The MP3 player is doll shaped (quelle surprise) and has 512MB of memory, so enough for the needs of most bright young things. Last year, it introduced a digital camera that lets people download images of Disney characters from its Web site to their photos. Products like these represent a change not only in the design and function of toys, but also in how toy makers use their Web properties. Dan ( Twitter, Google+) is TechRadar's Former Deputy Editor and is now in charge at our sister site T3.

Mattel’s new toy follows the success of Webkinz, a line of Web-savvy stuffed animals made by Ganz, which also sells various sigh-inducing (albeit unplugged) teddy bears. The MP3 player actually offers a good opportunity for parents to teach girls about computer organization and file management (really). Each element of Barbie Girls--from safety to music--is designed to help Barbie win back market share from the brash Bratz line, said independent toy industry consultant Christopher Byrne.Incidentally, the MP3 player functions perfectly well on it’s own and the recipient does not need to go into the online community at all. We have an advantage as a media company because we have all this, where toy companies have to create content. Over the next few years, you’ll see a lot of companies finding ways to create products that are Web enabled,” said, Marc Rosenberg, chief marketing officer at Zizzle. Gaming - The trend of creating virtual worlds for kids presents opportunities for gaming companies to create immersive experiences that engage kids and monetize them through subscriptions and in-app purchases.

On the downside, most of the activity in the Barbie Girls world is related to earning virtual bucks and spending them. com and its 22 or so other Web sites as advertising forums, places to showcase toys with the hope that children will nag their parents for them.The inclusion of a social networking space for young girls is an even braver move (even with the extra security measures). Personal experiance with little cousin) I decided to get it for her ninth birthday, and she absolutely loved it. When you link the super-stylish Barbie Girls device, you can unlock loads more cool stuff on BarbieGirls. Mattel plans to run some television ads for the product in the fall, but the site is expected to be the primarily driver of sales, said Chuck Scothon, general manager and senior vice president of girls, Mattel Brands.

Join 322,509 entrepreneurs, innovators and CEOs who rely on our weekly trend report to stay ahead of the crowd. To ensure girls' safety in public chats, Mattel devised a limited vocabulary of 2,000 words the girls can use on the site, designed to prevent use of sexual language, profanity or hurtful words such as "stupid" or "hate". Only in private chats (Secret B Chats) with a "bff" (the girl's best friend has to PERSONALLY come and connect it to the home computer; that's how you know it's genuine) can a girl divulge personal information. In my opinion the new Barbie MP3 players which are to be released sometime later this year are going to be one of the biggest sellers this Christmas. I think we've got a hit on our hands," said Reyne Rice, a New York-based toy trends expert at the Toy Industry Association.Kids look at video content or virtual content as their toys,” said Jessi Dunne, executive vice president of global toys for Disney. With over two quadrillion wicked looks and styles to choose from, you can create a totally cool avatar and design your own funky virtual bedroom. In Barbie's biggest re-hash since 1959, the 'Barbie Girl' is an MP3 player that can also connect to a live BarbieGirls.

Girls will be able to create jewelry, decorate picture frames and collect and trade their Spotz, which are sort of like charm bracelet tokens. For girls to understand the level of detail, the level of content, truly the experience of BarbieGirls,” Mr.Should be great to watch how social commentators place the new tech savvy Barbie as an intellectual compared to the high-boots short-skirt vacuous Bratz. The Barbie Girls MP3 player is a great options for girls who have put an MP3 player on their Christmas lists and who enjoy online social worlds. The Barbie Girls experience is like no other because girls are in control at every level," said Chuck Scothon of Mattel.