Mir:ror & Nano:ztags From Violet

I decided to treat myself (and Tabia my Nabaztag rabbit) by purchasing another piece of cracking good technology from Violet, the Mir:ror & Nano:ztags:

Mir:ror detects the objects you show it and gives them powers: they’re able to trigger applications and multimedia content automatically, communicate over the Internet, have a soul.

Nano:ztags are lovable micro-rabbits with a RFID Ztamp in their tummy. Program them to play any content or application you choose each time you show them to a Nabaztag:tag or Mir:ror.

The box arrived in good order, there was the ability to track but it was in French and I wasn’t fussed about trying Google Translate. I eagerly touched my hands to my latest gadget and gently unpacked. I surprisingly found the unpacking as pleasurable as the use – I particularly liked the little cut-out on the top flap that showed the text “Be curious…look inside”. I certainly was curious.

The first thing to see was the quick-start guide. I appreciated finding that first as often you have to dig around the box or even never realise till too late it is there. Once I took that layer of polystyrene out underneath was the mir:ror itself. Quite small, more so than I expected but neat and sleek just like Tabia. Another layer or polystyrene later there were my two new Nano:ztags peeking up at me and three RFID ztamps by their sides. I politely introduced them to Tabia and then go on with the business of installation.

The mir:ror has to be attached to an internet-connected computer but the first thing to do was to go to www.violet.net/mirror/start to download the software. Nice to see options not only for Windows and Mac but our friendly Linux penguin. It didn’t take long to download and then I could attach the mir:ror to an available USB port.

Note – it seems to have to be connected directly into the PC as mine did not work through a powered hub port. The USB was kinda stiff to plug in/unplug but that might be OK after a few uses.

Once you’re all connected you get a screen asking you to register and name your new device – easily done. Then the real fun begins.

I first showed my orange nano:ztag to the mir:ror. A screen popped up where I could rename him if I wished (I did) and then I could add applications to him. My first app was a Twitter one where he would send a message to Twitter for me – options were for when I showed him to the mir:ror or when I removed him. I thought it would be kinda cool to leave him sat on the mir:ror while I worked and then when I finished for the day and removed him he would send a message stating the fact. It worked nicely although I had to be careful not to remove him by accident else my Twitter friends might think I didn’t put in a full day of work.

After playing with that I also set him up to speak me a message whenever I showed him to the mir:ror through the ‘count & reset’ application. Now he welcomes me with a cheery and uplifting message every day and resets after a week so the first day of the week I get a slightly different one. The increments and resets can be customised to your own preferences.

I still have my other Nano:ztag & the RFID ztamps to play with so I see a lot of fun in my future.