Nabaztag 2 to launch tonight

AT MIDNIGHT (FRENCH TIME) DECEMBER 12th, or today as it's otherwise known, Violet is set to launch the second-generation of wireless Internet enabled rabbits, with some big improvements we've mentioned before.

In addition to those (voice over IP and speech control built into its belly button), it will also have the ability to recognise RFID-tagged objects, and respond to the presence of these. An interview on TV channel France 2 demonstrated one use for this, with a childrens' book being tagged so that it could be read out by the rabbit when held close, theoretically helping the child learn to read. Neat stuff.

Tied in with this will be a mass bunny migration to a new web platform for all models, old and new, with new features including personalised MP3 messaging, and expanded newsfeeds. The company warns the transition may come with some teething problems; Monty Python fans may well already associate white rabbits with sharp pointy teeth, so this was probably to be expected.

Hopefully the new website will have less of a habit of breaking into French when something goes wrong than the current one, however users are advised that some of their settings will be lost, and some functionality temporarily unavailable. μ

L'INQS
Gen2 Nabaztag has VOIP
French review of Gen2 Nabaztag (with subtitles)