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Feel the Force With Sphero's BB-8 Droid

 & Stephanie Mlot Contributor

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Sphero definitely has the droid you're looking for.

In partnership with Lucasfilm and Disney, the toy maker today launched BB-8, an adorable astromech droid featured in the upcoming Star Wars film.

Colored orange and white, with antennas as bulbous lenses for eyes, the app-enabled droid comes with "movements and personality … as authentic as they are advanced," Sphero promised.

Download the companion app, bask in the classic Star Wars theme, and begin guiding your droid. Playful and personable, the BB-8 rolls through life listening and responding to your digital and voice commands.

BB-8 can explore its surroundings solo; set it to Patrol and watch as it makes the rounds while you eat, sleep, or watch A New Hope for the umpteenth time.

An adaptive personality, meanwhile, means you'll have a new experience every time you pull the droid from its charging cradle. "This is not a toy, this is a Droid!" Sphero insisted.

BB-8 is now available worldwide for $149.99, via the online Sphero shop, and at retailers Apple, Amazon, Brookstone, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, and more.

"Toys have always been used as the inspiration to extend the life of the story long after the credits roll. They're something we've grown up with, collected, and cherished since 1977," Sphero said. "To have the opportunity to create something that is not only a part of this legacy, but to bring it to life in an innovative way was an honor for our team… because it's something that we love."

Today's launch—revealed after "months of secrecy and hard work"—helps mark Disney's Force Friday event. In the vein of Black Friday, fans this week flocked to Walt Disney World in Florida (as well as retail stores around the world) to find new Star Wars- and Star Wars: The Force Awakens-themed merchandise.

According to StarWars.com, today's fanfare has spread to other retailers like Amazon, Target, Toys-R-Us, and Walmart, where various events and promotions are taking place through the day.

About Our Expert

Stephanie Mlot

Stephanie Mlot

Contributor

My Experience

  • B.A. in Journalism & Public Relations with minor in Communications Media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
  • Reporter at The Frederick News-Post (2008-2012)
  • Reporter for PCMag and Geek.com (RIP) (2012-present)

My Areas of Expertise

  • Science & Space
  • Video Streaming Services
  • Social Media
  • Cars & Auto
  • Education

The Tech I Use

  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • MacBook Air (hooked up to a 23-inch Dell monitor)
  • Google Chrome
  • Google Drive
  • Soundcore Life P3 earbuds
  • Various Amazon Echo devices

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