Still haven’t found a gift for that one person who has everything? Well look no further because no Christmas tree is complete without a remote control robot underneath it, now is it?
Ollie by Sphero is definitely one of the coolest items I’ve come across this year, and possibly one of the most fun for adults and kids alike making it perfect for just about anyone.
I have to say when I was first approached to review Ollie I was a little apprehensive. I mean, yeah, I’m a techie, but robots and remote controls… that is something else entirely. I was pleasantly surprised though to find that it is easy enough for just about anyone to pick up and play. There is nothing complicated and although there is definitely a learning curve as far as learning to control Ollie, this is something many will master easily. Just like a video game, but in the physical world.
Ollie is controlled via a free app that is available for both IOS and Android just like a video game. Moving is easy, but like I said moving with control is a little more difficult. I found early on through the walk through that flipping your smartphone or tablet would turn on trick mode which is basically my favourite thing ever. Ollie is so easy to get started with. Simply attach the hubcaps, charge Ollie via microUSB, then start up the app on your device, and once connected to Ollie you are set to go for a full hour of continuous play before needing to recharge.
Ollie connects to your device using Bluetooth LE which means you have 30-meters of wireless connectivity which is handy since Ollie is capable of speeds up to 22.5 km/h.
You can make Ollie spin, flip, drift, jump and perform mid-air tricks, plus the smartphone app rewards players with points, based on the difficulty and execution of the trick performed. Tricks are as easy to perform as swiping your finger across the trick pad but to pull off tricks like flipping you need to be able to pull off moves like steering Ollie towards a ramp. I’m not quite there yet, but I’m really good at making Ollie spin which in turn delights my two little girls. 😉 (Check out the video below!)
Speaking of my girls, Ollie is shock resistant, something I appreciate since my 2 year old insists on chasing after it, picking it up, shoving it around, and everything else while shouting “Mommy’s O-bot!”.
Ollie can be played with inside or outside – it also comes with a set of rubbery tires for added traction when outside. Since it’s winter I haven’t tested out the outdoor function but you can youtube Ollie and check out the performance in outdoor conditions for yourself.
Beyond gaming and the moves pre-programmed into Ollie, Sphero has developed a suite of apps that allow anyone, even young kids, to program new moves, tricks and more using either code or simple visual commands. The free apps also come with lesson plans and resources to help teach programming in a fun way for all levels.
Ollie is such a fun toy to own, and I can’t imagine someone not enjoying it. Even if you think controlling this little robot will be too hard, you think you are too old for toys… nope. I can guarantee a few minutes of playing around with Ollie and you will be completely hooked too.
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He is cool I would find it fun too
I can see hours of fun with this device !!
Ollie looks like it would be a lot of fun for the entire family.
We have an original Sphero back from when they were in funding phases. I definitely want an Ollie- these are the sort of toys the whole family enjoys tinkering with!
My son would have fun with this for hours!! This year we’ve already gotten all his gifts wrapped and under the tree, but his birthday is coming.
This looks like such fun. I bet it would be loved in our house. My older kiddos love stuff like this, and I think it would be neat to have!
This looks like fun. I can see this becoming addictive very fast.
This is so cool! My kids would love this. I would, too!
That thing is so cool! Sphero is my new gadget love. I need to get my hands on an Ollie.
Oh, technology. I remember when remote controlled vehicles had huge antennas and even bigger controllers. Now the controls are on our phones!
This looks like a very cool toy. I think my tech geek son would love it.
I can definitely see myself being entertained by Ollie! I just wonder if I would share well with the kids? Ha!
Oh, my son would LOVE this. I can see him spending hours playing with Ollie. We may need to get more than one!
I have not seen this before!! My kids would have a ton of fun with this, especially my son!
that’s a fun toy
That is super cool. It would definitely get the kids interested in science and tech!
Wow, this really is a cool gift. I know so many people that would just go crazy for this.
I have never seen one of these before. It would be an amazing gift for Christmas. I would love to get one for myself.
This would be a fun addition to our home! It looks complicated but I am so glad that it is not!
This is really cool! I love that it’s durable and can go outside too! My boys are so tough on things, I often won’t buy them if I think they’ll break easily.
Looks like a really cool and functional toy. I’ll have to tell my mom about this.
Looks like a really cool and functional toy. I’ll have to tell my mom about this.
Looks like a really cool and functional toy. I’ll have to tell my mom about this.
This looks like a really cool little robot! My husband would have so much fun with this but we would probably have some trouble with the dog chasing it!
lol.my friends son got one for Christmas and its really a cool device
I’ve read soo much on these.. some good some bad, still has me intrigued.