Tech overenthusiast Robert Scoble knows which toy will be hot with geeks this holiday season: robotic balls you control with your iPhone. They're surprisingly hypnotic!

The "Sphero" is due out by the end of the year for around $100 and will be programmable via the mobile Android operating system, according to maker Orbotix. The baseball-sized toy rolls independently around the floor, and could be used for "a game of Sumo, a game of Office Golf, or even a wrecking ball knocking over augmented reality glass towers in your living room." Scoble "can't wait for Christmas to get one of these;" we're reserving final judgement until we actually get to fondle some.