Furby — Ages 6 to 11 — $39.99 (msrp)

FURBY, one of the best-selling toys of all time, is back! Driven by EMOTO-TRONICS, the all-new, evolved FURBY creature features a wide range of emotions and motions, advanced voice recognition, enhanced communication between kids and other FURBY toys, and an impressive "bilingual" vocabulary of "Furbish" and English. In fact, the new FURBY creature has six times the memory of the original toy.

Furby News:
Furby is back! New version of megahit interactive plush toy has "lifelike" emotions and will come in six languages.
By Parija Bhatnagar, CNN/Money - Parents and kids, it's time to brush up on your "Furbish" cause that bug-eyed interactive furball toy called Furby is comin' back.…
Hasbro

I-Dog — Ages 8 & up — $29.99 (msrp)

Little dog, big sound. Now plug your MP3 player into I-DOG and hear your tunes through I-DOG's speaker! Toggle I-DOG's tail to turn off the speaker and listen to music via headphones. I-DOG "feeds" on YOUR music. Your music helps form its personality by the type of music it hears, and its mood changes depending on how much music you share with I-DOG. Personality: I-DOG displays distinct personalities depending on the type of music you "feed" him. * Its personality is displayed through the color of LED lights that flash and blink on its face. * Personalities: rock/punk; hip hop/rap; and dance/techno Mood: Pocket-sized with adjustable legs, I-DOG changes its mood based on the amount of interaction it receives. Pat it on the head or "feed" it lots of music (at least 5 minutes every hour) and watch its mood change from sad and lonely to ecstatic and excited. * The flashing LED light patterns and animations reflect its mood I-DOG is compatible with most portable music devices like CD players and MP3 players. It also works with ambient music from a stereo or boombox speakers.

I-Dog News:
Hasbro I-Dog: Have some fun with your favorite jukebox
by Edward Distel, Laptop Magazine - If you're not into cleaning up real dog doo-doo, try Hasbro's I-Dog.…
Hasbro I-Dog interactive musical toy for iPod and others
By Bill Palmer, I-Pod garage -- Product purpose: The Tiger/Hasbro I-Dog is a dog-shaped speaker whose head provides interpretive responses to the music being played, and can also respond to music being played from another device's speakers. No wait, that's way too complicated of an explanation, so let's try again: it's a cool toy! …
Hasbro

VCam Now— Ages 8 & up — $79.99 (msrp)

VCAM NOW is a stylish digital video camera specifically designed for tweens. VCAM NOW is the pocket-size digital camera that lets tweens capture memorable moments with their friends and family in two great ways: by recording a movie or taking still pictures!

VCam Now News:
So, Is Shooting Video Strictly Kid Stuff?
Posted by Alan Stafford, Today @ PC World - The Mattel-Hasbro feud is back on: The Hasbro folks saw my blog entry on Mattel's Vidster from a couple days ago, and they said hey, what about our kid-friendly video camera? So OK, here's Hasbro's VCam Now, another video camera aimed at tweens (older than toddlers, younger than teenagers). …
Make-Believe Goes Cutting Edge
BusinessWeek online -- Virtual playmate? Toymakers are betting this and other new gizmos can compete with the video, MP3, and computer tech stealing their biz …
Toy Industry Responds To A Changing Market--And Changing Kids
by Jay, Toy News International -- When Toy Wishes(TM) magazine revealed the holiday "Hot Dozen" at its press conference this morning, the seventh annual list reflected both a radically evolving toy industry and the perennial fact that no matter how sophisticated the toys themselves become, most innovative and successful toys embody the principles of classic play. …
Hasbro putting out line of electronics for tweens: the VuGo, VCAM Now, Zoombox, i-Dog, Videonow XP, and Chatnow
by Barb Dybwad, engadget -- Fourth quarter will see Hasbro roll out a bunch of products aimed squarely at tweens: the VuGo portable multi-media system, VCAM Now, Zoombox, i-Dog, Videonow XP and the Chatnow two-way radio communicator system …
Hasbro

ChatNow— Ages 8 & up — $74.99 (msrp)

Chat with your friends or send them text messages up to two miles away with the CHATNOW communicator! Talk one-on-one with your best friend or chat with everyone in your CHAT ZONE at the same time! You can send and save text messages, even add symbols to personalize them! Take pics of your pals and save them to your communicator. . . there's a digital camera built right in! Animate their photos and save them to your personal buddy list! There are no fees, no bills and no minutes to keep track of! Screen savers, saved buddy photos, ten different ring tones. . . Access them all with the easy-to-use controls, flip-out keypad and the Push To Talk button! So turn it on, flip it out and get talking!
 • Communicator with flip-out keypad lets you chat or text your friends from up to two miles away!
 • Built-in digital camera! Save pics of your friends to your personal buddy list!
 • Each communicator requires 4 "AAA" batteries (not included).
 • Talk and Text features work only with other CHATNOW communicators.
 • This is a 2-way radio. Range will be less than 2 miles under typical conditions. It will be reduced substantially due to factors such as obstructions (building, trees, mountains) and interference.

