Vtech Switch & Go Dinos Review

Vtech has introduced these cool voice recognition toys called Switch & Go Dinos. They come in various models, this specific model that I'm reviewing here is called "Jagger the T-Rex Dinosaur". Given that dinosaurs are popular among kids, I think children will appreciate receiving this interactive toy as a gift. It's designed for kids between the ages of 3 to 8 years.

I didn't realize how big this toy was, until I unboxed it. It's approximately 16-inches tall and 29-inches long, so it's a good size to play with. Younger kids, around 3 to 5 years, will require some help in transforming the toy from a truck to a dinosaur, but once they do it a few times, they will get the hang of it.

Basically, when the toy is in Truck mode or T-Rex mode, you can give over 20 pre-set commands and the toy will accordingly respond to the commands. The Switch & Go Dinos package includes a voice command list card for both modes. When I tried the commands, the voice-recognition technology worked really well, but make sure to say the commands clearly for it to work effectively. See the section below for my favourite commands and how to make the most of this interactive toy.

I personally, preferred the dinosaur mode because dinosaurs are cool and I enjoyed the specific commands for the dino. However, the Truck mode is fun too and kids will enjoy transforming this toy to both, dino and truck. The package also comes with a mini T-Rex that transforms into a bulldozer.

To learn how to have fun with this cool toy and how to transform the truck to the dinosaur, check out the video section below for demonstrations.

How-To Have Fun with Jagger The T-Rex?

If your kids love dinosaurs and interactive toys that transform from various types of vehicles to dinosaurs, then they will definitely enjoy playing with the variety of Switch & Go Dinos from Vtech. So I got this interactive toy from Vtech in December 2013 and decided to test it out before giving it away.

Overall, I found this toy a lot of fun mainly because it's a good size to play with and most of all, it's interactive. The voice-recognition technology was quite accurate in following the commands, however, I was giving clear commands sitting about two feet away.

For the commands to be more effective, make sure to always get the attention of the T-Rex. In order to do so, when in Truck Mode use the words "Hello Truck Driver" and in T-Rex Mode use the words "Hello T-Rex", then give the command. I found that it works better when used on a hard floor rather than a carpet, especially when moving the toy forward and back.

Some of my favourite commands in T-Rex mode were "Make me laugh", "Change you voice", and "Teach me something". And in Truck Mode, "Talk to me", "Wrecking machine", and "It's quitting time". Be careful of the projectile (the drill-bit with the red head) which is made of hard plastic when you give the commands like "Fire the Drill", "Go Wild", "Wrecking Machine". It shoots out at a relatively high speed, so make sure your kid is not placed right in front of the dinosaur or truck.

As indicated earlier, there are various models of these voice-recognition toys as you will find in the section below. These Vtech toys can be purchased directly from the secure Amazon website. Should you have any questions or want to leave any comments, feel free to use the Guestbook below.

How-To "Switch & Go Dinos" Videos

The video below will give provide you a demonstration on how to use the "Switch & Go Dinos - Jagger The T-Rex" interactive toy. I have several videos: the first video below will show you how to transform the Truck to the T-Rex. The second video will show you how to command Jagger The T-Rex, and the third video will show you how to command this voice-recognition toy in Truck mode. You can check the second and third videos on your YouTube Channel. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the Comments section below.

Switch & Go Dinos Collectables

As indicated earlier, there are various models of these voice-recognition toys as you will find in the section below. These Vtech toys can be purchased directly from the secure Amazon website. Should you have any questions or want to leave any comments, feel free to use the comments section below.

Brok the Brachiosaurus Dinosaur, SkySlicer The Allocaurus Dinosaur, Stompsalot The Armargasaurus Dinosaur, Horns the Triceratops Dinosaur, Akuna The Velociraptor Dinosaur, Tonn the Stegosaurus Dinosaur, and several others. In total, there are around 15 different models. You can check the whole List of Switch & Go Dinos Collectables.

Image Credits: Images on this webpage belong to the author unless otherwise mentioned or linked to.

Hexbug Nano Raceway Habitat Set Review

The Hexbug Nano Raceway Habitat Set is a great Christmas or birthday gift for kids 3 years and above. It's a fun and creative way for children to enjoy the thrill of racing.

With the Hexbug Nano Raceway Habitat set, kids can get creative by constructing their very own customized racetracks and put their Nanos bugs (micro robotic creatures) to the ultimate speed test. This Raceway set comes with 28 easy-to-connect pieces as well as two rare Hexbug Nanos bugs. This children's toy set is durable, tough and easy to assemble.

