Ugobe Delays Pleo Release
September 11th, 2007 11:24 PM | by Christen da Costa | 3 Comments
I just received an email from Ugobe informing me that the Pleo will be slightly delayed. No word on how back dated orders will be, but Ugobe has some what guaranteed that the preorder folks (first hatch) will still receive theirs by the holidays. The delay, according to Ugobe, is due to a slight redesign of the Pleo’s battery. Originally the battery was built into the life like dinosaur, but now you’ll be able to remove it for charging and have multiply batteries going to increase consecutive ‘play time’. I’ve read on a few other sites that Ugobe was running into battery charging issues that had something to do with overheating – Ugobe partially admits to this in the linked email – and hence why they’ve moved its charger outside of it’s belly.
Caleb (founder and designer) promises to post some videos of the Pleo to keep folks eager and excited.
Email notice here.
You can purchase it here for $350.
Not familiar with the Pleo? Check out their Pleoworld site.
I think the added advantage of continuous “play time” is a worthwhile reason for a delay.
It’ll also make it easier for UGOBE to support customers who have battery issues… this way they won’t have to send the whole Pleo back.
In any case, if you’re interested in a comprehensive look at Pleo news, blog posts, photos, videos, auctions and more from around the web, please visit my site, Pleo HQ.
TL
hi wery good site
Just a furby with skin and life like movement. I’ve had one now for just over a month and although the claims are that it has AI that can’t be further from the truth. The only development stage Pleo has is the one hour or so from infancy to juvenile. Once at juvenile stage Pleo has the same predictable, pre-programmed responses to your touch and that’s about it. Sure it moves very realistically, but for the price and the hype I expected more. Pleo can hear but does not understand nor respond to any sound, Pleo can see but does not understand what it sees and for the limited amount of walking it does it is best to let it sleep as too much movement will lessen the 1 hour playtime before you have to recharge the battery for another 4.5 hours again. For a tug at the heart strings Pleo does it well, until you become bored with it only to store it in the cupboard to occasionally take it out and show to friends at dinner parties who have never seen one before. Add that to flaky skin and chipping teeth without the availability of a spare battery and Pleo becomes an expensive rubberised furby destined for eBay.