More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video

Wednesday, February 1st, 2017 5:04AM CST

Category: Toy News
Posted by: Va'al Views: 28,538

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Via fellow Seibertronians primalxconvoy and Stuartmaximus, we have some additional info on the auxTRANSFORMERS collaboration for the transforming mobile phone Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron, as first reported here. Namely, we have a snazzy promotional video courtesy of Japanese phone carrier au, and a lot more details (in machine translation) about the project. Check it all out below!

General Commander - "Infobar" Optimus Prime ("Nishikigoi"):

- This leader of Justice stands up to rescue "INFOBAR", which is a world-renowned pioneer of mobile phone design, and to protect information around the world from the Decepticons!

Passion-red, calm-blue and peaceful-beige are three colors that this peace-loving leader now has incorporated in his Autobot symbol, during the "Infobar Saga".

Intelligence Officer - "Infobar" Bumblebee ("Ichimatsu") :

- This little Autobot can identify any information crisis around the world and rush faster than anyone to save it! His new black and white body is perfect for hiding in the shadows, too, which is befitting for his intelligence missions.

Emperor of Destruction - "INFOBAR" MEGATRON (BUILDING)

Megatron seeks to dominate the world's information bring fear and destruction to everyone! this Emperor of Destruction has chosen Blue, Dark gray and silver for his new form, as these, more mature colour combinations give him, in his mind an "Evil elegance". the world may never see him creep up before he unleashes his Evil plans!

Toy features and Design Elements:

- From "INFOBAR" Featurephone to robot and back!

We thoroughly packed the transformation technology, cultivated from 33 years of design history, into an extremely thin casing of 11 mm.

- Built-in LEDs and Bluetooth enables the toy to display incoming notifications when linked to your smartphone via Bluetooth!

- Includes a mini mobile-phone, which can be held in the robot-mode's hand!

smartphone Bluetooth Technical information.

IOS version:
Supported OS version: Any device running iOS 10.2 or later (Some devices may not work).

Andorid version:
- A Dedicated app will be released for certain Android devices.
- Supported OS version: Android 5.0 or later (Some devices may not work).

- For Android 7.0 and above, this is currently being treated; We will inform you as details become known. (from the 1st of February 2017 onwards)

other points of note:

- Some devices or user-agreements may prohibit use with these toys.
· Environmental factors may affect performance.
· We will inform you about device compatibility as soon as possible.
- Design and specifications are subject to change.
- This product will be sold only for "Makuake".
- product cannot connect to our access the internet or associated online services.
- product comes with "test batteries".
- Successful orders cannot be cancelled.
- Delivery scheduled for the end of September 2017.

(Source: - http://time-space.kddi.com/au-transformers/index.html )[/quote]

Credit(s): au, makuake.com

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Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1856305)
Posted by primalxconvoy on February 1st, 2017 @ 6:09am CST

Seems that someone at Takara also showed off the transformation:

- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hh0lvgmEyio

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1856307)
Posted by Stuartmaximus on February 1st, 2017 @ 6:25am CST

Hopefully those will get great reception :-P

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1856312)
Posted by EmirateXaaron on February 1st, 2017 @ 6:59am CST

Decepticon Stryker wrote:No no no. He clearly needs some cesium salami.

I believe you are mistaken, sir. He clearly needs some beryllium baloney.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1856319)
Posted by Gauntlet101010 on February 1st, 2017 @ 8:10am CST

No Reflector means no buy!

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1856349)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on February 1st, 2017 @ 10:37am CST

I got called old for saying I liked that Bumblebee in an Earth Wars chat. The lad was 16. He called me old. >:oP

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1856744)
Posted by transformnerd114 on February 2nd, 2017 @ 4:21pm CST

The Megatron one looks pretty cool, but I'm not digging the others' color schemes. I mean Bee is okay, I guess, but that's mostly because it's consistent. Optimus however...Well, let's just say it's not for me. I would like to know more about these guys before I make a final decision, but they seem promising. :BLEND:

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1856824)
Posted by Emerje on February 3rd, 2017 @ 5:53am CST

primalxconvoy wrote:Order info (in Japan), I think:

- https://www.makuake.com/project/au-transformers/

Kinda, it's actually a crowd funding page. What's crazy is the project still has 54 days left (as of right now) and has raised 11,793,600 JPY (US$104,233) for the original goal of 1,000,000 JPY (US$8,838) from 1,318 people.

Pretty sure they only referenced the movie because of how realistic the toy looks compared to the original Infobar phone from 2003. Looks like the only thing the bluetooth does is make the LED blink when you get a call... kinda not worth the cost of the electronics. Bot mode is 6 inches, but it's slight shorter than phone mode is long.

