Sony's latest robot dog comes out of the kennel

Sony is to give birth to a cheaper, more lifelike version of its robot dog.

The "Aibo" shiny metal canine, in gold, silver or black, can wag its stumpy tail, move its ears and even play very un-dog games like "rock, paper, scissors". "Great for parties," according to Sony.

It also has a camera in its nose - simply command it to "take a picture" and it will snap what it sees (either another dog's arse or its own testicles if its anything like a real dog - news ed). It responds to its owners voice with musical tones imitating the sound of the words - it can learn and recognise around 40 words, including its own name.

What's more, Aibo, which means "pal" in Japanese, is a sensitive creature. It can express emotions, and its personality will mature depending on how it is treated - ignore it and it will sulk.

The second-generation cyberpet, called ERS-210, will be available in Japan from November 16 and cost around 150,000 yen ($1,400) - cheaper than the first Aibo which weighed in at $2,300. It will also be available in the US, at $1,500, and Europe for $1,300.

The first 3,000 Aibos sold out in just 20 minutes in June last year. The Japanese manufacturer has shifted around 45,000 of the creatures since its laundh, and claims to be ready to handle 60,000 orders a month for the latest version of man's best friend. More information and a glimpse of the metal canine can be found here. ®

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