove the battery from the car and connect it to a charging cable. For some of you, this may be a deal-breaker, however, if you don’t mind this, the car is really fun to play with especially in water and seems fairly well made.

Price: $39.98
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by FREE TO FLY.

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FREE TO FLY Amphibious Radio Control 4WD Car review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 5, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Speks magnetic desk toys review

REVIEW – Who doesn’t like having fun at work? Our friends at Spek deal in magnet-based desk toys that you can use to get your creative juices flowing, and have a bit of fun while you’re at it. Take a break. It’s time to play. We’re gonna make stuff! To the review!

What is it?

They’re magnetized spheres, blocks, and other shapes that you use to build, create, and fidget at your desk.

What’s in the box?

I’ve got a whole collection of goodies from Speks in my sample kit:

  • 3 packs of the “classic” Speks 2.5 mm magnet balls in different colors.
  • A pack of Super 33 mm magnet balls.
  • A pack of Unblocks magnetic blocks.

Design and features

Spek makes what I like to call “thinking toys.” They’re things to play with while you’re musing on big creative thoughts, pondering important business-type stuff, or just taking a break from all that thinking. These are toys that allow your hands to build and create while the mind wanders off to do more important things.

One of the great things about Speks is how the whole packaging sets the tone for fun from the get-go. You’ll find whimsical little notes on the packaging, a fun little instruction books, and some secret surprises (like stickers) in each pack. I’ll point those out as we go through the review.

The original product are the namesake Speks — a collection of 512 2.5 mm spheres made with rare earth magnets. Your basic kit includes a guidebook, a storage box, a card splitter, and a stand. They’re available in dozens of styles and colors. The pic below is of the Luxe Silver set I got in my test kit.

Here’s the stand in action, with the Cherry Pop Speks from the Duotone collection. It’s a mix of red and pink metallic spheres. You can mash up the spheres in any shape you like and they’ll stick to that stand so that you can show off your creation.

If you’re seeking ideas for what to do with your Speks, the instruction guide provides some sample models you can make. I’m showing it here with the Sky Blue Speks from the Matte collection. There are so many styles to choose from, you’ll be able to find the perfect set to match your office motif.

Now… what to do with all of these little balls of fun? Besides mashing them into shapes, you can create structured forms and sculptures. I laid out those silver Speks on my desk end to end, and came up with a thread 50 inches long.

Then I started forming a flat hexagonal shape. Check out the shiny prettiness. It’s a might trickier to put together than you would think, because all of those little magnetic spheres just want to glom together. But patience brings calm, and calm brings rewards. Observe!

That splitter card helps you to break apart the Speks when you want to change up your creation. You use it to cut into the shape, to split or divide your creation however you like.

I peeled off a slice and folded it back to create a second layer. If you lose patience with geometric forms the whole thing can be mashed and shaped like a bit of clay, too.

You can also extend your build into 3D structures. Tubes, little boxes, helixes… here I turned my blue Speks into a snappy bracelet. With the stand, you can create free-standing figures or shapes as well.

The classic Speks tend to be more of an open-form kind of toy. If you’re the more structured type, fear not! Spek has you covered with a set a more traditional building-block set in the Unblocks collection. Each set comes with two long pieces and two corner pieces, all magnetized to connect as you build your structures.

Did you see that cool little set of stickers? Those were the surprise bits I was talking about. They look great on the back of your Macbook, by the way.

Spek makes these Unblock kits in 8 different colorways, each one featuring two block tones. You could add more kits to your set to build more advanced structures. I’d probably go for two or three sets to start with to expand my options.

If you’re looking for something that’s more of a fidget tool to keep your hand occupied while you’re on that conference call, you can check out the Supers! These are 33 mm versions of the classic Speks, sold in a three-pack. You can get them in gunmetal, gold, or a color called “oil slick” that I have here.

They’re lovely to look at, aren’t they? All that oozy, shiny, colorful goodness. They come with their own stand for display, and those strong magnets allow you to use them to attach stuff if you like. You could use them as a business card holder, or a place to keep those pesky gator clips from wandering off. Sit down, gator clips. You’re not going anywhere.

My favorite use for these, however, is much like those Chinese meditation/stress balls. Just roll them around in your hands while you’re pondering the imponderables.

Like Chinese meditation balls, I’m also finding them to be very useful for exercising my hands. Those strong magnets make for some work if you try to separate them. While they are not sold as such, I’m finding them to be great for building hand strength and coordination.

Ain’t that fun?

