toys

You might remember the recent saga of the Steve Jobs action figure. It was announced. Detailed pictures surfaced. Apple wasn't pleased. The action figure was canceled.

There's a new Steve Jobs toy on the block, and this one might stand a better chance of making it into your hands.

The iCEO comes courtesy of Throwboy, a pillow company known for tech-related products like Facebook-themed pillows and text messaging pillows with "OMG" and "wtf" on them.

The iCEO is unmistakeably Steve Jobs, even though his name doesn't appear anywhere on the product page. The plush features gray hair, a black turtleneck, blue jeans, and stubble. … Read more

As a first-time expecting mother who doesn't know many kids, setting up my home for a baby is a mysterious process that involves procuring little outlet covers and stacking wine bottles on the counter instead of the floor.

As for maximizing my home's environment for optimal infant motor development, let's just say I'm the aunt who assumes a newborn can play with tangrams (turns out they just chew on them).

So this morning I rather eagerly checked out a new online test that assesses the quality and quantity of motor development opportunities my home currently provides. … Read more

The Zero Gravity Fridge Rover won't patrol for expired items, but it will help to keep the fridge door organized.

The clutter that collects on the refrigerator door is a visual representation of activity. Like a giant funnel, it collects bits and pieces of everyday life from kids' artwork to the grocery list, not to mention schedules, reminders, and easy-to-find notes left for loved ones (that can stay in place for months on end). This is a happy clutter, one that evolves over time. As with all evolution, things get lost, things get replaced, and sometimes things get up … Read more

I knew there was something missing from my life. I just didn't know what it was until I came across ToyOtter's latest list of rejected "Star Wars" merchandise ideas on Action Figure Insider.

I'm missing a Luke Skywalker/Darth Vader salt and pepper shaker set, without which my life will never be complete. How did this product not get made?

"Let these legends of the kitchen table be a constant reminder of the battle over good and evil in the galaxy," the concept reads. Each morning there could be an epic battle for the very soul of my scrambled eggs.… Read more

This week, Lego goes crazy for Minecraft (even if we don't); the Death Star gets a real-world estimate; DARPA invests in making "Avatar" a reality; and Eric and Bonnie make their Barbie dreams come true. In Geek News, Eric is obsessed with Mass Effect 3, and shows off a mashup of "The Prestige" and the latest "Dark Knight" trailers.

Subscribe in iTunes SD Video | Subscribe in RSS SD Video … Read more

Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson and Mojang employees today unveiled the first set dedicated to the building game at Lego World in Copenhagen.

The 480-piece Lego Minecraft Micro World set (due in summer) features four different areas that you can link together with cylindrical connectors.

While the miniature take on the popular game is a bit pricey at $34.99, we admire the attention to detail in recreating the Minecraft experience. It's also neat that this came together from a community-driven movement, but we hope there will be bigger and better sets soon. Resource gatherers can take joy in exploring the "hidden resources, extra pieces for wood, dirt, and stone," according to the official product description. We strongly recommend you avoid the lava area, though.

Do not miss the hilarious launch video created by Notch and friends: … Read more

A special Valentine's Day episode of Crave featuring robots, champagne, littleBits circuit boards, and zombie chocolates. Plus, X-ray leggings, spider battle bots, hoverboards, Star Wars crafts, and a peek at the perfect date movie, "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter."

Subscribe in iTunes SD Video | Subscribe in RSS SD Video … Read more

Nerf, "Star Wars," and Marvel gear was everywhere at Hasbro's showcase at the Toy Fair in New York City.

Hasbro's Toy Fair showcase was housed several blocks away from the rest of Toy Fair 2012, in a two-level set of showrooms that was easily one of the most elaborate setups of the weekend.… Read more

We don't cover a whole lot of toys for kids here at CNET, but every year we make the journey to Toy Fair, which is once again in town at the Javitz Center here in New York. And like every other online gadget publication, we wanted to give you a little taste of what's there.

Granted, with somewhere around 1,500 manufacturers, distributors, importers, and sales agents from 30 countries making the rounds at the convention center, we're only highlighting a small fraction of all the products on display. But hopefully there's a little something for everyone in the lengthy photomontage below (click on any image to start the slideshow).

Enjoy--and as always, feel free comment. The last slide returns you to the main story. … Read more