I have a Nabaztag/tag

I have received my Nabaztag/tag just a day ago, and it is a cute little thingie.

What can it do?

Actually, not much. It is a wireless device (client) which access Violet’s Nabaztag servers to get its commands. You, theoretically, cannot hijack the session and use it directly over LAN, but you must go through the Internet. This leads to delays in assigning commands.

It can move its ears (surprisingly, very quietly), it can play sound, either by text-to-voice (probably happens on the server-side) or streaming MP3 (cannot, as far as I’ve noticed, play MMS directly). It can also report its ears positions.

As you probably know, the more important thing is not about what it can do, but about how we can utilize it. Violet has added a list of RSS sources for the Nabaztag to read aloud. Through server-side sub processes, it can tell the time (usually at full hours), it can act as a wakeup clock (doesn’t do its job for me – not enough to wake me up), etc. It can probably take part in games based on the location of the ears (for example, if you agree, move the right ear down, etc).

You can check wikipedia for its entry. They cover most of it, maybe except for how cute it is, and it is.

If it were to end at this, I would have been quite frustrated, especially with the device’s price. However, Violet has exported an API which allows me (and you, and him, and everyone!) to send commands (unlimited by the number, as it seems) to the Nabaztag – Say this, move your ears to this position, etc. It allows me to send a choreography, aka a dance, to the device, and it will perform it based on the timing set by the sender.

I have wasted some of my day yesterday to write down a simple (and quite ugly, if you ask me) form which will use the API for simple commands. In my TODO list there is to implement the whole choreography thing, and make it easy. I would like to build this interface as a base for possible other utilizations, such as community games, etc.

I have uploaded my API using PHP form here which is free for use (of course) and everyone is encouraged to use it and/or modify it, as long as you give me my credits :-). I’m not sure about its security yet… nabi.php.txt

It’s a raw thing, but it works. Don’t forget to:

1. Activate your API interface in http://my.nabaztag.com

2. Change the parameters of your SN and your TOKEN

3. Place the script on PHP enabled site.

Enjoy!