You’ll find more options on the Speks web site, too. The classic Speks come in 1000 piece starter sets if you need more to play with, and there’s a fancy display stand available if you want to show off our creations. There’s also a set called the Fleks that consists of rubbery silicone shapes (rods, wishbones, and X-shapes) that you can bend and connect to each other. I need to get my hands on that one.

Two final notes about safety. These are magnetized toys, so you’ll want to be careful around devices that aren’t shielded. Also, these are adult-oriented playthings that present a swallowing risk to children (and pets), so keep them away from your little ones.

What I like

  • Fun & addicting to play with.
  • Wide range of brilliant colors and styles available.
  • Brain toys to fit every personality type.

What I’d change

  • Not a con, but a reminder: these are adult playthings, and not safe for children and pets.

Final thoughts

We’ve been having a blast with the Spek desk toys. I like to bring them out for creative meetings, conference calls, and thinking sessions as a tool to get the brain juices a-flowin’. Just make sure you have enough for everyone. Some of them may not make it back to your desk at the end of the day.

Price: Prices vary depending on the set, starting at $14.95.
Where to buy: Go to the Speks web site. Also available on Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Speks.

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Speks magnetic desk toys review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 4, 2019 at 10:00 am.

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Wodtoizi RC Robot Dinosaur review


REVIEW – I remember the days when many toys were wooden and any electronic toys were a rare and amazing gift. These days, almost every toy is technology based and many are interactive. I love the way my kids interact with interactive devices designed for kids, and I was so happy when I got a chance to take a look at the Wodtoizi RC Robot Dinosaur.

What is it?

The Wodtoizi RC Robot Dinosaur is a remote-controlled Dinosaur toy that works via a variety of commands and instructions. The remote control works up to 33 feet away, and the experience includes several interactive functions and features. It features a rechargeable battery and is made from non-toxic ABS plastic that is odorless and phthalate-free. The toy is recommended for ages 7+.

What’s in the box


1 x Wodtoizi RC Robot Dinosaur
1 x Plastic Rockets
1 x USB Charging Cable
1 x Water Bottle
1 x Remote Control
1 x User Guide

Design and features

I don’t usually mention the packaging in this section of a review, but I have this time because this Dinosaur robot comes in an attractively designed box that would immediately catch the eye of most children.


All over the head and body of the Dinosaur, there are horns that light up.


On the top near the back of the Dinosaur, there is the rocket launcher mechanism as shown below.




Underneath the Dinosaur, there are the wheels that allow it to move, and there is the battery compartment that holds the rechargeable battery. On the bottom left, you can also see the power switch.


There is a remote control that is included that has buttons for all of the functions including the fire breathing, directional control, the voice, and music controls, the rocket launcher, etc.

Performance

In order for the Dinosaur robot to work, you first need to install batteries in the remote control and remove and charge the rechargeable battery that comes contained in the battery compartment at the bottom of the toy. Since there is no external USB charging port on the Dinosaur itself, you have to use a screwdriver to open the battery compartment and remove the battery, and then connect the supplied charging cable that plugs into a USB power source for charging. The battery compartment of the remote control is also held in place by a screw, but the remote uses conventional AAA batteries.

Once everything is charged, you then want to use the supplied “water bottle” to put some water in the designated reservoir on the top of the dinosaur. This is what creates the mist for the fire breathing feature. See below:


Once you have filled up the water, you are now ready to play with and interact with the Dinosaur. The remote control does not have an on/off button so you just need to turn on the on/off switch that is underneath the toy.
Here are some videos of its activity:

The robot toy has many modes including Battle mode, fire breathing modes, story mode, song mode, dance mode, etc.

My kids are younger than 7 years old, and I made the decision not to let them play with the rocket/missile launcher feature. The projectiles insert into the launcher and click into a spring-loaded mechanism. The projectile does release with a good amount of force that I feel can hurt a child and even an adult if it hits them in their eye. Otherwise, the rest of the features are fun for them.

What I like

  • The attractive design
  • The functions and features

What I’d change

  • The construction seems a bit fragile for an energetic child
  • A built-in charging port that does not require you to unscrew the battery cover and detach the battery each time to charge.

Final thoughts

The Wodtoizi RC Robot Dinosaur is an attractive toy with entertaining features. It is marketed as an educational toy, and while it does include interactive capabilities, it is still more like a toy. The manufacturer indicates that it is appropriate for ages 7+, and I would agree mostly because the projectiles that it fires could potentially hurt someone given the velocity. Nevertheless, it is a nice toy and for the price, it is worth it for the joy a kid will get from playing with it.

Price: $49.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Wodtoizi.

