If you have a little extra cash to burn and have a thing for R2 you might consider one of these R2 mini fridges.  R2 has come in the form of a great deal of gadgets, mostly because he’s the most fun to recreate.  Yes, Yoda is awesome, however, it’s harder to create gadget after gadget in his image. Something created as a robot is easier to pull off and well, no one wants any C3P0 gadgets.  He just nags too much, plus he’s so tall and skinny it would make it difficult to use him for anything practical.

For those of you that are not exactly thrilled by cooking every morning HOAP-3 is a trained robot that can assist in making omelets and even learn other tasks. It isn’t quite the fastest machinery, so not one you would snag from the local shopping mall just yet. However, the idea of a cooking robot is enough to make most of us lazy bums salivate in anticipation. Sadly, you have to teach him every single move and have to place the objects in his hands, but he can do the tasks once taught. Plus the creator has him saying very random comments as he cooks, like once he identifies swiss cheese, mentioning he has heard it was very good.

In our latest Christmas gift guide it’s the turn of retro toys and stuff, so if you missed out first time round here’s your chance.

Etch a Sketch

When I was a kid just about everybody on the street had an Etch a Sketch, just think of it as low tech tablet.

The amazing Etch a Sketch originated as the Magic Screen in France and is now a pop culture icon around the world! Over 100 million Etch A Sketch drawing toys have been sold in 67 countries worldwide since its introduction in 1960. Unsing a mixture of aluminum powder and plastic beads, the screen allows you to doodle, print, draw, then just shake to erase, and do it all again! Recommended age: 4+.

Cost : From $5

Rock Em Sock Em Robots

They are no where near as cool the robots featured on our toy robot gift guide but Rock Em Sock Em Robots are still a pretty entertaining blast from the past.

The original Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots™, first introduced in the 60s, are back and hotter than ever in this nostalgic reproduction. Maneuver Red Rocker® and Blue Bomber® around the ring as you try to knock your opponent’s block off with jaw-jolting action! Remember how the losing robot’s head pops up with the power punch?

Cost : $19.98

If you know somebody who has just moved into a new home I’me sure they’ll appreciate one of these gift ideas, geez even if they’ve lived there a few years they could still work.

Papier Noir - Black Bog Paper

Imagine the surprise when someone opens this on Christmas day, Papier Noir

This über-chic toilet tissue is set to take the botty-wiping world by storm because it’s completely jet black - right down to the cardboard roll. Yes, we know you can buy loo roll in baby blue, pink and peach, but style-savvy toilet-goers wouldn’t dream of sullying their designer loos with anything so naff.

Cost : £9.95 (~$20)

Touch Free Soap Dispenser

Prvent the spread of germs the gadget way, with
Touch Free Soap Dispenser.

This soap dispenser allows you to apply liquid soap to your hands without having to touch a pump or handle, preventing cross-contamination during food preparation. An infrared sensor detects the proximity of your hands, and it has a built-in 20-second timer that illuminates the durable acrylic reservoir to remind you how long to wash your hands.

Cost : $39.95

LED Invaders Door Mat

How do you tell if you’re at the home of a geek or gamer, you wipe your feet on one of these, the LED Invaders Door Mat, cool!

• Stylish door mat features glowing animated space invader display
• Motion sensor detects when humans are nearby and the invaders begin to dance
• Recommended for indoor use

Cost : $49.99 reduced from $110

This is our first article in our Christmas 2007 Gift Guide, lets get that Christmas shopping done early.

The holidays normally mean lots of joy for kids (or disappointment if they received a paltry Rubik’s Cube instead of that shiny new Wii) and pain for parents, particularly their pockets as they attempt to alleviate their guilt of not spending enough time with the little ones through the year by picking up the latest and greatest toys. I suspect that robot toys this year will really take off, so be prepared to fill up that bank account of yours with a respectable amount of dough before you use your credit card and start shopping.

Following reports that the military wants to create a celestial hotspot for space based internet access, scientists and engineers at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena have studied the idea and reported back that standards for creating a so-called interplanetary internet could be established within a few short years. If adopted, the standards could drastically update the NASA Deep Space Network communications – which was developed over forty years ago for the Apollo lunar program and for JPLs robotic missions throughout our solar system. Supported by Google and iCann Vinton Cerf, the idea will be to provide greater communication access and support for long distance robotic, and human based space missions.

Heart Robot thinks otherwise. His story goes like this: “On his home planet of Xerbix 319, the Broken Heart Robot was one of the rare robots built without a purpose. Saddened by this, he fled Xerbix 319 and traveled the galaxy to seek out his purpose. Along the way, the Broken Heart Robot met many interesting characters on various planets, moons and asteroids, and eventually landed on a small planet known as Earth. Though he has yet to find his purpose, he may just find a few new friends to help him with his quest!”

Why not keep him company by forking out anywhere between $32 to $45 for the Broken Heart Robot. He comes with a variety of qualities such as standard, glow-in-the-dark, and clear. Each purchase will come with an autographed box by the creator.

Product Page via Nerd Approved

When I visited Epcot Center at Disney World for my honeymoon in 1994, one of memorable products I saw showcased was a prototype robotic lawnmower. Well, in 2007 K.A. Home Robotics has introduced the LawnBot for those of us who don’t live in the “experimental prototype community of tomorrow.”

The LawnBot isn’t related to iRobot’s successful and innovative Roomba, but it does share similar features. Working autonomously by means of its preprogrammed computer and a perimeter cable, the LawnBot can mow up to three separate sectors totaling 33,000 square feet and then return itself to its recharging dock.