This unique toy set was awarded the Specialty Toy of the Year in 2011 by the Toy Industry Association. Hexbug was first introduced in 2007 by Innovation First International, a privately-held company and a leader in educational robotics products. These toys sets are compliant with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, that is, their toys are CPSI approved. I've personally tested the Hexbug Nano Raceway Set and provide my review below including pictures and videos of this innovative and fun toy for kids.

What are Hexbug Nanos?

Before we review the Hexbug Nano Raceway Habitat Set let me introduce you to the Nanos Bugs, the battery-operated micro robotic creatures that make this toy set unique. They are bug-like creatures, the type of bugs your kids will love to play with. These collectible Nano bugs come in different colors and are designed to behave like actual bugs.

They flip over if they fall on their backs and know how to get around when they encounter obstacles on their way. The Hexbug Nanos do tricks with their fast and random movements with each color having its unique personality in terms of how they move. Check out the short video below to see some of the various robotic micro-bugs in action. The Hexbug Nanos can be purchased separately with batteries included. Below you will find the different types, like the Newton Motion Series 5 Pack, the Orbit Series 5 Pack, the Gravity Series 5 Pack, the Newton Calculus Series, and the Glow-in-the-Dark Series.

Video: Hexbug Nanos in Action

Hexbug Nano Raceway Habitat Set

The Hexbug Nano Raceway Habitat Set is an innovative toy set which includes 28 durable and easy-to-connect pieces. This toy set has 18 track pieces, 2 magnetic started tracks, 2 hexpods, 2 stop and go signs, and 2 checkered flags with which to build the track that can be customized based on your child’s creativity.

Also, included in the set are 2 Hexbug Nano bugs which your child can put to the ultimate speed test and start having fun. Once the customized track has been built, the micro-robotic bugs are switched on and placed in the magnetic starter track. They will not move, due to the magnets, until you push the black starter buttons. This allows to release both the Hexbug Nanos at the same time.

The innovatively designed battery-operated micro robotic creatures race away through the tracks and the fun begins. Given the random movements of the mirco-bugs, the final outcome is unpredictable as they make their way to the finish gate automatically raising the checkered flag, being declared as the winner.

Check the video below to see the Hexbug Nano bugs in action on the raceway habitat.

Hexbug Nano Raceway Habitat Set Video Review

How to Build Hexbug Nano Raceway Tracks?

The Hexbug Nano Raceway Habitat Set includes 28 easy-to-connect pieces with which to creatively customize your own raceway tracks. Piecing the tracks is quite simple, but children will require assistance from an adult, depending on how old they are. Given that there are 28 different pieces, one can get real creative in building different types of tracks.

The video below will walk you through how to build two different raceway tracks step-by-step. You can feel free to pause the video. Once you get the hang of building the Hexbug Nano Raceway tracks, you will be able to easily design your own tracks. When dismantling the raceway track be careful to do so slowly using both hands, if not, it may snap or break at the joint.

Lazer Stunt Chaser RC Car Review

Lazer Stunt Chaser RC Cars are unique and cool dual-sided, high speed remote controlled stunt cars distributed by Thinkway Toys.

These hot wheels are controlled by a patented infrared remote control with which kids can try amazing car stunts. The variable speed remote control has seven different functions and is easy to use, but will initially require some practice in order to master control over the RC car.

The Lazer Stunt Chaser is recommended for children 4 years and over, and comes in two different car models: the Flameout RC car and the Dragonfire RC car. In order to make this car game even more fun, you can expand your stunt zone using various stunt obstacles like jump ramps, Doom's gate ring, cyclone force, and others. On this web page, we will review the Lazer Stunt Chaser RC Cars in detail along with demonstration videos.

Video Preview of Lazer Stunt Chaser

This short video below will provide you a quick overview of the Lazer Stunt Chaser remote controlled car. A complete review of this unique RC car is provided in the sections below including pictures and more videos. Enjoy the virtual tour.

Lazer Stunt Chaser RC Car Review

I have personally tried the Lazer Stunt Chaser RC car (Flameout model) which you see featured in the pictures and video above. This cool remote-controlled car is recommended for children ages 4 and up. However, initially it will require some adult help and supervision because it does take some practice to master the remote control to effectively maneuver the Lazer Stunt Chaser.

