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Nov 13, 2007 10:25 am US/Eastern
CBS 2 Tech Review: Squawkers McCaw
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Squawkers is a fully interactive animatronic parrot featuring voice recognition and cool dance moves.
Gregg Geller/CBS
Straight out of the package, "Squawkers McCaw: The FurReal Friends Parrot" clearly isn't like other toys. Its brightly colored feathers and lifelike features are immediately appealing.
Beyond the colorful visuals, when it comes to its interactive capabilities, Squawkers is quite sophisticated. He has several "hotspots" -- actually sensors that react to touch and add to the user experience.
The bird actually seems to "enjoy" being petted. He flaps his wings and coos when happy. Though he is not quite alive, he certainly appears that way at times.
The animatronic parrot features voice recognition and comes pre-programmed with several voice commands. He speaks more than 45 phrases and will repeat words spoken to him in his own distinctive voice.
Once he's sitting on his perch (included in the package), Squawkers can be programmed to dance to music. He also likes to snack on a toy cracker, which adds yet another sensation of realism for young users.
Of course, Squawkers is already housebroken straight out of the box, making him a good choice for parents of kids who want a pet but can't yet be trusted to clean up after the real thing.
The included control unit is unencumbered with only a few buttons and is simple to operate, even for users as young as 5 -- "or as old as 105," as Hasbro contends. The remote allows users to switch between the speaking, singing and dancing modes.
Caveat emptor: True to his name, Squawkers has no volume control. He does have an "off" switch, however, in case children -- and their parents -- have had enough squawking.
Squawkers uses 4 AA batteries and the remote needs 2 AAA batteries. One set of batteries lasted through three 30-minute heavy-use sessions with the toy, but you should still plan on keeping plenty of extra batteries on hand.
Squawkers was named "Best in Show" for kids at this year's Digital Life Expo at the Javits Center in Manhattan, and was also named one of the "Best Gifts for Kids" by PC Magazine.
"Squawkers McCaw: The FurReal Friends Parrot" currently retails for around $59.99.
Watch demos of some of the cool technology on display at Digital Life:
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