Emerje

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1901356)
Posted by Va'al on August 2nd, 2017 @ 2:46am CDT

Remember those mobile phone Transformers characters, creation of a partnership between Japanese phone carrier au and Takara Tomy? Courtesy of the latter's mall site, we have another version of an Optimus Prime looking phonechanger - called Annin - which sports a movieverse flame deco, costs 4500 Yen (approx 40 USD), and is mostly white and blue. Check it out below!

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1901362)
Posted by Mechastrike on August 2nd, 2017 @ 3:32am CDT

too bad it's not a working cellphone. would have been awesome IMO

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1901368)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on August 2nd, 2017 @ 4:31am CDT

Bit of an old mobile phone.
I dunno.
I think the Speed Dial mold did it with more charm and the Wire Tap black/red repaint just looked cooler.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1901380)
Posted by dragons on August 2nd, 2017 @ 7:08am CDT

Carnivius_Prime wrote:Bit of an old mobile phone.
I dunno.
I think the Speed Dial mold did it with more charm and the Wire Tap black/red repaint just looked cooler.

these cell phone figures look much better i buy these figures pass on new action figure

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1901389)
Posted by Rated X on August 2nd, 2017 @ 8:56am CDT

Ewww

Every time people toss around the term "Asian market" this is the type of stuff I think of. Weird figures that transform into phones, memory sticks, shoes, hello kittys, disney characters, teddy bears, and little baseball caps.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1903959)
Posted by Optimum Supreme on August 12th, 2017 @ 3:04pm CDT

"These 3 figures are available separately for ¥5,400 or ¥16,200 for all 3, which comes to about $48 and $144 US dollars respectively"

Care to try again?

5400 Japanese Yen equals
49.4520 US Dollar

16200 Japanese Yen equals
148.3559 US Dollar

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1926124)
Posted by Va'al on December 11th, 2017 @ 1:39am CST

We return to those mobile phone Transformers characters, creation of a partnership between Japanese phone carrier au and Takara Tomy: the au×TRANSFORMERS project INFOBAR OPTIMUS PRIME (NISHIKIGOI）. Courtesy of the official YouTube channel for Takara Tomy themselves, we have a promotional video for one of the Optimus Prime looking figures, which also includes a visual rundown of several incarnations of the character, from G1 to the live-action movieverse, via the Masterpiece line - plus the same treatment for the au mobile phone products - ending in the Nishikigoi figure!

You can check out the video for yourselves below, and join the discussion on this crossover reminiscent of the old Real Gear lines in the Energon Pub discussion boards. For more information on the other figures, head to the official website for the line, here!

NOTE: This is the exact same video posted back in February, but only now reuploaded by Takara Tomy.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1926131)
Posted by Deathsanras on December 11th, 2017 @ 4:36am CST

Va'al wrote:Courtesy of the official YouTube channel for Takara Tomy themselves, we have a promotional video for one of the Optimus Prime looking figures

Go back a page. The video was posted back in Feb (post by Stuartmaximus).

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Optimus_Prime_(G1)/toys#au_x_Transformers
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Megatron_(G1)/toys#au_x_Transformers
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Bumblebee_(G1)/toys#au_x_Transformers

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1926133)
Posted by Va'al on December 11th, 2017 @ 5:50am CST

Deathsanras wrote:
Va'al wrote:Courtesy of the official YouTube channel for Takara Tomy themselves, we have a promotional video for one of the Optimus Prime looking figures

Go back a page. The video was posted back in Feb (post by Stuartmaximus).

The video I posted was uploaded yesterday. :-?

But, as you point out, it is exactly the same. Huh.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1926134)
Posted by Rated X on December 11th, 2017 @ 5:52am CST

Who would collect these and why? Are they working cell phones? They remind me of those dumb phones with big buttons for elderly people.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1926142)
Posted by Deathsanras on December 11th, 2017 @ 8:58am CST

TakaraTomy channel post on Jan 31: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC3oQ9sSm6w (restricted to Japan).

Rated X wrote:Who would collect these and why? Are they working cell phones? They remind me of those dumb phones with big buttons for elderly people.

Why would anyone collect G1 Soundwave, Ravage and Laserbeak when they're not working devices? G1 Reflector, G1 Megatron, Real Gears, Mi Pad Soundwave, Sega Megatron, Playstation Optimus, etc.
They are scaled down from real INFOBAR mobile phones. However, they are functional as notification devices paired with an actual phone. Same as with the Pebble smartwatch.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1926144)
Posted by Cobotron on December 11th, 2017 @ 9:03am CST

Oh wow! They do have some function. That's neat!

