Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Anki Drive AI-Controlled Cars Will Be Available on October 23 for $199

the price is too high for what it is. $100 and $25 per car is more reasonable.

But the real limiting factor of this is the fact they can only operate on this mat and go around in circles..So it works really like other much cheaper IR technologies that recognise lines and routes to follow.
 
twigman08 said:
A lot of people keep bringing up "RC Cars" and that you would rather by them.

Please tell me, what kind of RC Cars are you talking about? Ones like this: http://www.amainhobbies.com/product...-TEN-SCTE-20-Competition-4WD-Short-Course-Kit that don't even come with a motor, battery or Electronic Speed Control, where you are easily spending around $800 just to go race?

Doesn't seem that expensive anymore if you don't say which RC Cars you're talking about.

Just saying I do race these kind of RC Cars and I have spent over $1,000 easily on all my stuff
Click to expand...


Probably something from Kyosho, a Mini Z or even smaller, a dNaNo
 
EricTheHalfBee said:
They already have those. And compared to the Anki stuff they are Fisher Price.


You are missing a lot. These cars have an onboard processor that links up with your iPhone over BT LE and between the two of them allows the cars to function by themselves (AI). The cars are almost like role-playing characters. You earn points to spend on upgrades changing the character of the car and what it's capable of. Different cars have different characters and will react differently to the same situations they encounter on the track. You can take your "upgraded" car to a friends and try it out against their car.

The cars can function completely by themselves following a set of rules and objectives related to choices you've made. You can also control them yourself by making some of the decisions during gameplay.

Think of how many people there are who build Sumobots to "fight" each other. From what I've seen these Anki cars are more complex/capable than most Sumobots. When you think of the cost and compare it to a Sumobot suddenly they don't seem that expensive at all.
Click to expand...
I get WHAT they're doing, but to say this is somehow leveraging iOS/iPhone/etc. to make this happen is what puzzles me. You could do the same with any computer-it wasn't that it was an iOS app that made it so special. When they did the keynote they made it seem how this was somehow an iOS breakthrough.

But, cool for those who want to buy a set, I guess.
 
Dontazemebro said:
$200 is nothing, this would be a great gift idea for my 13yr old son.

Where do I sign up?
Click to expand...

$200 nothing? Good to see the wealth is flowing in some parts of the world ;)

----------
uniq said:
Ironic that what you wrote is the opposite effect of what you meant :p

Although I suppose in many ways, Apple's prices do leave many feeling a bit sour too :)
Click to expand...

Well that was a good lol :)
 
Nevaborn said:
the price is too high for what it is. $100 and $25 per car is more reasonable.

But the real limiting factor of this is the fact they can only operate on this mat and go around in circles..So it works really like other much cheaper IR technologies that recognise lines and routes to follow.
Click to expand...

I think it's an impressive demo of technology, but as a product I don't see the point. It looks like something that will be fun for 10 minutes.

People old enough to understand the technology will think its cool. Kids who grew up on video games will think its boring, and they'll just wind up playing with the cars like matchbox cars and they'll just wind up broken the day the box is opened!
 
prowlmedia said:
The thunderbolt comment is flippant and pointless. If you need thunderbolt and make use of that sort of speed, you are doing a pro job and 1) the cost is negligible and 2) anything you buy is normally a business expense and tax deductable
Click to expand...

Please..... If I'm doing pro work, as we do at work, we use Mac Pros. And guess what interface they do not have???

Are you suggesting the entire Apple laptop range is aimed at pros...... ??? LOL.

When I see the 17 MBP brought back we can talk!

What I actually require is the Imac to have a Mini display port, it being a thunderbolt is useless to me! This all has to do with target display mode.
 
This will be really sweet if they could incorporate holograms.

Can't wait for holographic technology to catch up.
 
Pass.

Too much cost for too little return. This would interest my 11- and 14-year old sons for 15 minutes, tops.

Really, what average consumer would buy this for $200 + cost for extra cars? :confused:
 
I'm sure I'm not the target consumer, but I got bored just watching the video. Either this is simply dumb or they're doing a horrible job conveying what makes this product special.
 
Didn't see the price until the end of the article and thought it looked like a really cool game. Alas I won't bother at that price. $70 for the game + 4 cars would have been an impulse purchase or a Christmas gift for a friend. $200 is just way too much.
 
Apparently anything wireless made now is automatically $199. Phillips Hue, Sonos 1, Bose Soundlink Mini, and I'm sure many more.

Price has become arbitrary and doesn't reflect at all the actual cost.
 
You see, it's a toy, and as a toy it's pretty cool.

My little boy is after scalectrix at the moment (slot car track), it's not far away from this kind of money.

He already owns an ipad mini, few other idevices in the family too, so multiplayer would be ok, the problem with the demo I saw was that it seemed to be a fairly simple track, not sure if that can be changed at all.
 
I'm really sorry, but I just don't see ANYONE buying this. It's a proof of concept, sure, but...

Who really is the target market here?
 
I think a bunch of you aren't understanding just how sophisticated these little cars are. When I saw the demo in June, I was expecting the cost to come in about $500. So, a retail price of $200 with track and 2 cars seems entirely reasonable to me.

Anki DRIVE is going to sell well this holiday season. Expect shortages at your Apple Store.

Mark
 
prowlmedia said:
...you are doing a "pro job" and...
Click to expand...

MH01 said:
... If I'm doing pro work, as we do at work, we use Mac Pros...
Click to expand...

Are there people who are at work but not doing "pro work"? What is a "pro job"?

Pretty sure "Pro" is just a marketing term for more power electronics. (I have a MacBook Pro and use it for work, but have never felt the need to stress the "pro" when descibiing my profession)
 
Tech198 said:
Looks like a toy....

I saw this at WWDC event this AI stuff

Maybe i'm missing something, but these look the typical remote controlled cars i as a kid on a trace track, but instead have camera bult in so they can steel by themselves without a remote....


Whats the practical use for these in the real world ? or this is all they do?
Click to expand...

It IS a toy.... Expensive, but still a toy.
 
So?

two cars and a track is $199

two additional cars are only $69.

Yea, that makes a whole lot of sense!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back