It is advisable to have a relatively large space in order to set up your car stunt zone to make the best of this RC car toy. To start off, make sure to remove the “Try Me” tab at the side of the car and turn the switch on (channel A for the Dragonfire model and channel B for the Flameout model).

The 7-function remote control uses an infrared transmitter to control and maneuver the RC car. In order to control the car, you simply point the remote control to the floor and press the trigger making sure that the red light spot is placed in front of the RC car (about 6 to 18 inches from the car). Accordingly, move the infrared beam of light and the RC car will follow the beam.

For longer range distances (up to 40 feet), you can use the left, right and reverse buttons on the remote control. For extra speed, use the Turbo button. For detailed instructions, refer to the section, How to Use the Lazer Stunt Chaser Remote Control?

Once you have mastered the basics, you can take it to the next level and perform some cool stunts. The Lazer Stunt Chaser RC car sets (Flameout or Dragonfire models) come with a bonus stunt ramp. You can use the stunt ramp to flip the car over as well as make the car jump high to achieve cool stunts. Check the section below on Stunt Ramps for Lazer Stunt Chaser.

This remote-controlled car set is designed for indoor use only, so make sure that you don’t use it outdoors, in dirt and sand, which could damage the RC car. You can create your own obstacle courses using household objects as well as other special stunt ramps, gates, cyclone force available for purchase. With this Lazer Stunt Chaser, you can have a lot of fun racing alone or competing with other drivers. Refer to the instruction guide on how to change channels for multiple players.

Video Review: Lazer Stunt Chaser RC Car

Lazer Stunt Chaser: Flameout & Dragonfire

Lazer Stunt Chaser RC cars come in two different models namely: the Flameout RC car and the Dragonfire RC car, as featured below. As mentioned earlier, these remote controlled cars are dual-sided, meaning, when they flip over they change colors and design. Technically, both the toy car models are similar in terms of speed, stunt ability, and performance. The only difference are their colors, as you will notice below.

These RC racing cars come with a built-in rechargeable battery which holds the charge for approximately 20 minutes depending on use. Recharging the batteries takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes to fully charge (battery charger included). The charger runs on batteries, though, and requires 6 AA alkaline batteries.

Lazer Stunt Chaser Remote Control

 

The Lazer Stunt Chaser sets (Flameout or Dragonfire models) come with an infrared remote control with which to control the dual-sided RC car. Make sure to turn on the switch on the RC car first. To guide the RC car, you need to point the remote control to the floor and pull the trigger, marked no. 5 in the above picture.

Pulling the trigger and placing the infrared light in front of the RC car activates the remote control and sets the Lazer Stunt Chaser car in motion. To turn the car to the left, guide the infrared light to the left. Similarly, move the light spot to the right to turn the RC car to the right. If the infrared light spot is placed behind the car, the car will reverse. Releasing the trigger slows down the car.

The infrared light is for controlling the car for short distances. For longer ranges, up to 40 feet away, use the left, right and reverse buttons (see figure above) to control the Lazer Stunt Chaser RC car. To avoid high-speed crashes, use the reverse button and the trigger in order to slow down the RC car. You can use the reverse, left or right control buttons if the RC car is stuck against the wall, to regain control.

The infrared remote control also has high and low transmitter settings (marked no. 4 in the above figure). Use the High setting for non-reflective floors, and the Low setting for shiny floors. The remote control requires 2 AA alkaline batteries (not included). The remote control also has a Turbo button (marked no. 6 in the above figure) which is to be used for extra power and to achieve maximum speed.

Stunt Ramps for Lazer Stunt Chaser

Included with the regular Lazer Stunt Chaser sets (Flameout or Dragonfire) is a bonus jump ramp which requires some assembly. The jump ramp has two brackets with slots, and a plastic ramp sheet with tabs. The stunt ramp can be assembled in different ways for car flips, high jumps, and bumps to add to the fun and car stunts.

Featured in the image above, you will find four jump ramp constructions which are easy to assemble. There is an instruction sheet which comes along with the Lazer Stunt Chaser RC car set which will provide more detailed instructions.

To keep the ramps sturdy, you can use wooden blocks or relatively heavy books at the side of the ramps. When performing stunts with the RC car, make use of the Turbo button to achieve maximum power through the stunt ramps. Additional ramps and accessories can be purchased separately.

Image Credits: Product pictures on this webpage belong to the author unless otherwise mentioned or linked to.