#furby-toy-history

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Podcast
fromHarvard Business Review
1 day ago

How the Walkman, Game Boy, Liquid Death, and Pokemon Became Surprise Hits

Kozo Ohsone created a portable stereo cassette deck in 1979, revolutionizing personal music listening despite skepticism from colleagues and superiors.
Music production
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 days ago

The Guide #240: My new obsession is the mesmerising world of the Chipmunks at 16rpm

A 2015 album features slowed-down covers of punk and pop songs by the Chipmunks, creating a unique and cult-status sound experience.
fromFast Company
2 weeks ago

American Girl is bringing back its original dolls. Moms might be excited but will your seven-year-old care?

American Girl was acquired by Mattel for $700 million and drifted steadily away from what made it special. The historical characters were retired, replaced by contemporary dolls reflecting girls' lives today.
Women in technology
Digital life
fromBuzzFeed
3 weeks ago

22 Still-Popular Things That Older People Thought Would Just Be "Quick Fads"

Certain trends and cultural phenomena have persisted far beyond initial expectations of being mere fads.
Television
fromBustle
3 weeks ago

Seeing Aging Cartoons Is A Special Kind Of Heartbreak

Woody's aging in Toy Story 5 challenges the unspoken rule that animated characters do not age.
Gadgets
fromEngadget
3 weeks ago

Robosen Soundwave review: A childhood dream made real

Robosen's latest Soundwave model impressively combines design accuracy with auto-conversion features, appealing to nostalgic fans of the Transformers franchise.
Artificial intelligence
fromFuturism
3 weeks ago

Leaked Claude Code Shows Anthropic Building Mysterious "Tamagotchi" Feature Into It

Anthropic's leaked Claude chatbot code revealed unique features like a pet system, an always-on AI agent, and mood tracking capabilities.
#nostalgia-marketing
fromEntrepreneur
1 month ago
Marketing

Could 90s-Inspired Marketing Be the Key to Winning Over Gen Z?

Nostalgia marketing leverages retro branding to build trust with Gen Z by invoking comforting memories and feelings of authenticity.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago
Games

Even for fans like me, the Pokemon 30th anniversary stuff' is a bit much

Pokemon's 30th anniversary celebration features extensive merchandise and experiences, but most offerings are expensive products targeting nostalgic adults rather than meaningful content.
Marketing
fromEntrepreneur
1 month ago

Could 90s-Inspired Marketing Be the Key to Winning Over Gen Z?

Nostalgia marketing leverages retro branding to build trust with Gen Z by invoking comforting memories and feelings of authenticity.
Games
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Even for fans like me, the Pokemon 30th anniversary stuff' is a bit much

Pokemon's 30th anniversary celebration features extensive merchandise and experiences, but most offerings are expensive products targeting nostalgic adults rather than meaningful content.
fromThe Verge
1 month ago

The cute and cursed story of Furby

The hottest toy of 1998 was sort of adorable, and sort of annoying. It couldn't do much - couldn't do anything, really - but it could look at you, it could say some nonsense phrases, and it seemed uncannily aware of the world around it. That's all Furby needed to pretty much take over the world.
Humor
Philosophy
fromApaonline
1 month ago

Nostalgic Longing for Childhood

Nostalgia differs fundamentally from memory; it synthesizes memory, imagination, and fantasy to restore the past into the present rather than accurately recollect it.
Marketing
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

How Barbie became a $1 billion-a-year brand

Barbie sales are declining after years of dominance despite the blockbuster movie, while competitors like Hasbro gain ground in digital gaming and interactive entertainment.
#american-girl-dolls
Privacy professionals
fromFuturism
1 month ago

Children's Toys Are Shipping With Adult AI Inside Them

Leading AI companies conduct minimal vetting of developers accessing their models, allowing child-unsafe AI products to reach market despite known risks.
Parenting
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

AI toys for young children need tighter rules, researchers warn

Researchers call for stricter regulation of AI-powered toys for toddlers after finding they frequently misunderstand children, respond inappropriately to emotions, and may confuse early social development.
Pets
fromBusiness Insider
2 months ago

I found the next hot toy trend: It's the highland cow.

