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Sphero Mini - $47 (Normally $79.99) @ EB Games

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Sphero Mini - $47 (Normally $79.99) @ EB Games
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Llenny on 16/12/2018 - 20:19 ebgames.com.au (2993 clicks)
Last edited 17/12/2018 - 00:24 by 2 other users

I was searching for a Sphero ball for my son's birthday and came across EB Games having a sale on the Sphero Mini. For those unaware, it's a robot about the size/shape of a ping pong ball that you control via bluetooth with an app. It can be used as a fun toy but also as a STEM tool to teach basic coding in an engaging way.

My son's loving it so far and I've just picked up a couple more to give to my nephew and niece as Christmas presents!

With an Officeworks price match, it comes down to $44.65.

Promo vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56804i1-hFw

Description below:

Sphero Mini packs tons of fun into a tiny, app-enabled robot about the size of a ping pong ball. Drive Mini using different modes with the Sphero Mini app, or just by using your face. Yes, you read that right. Face Drive™ is a hilarious new feature that uses your facial expressions to drive the ball.

Mini’s games are just as addicting – use the ball as a controller to shoot your way through space, race a ship through a tunnel, or rotate your ball to destroy a polygon of bricks. Thanks to the beauty of app updates, there’s always more on the way. If you’re feeling extra clever, download the Sphero Edu app and program your robot using JavaScript.

Packed with teeny tiny tech, Sphero Mini has a little gyroscope, accelerometer, and LED lights. Colorful, interchangeable shells are available, so you can easily switch one out to suit your mood. With almost an hour of play time, Sphero Mini is the next big thing.

Key Features

Driving - Drive Mini using different modes with the Sphero Mini app – Joystick, Tilt, Slingshot, or Face Drive.

Face Drive™ - Face Drive is a hilarious new feature that uses your facial expressions to drive the ball.

Gaming - Sphero Mini can be used with the app as a video game controller. Play 3 games with more updates on the way.

Coding - Download the Sphero Edu app and program your Sphero Mini bot using JavaScript.

Interchangeable Shells - Colorful, interchangeable shells allow you to switch one out to suit your mood.

Available in the following colours:

Electrical & Electronics Sphero

Related Stores

EB Games Australia
EB Games Australia

closed Comments

  • BertieBrown on 16/12/2018 - 20:26
    +13

    I think teaching kids coding as early as possible can only be a good idea going forward.

    For dinosaurs such as myself though, it still looks like a bit of fun.

      • mskram on 16/12/2018 - 21:51
        +3

        It's a skill that can be applied to other jobs though.

        • klownvandamn on 16/12/2018 - 22:18
          +19

          IF (Job < 150000) THEN
          WRITE hello world I bleeping made it
          ELSE IF (Job <= 60000) THEN
          WRITE hello ozbargain $1 cheeseburger sounds great
          ELSE
          WRITE hello is it me you're looking for
          END IF

          • CYMA on 17/12/2018 - 00:02
            +3

            @klownvandamn: Your program wouldn't ever reach the ozbargain…

          • Melong on 17/12/2018 - 01:14

            @klownvandamn: Else if will not pass first logic gate! Second logic gate is redundant!

          • Sergeant Salami on 17/12/2018 - 03:11

            @klownvandamn: You seem to have a syntax error in your if statement code

            • FactChecker on 17/12/2018 - 11:09

              @Sergeant Salami: What is the syntax error?

              The fact that line 1 should be swapped with line 2 is a logic error.

              Granted, this might be language dependent.

              However, in assembly language the first line would execute for any result less than 150000 and than branch to done.

              This would include numbers less than or equal to 60000.

              Therefore, an unexpected result would be produced rather than the program failing to run.

          • YLD1 on 17/12/2018 - 08:16

            @klownvandamn: That is some poor coding

            Don’t quit your day job

          • andyzing on 17/12/2018 - 10:57

            @klownvandamn: you seem to have mixed up the first comparison operator, it will never trigger ozbargain

      • j05h on 16/12/2018 - 22:05
        +1

        The kind of coding kids are doing is great and more for developing critical thinking and maths skills. And it provides a great insight into how stuff works.
        As someone said below, Scratch is also really good and a great introductory tool to basic programming.

        • Sammyboy on 16/12/2018 - 22:10
          +2

          I think the term coding used in the school syllabus sounds a bit over technical for what the kids are actually doing. Speaking to a lot of parents and grandparents, they think their kids are actually writing software and games in all that computer code from the ground up, like you see in the movies.

      • skwashd on 16/12/2018 - 22:08
        +4

        Low pay? Maybe if you're a WordPress "developer". There's a lot of 6 figure dev roles available if you've got a few years solid experience.

        • klownvandamn on 16/12/2018 - 22:14

          does someone who knows how to use $50 template get 6 figure salary?

      • Pinchie on 16/12/2018 - 22:17
        +8

        Some things should be viewed in terms of learning and creativity development, especially things aimed at kids. Nothing is a direct line to employment at that stage. Very few people are artists, but that's not an argument for kids not having artistic outlets and learning.

