Homestar Planetarium Goes 3D for Anniversary

Written by: Michael Keferl on June 5, 2009 at 12:02 pm | In PRODUCT INNOVATIONS | No Comments

3D planetariums seem to be popping up all over Tokyo. Tokyomango explored one at the National Science Museum, the Miraikan has a pretty nice one as we’ve heard, and Sony Explorascience just opened up this week with theirs after a full renewal.

Now Sega Toys is doing a special promotion where 10,000 lucky Homestar Planetarium (shop link) owners will receive special 3D projection inserts and glasses to bring the experience home. This is to celebrate the 5 year anniversary of the Homestar series of home planetariums designed by the creator of the Miraikan’s own system, the Megastar II Cosmos.

Via IT Media

Tags: gadgets, Homestar, Lifestyle
Category: PRODUCT INNOVATIONS
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, DIGITAL LIFE, LIFESTYLE / FASHION

Homestar Globe planetarium projects inside

Written by: Michael Keferl on January 26, 2009 at 2:22 am | In DIGITAL LIFE | 1 Comment

While planetariums typically project, Sega Toys’ upcoming Homestar Globe is completely internal. Designed by Takayuki Oohira, inventor of the Homestar Planetarium series, the desktop viewers allow users to peer inside to see the stars, planets, and constellations backlit in high-quality.

Hoemstar Globe was announced for June release at last week’s Toy Forum. The details aren’t completely clear (exchange of internal plates, etc), but the concept places the device somewhere between executive gift and cool coffee table conversation starter.

Tags: gadgets, Homestar, Sega Toys
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Homestar Pro 2nd Edition home planetarium - Sega Toy Forum

Written by: Michael Keferl on January 23, 2009 at 11:59 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE | No Comments

UPDATE: You can now buy the Homestar PRO 2nd Edition online.

This week we had the chance to see the latest offerings for 2009 from Sega Toys, a company that has gone from just making toys for kids to creating innovative lifestyle goods for the adult market. We’ll be covering several in a row here, the first of which is the continuation of a classic in this “Ippin Mono” (rare goods) series from Sega: The Homestar Pro Second Edition.

Picture via Impress

It’s been a long run for the Homestar Series of home planetariums, which has combined education with good design, and turned it into a truly modern home accessory. The new 2nd Edition, to be available from the summer, is combining multiple features (moon, 10,000 stars, earth) into one disc for wall and ceiling projection and changing the case design slightly, but still keeping the LED power, shooting stars, and other features that have made it famous.

From the original Homestar Homestar Pro to the bath time Homestar Spa and the latest high-end Homestar EXTRA, Sega has provided a steady stream of products around a popular theme (space & astronomy) for a generation of consumers that still loves its toys. A shrinking market for kids is a primary reason of course, but the approach from Sega has been steady and well-targeted.

UPDATE: Now available online!

Tags: Homestar, Sega Toys
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Homestar EXTRA from Sega Toys coming soon

Written by: Michael Keferl on September 4, 2008 at 6:44 am | In DIGITAL LIFE | 8 Comments

UPDATE: Now that it’s been released, the Homestar Extra is available online, though only from Japan.

What we first reported on as the Homestar EX has now become the Homestar EXTRA, and now we have a better idea as to what’s inside this major upgrade in the best-selling home planetarium series from Sega Toys.

While the other Homestar models are basically for home use only, the EXTRA is not made to replace the current Homestar Pro (shop link). Instead it’s being marketed to fashionable bars, hotels, schools, and upscale customers as a new model for more professional purposes.

Improved features include 5 times the illumination of the Homestar Pro, making it possible to use with dim room lighting, and a multifunction remote control. The shooting star function, once only random in timing, is now random in placement as well.

Also using large Star Discs, the Homestar EXTRA projects from 45,000 to over 120,000 stars and clusters compared to 10,000 for the Homestar Pro. Of course, the size is considerably larger as can be seen in the comparison photo, but the resulting projections are a marked improvement and a new landmark in planetariums for the average star gazer.

Photo from IT Media

Unfortunately, it looks like we’re going to be waiting a little while as well. The Homestar Extra will be released in December of this year for about $7-800 dollars and sold only in Japan, but will surely be available for import from day one.

Tags: gadgets, Homestar, Lifestyle, Sega Toys
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS

Homestar EX from Sega Toys

Written by: Michael Keferl on June 19, 2008 at 6:55 pm | In DIGITAL LIFE | 8 Comments

UPDATE: The official name has now become the Homestar EXTRA, and it’s coming out in December 2008!
UPDATE #2: The Homestar Extra is now available online

For our first post from the first day of the 2008 International Tokyo Toy Show, we are proud to introduce the latest in Sega Toys’ Homestar home planetarium series. Yeah, they just debuted the Homestar Spa in the last couple of weeks, but the Homestar EX is poised to be the Pro-version of the…err…Homestar Pro? (product page link)

Though it won’t be released until the end of the year, the Homestar EX uses large star discs, is a much higher-quality home planetarium than anything else in the Homestar series, and is bright enough to see the stars clearly with the lights on in the room! Other new features include a digital multi-function remote control, and a truly random (not fixed) shooting star function.

Of course, such high celestial technology doesn’t come cheap. While no price has been determined, the Homestar EX is expected to sell for over $800 when released.

Update: Now available here!

Tags: Homestar, Homestar EX, Sega, Tokyo Toy Show, Toys
Category: DIGITAL LIFE
Other categories: MARKETING IDEAS, LIFESTYLE / FASHION, PRODUCT INNOVATIONS