h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

We have an edited article on Furbys which mentions the 2005 Furby but not yet the 2012 Furby.
For those who don't know the Furby is an electronic toy like a hampster with large ears.

It has been difficult to get hold of this Christmas 2012 (just like 1998) and been mentioned in the newspapers for this
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/dec/21/furby-shortage-despair-christmas-shoppers

I have put a thread Furby 2012 on the article itself.
Could the article be updated to mention the 2012 Furby?

Hi there BrownFurby

We'd to have this entry updated with info about the current version of the Furby. Would you be able to post whatever modifications/additions to the text you feel are appropriate, at the Editorial Feedback thread? We can then update the entry itself.

We'd be most grateful

The 2005 paragraph currently (Jan 2013) says
<<
Furby's Reborn 2005 Version

Watch out! There's a new Furby about. If it's not already stocked at a toyshop near you, it will be by the end of the year5.

With advancements in technology, the Furby has evolved into a more advanced toy. The new Furby is larger than the original, in order to house the multi-motor system which has a wider range of motions, emotions and reactions. Also, with six times more memory than the original, it has a larger vocabulary capability. And with many more facial expressions, this is said to make it more cute, clever, fun, and lifelike. Best of all, the new Furby has an on/off switch!
>>




7 years on, I think the "watch out etc" sentence and footnote 5 should be removed, and the 2005 Furby reborn paragraph written in the past tense with the word "new" removed. The "watch out" applies to the new 2012 Furby now but would be quickly out of date.
<<
With advancements in technology, the Furby evolved into a more advanced toy. The 2005 Furby was larger than the original, in order to house the multi-motor system which had a wider range of motions, emotions and reactions. Also, with six times more memory than the original, it had a larger vocabulary capability. And with many more facial expressions, this was said to make it more cute, clever, fun, and lifelike. Best of all, the 2005 Furby had an on/off switch!
>>
( Personal Note not for the guide - No way was that 2005 Furby more cute or lifelike than the 1998 Furby.)



New Paragraphs for 2012 , "a mind of its own" is the strapline/slogan on the box so I have used that as a title.
<<
Furby 2012 - A mind of its own

The Furby returned in 2012 and was again in short supply before Christmas in the UK.

The 2012 Furby looked similar to the 1998 Furby being the same shape and size, but 2012 Furby had plastic ears, LED screen eyes, and bright fur colours instead of 1998 Furby's fabric ears, doll's eyes and fur colours based on those of real furry creatures.

The 2012 Furby had different personalities depending on how well or badly it was treated. As with the 1998 Furby there was no on/off switch, however the 2012 Furby fell asleep after a minute of being ignored. There was an optional smart phone app that could be used to feed the Furby and to translate its Furbish into English, those without smart phones could find a Furbish to English dictionary at www.furby.com

>>




The picture on the entry is actually of a white Furby baby which was slightly different to the 1998 Furby with smaller eyes.
If we are allowed more than one picture per entry in these enlightened times, I could send you a photo of 1999 Furby and 2013 Furby side by side.
Mine are 1999/2013 as I did not get them until after Christmas each time.


The leaflets in 1998 did have the spelling as Furbys not Furbies, as does the 2012 leaflet. It looks wrong to me - Pony Ponies Furby Furbies - and I have reverted to using Furbies in my own writing. If it is Furbys it is Furbys but under the "Furby and Chips" section it is Furbies and also Furbies in one of the footnotes. Should be the same whichever we are using.

Thanks for that update BrownFurby

We've amended the 2005 version paragraph as you suggested and added the new 2012 version paragraph.

Regarding Furbys vs Ferbies spelling, we agree it should be consistent, but have gone for 'Furbys' as this seems to be what's used on the maker's website.

We'd love to add a comparative picture to this Entry. Please send one to artists (at) h2g2 (dot) com with a brief note, remembering to include the A-number of the Entry (A71641) with the picture.

Many thanks
The h2g2 Editors