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Hello Kitty is the latest addition to 'Super Mario Maker'
Nintendo has added new characters to its Super Mario Maker before, but this week the title gains another fan favorite. Starting tomorrow evening (May 26th), there will be a new Event Course for players in North America to complete, and doing so will unlock both Hello Kitty and My Melody has playable characters. If you live in Europe or Japan, the two new options will be available the morning of Friday, May 27th.
Database error publishes info of 3 million Hello Kitty fans
Online researcher Chris Vickery uncovered a database this weekend containing the personal information of 3.3 million accounts associated with Hello Kitty Online and official Hello Kitty websites, including SanrioTown.com, HelloKitty.com and MyMelody.com. The information included users' first and last names, birthdays, genders, countries of origin, email addresses, password hashes, password hint questions and answers, and other data, CSO Online reports. Some of the information was encrypted, but "easily reversible," according to the site. The breach was the result of a misconfigured database installation and all of the servers are now secure, CSO says.
HTC's Butterfly s gets official Hello Kitty makeover
Last week, an HTC Butterfly s leaked out sporting Hello Kitty colors, and our Chinese sister site has now had a chance to play with one, in the fur. The celebrated feline's bow is now butterfly-shaped, of course, and it comes with kitty flight attendant and pilot figures wearing EVA Air uniforms, in honor of its Hello Kitty jets -- yes, that's a thing. Fortunately, the 5-inch device has plenty of room for all the stickers on the outside, and there are nine different wallpaper themes for the 1080p screen. HTC is marketing the device in the ubiquitous ladyphone category for China, but c'mon -- the Kitty's appeal transcends such pigeon-holing. It's now available for around $770 in Taiwan only, but you can catch more images at the gallery below.
HTC to show its soft side with Hello Kitty edition Butterfly s
The number of times Hello Kitty's popped up on Engadget over the years is quite astonishing, and thanks to HTC, the cat leaves yet another paw print here. Earlier today, our Taiwanese brethren received an invitation (embedded after the break) for next Monday's launch of the Butterfly s Hello Kitty limited edition. Interestingly and perhaps unsurprisingly, the cartoon character is seen wearing a uniform similar to that of EVA Air, a local airline that now operates five Hello Kitty edition planes. Later on, a Mobile01 forum user followed up with what appears to be a spy shot of said phone's printed ad, as shown above. Here you can see the feline's head -- with her butterfly hair clip highlighted for obvious reasons -- dominating the white back of the 5-inch phone. And with that cute wallpaper, we assume there will be other Hello Kitty features on the software side as well. All will be revealed next week, of course. Meanwhile, we're secretly hoping HTC's also planning on a One Max with a glowing arc reactor stuck on the back.
Visualized: Sergey Brin rides pink Teslamobile Model S, complete with Chromed out rims
Hello Kitty must be so jealous.
Visualized: Hello Kitty paints CES 2013 pink
Massive TVs, check. Slim laptops, check. Hello Kitty gadgets galore, check. So goes the typical CES checklist, and 2013 isn't any different. Several of the feline-adorned paraphernalia we saw on the show floor were repeats from last year, but we did manage to find a few new Kitty-branded appliances and accessories that are sure to give you an insulin shock. From toasters to Bluetooth speakers, go ahead and peruse the gallery after the break for probably the most amount of pink you'll ever see at an electronics trade show.
Cute quotient overload: eyes-on with the Street Fighter x Sanrio Fightstick for Xbox 360
Thought the holidays were over? So did we. Imagine our surprise, then, when we returned to the office to find one last, special package lying in wait: Mad Catz Street Fighter x Sanrio Arcade Fightstick Pro. As ridiculous explosions of cute go, this one takes the sugoku kawaii cake -- even the box is a Hello Kitty collector's wet dream. Obvious overall otaku appeal aside, Xbox 360 gamers interested in the Fightstick Pro will find an eight button "authentic Japanese-style Sanwa Denshi" layout, switches for button lock / unlock and three joystick configuration settings (d-pad, left or right analog stick), turbo functionality, as well as a headphone jack upfront and a storage compartment housing the 13-foot long USB cable around back. Really though, no amount of English words will do this kitsch item justice. So check out the gallery below for a photo tour of this adorable collision of anime worlds.