I said before that these would be fun for my Microman collection, but at the moment, I'm not feeling all that motivated to track them down.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1926146)
Posted by Rated X on December 11th, 2017 @ 9:11am CST

Deathsanras wrote:TakaraTomy channel post on Jan 31: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC3oQ9sSm6w (restricted to Japan).

Rated X wrote:Who would collect these and why? Are they working cell phones? They remind me of those dumb phones with big buttons for elderly people.

Why would anyone collect G1 Soundwave, Ravage and Laserbeak when they're not working devices? G1 Reflector, G1 Megatron, Real Gears, Mi Pad Soundwave, Sega Megatron, Playstation Optimus, etc.
They are scaled down from real INFOBAR mobile phones. However, they are functional as notification devices paired with an actual phone. Same as with the Pebble smartwatch.

You didnt answer my question if these things actually work or not. Its kind of hard to compare a cheap childs play toy from 1984 to an expensive 2017 homage toy geared towards adult collectors. With that being said, find me one adult that feels the need to carry around a transformable working cell phone? Or if your argument would be that these are "play phones" meant for kids, please try to explain the adult collector price...

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1926180)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on December 11th, 2017 @ 11:38am CST

Rated X wrote:
Deathsanras wrote:TakaraTomy channel post on Jan 31: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC3oQ9sSm6w (restricted to Japan).

Rated X wrote:Who would collect these and why? Are they working cell phones? They remind me of those dumb phones with big buttons for elderly people.

Why would anyone collect G1 Soundwave, Ravage and Laserbeak when they're not working devices? G1 Reflector, G1 Megatron, Real Gears, Mi Pad Soundwave, Sega Megatron, Playstation Optimus, etc.
They are scaled down from real INFOBAR mobile phones. However, they are functional as notification devices paired with an actual phone. Same as with the Pebble smartwatch.

You didnt answer my question if these things actually work or not. Its kind of hard to compare a cheap childs play toy from 1984 to an expensive 2017 homage toy geared towards adult collectors. With that being said, find me one adult that feels the need to carry around a transformable working cell phone? Or if your argument would be that these are "play phones" meant for kids, please try to explain the adult collector price...

The price is more for the novelty than anything else. They're licensed, scaled down designs and feature minor electronics to boot. They may not be real working phones, but they're not "kiddie toys" either: their appeal is more for fans of that particular model phone, really.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1926212)
Posted by Emerje on December 11th, 2017 @ 5:51pm CST

These phones look old by our standards, but they're the common style in Japan. They have all the same functionality and apps as our smart phones, they just look different. Fact is a lot of the functions that have only just become common in the past couple years on our phones like near field communication and in-store payment started in Japan years ago with phones like these. They're much more advanced than they look.

Emerje

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1926213)
Posted by Rated X on December 11th, 2017 @ 6:00pm CST

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:
Rated X wrote:
Deathsanras wrote:TakaraTomy channel post on Jan 31: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC3oQ9sSm6w (restricted to Japan).

Rated X wrote:Who would collect these and why? Are they working cell phones? They remind me of those dumb phones with big buttons for elderly people.

Why would anyone collect G1 Soundwave, Ravage and Laserbeak when they're not working devices? G1 Reflector, G1 Megatron, Real Gears, Mi Pad Soundwave, Sega Megatron, Playstation Optimus, etc.
They are scaled down from real INFOBAR mobile phones. However, they are functional as notification devices paired with an actual phone. Same as with the Pebble smartwatch.

You didnt answer my question if these things actually work or not. Its kind of hard to compare a cheap childs play toy from 1984 to an expensive 2017 homage toy geared towards adult collectors. With that being said, find me one adult that feels the need to carry around a transformable working cell phone? Or if your argument would be that these are "play phones" meant for kids, please try to explain the adult collector price...

The price is more for the novelty than anything else. They're licensed, scaled down designs and feature minor electronics to boot. They may not be real working phones, but they're not "kiddie toys" either: their appeal is more for fans of that particular model phone, really.

Phone fans? I didnt know such a thing exised. Could someone possibly love a phone so much that ownling the actual phone isnt enough?

I cant believe they use phones like that in Japan. If that phone was ano bigger Nino Brown would be using it...

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1926243)
Posted by CircuitBreaker on December 11th, 2017 @ 11:11pm CST

I myself think it brings me nostalgia of real gear robots, a line I wish survived over time in my collection. (Smaller siblings ripping and tearing ball joints from sockets) The fact that it can also be a transformer desk toy at work, notify me like it’s “my phone ringing”, and accuracy to a real phone appeals to the techie in me as well.

Is there any preorders for this yet? Specifically Megatron?

