Mattel moving nicely lately. Seems to have gotten a little momentum. One of my picks this year for 50%+ gain.
Article on Mattel/Intel cooperation.
Wednesday February 3 11:48 PM ET
Intel And Mattel Venture Unveils First Toys
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The year-old partnership of chip giant Intel Corp. (Nasdaq:INTC - news) and toy maker Mattel Inc. (NYSE:MAT - news) announced its first two products Wednesday -- an electronic microscope and a video camera that both work with a personal computer.
The toys, called the Intel Play X3 Microscope and Intel Play Me2Cam, will both be on display next week at the American International Toy Fair in New York, the toy industry's biggest trade show and event.
The companies said the products, the first in the Intel Play Line, will be available from Mattel in the fall of 1999, at an approximate retail price of $99 each. Prices do not include the personal computer, which is required for both.
The Intel Play Line products were designed by a team of about six engineers from Intel and six toy designers from Mattel, in a dedicated toy lab in Portland, Oregon, as a result of their joint venture announced a year ago.
The Intel Play X3 Microscope uses digital video imaging technology to let kids magnify and display an image in a microscope and then play with the images on the PC.
For example, a child could place a worm under the microscope and manipulate its image on the computer screen, make a video, or even turn it into artwork. The Intel Play X3 Microscope is targeted to children from six to 12. Executives said the product also appeals to older kids and adults.
''You should see the crowd of Intel engineers surrounding the product (in the lab),'' said Mary Ann Norris, a director of the Intel/Mattel Smart Toy lab project. ''These aren't kids.''
The Intel Play Me2Cam uses a digital video camera and CD-ROM software for children to see themselves on the computer screen and use their bodies to navigate in a virtual world on the screen. The Play Me2Cam is for children from four to six.
''The goal (of the joint venture) wasn't to take existing categories of toys and stick electronics inside them,'' said Michael Bruck, the other director of the Intel/Mattel lab. ''There isn't even a defined category for these kinds of toys. We wanted to go off and do something new and different.''
Mattel already enhances many of its toys with electronics, such as its Barbie with a digital camera and CD-ROM software
Regards
Neil |
