The ideal tech toy for the big kid in your life

The RoboMe is a customizable robot that bases its personality and behavior on its owner's iPhone or iPod Touch.

The RoboMe is a customizable robot that bases its personality and behavior on its owner's iPhone or iPod Touch.

Its makers, WowWee claim it is aimed at children aged eight and upwards, but there aren't many pre-teens that have access to two iPhones, which is what you'll need to really make the most of RobioMe.

The small sensor-laden droid can autonomously negotiate living room obstacles as it responds to its master's voice and is sufficiently self-aware to know when someone is trying to shake its hand.

But it's when an iPhone is inserted to the gadget that it comes to life. The phone's screen becomes RoboMe's face -- which is fully customizable, from its eyes and nose to whether it looks like a robot or a family member -- and dictates its personality. How you set up the app will dictate how the robot responds to different situations and you can even change its stock voice to your own. It can be programmed to behave in certain ways in different situations or to perform different actions based on voice commands.

The $110 device also comes with a remote control unit for easier use, but it's when RoboMe is paired with a second iPhone or iPad that things get interesting -- and potentially creepy. When activated, you can use the second iDevice to hear what the robot hears and see what it sees, making it a great device for spying on the neighbors or checking up on the kids. However, it's unclear whether or not it's capable of opening a fridge, carrying drinks or holding a broom.