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1927434)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on December 20th, 2017 @ 11:32am CST

Thanks to a heads up from Seibertronian Terrsolpix, we now have a new video review of the au x Transformers Mobile Phone Optimus Prime, or a bit more simply, Infobar Optimus Prime. As you may remember, these Infobar figures were revealed a good ways back, almost a year ago now, and back in February we posted a story about what these figures are and what they do. Basically, the Infobar is based on a popular phone type in Japan, and these phones were designed to Transform into Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Bumblebee, not unlike that San Diego Comic Con Soundwave that turned into a tablet.

In the video review found below, reviewer Tef Tef takes a good long look at the figure, which includes the ability to hook up to your mobile device and make the alert sounds for your device. It also contains LED lights to go with the notification sounds. The figure also comes with a funny little phone accessory, making this thing even more goofy.

Check out the video review below, and let us know what you think of it in the comments section below!

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1927481)
Posted by primalxconvoy on December 20th, 2017 @ 6:03pm CST

As far as I know, none of the Infobar TFs make any sounds. They simply have an LED that flashes when you get a notification.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1927585)
Posted by Tef-Tef on December 21st, 2017 @ 1:08pm CST

Actually... Tef-Tef here from the video... I mentions how it DOES NOT have bluetooth/sound/lights or anything for that matter.

From what I heard those with Bluetooth support were for people that backed the crowdfunding, and a special "white/movie" edition that will come out later on. Also the Bumble Bee and Megatron were specially for the crowdfunding people also.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1927605)
Posted by primalxconvoy on December 21st, 2017 @ 3:56pm CST

Really? I've got the crowdfunded versions, which was a set of BB, Megs and Op, all with lights. That seems to confirm it. The original sales spiel seemed obtuse and confusing to my Japanese friend, who didn't know that a regular Optimus would be out without crowdfuning. It suggested that all figures would be out, but the crowdfunded version would have a special box and be cheaper than buying all the figures separately?

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1929390)
Posted by Deathsanras on January 3rd, 2018 @ 9:21am CST

Rated X wrote:
Deathsanras wrote:TakaraTomy channel post on Jan 31: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC3oQ9sSm6w (restricted to Japan).

Rated X wrote:Who would collect these and why? Are they working cell phones? They remind me of those dumb phones with big buttons for elderly people.

Why would anyone collect G1 Soundwave, Ravage and Laserbeak when they're not working devices? G1 Reflector, G1 Megatron, Real Gears, Mi Pad Soundwave, Sega Megatron, Playstation Optimus, etc.
They are scaled down from real INFOBAR mobile phones. However, they are functional as notification devices paired with an actual phone. Same as with the Pebble smartwatch.

You didnt answer my question if these things actually work or not. Its kind of hard to compare a cheap childs play toy from 1984 to an expensive 2017 homage toy geared towards adult collectors. With that being said, find me one adult that feels the need to carry around a transformable working cell phone? Or if your argument would be that these are "play phones" meant for kids, please try to explain the adult collector price...

Yes, I did. It's quoted in your reply.
(Not liking the answer is not the same thing.)
On the other hand, you didn't answer any of mine.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1929394)
Posted by primalxconvoy on January 3rd, 2018 @ 9:33am CST

These toys were created in partnership with AU, one of the big three Japanese phone carriers (Alongside Docomo and Softbank). In Japan, for most of the locals, the phones are simply known as a (Carrier Name) + phone/model name". In some cases, the name is replaced with a made-up model number, so a Samsung Galaxy Note 1 might be something like a "Docomo Galaxy v34567". Furthermore, some of the carriers, in the good old days of feature-phones, had special handsets designed just for them (or had exclusivity rights to certain handsets). The "Infobar" was one for AU.

It was seen as a rather different looking phone at the time, with clunky buttons and mosaic design. Recently, AU wanted to celebrate the design (or some design awards did) and so it went into partnership with Takara to make some TFs, much in the same way we've have tablet Soundwave, that Chevolet bot for DOTM, etc.

That's it. There's nothing really else to add. It's not aimed at kids but collectors, as a curiosity piece.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1949684)
Posted by OptimusMegatron878 on March 31st, 2018 @ 8:25pm CDT

I think these transforming cell phones are a cool idea. I have the Optimus Prime figure, does anyone know when toy sites like BBTS or TFSource will be listing the Megatron and Bumblebee phones? Any info. would be greatly appreciated.

Re: More Details on au x Transformers Project Infobar Characters, plus Video (1949686)
Posted by primalxconvoy on March 31st, 2018 @ 8:33pm CDT

Those were only pre-order versions, as part of a set with Optimus, during a crowd-funded campaign, quite some time ago.

I doubt they will be available at BBTS. Ebay or Yahoo! Auctions Japan are probably more likely to have them.