The buzz
Staff -- Playthings, 11/1/2002
LeapFrog Chairman Tom Kalinske: "Very early on, we always looked at licensing as 'What helps for a particular subject area?' One of the first products we did back in '97 was with National Geographic. It's not, 'Gee, let's go find a license.' It's: 'What content is out there that is useful in teaching a subject?'"…There are decidedly fewer electronic pooches on the shelves this season, but one of the most venerable (and expensive) continues to innovate. Sony introduces the Charging Station for AIBO. Equipped with new pattern recognition software, AIBO (pictured) can dock with the station and recharge its battery all by itself… Based on Scholastic's picture-based riddle books, I Spy will premiere on HBO Family on Dec. 14 as a stop-motion animated show… Consumers will spend an average of $661 this holiday season, according to a survey conducted by Port Washington, NY-based research group NPD. Only 12 percent of respondents plan to spend more than last year compared with 69 and 20 percent who will spend the same amount or less, respectively. In keeping with the sluggish economic climate, 79 percent of consumers plan to shop discounters, warehouses and outlets such as Wal-Mart and Kmart…For more buzz visit playthings.com.
