Actually, just to tell you, LEGO stores in America (or maybe just the state of Ohio) have had this for a few months now (before thanksgiving of last year). =p
I saw one here, too, but the story was officially published on April 21st, and since no one else posted it earlier, let's just talk about the LDB.
Like many companies built on a foundation of legacy technology, Lego walks the tightrope between being weighed down by a classic product and alienating loyal customers with too much radical change.
This move is smart for so many reasons:
* Lego stays true to its roots: Unlike Best Buy doing movie downloads or the Amazon Kindle suddenly having apps, a building visualizer actually is within the context of what made Lego successful in the first place.
* AR brings the technorati into the fold: Augmented Reality gives tech fiends a new reason to look at Legos.
* The upgrade doesn’t eliminate the past: The basic blocks and the augmented reality versions peacefully coexist.
* It is a natural progression: Lego has licensed its name for a series of extremely successful video games, prepping audiences for the augmented reality products.
Classic companies can learn a lot from Lego’s savvy transition into the new millennium. Becoming current doesn’t require abandoning your loyal customers.
