The Internet has become a very important part of our daily lives, but the world wide web provides us with so many different services and functions that sometimes it’s actually quite hard to keep up. And this is exactly the reason why the Violet company has launched back in 2005 (and upgraded in 2007) a device called Nabaztag, which looks like a techno-rabbit on the outside but it’s actually capable of carrying out numerous Internet-related functions.



Thus, the device is capable of reading out loud RSS feeds from certain websites or services (news, weather forecasts, etc.), alerts the user whenever they have received an important message, reads the respective message and even informs the owner which of their contacts are online at any given moment.



Another very interesting fact about the Nabaztag is the fact that the manufacturers have equipped it with several inputs, or senses. First of all, the "Internet rabbit" can hear, since it sports a built-in microphone, which can be used for issuing voice commands (which the Nabaztag recognizes and carries out), but it can also speak (via the built-in speaker, which allows users to listen to online radios, audio files, etc.).



However, by far the most impressive "sense" of the Nabaztag is represented by its "smell", since the rabbit can actually "smell out" RFID tags (and consequently recognize the attached objects) via the reader installed in its nose.



Additionally, the device has also been equipped with an audio-out interface (for connecting external audio speakers) and doesn't require any wires beside the power cable, since it connects to the Internet via a wireless access point (WEP, WPA-protected connection).



The Nabaztag/tag retails for around 180 US dollars, which is not that bad a price, considering just how fun it could prove to have such a device around the house.