A fun robotic toy that has to yet to hit its stride

At this year's E3, we were introduced to a clever new iPhone and Android peripheral called the Sphero. Developed by Orbotix, Sphero is a robotic ball that can be controlled by using apps on your iPhone, iPad or Android device, and can also be used as a new kind of controller.

We had a chance to spend an extended period of time with Sphero after the Electronic Entertainment Expo had come and gone, and while the device is mostly impressive, we're not sure it's a must-have for even the most hardcore of iPhone or Android enthusiasts. In terms of its technical specs, the baseball-sized Sphero comes equipped with color-changing LED lights, a gyroscope, accelerometer, polymer batteries that can be recharged inductively via the included charge cradle, and Bluetooth functionality throughout. All of this comes in a $130 package that's now available to purchase online or in select Brookstone locations.

Sphero is a deceptively heavy device, that comes with a subtle (but constant) audible tick even when it isn't moving, and any movement of the sphere causes the internal components to automatically rotate to an upright position. During our demo at E3, we were told that the Sphero is waterproof (it apparently floats), and that even a shotgun blast wasn't enough to ruin the internal workings (only the outer casing was damaged). Still, the plastic feels rather cheap, as though the slightest of pressure will crack the material (to be fair, it's survived everything we've thrown at it so far). Additionally, there's a tiny gap in between the two pieces of plastic that comprise the outer casing that allows for dirt or debris to become lodged within if you're not using Sphero on an absolutely clean surface.

While the Sphero itself is an incredibly intelligent device, it's nothing without apps, which is where a selection of introductory applications comes in, each introducing you to a different ability within this tiny robotic ball.

The Sphero application is a hub of information concerning the Sphero as an overall product, allowing you to access firmware updates, discover new apps that are compatible with the device as they are released, and even set up your Sphero for the first time out of the box. The uses for the basic Sphero app are incredibly limited, with other apps serving more specific purposes in terms of controlling your new toy.

The Sphero Drive app allows you to play with the Sphero as you would a remote controlled car. You'll orient the Sphero by placing two fingers on the screen and rotating them until the Sphero's lone blue dot faces your location, and can then use the included control options to "drive" the Sphero around any flat surface. There are boost buttons on either side of the actual control pad, allowing you to increase the speed of the Sphero for a few seconds (which can help it clear some small obstacles, like areas in your home where hardwood might meet carpet, as an example), and this setup works well for either right or left-handed users. It can be a bit difficult to control Sphero from a single location, as losing sight of the device makes it incredibly difficult to retrieve unless you physically walk over to the Sphero and pick it up. In this way, you'll need to be just as mobile as Sphero is, and of course, the larger the open area, the more fun you can ultimately have with this particular app.