Yes, it’s that time of year when those Christmas inspired gadgets are popping up like mushrooms on a rainy day – like this new 4GB plush-covered snowman USB drive.

Features:

• High Speed USB 2.0 transfer rate
• USB 2.0 interface, 4 Gigs of storage
• Plug and Play, hot-swapped capability
• Windows, Mac and Linux compatible
• Made of high quality plush
• Dimension: 11cm x 9.5cm tall (approx.)
• Weight: 20g

The Plush Snowman USB Drive is available from the USG Geek website for $24.

If you’re into plush gadgets like the Monkey USB Webcam with Pen Holder or the Monkey USB Speakers, this new one for iPod should be right up your alley.

Plug in and tuck your iPod into the front pouch of these plush pals. Each comes equipped with two speakers, an amp and an iPod-friendly jack.

Requires four AA batteries (not included).

The iPod Plush Pal Speakers are available from the PBteen website in two different models: Kangaroo, Black Painted Dot ($35) and Polar Bear, Pink Rain Drop ($39).

(Via Geeksugar)

This plush monkey will not only allow you to chat with your friends using the built-in web camera, he will also take care of your pens, ruler and and other desktop items.

Features:

• 500K pixels USB WebCam
• Capture resolution: Up to 800 x 600
• Frame rates: Up to 30fps@320×240, 20fps@640×480, 15fps@800×600
• Sensor: 90mm
• Focus distance: 5cm ~ infinity
• Adjustable lens to manually control the clarity of your image
• Auto white balance
• Driver free for Windows XP SP2 and Vista
• Support Windows Vista, XP, 2000, ME
• Dimension: 15 x 8.5 x 12.5cm (approx.)
• Weight: 143g

The Monkey USB Webcam with Pen Holder is yours for $25 from the USB Geek website.

Kota the Triceratops, the 3 foot tall plush animated robot dinosaur that your child can ride (if they are 60 pounds and under), is now available in the USA and Europe.

The 37-pound Triceratops robot wags his tail, opens and closes his mouth, wiggles his horns, makes dinosaur sounds and plays songs and sound effects for your child.

Watch the video to see Kota’s impressive movements and facial expressions:

Kota the Triceratops has been spotted at these major retailers:

USA

• Amazon ($299.99)
• Hammacher Schlemmer ($399.95)
• Target ($299.99)
• Toys R Us ($299.99)
• Sears ($299.99)

United Kingdom

• Amazon UK (£289.90)
• Firebox (£299.95)

For pictures, videos, technical specifications and more, please visit the Kota the Triceratops section over at the Robots Rule website.

These Star Wars plush dolls have been available in the shape of Darth Vader, Chewbacca and Yoda for a while now. Soon you will also be able to get your hands on an Imperial Stormtrooper model.

This Stormtrooper Plush stands approximately 7-inches tall and features an enormous head disproportioned from his regular body.

The Star Wars Stormtrooper Super Deformed Plush ($12.99) is estimated to arrive in July 2008 over at Entertainment Earth.

Did you enjoy the Gremlins Plush Gizmo Backpack? Then you might also be interested in this cute little mumming Gizmo plush toy.

1984 was the year when the world was made aware of the existence of the Mogwai* A small creature with a cuteness factor of 10000+ … … and, unfortunately, also some quite nasty surprises if certain rules were not followed.

Especially Gizmo adored the world as the über cute “furball” that first didn’t want any trouble but then took up the fight against its less cute offspring.

You can now have your own Gizmo at home, where he will sit and rock from side to side, humming his little song everytime you give him attention.

Here’s video of the little creature humming a tune:

The Humming Gizmo measures 29 x 18 cm and requires 2 x AA batteries. The toy is available from Gadgets.dk for 229 DKK (about $45 USD).

Remember the Rules

• Don’t ever get him wet.
• Keep him away from bright light.
• Never feed him after midnight.

The day before yesterday we had a post about this cute little Dinosaur Webcam. If you add plush and a portion of extra cuteness you will get the Cam Buddy Dinosaur Plush Webcam ($10).

Cam Buddy allows you to enable video chat with your friends via MSN Messenger or Yahoo Messenger. With built in microphone that lets you chat all day without lifting a finger. It is the ultimate way to save your phone bill. Sharp video resolution lets your friend see you clearly.