Highland cows are emerging as the next trending plush toy, poised to replace capybaras and axolotls in toy aisles nationwide.
Gadgets
fromYanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
2 months ago

This LEGO Furby 30th Anniversary Build Comes With Working Eyes and a Secret Agent Hidden in Its Head - Yanko Design

A 1,700-piece LEGO Furby recreates the toy's expressive features, nostalgic paranoia, and designer Easter eggs with practical mechanisms and collector-sized scale.
Venture
from24/7 Wall St.
1 month ago

Mattel CEO: 2026 is transformational year for brand-centric strategy

Mattel is transforming into an IP entertainment platform in 2026 through movie releases, toy innovation, and digital games, leveraging the entertainment-to-toy flywheel demonstrated by Barbie's success.
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Barbie, Inclusion, and the Psychology of Play in Chaos

Inclusive, gender-expansive toys like modern Barbie provide stability, promote empathy, and support emotional and cognitive flexibility in children amid cultural uncertainty.
fromKotaku
1 month ago

Pokemon Pikachu 30th Anniversary Plush Is Coming To States

The Pokémon Company has released a ton of new merch for the series' 30th anniversary in Japan, including a retro Pikachu plush that was so popular overseas that its stores were ransacked by fans and scalpers alike last week.
E-Commerce
from24/7 Wall St.
1 month ago

Hasbro and Whirlpool: Two Iconic American Brands Reinventing Themselves Under Pressure

Hasbro's Q4 result was not a mild beat. Revenue came in at $1.45 billion, up 31% year-over-year, beating estimates by over 14%. The engine behind it is Magic: The Gathering, which grew 141% in Q4 alone and nearly 60% for the full year. The Wizards of the Coast segment ran at a 46% operating margin for the full year, extraordinary for a consumer brand.
Business intelligence
fromYanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News
1 month ago

LEGO Gave Away This Record Player Set: Now It Sells for $50 - Yanko Design

Every single element in the set is printed, no stickers anywhere, including new tile pieces featuring equalizer bars and musical note graphics that were debuted specifically for this set. The needle swivels and can be tucked behind a small antenna piece when not in use. Flip it around, and there are printed red, white, and grey ports on the back representing stereo channels, details that nobody asked for and that audio enthusiasts will immediately clock.
Design
Digital life
fromBuzzFeed
2 months ago

23 Things That Were So Common During The '90s That Are Basically Extinct Today

Everyday 1990s practices like meeting at airport gates, calling Moviefone, and leaving doors unlocked have largely disappeared due to security and technological change.
Apple
fromEntrepreneur
1 month ago

This Nostalgic Apple Product Is Making a Major Comeback - and You Can Thank Gen Z For It

Gen Z and young adults are purchasing used iPods to escape streaming fatigue and own their music libraries, with prices rising 60% since 2023 and search interest increasing 8% year-over-year.
fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago

9 things Boomers refuse to throw away that their kids will put straight in the trash without opening - Silicon Canals

My father kept manuals for products we hadn't owned in years, filed alphabetically in a cabinet. When I asked why, he looked at me like I'd suggested burning money. "What if we need to look something up?" The concept of finding any manual online in seconds just doesn't compute for a generation that had to rely on these paper lifelines.
Relationships
History
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Today in History: February 6, Monopoly replaces iron piece with the cat

Feb. 6 historical milestones include U.S.-France Treaty of Alliance (1778), Fort Henry's fall (1862), U.S.-Spain peace ratification (1899), and King George VI's death (1952).
fromKotaku
1 month ago

This Tiny Game Boy Might Be The Coolest Dumb Gadget Of 2026

The Game Boy Jukebox plays music instead of games, and only from the original Red and Blue Pokémon games, and only if you insert one of 45 small cartridges corresponding to the track you want. It's absurd, but I respect it. Also, it's $70. Which is less respectful and even more absurd.
Video games
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