ChatNow News:
Hasbro Revolutionizes the Way Kids Communicate with the Introduction Of CHATNOW The Personal Communicator Designed for Today's Tweens
Hasbro Press Release - "Who's in your Chat Zone?" will be the question on every tween's lips this summer as the CHATNOW communication system hits store shelves nationwide. Introduced by Hasbro, Inc.'s (NYSE: HAS) Tiger Electronics, the CHATNOW Two-Way Radio Communicator is the new personal communicator that allows kids to be in touch with their friends and family in up to a two-mile range without paying for airtime or signing a calling plan contract.…
CHATNOW Communications Device Plugged by Hasbro
By: Gary Dauphin, TechChristian,com -- Will this new cellphone-looking device be the next big communications platform for kids, or a major bust? …
Give Your Kid a Feeling of Self-Importance
The Gadget Guy -- Is your child's self-esteem low? Want to give them an inflated sense of self-worth? Then this just might be the product for them. It's the Hasbro ChatNow Communication System (I don't own a "communication system" and I'm a grown-up) …
Chatnow two-way radio from Hasbro aimed at "tweens"
News Target -- Children ages 11 to 14 often ask their parents for cell phones, but are usually rebuffed by adults who don't feel kids are ready for the unlimited connectivity and financial responsibility. Hasbro is aiming at that market of "tweens" with its Chatnow phones, which use two-way radio technologies instead of wide-area cell networks. …
Hasbro (manufacturer's site)

Star Wars Saga Edition Mission Lightsaber Battle Game — Ages 8 & up — $49.99 (msrp)

Put the Power of the Force in Your Own Hands!
Slash your war through a galaxy far, far away.
Grab your lightsaber and enter the exciting world of the Jedi. . . right in your living room!  You’ll find helpful friends on your journey – and dozens of deadly foes.  Wield your lightsaber quickly and cleverly to fend off the attackers and defeat opponents!

• Interactive Plug and Play
  Plug the training droid into your TV or VCR and you’re ready to begin.
  
• Swing your powerful lightsaber
  Innovative wireless technology lets your lightsaber interact with your TV screen.  Move it and slash it in different ways to defeat enemies – and shield yourself.  Learn powerful new moves as you prove your worthiness as a Jedi Knight!
  
• Team up with your favorite characters
  Join Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, Anakin Skywalker, Mace Windu – all your favorites from the entire STAR WARS saga!
  
• Fight a galaxy full of fiendish foes
  They’re all here – and more fearsome than ever!  Battle Droids, Darth Maul, Mandalorian Supercommando, Jango Fett, Geonosians, Count Dooku, General Grievous, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader – and many more!

Star Wars Saga Edition Mission Lightsaber Battle Game News:
Hasbro (manufacturer's site)

Dreamlife Plug-in TV Game — Ages 8 & up — $39.99 (msrp)

It's the start of a brand new school year and what you do is totally up to you!

• Go to classes & try to get cool rewards for good grades.
• Make money by doing chores around the house or get a job & go shopping!
• Bad hair day?  Swing by the salon & try out a new hairstyle.
• Make lots of friends - join a sports team - or just hang out... it's all in your hands.

Just plug into any TV and you're ready to play! 
You can even save your game and take it to a friend's house - or start over and create a whole new you!
Tons of looks, clothes, activities and jobs to choose from!  PLUS... unlock more stuff the longer you play!
Include game remote and game module.  TV not included.

Dreamlife Plug-in TV Game News:
Hasbro (manufacturer's site)

VideoNow Color — Ages 6 & up — $75.00 (msrp)

It's a kid's personal video player. Last year, VideoNow made the list for its breakthrough technology, and this year it's gotten even better! Now the videos are in full color and the durable unit features the coolest design ever that's totally portable and goes anywhere. Plus, kids can choose from a whole library of favorite shows to create their own personal video collection with hits from Nickelodeon, special programs from Hilary Duff, Tony Hawk and much more.