Street Fighter x Sanrio: a merchandising mash-up made in otaku heaven
A Kitty-chan hadouken? Surely that's the stuff of fan fiction dreams, except it's not. In a move that's certain to confound core gamers, Mad Catz has commissioned a (somewhat unholy) merchandising mash-up of two beloved Japanese franchises, Street Fighter x Sanrio, to be splashed across its Arcade Fightstick Pro (for Xbox 360 and PS3) and iPhone 5 case covers -- sold for $160 and $35, respectively. And the results? Well, they're adorably alarming. Cramming the totemo kawaii pantheon of critters from Sanrio's line into the personas from Capcom's fighter, gamers with special interests can soak in the send-ups that see Badtz-Maru outfitted as the infamous Ryu, Hello Kitty sporting Chun-Li's buns and Pochacco as the blonde-maned Ken, just to name a few. No doubt, it takes a special kind of person to appreciate a crossover of the most intrusive childhood memory kind. But we're willing to bet there are plenty of you somewhere out there.
Hello Kitty pays a visit to CES 2012: If you want it, we got it in pink
An electronics show wouldn't be an electronics show without celebrity endorsements. But there was one icon who had more product tie-ins than anyone else. Yep, Kitty-chan was in attendance and she had plenty of pink paraphernalia to hawk to unsuspecting fans of all things kawaii. We've collated together all the gear spotted at CES and, fortunately, there was more than just a few phone cases and laptop bags. Merchandise spotted includes Kitty-themed karaoke machines, alarm clocks with mounted laser cannons projectors, cordless phones and more. A brief video tour of some of our favorite surprises is coming soon, but until then, enjoy all that the super-deformed cat had to offer in our gallery below.Sean Cooper and Sean Buckley contributed to this post.
Mouse Computer's LuvBook S heals emotional scars, one Hello Kitty at a time
What the world needs now is just one thing, and that thing is a bejeweled Hello Kitty laptop. Fortunately, Japan's Mouse Computer is well aware of this, which is why it's unleashed the LuvBook S, pictured above. Designed in collaboration with Sanrio and Swarovski, this masterpiece is powered by a 2.2 GHz Intel Core i3-2330M processor and boasts an 11.6-inch, 1,366 x 768 display. It also packs a 500GB HDD and a 1.3 megapixel camera, but all that really matters is the swaggy centerpiece -- a heart-ensconced Hello Kitty mug made out of about 1,100 Swarovski stones and untold buckets of cuddles. The LuvBook is available now for ¥69,930 (about $900), at the source link below.
Pioneer intros Hello Kitty cordless phone, calls the '90s to brag
Is your passion for cordless phones only matched by your love of Hello Kitty? Boy have we got the product for you. From a technical standpoint, the TF-FN2000 is a largely unexceptional cordless phone / answering machine combo with a display that offers up phone numbers and missed calls. This edition does has a secret weapon, however: it's pink, covered in hearts and has an image of an adorable white cat with a bow. If that's good enough for you -- and you happen to live in Japan -- the phone will be available in early October. No word yet on pricing.
Hello Kitty, Snoopy lend their brand equity to the cute clamshell phone cause
In Japan, a certain hallowed distinction has been garnered by all ephemera cute and pretty. So, it goes without saying that this pair of oblong flip phones, with their familiar animated sponsors, should have the Harajuku hordes rushing in with charm straps at the ready. For its particular crack at kawaii, Panasonic's P-06C gets an understated splash of Snoopy cool, visible only through two available built-in themes. The clamshell entry comes with a 3-inch display, 5.1 megapixel camera and retails for about 28,560 yen (or $375). But, let's face it folks, the real stunner of the two is the Softbank-designed model Ms. Kitty-chan adorns. The Antique Berry-shaded 007SH KT packs a 3.4-inch display, 16.1 megapixel camera and Android 2.3 into a 180 degree foldable handset, and can be yours when it goes on sale next month. Be sure to jump past the break for a double dose of this wireless adorability.
TUAW Poll: What's the name of OS X 10.7?
Here at TUAW, we love possibilities. Yeah, we all know that Apple's new OS will be named something prosaic and big cat like OS X 10.7 Lion but until Apple actually makes its announcement, the waveform doesn't collapse. Possibilities still abound. TUAW spent this morning brainstorming alternatives to OS X Lion and puts them forth for your general consensus. Here's your opportunity to sound out with regard to OS naming. Whether there's anyone out there listening is another question; one that we will studiously avoid answering.[1] Vote for your favorite OS X name in our handy TUAW poll -- or add your own suggestions in the comments that follow. Sound out! It's your last chance before quantum happens. %Poll-54182% [1]TUAW is an unofficial weblog and has no association whatsoever with Apple. Your vote is for entertainment purposes only. Contact a professional to determine if public polling is right for you. In case of inadvertent product naming, discontinue polling immediately. Seek help in the event that this poll produces irritation, rashes, or irrational blog commenting syndrome.
