And Terra doesn’t want hugs. What they want instead is dog poop. Yes, you read that right. The duration that the ISP will be giving free Wi-Fi to the area where their poo weighing stations are located depends on how much poop has been placed in it.

The more poop there is, the longer users in the area will have access free Wi-Fi.

This is only a publicity stunt by Terra and will probably be phased out in a few weeks or so. And it’s a shame, considering that it’s a pretty good incentive to give people to clean up after their pooches.

[via Lost at E Minor via Dvice]

I like powered USB hubs, but that doesn’t mean that cute and portable ones can’t be useful too. Check out the Poodle USB Hub that looks like your favorite four-legged friend, but has enough USB ports to keep your gadgets connected when you’re on the go.

The Poodle USB Hub has enough room to plug in four USB devices into cables, which make up the dog’s “legs,” and its eyeball lights up when it’s in use. Assuming you like poodles, I can’t think of a better USB hub for you.

You can get your Poodle USB Hub online from Fred Flare for $16(USD).

[via Geek Alerts]

It didn’t take an Imperial fleet working around the clock with Vader and the Emperor nagging them either. Instead it was accomplished with just a Sharpie. It looks amazingly awesome. Great work. Good dog.

[Hobo Hiatus via Obvious Winner]

These goofy looking docks look like a dog’s body, and convert your iPhone or iPod Touch into a virtual pet – not only capable of displaying cartoon emotions, but of actually moving their robotic bodies around and doing tricks. Just dock your iOS device, load up the SmartPet app, and you have your own virtual Fido. You can interact with your pet by caressing it on the touchscreen, or command it using voice and gesture recognition capabilities.

Here, check out these cute little pups in action:

See, they didn’t poop once – though they look kind of freaky when the app menu loads up instead of a dog face. Bandai expects to release the SmartPet dogs on April 28th in Japan. I’d expect to see these turn up at importers shortly thereafter, and barking around on desks around the globe later this Spring. Pricing for the SmartPet has yet to be announced. While you wait, here’s a little more footage from Bandai:

[via Macotakara (JP)]

Yeah, so basically somebody dressed up their pug (named Chubbs) as the Wampa from Hoth and shot a short film. A film which I would now like to see extended and fleshed out. I could watch this dog eating a Tauntaun and harassing Luke Skywalker for hours.

What other characters can we replace with cute little dogs? All of the Ewoks certainly. Definately Jar-Jar. Chewbacca for sure. Someone make this happen. I want an all-dog cast of the Star Wars saga on my desk by next week. Go.

[via Geeks are Sexy]

It’s called the DarwinBot and it uses a Parallax EDDIE chasis and is programmed with the beta of Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 4. That makes sense as well because Correa is a developer in Microsoft’s robotics division. It has all of the bells and whistles you would expect from a telepresence bot for dogs, like a treat dispenser, a ball-launching ballista, a ball-retrieving robotic arm, and speakers so Darwin can hear his master’s voice.

He can even interact somewhat naturally with Darwin thanks to the onboard tablet PC, Skype, and a pan-and-tilt webcam. There is also a Kinect camera system on top for obstacle avoidance and a downward-facing webcam for the absolutely necessary ball retrieval. He controls it over the Internet with an XBox 360 controller. Surprisingly, Darwin isn’t freaked out at all by the robot and the mechanical noises it makes. The dog seems to get what is going on and for the most part acts naturally as if he is with his master.

[via Neatorama via Geekosystem]

So what’s Norway’s solution to this? The Hundehiet, which translates to “Dog Den” in English. These are basically storage lockers where you can leave your dogs or cats in while you pick up some groceries. To rent out a space, it costs 10 Kroner (approximately $1.72), which is relatively cheap.

It’s better than leaving your pet in your car but I’m still not very comfortable with the storage lockers though, specially during the summer. But hey I suppose it’s better than nothing. Your dog, on the other hand, may have something different to say about it.

[via PSFK via Pop Up City]

The player has to raise Wappy though five different stages of development. The stages range from a puppy up to an adult dog. As the player is able to take care of the pet and as it grows the behavior and voice of the robot pet changes as well. Each of the pets is customizable and comes with stickers.

The robot dog accessory will bark at the player and the game will translate what the barks mean for the players. The pet has a digital mode so the player can nurture the virtual pooch even away from the hardware portion. The game is only for Nintendo DS  and sells for $49.99 (USD) including the robot dog accessory. This is one pet that won’t poop in the yard and parents won’t end up having to feed.

Not only can HyQ run and jump, it’s legs are also actively compliant, which means that the robot can change the stiffness of each limb. It’s impressive to watch it do it’s thing in the video. In some ways, more impressive than it’s predecessors.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

This ‘bot can negotiate rough terrain, thanks to actuators that absorb shocks and vibrations without damage to the body. It can even kick! HyQ weighs 70 kilograms and can walk and trot at speeds up to 6 kilometers per hour. It can rear up like a horse, as well as squat jump and get all four feet off the ground. This looks like the most capable robot dog/horse yet.

[via IEEE Spectrum]

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Don’t worry, he gets plenty of treats for his service and I’m sure they don’t keep him in the tank for long.

[via Craftzine]

The concept has a scoop that opens when you press a button and then closes on the poo. It then drops some sort of capsule that burns the poo to ash that you can dump out. There is no mention of what the capsule is made from, which makes me wonder if this is a gag. Check out the video to see the far-fetched product concept in action:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

I like the idea of it though, it would be great to not have to deal with bagged turds if you are a pet owner. Picking up poo with a bag on your hand is nearly as gross as not having a bag on your hand. The maker claims the AshPuppie (Poopie) will be ready for early 2012.