The two giants of the blind box world are joining forces

Both LABUBU and Sanrio have passionate fanbases, and this partnership engages collectors and fans alike, blending timeless Sanrio appeal with the playful mischief that has made LABUBU a global icon.
Fashion & style
fromBuzzFeed
2 months ago

Just 40 Toys That'll Have Your Kids Completely Entranced (And, Hopefully, Out Of Your Hair)

As a parent myself, I know what I'm mostly looking for when buying another toy is that it'll ACTUALLY keep my kids engaged long enough to bring a sliver of peace to my home (a tough task, to say the least!). From Magna-Tiles and the new Toniebox 2 to colorful sensory tubes and a LeapFrog Touch and Learn eReader, my kids have tried out enough of these items to lead you in the right shopping direction!
Parenting
Gadgets
fromEngadget
2 months ago

Here are my favorite things from Toy Fair 2026

Toy Fair 2026 showcased major releases including Transformers anniversary reissues and Matrix centerpiece, detailed Hot Wheels F1 and specialty models, and collectible toy lines.
E-Commerce
fromFast Company
2 months ago

Punch the monkey and his stuffed orangutan toy are taking over Etsy, Amazon, and Ikea with merch

Punch, a baby monkey from a Japanese zoo, became a viral sensation after hugging a stuffed toy, spawning widespread merchandise sales across multiple e-commerce platforms and retailers.
Television
fromFortune
2 months ago

The saga of the billion-dollar sock: The Muppets' 50th birthday marks a long and profitable run | Fortune

The Muppets, created by Jim Henson, originated in the 1950s and remain culturally influential through TV shows, films, educational programming, and online media.
fromThe Washington Post
2 months ago

After lonely baby monkey goes viral, his IKEA comfort toy sells out

Punch has been scolded by other monkeys many times in the past and has learned how to socialize with them," the statement said. The zoo staff also noted that after moments of conflict with other monkeys, Punch runs back to his comfort object - his stuffed toy orangutan. When he feels safe again, he will leave his toy and return to his peers.
Pets
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Today in History: March 9, Barbie doll makes its debut

In 1841, the U.S. Supreme Court, in United States v. The Amistad, ruled 7-1 in favor of a group of illegally enslaved Africans who were captured off the U.S. coast after seizing control of a Spanish schooner, La Amistad. The justices ruled that the Africans should be set free.
History
fromVariety
2 months ago

Hasbro Entertainment and Animaj Launch Lumee to Rethink How Kids' Content Makes Money Online

The joint venture is now operational and in talks with major advertisers. Together, Hasbro and Animaj say their digital networks generate more than 50 billion views per year on YouTube alone. "Kids attention and curiosity continue to evolve faster than ever," said Sixte de Vauplane, co-Founder and CEO of Animaj. "With Lumee, we are building a bridge between advertisers and anew generation of digital-native kids."
Marketing
Television
fromMashable
2 months ago

The Muppets have always known how to break the internet

The Muppet Show special reignited viral internet enthusiasm with Rizzo's 'Blinding Lights' cover, nostalgia-driven variety comedy, and contemporary celebrity guests.
Digital life
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

The Rise of Analogue Nostalgia

Analogue nostalgia—longing for physical, offline media—drives people to choose complicated, expensive technologies over simpler digital alternatives despite digitalization's convenience.
Gadgets
fromwww.dailymail.co.uk
1 month ago

Retro gaming consoles that are now worth a FORTUNE - do you have one?

Vintage gaming consoles, particularly rare limited editions, have become highly valuable collectibles, with some reaching thousands of pounds on eBay due to nostalgia-driven demand.
Marketing
fromFast Company
2 months ago

Lego, it's time to hit the brakes

Lego's beloved creative appeal is being strained by aggressive licensing, nostalgia, and expensive giant sets, risking brand exhaustion and consumer fatigue.
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