Inter-Changeable plush toy also allows you to swap between different characters that express yourself.

(Via The Red Ferret Journal)

Lots of Star Wars news on GeekAlerts this week, I know. But it’s hard not to mention these fun, cute and huggable SD Star Wars Plush ($10) dolls.

Choose between: Darth Vader (7.5 in.), Chewbacca (7.5 in.), Yoda (7 in.).

Each one is officially licensed by Lucasfilm and crafted by only the finest plush-clone engineers Kamino has to offer. They are huggable and throwable and small enough to hide in a back pack or on your desk. Chewie even has a functional pouch on his bandolier!

Can’t get enough of Mario and the sound effects that comes with the game? Maybe should take a look at these sound effect plush toys then.

The Super Mario Bros Sound Nuigurumi Series 2 ($25) is available in two models; the Goomba and the Block. Simply hit them to evoke their respective sound effects (scroll down for video demonstrations).

The first Series 2 plush is a golden-colored Question Block (A) which measures 20cm square or 7.87 x 7.87 x 7.87″ in dimension. Similar to the Series 1 Question Block, a sound module is inserted inside a flap on the plush which makes a jingling sound when pounded. Punch it with your fist or hammer it with your head and the familiar Mario game jingle plays sweetly.

The second series 2 plush features the familiar shell of a Koopa Trooper (B). The beast within appears to be in hiding as we don’t see its head nor any of its appendages. A sound module is also inserted inside the Koopa shell which makes noise when attacked.

If you for some reason aren’t able to have a real cat, but still want be able to relax to their purring sound, the Purring Cat ($10) might be just the ticket.

This plush, touch-activated pet purrs when his back is rubbed and meows when it’s head is scratched, while his stomach moves up and down like the breathing of a cat. Requires 3 “AA” batteries for motion and sound (not incl.). 12 1/2″W x 4 1/2″H x 9 1/2″D.

You can listen to a sound sample on the product page. Judging from the two cats next to me, the sound isn’t that authentic. There was no reaction at all from either of them.

(Via Uber-Review)

The soft and cuddly Plush MP3 Speaker and Radio ($20) features built-in speakers and plays your music from MP3 and CD players, or any other audio source using a 3.5mm stereo jack. Available in pink and blue.

Runs on 2 x AA batteries and measures 16in. H x 9in. W.

(Via Coolest Gadgets)

Over at ThinkGeek you can now find Mario and co as 3 inches tall plush toys. There are 5 different Super Mario Mini Plush ($8) available and you will receive a random choice from one of them when ordering.

Maybe you read the Pac-Man Hat entry posted earlier today. It turns out the same company has some more lovely wakka wakka plush.

The Pac-Man Moving Power Plush Set ($100) is a collection of Pac-Man, Blinky, Pinky, Inky, Pokey as 7.8 inches tall plush toys.

PAC-MAN and the ghost gang are on the move as adorable battery-operated waddling plush toys. Switch PAC-MAN and the ghosts “on” and let the games and mayhem begin!

(Via Stuart Witts)

Feel like adding a little cuteness to your gadgets? These monkey and penguin Plush Animal Speakers ($16) works with any media player with a headphone jack for audio output. They are 5 inches high and can be powered via the USB port of you computer or by using 2 AA batteries.

(Via geeksugar)

iPals ($50) is a plush alien looking iPod speaker available in fours different animal print designs (Zebra, Tiger, Leopard & Giraffe).

The player sits in the front pocket and you plug it in at the back. The huge tentacle eyes serves as speakers which are said to have “excellent sound quality”.

Likewise iPal works in harmony with CD players. Simply connect the music to the Pal with the supplied audio jack, pose the speakers (bend the furry antennas) and enjoy the tunes and the critter. The speakers provide clear, rich sound and with them being poseable you can direct the sound around the room.

Scary or cute? You be the judge.

(Via Shiny Shiny)

It took about two weeks to sew together this cool Embroidered Plush Nintendo System in hand dyed the felt. Complete with a TV, Nintendo system, the games Mario/Duck Hunt and Super Mario 3, controller, light gun, and two different screen shots.

(Via Crafty Crafty)