Robotic dog - new pet

An iPhone can be used for just about anything these days. Japan's Bandai, the world's third largest toy manufacturer, has managed to turn Apple’s iconic handset into something kids will be sure to enjoy: A robotic dog.

Scheduled for release on April 28th, the Smartpet is a comprised of three parts: the robot body, iPhone (or iPod Touch) for the head, and the free Smartpet application which brings the pet to life on screen.

The robot dog has a variety of sounds and over 100 different facial animations. It can recognize your face, voice and different gestures through front facing camera and app. The Smartpet costs about EUR 60.