Mimoco bumps out yet another Hello Kitty flash drive to celebrate Sanrio's 50th anniversary
It's no secret that we're very fond of Hello Kitty gadgets -- just like pretty much everyone else on the planet. And Sanrio's lucrative partnership with Mimoco has spun the famous cat's rep into... more awesome flash drives. It seems like Sanrio is always celebrating some kind of birthday, and for the company's 50th anniversary they've busted out more than their fair share of gear. This time, it's a "classic" Hello Kitty flash drive that comes in 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB capacities. We're kind of in love with Kitty's elongated face on this model, so if you so choose, you can grab one of these up for a starting price of $34.95.
Hello Kitty engine oil: because not everyone can drive electric cars
If you're going to emit noxious fumes into the air each time you step on the pedal, at least have the decency to emit cute noxious fumes.
Goth Hello Kitty PMP gets a splash of Swarovski, says she hasn't sold out
Look, if there was one thing that the all black, tiny little Hello Kitty PMP was missing, it was some bling. Fear not, enticed consumers: she gets what she wants. iRiver's just unleashed a few updated versions -- basically identical to the last ones, but HK's now sporting a little more glitter. The Hello Kitty Music Player Premium DX has two versions -- one where Miss K's got a bow in her hair, and another where she's donned a flower. The 4GB PMP runs ¥9,980 (around $111) and is available in Japan now. Meow. [Thanks, Brad]
Hello Kitty gets another 12.1 meowgapixel camera to celebrate her 35th anniversary
Can you believe that Hello Kitty's turning 35? She sure does look great for her age! Surprisingly this is not the first 12.1 megapixeled Casio digicam we've seen outed to commemorate this most special of occasions -- but it certainly comes in some of the hottest pinks we've seen thus far. This limited edition, Korea-only Casio EX-Z90 boasts all the same features as the regular one -- 3X optical zoom, auto-detect and "Intelligent" autofocus -- plus those megapixels we already mentioned. Really, the biggest selling point here is the blinged up branding, and we'd assume that makes it worth the KRW 350,000 (around $300) price tag.
Hello Kitty 13.3-inch LCD TV inspires animal cruelty
Look, we don't enjoy being angry all the time. But dammit, just look at this TV will you? Now imagine staring at that bow and whisker adorned 13.3-inch LCD TV for hours on end just like the neglected child who'll receive it on Christmas Eve. Not that the specs matter but this ¥49,800 (about $565) set bungs a 1,280x800 pixel, LED-backlit panel into that mass of plastic sporting a weak 55-degree vertical viewing angle and 100-degree left-to-right. Brightness is measured at 275nits with a contrast ratio of just 500:1. Hey, at least the remote control features a "kitty button" that brings up the mouthless-puss' staid visage when pressed. Check it with the display turned off after the break. Or is that the backside? Unfortunately, after you've seen an internet goat, you can't stop seeing 'em. Hello Kitty, indeed.
iriver takes the leash off new black Hello Kitty PMP
iriver's newest dedicated PMP is something to behold. A shiny black (with gold accents!) version of its no doubt beloved Hello Kitty player, this newest addition is all about its looks. The little player comes in 2GB and 4GB storage varieties, comes with a USB cable, ear buds, and a cute little lanyard for attaching it to things like your beltloop. The cases they make for the Hello Kitty PMP -- such as the red devil horns -- essentially sell themselves. They're going on sale just in time for the holidays and the new year -- but this one's a Japan-only release for the time being. It'll run you ¥7,980 (about $90) to grab one. There's one more shot of this glorious product after the break!
Moneual's MiNEW A10 nettop gets preciously attacked by Hello Kitty
You remember Moneual, right? You know -- the guys and gals playing a torrented movie on their demo unit at a trade show. Now that we're on the same page, have a look at the show-stopper above. That's the Hello Kitty-embellished MiNEW A10, or in other words, the most outrageous nettop to ever see the light of day. The wildest part is that existing A10 owners can even make their relatively sane looking machine morph into cuteness overload for the tidy sum of ₩150,000 ($123). Or you can just get a whole new rig that no one else has to know about for ₩540,000 ($443) -- totally your call there. One more frightening look is after the break.[Via Akihabara News]