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Wodtoizi RC Robot Dinosaur review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 6, 2019 at 10:30 am.

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Aroundsquare skill toys review

REVIEW – If you thought the fidget spinner craze was over and done with, you would be wrong. There’s a whole world of fidget toys out there and Aroundsquare is a company offering a variety of them. Let’s check them out.

What is it?

Fidget toys are usually small items that you can hold in your hand to twirl, spin, flick, and click. What’s the point? Does there have to be one? Seriously though, fidget toys can be stress relievers, focus enhancers, and even dexterity improvers. But above all, fidget toys are fun.

Fidget toys from Aroundsquare include begleri, knucklebones, deadeye contact coins, monkey knuckles, cardistry cards, and more. Aroundsquare sent me a Begleri, knucklebones, and deadeyes.

Deadeye Contact Coins

Deadeyes are specially designed disks that are made of Delrin or a variety of metals that include stainless steel, copper, brass, and titanium. They come in two sizes and different finish styles and are concave on both sides which creates a ridge around the edge that lends itself to really cool manipulation.

Check out the video below for just a small taste of what you can accomplish with Deadeyes if you put the time into learning how to work with them.

I love the feel of the Deadeyes coins between my fingers. They are heavy and smooth. Of the three toys sent to me, I think this is the one that I can learn to “juggle” first. I can almost do the coin spinning on the fingertip trick shown in the video above, but I’m nowhere near as smooth as the performer. Of course, that’s what practice is for right?

Price: $9.00 – $55.00 depending on material and finish

Knucklebones

Knucklebones are dumbbell shaped toys that you can roll and weave between your fingers. Like Deadeyes, Aroundsquare’s Knucklebones are available in a lot of different materials that include wood, titanium, steel, Delrin, brass, aluminum, and acrylic. They even make a modular version like the one shown above that has removal/replaceable ends and center sections.

I like playing with the Knucklebones because it’s something you can do without really paying attention to what you’re doing. You don’t have to look at your hand as you’re twirling it between your fingers. It’s a soothing kind of feeling playing with them.

I will say that although I love the look of the metal one shown in my hand in the picture above, it’s heavy and if you drop it, it makes a LOUD sound on a hardwood floor. So I prefer actually playing with the wooden one they sent me which is much lighter weight.

Price: $20 – $300 depending on the material and finish

Begleri

This is the one toy you’ve probably already seen before. It’s a Begleri and is basically two beads attached with a cord. This is a Greek skill toy that you can twirl, sling, and fling between your fingers almost like a tiny yoyo. And like the other toys, Aroundsquare offers a crazy cool variety of beads to choose from that are made of the same materials as their other toys including Delrin, steel, titanium, steel, acrylic, and more.

Of all the toys they sent, I would say that this one has been the hardest for me to get the hang of to do any trick so far. I really want to get decent at it though because just watching Aroundsquare’s video tutorials is mesmerizing.

Price: $10 – up

What I like

  • Stress reliever
  • Fun and addictive
  • Good for your brain and your fingers

What needs to be improved

  • Get more in stock

Final thoughts

Fidget toys are fun, but these toys from Aroundsquare are a cut above fidget spinners because they are actual skill toys. You can’t just pick them up and expect to be awesome with them from day one. It takes a lot of practice and that’s what makes them fun and frustrating and fun and maddening and fun. They will help with finger dexterity and will even exercise your brain in order to learn new moves.

If you’ve been looking for a new hobby or skill, the toys from Aroundsquare are awesome both in the way they are made, look and feel, and what you can do with them.

Price: Varies, see above
Where to buy: Aroundsquare and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Aroundsquare.

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Aroundsquare skill toys review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 20, 2019 at 10:30 am.

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Slow, low-res images with Etch-A-Snap concept

NEWS – Ever wanted to take a detailed, beautiful photograph and scale it down to a 1-bit black and white 244 x 144 pixel low-resolution image?  Me neither. But someone did and created Etch-A-Snap.

Etch-A-Snap is controlled by a Raspberry Pi processor.  It takes a regular image and then downscales it to one-bit black and white.  The processor then converts the image into plotter control commands that are fed to gears used to drive the knobs on a small Etch-A-Sketch.  Images are definitely low-resolution, but the tech behind it all is pretty cool. All this takes time – 15 minutes up to an hour – to get results.  Still, as the inventor says, it’s faster than film!

Here is a video showing how it works.

It isn’t for sale and is just a concept project for the moment. For more information and additional sample image videos, visit the Etch-A-Snap project page here.

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Slow, low-res images with Etch-A-Snap concept originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 16, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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