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Crave giveaway: Darkside Ollie app-controlled robot from Sphero

Control this programmable rolling robot from your smartphone or tablet. It can drift, spin, flip and crash for romping robot fun. And it's free.

Leslie Katz Former Culture Editor
Leslie Katz led a team that explored the intersection of tech and culture, plus all manner of awe-inspiring science, from space to AI and archaeology. When she's not smithing words, she's probably playing online word games, tending to her garden or referring to herself in the third person.
Credentials
  • Third place film critic, 2021 LA Press Club National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards
Leslie Katz
2 min read

darksideolliefluxhubsturbotires1024x1024.jpg
Darkside Ollie has turbo tires for making its way around rougher terrain. Sphero

Editor's note: this contest closed at noon ET on Monday, January 12.

Congratulations to Robert V. of Carlsbad, N.M., for winning a Tokyo Flash Kisai Vortex wristwatch in last week's giveaway, and to Brian K. of Romulus, Mich., for winning a Blast Motion Blast ActionCam the week before that. This time around, we have a customizable, app-controlled robot. Just because.

The Darkside Ollie from Sphero, a Colorado-based maker of connected toys , can be programmed to do tricks like drift, spin and flip in multiple combinations. Custom tires and hubcaps let you switch up your ride, which rolls at speeds up to 14 mph. The USB-chargeable Darkside Ollie connects to iOS and Android devices via Bluetooth and can operate from a range of 100 feet. Built-in LEDs let you drive at night (eh, sleep is overrated).

So what do you have to do to roll one of these $149.99 robots around for free? There are a few rules, so please read carefully.

  • Register as a CNET user. Go to the top of this page and hit the "Join CNET" link to start the registration process. If you're already registered, there's no need to register again.
  • Leave a comment below. You can leave whatever comment you want. If it's funny or insightful, it won't help you win, but we're trying to have fun here, so anything entertaining is appreciated.
  • Leave only one comment. You may enter for this specific giveaway only once. If you enter more than one comment, you will be automatically disqualified.
  • The winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) Sphero Darkside Ollie, with a retail value of $149.99.
  • If you are chosen, you will be notified via e-mail. The winner must respond within three days of the end of the sweepstakes. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
  • Entries can be submitted until Monday, January 12, 12 p.m. ET.

And here's the disclaimer that our legal department said we had to include (sorry for the caps, but rules are rules):

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. YOU HAVE NOT YET WON. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OLD OR AGE OF MAJORITY, WHICHEVER IS OLDER IN YOUR STATE OF RESIDENCE AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Sweepstakes ends at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, January 12, 2015. See official rules for details.

Good luck. (And be sure to follow Crave on Twitter: @crave)