  • JuryWheel on 16/12/2018 - 20:42
    +3

    Suggested age range for this? I have a 6 year old son

    • lenny on 16/12/2018 - 20:54
      +2

      My son just turned 7 and is really enjoying playing with it so far. It remains to be seen how much he'll get into the programming side of things but i'm not worried if he just wants to use it as a toy. It should be suitable for a 6 year old.

      • MementoMori on 17/12/2018 - 09:59

        Would 12 be too old?

  • WARvault on 16/12/2018 - 20:43
    +3

    I paid full price for one of these in May. My biggest worry was I would only get "as long as the ad on YouTube use out of it…" Was mostly the case. Wanna teach your kid to code? Skip this and set them up with scratch.mit.edu maybe. Good deal, meh product.

    • asa79 on 16/12/2018 - 20:52
      -7

      Depends on what you want to do with them.

      Any decent coder will tell you they learnt coding by controlling a robot to move forward, left, forward etc. So that is pretty much same thing with a physical object

    • lenny on 16/12/2018 - 20:57

      My son already uses scratch jnr a school a bit. At the end of the day, even if he doesn't get into the programming side of things, I'm ok with him using it as a $44 toy.

    • AustriaBargain on 17/12/2018 - 09:33

      Swift Playgrounds on iPad is ale good, e Endor adults that want a go.

    • lonix on 17/12/2018 - 10:05

      Get them LOGO on the Apple IIe

    • klownvandamn on 16/12/2018 - 22:20

      I used to do that with insects when I was little kid and I got Picasso level art.

  • carlenet on 16/12/2018 - 20:56

    Stock very thin in VIC sadly.

    • lenny on 16/12/2018 - 20:58

      Price match with officeworks or another retailer…

      • carlenet on 16/12/2018 - 21:12

        Not if there’s no stock in the metro area/state.

        • lenny on 16/12/2018 - 21:32

          Yeah true. Stock's lower than I realised. I bought mine from Officeworks and they had a cursory glance at the price on my phone both times.

          • tonester on 23/12/2018 - 14:35

            @lenny: same, thanks for posting - i price-matched for click+collect at officeworks :)

            btw why did you retract your +ve vote?

    • lenny on 16/12/2018 - 21:39

      There's a few different colours available in VIC still.

  • Paulb5 on 16/12/2018 - 21:20

    None in WA it looks like

    • lenny on 16/12/2018 - 21:38

      Orange, pink and white colours are available in WA still.

  • Ulysses31 on 16/12/2018 - 22:22
    +2

    Imagine what the ladies in Thailand could do with one!

    • AustriaBargain on 17/12/2018 - 09:34

      Laughed so hard at the movies when they had the South Park movie bit. “And I didn’t miss a single one”.

  • Lead Wings on 16/12/2018 - 22:53
    +7

    I looked into robots for my kids to learn coding (8 YO twins) and wound up with a couple of "Edison" - which are around the same price ($50 each). Invented by a STEM teacher in South Australia and crowd funded.

    Chose them because they had more diverse options (3 different levels of coding language can be used - block, scratch and python) and they come with sound, light and UV sensors and 2 motors. And they are lego compatible.

    Not trying to bag Spheros, but thought I would put another alternative out there.

  • bigbadboogieman on 16/12/2018 - 23:35
    +1

    Doesnt seem like any stock available in NSW or VIC. Not available for delivery.

    • summerz on 17/12/2018 - 00:59
      +2

      The blue stock is out due to the link in this page, try to search for another colour….I found orange/green available everywhere

      • bigbadboogieman on 17/12/2018 - 08:03

        Checked all colours in Sydney 2000 and Parramatta 2152 and nearby suburbs. Nothing in stock at the time of checking. Which suburbs did you check. May be I can get there.

        • Stevemao on 17/12/2018 - 09:40

          I can’t find stock in any colour.

  • never waz on 17/12/2018 - 09:09

    No colours available in SA sadly. Looks like Tassie has plenty left.

    • Ulysses31 on 17/12/2018 - 21:35

      Predator/Transparent model only!?

  • powergirl on 17/12/2018 - 11:22
    +1

    anyone successfully price match with Harvey Norman?

    • tophorus on 17/12/2018 - 13:49

      Yep I just bought one in Melbourne (QV). No issues.

      Quite a few left in different colours too (maybe 20-25 total I could see).

    • carlenet on 17/12/2018 - 15:17
      +1

      Just price matched online with HN for store pick up.

      EDIT - They are flat out on chat. From first joining the queue to getting my link/email, 45 mins had passed. Patience & courtesy pays dividends! :)

      • Gidget on 18/12/2018 - 10:22
        +1

        Same thank you!

  • mech_eng on 17/12/2018 - 12:08
    +1

    Managed to get Officeworks to price match this morning on a blue one at SA Parafield. They had3 or 4 left on the shelf.

  • monty168 on 18/12/2018 - 16:11

    Thanks OP, got Harvey Norman QV Melb to price match.

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