[via CNET via Dvice]

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

As noted in the video, it doesn’t move backward, apparently because most animals don’t like to walk backwards either. Instead they turn. It’s pretty neat, but now we have too many robot dogs and not enough robot dog cages for my liking.

[via IEEE Spectrum via Popsci]

A lot of people probably feel this way because why else would a company come up with something called the iPet Companion? (And no, it’s not by Apple, even though it sort of feels like the name was borrowed from them.)

The iPet Companion actually consists of a set of robotic toys (two, to be exact), a webcam, and a wireless control box that’s linked to your home network. You control the toys via the controls and watch how your pet reacts at home via the camera.

It sounds like an interesting idea, but something just feels off about it. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like it takes out a huge chunk of the fun when it comes to playing with your pets. They probably feel the same way on their end, because your dogs or cats will obviously prefer something with a human touch rather than play with a swinging ball tied to some mechanical contraption.

The iPet Companion normally retails for $850 for cats, and $900 for dogs, but they’re currently running a promo so you can get the system for just $350 to $400. You can also give the iPet a go by checking out their site and playing with some animals housed in some shelters.

[via Gizmag via Dvice]

AlphaDog looks just like BigDog with the exception of being larger and having a higher payload capability and range. AlphaDog can carry up to 400 pounds of gear and has some other cool systems. Alpha has internal GPS and computer vision that allows it to follow along behind a solider automatically.

The US Marines and DARPA plan to put the AlphaDog through its paces next year. The thing still creeps me out. I can see it going bezerk and stomping all over my head. Check out the video to see AlphaDog in action.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

[via IEEE Spectrum]

Watching the video is somewhat eerie, because you can see Boston Dymanics’ BigDog climbing a forested hill, all by itself. It can carry heavy loads and is powered by an engine that drives the hydraulic actuators needed for locomotion. BigDog is the size of a large dog or a small mule: 3 feet in length, 2.5 feet in height, and it weighs about 240lbs.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The onboard computer keeps everything balanced. It can run at 4mph, climb slopes up to 35 degrees, walk across rubble and climb muddy hiking trails. It will also walk in snow and water and can carry a 340lbs payload, which is pretty cool.

Check out more videos of BigDog in action over Boston Dynamics’ YouTube channel.

The guys over at Practical Evil dressed up Dante the Samoyed as the game’s canine protagonist. Not only does he have the fiery shield and white wings, but he even has the facial markings of the game’s dog (applied with dog-safe food coloring, of course.)

If you’d like to dress up your own pooch in the same Amaterasu get-up as Dante, head on over to Practical Evil for full details. Note that it probably won’t look quite as good if your pup is a chihuahua or pekingese.

[via The Mary Sue via TDW Geek]

So it’s up to us to make gadgets that will do the jobs they are too lazy to do. Like fetching our slippers, retrieving the newspaper and fetching our keys for instance. Fetch My Keys is shaped like a dog, because it is the dog that you wish you had. And if there’s any justice, the dog will see it’s likeness, see what it does and be properly shamed. Maybe even feel bad enough to start doing some cool stuff.

All you have to do to find your keys is whistle and the nose will glow and make a noise to lead you to your keys. It will cost you £5.00. (~$8 USD)

[via Chip Chick]

It’s battery-powered, and it will send your puppy back to dreamland because it acts like part of your puppy’s pack. It’s got a simulated heartbeat, which is what will make your puppy believe that it’s alive (not that much is needed to fool a puppy). It should keep your puppy resting in its crate while you’ll be able to sleep in your bed.

You can get the Sleepy Bunny from Firebox for £15.99 (~$26 USD) and hope that your dog doesn’t try humping it too much.

[via GeekAlerts]

I rarely leave her at home alone, given that she’s still 8 weeks-old and all, but sometimes, there’s just no one left at home to care for the little tyke. On those days, I end up postponing my out-of-the-house chores or getting groceries because I am just not comfortable with the idea of leaving little Remy alone in the car while I go out shopping. (Dogs get heat stroke and die when left in hot, enclosed areas, like parked cars under the sweltering heat.)

However, for dog owners who do bring their best friend along with them for a ride or while they run errands, then getting the ‘Too Hot For Spot?’ Static Cling Car Window Thermometer would probably be a good idea.

These creatively-designed clings are also functioning thermometers that give you an approximation of just how hot it is in your car and if it’s a temperature that your dog can tolerate.  I think this is a fine idea, given that a lot of owners, both negligent or simply clueless, leave their pets inside locked cars only to return and discover that their dog is already, well… *makes slicing motion across neck*

Obviously, this isn’t something that you’d want. Your dog definitely deserves better, so you can take the extra precaution by getting one of these thermometer clings from TooHotForSpot.com for $10.95 (USD) each.

[via Cool Hunting via Oh Gizmo!]

Each of those pooches has to have its own GPS collar and then one Astro 320 unit can track up to ten of those collar-wearing dogs at once for up to nine miles on flat terrain. The handheld unit has a color screen that can be read in direct sunlight too. The strange part about his system to me is what good would it be to have your hunting dog nine miles away? If you can train that dog to activate his GPS when he sees some prey, maybe having the dog so far away would be a way to hunt.

I guess this would be a cool system for people with escape-artist dogs too. I once had a Jack Russell terrier that was too smart for his own good. He could escape from anything, and I would end up prowling the neighborhood looking for him. You have to be serious about your pet tracking though to buy this tracker. The Astro 320 is $649 (USD) with a single collar.