But innovative and interactive.

My daughter dreamed of this doll since she saw a story on the Toy Fair on television. She had to be on his Christmas list. Luckily she was able to test it before anyone else. Lorsquelle was unpacked from its box, it was just happiness ... she was ecstatic to test Cayla.

Unfortunately, the joy was short-lived, indeed like electronic toys often give very keen on a TV screen, but are very different in reality.

The doll *** ***

Cayla is 46 cm. It is rigid in terms of all its members, allowing it to stand up very well. His clothes are beautiful and well finished. It is a fashion doll: leggings, jeans jacket, sneakers she pretty blond hair that can be styled. It has two accessories: a brush and a mirror.
His face is detailed and well smiling.
Overall I find prettier than on the screens.

*** The doll connected to WiFi and Bluetooth (online) ***

First it will put him 3 AA batteries (not included) in a secure enclosure with a screw.
The free application "My friends Cayla" findable on Google play store will then be installed. It is quite heavy but answer correctly. To know that I am under Android, the application has been installed on my smartphone and my tablet. By cons must be a minimum configuration (Android 4.0.3 or higher)

After launching the application, it must recognize the doll via bluetooth. I had no worries on that side, she was recognized on both my machines immediately.
I noticed that the doll works best on my tablet on my smartphone. I think I know why, indeed must not there is interference or current downloads, which is more common on my phone.

Then you turn wifi and Cayla is finally ready to use when pressing "Hello" in his application.

In summary, you still have the adult knows a little computer know and adjust some settings on his camera.
Fortunately this is a note in the box and a video tutorial in the app. They are both well made.

It is important to note that this doll is playable with a connected device and the application. This means that the child must always have a nearby shelf, whether loaded and understands its operation.
If it is not connected (at least in Bluetooth). She will not talk and only a basic doll.

It has a robot voice not very pretty and when she laughs like a real little girl and it gives a weird contrast. His voice is also a bit choppy and mispronounce certain words (eg for Marry Marry popin popin's)

It therefore answer the questions put to him, but she still asks questions (whose answers do not interest!).

We will have to tell the child how it functions. Questions arise when her necklace lights and there are specific terms say like "how much, where, spells, which ...". We must speak clearly, slowly and in a room without noise if Cayla understands nothing
So for very young children do not yet fully manipulating speech, I highly recommend. I think the age of 4 is not ideal for this kind of toy.

With my daughter it was so fun to ask lots of questions and I realized that she had two types of responses:

- The one that fit the doll and his world (his family, his dog, his tastes). They come from a database. These answers come fast enough and repeat. It does not change speech.

- There are more complex answers. They are longer to come because the doll is looking on the Internet. These correspond to the calculation, culture in general (eg, "how much is 4x4?"; "Where's New York?", "Who is snow white?").

With this type of questions, the answers are quite random.
Level calculation, but she knows answer level question, we will say it again answer 1 of 5. Very often she does not know and asks the child to ask another question.
Sometimes she'll know how to respond to very complex issues and will struggle on a very simple question that could be a child.

The answers are often too long and encyclopaedic (despite the setting made on the application). My daughter picks up quickly because the doll "unpack" his knowledge without a break (she even sets out punctuation marks!)
Sometimes she answer very strangely, as to the question "where is the china? "She replied geographical coordinates !!
It also happens to respond completely off.

In terms of the impossible to spell spelling of a word (???)

I could see that it works with keywords, for example if we ask him "you love dogs? "She will answer that one, she likes ... and if it is based on the question," Manges you dog? "It will respond the same thing as the first question. It has nothing to do, I conclude therefore that it intends that the word "dog" ...

Otherwise safety level, I have nothing to say. Vulgar words, words and tendentious questions about sexuality are banned from its database. I admit I tested a couple of questions to sexual orientation and she always said she did not know where I had to ask my parents. On this point, I know my daughter safe and it does not teach things inappropriate for their age.

As against some of his questions are quite destabilizing! She often addresses the topic of smoking, she asks "Is what you like cigarettes?"; "Have you ever smoked?"; Do you smoke? ". Fortunately she does the answer right after saying that it is wrong and bad for health. But I admit that it bothers me because it's still a doll for little girls. I agree that it answers the question by saying that it's wrong, but I am against the fact that it raises the question ...

Another also made me wince "Put you blush? "A girl is not supposed to wear makeup so young ... Fortunately Cayla response is justified and the question passed smoothly ...

*** Cayla without wifi (offline) ***

No wifi, it seems that one can always ask him simple questions related to his universe. We tried but impossible, it does nothing to answer !!! It only asking questions that she answer. Anyway she talks to herself!

But without wifi it is still possible to use the application that contains:

* A game of noughts and crosses (the child plays against the computer).
* A history Image (his adventure at the botanical garden with his mother).
* Three albums imagier: zoo, farm and holidays (when the child touches the images, said Cayla).

This is very little !! Hopefully the manufacturer will expand the offer because the child quickly made the turn.

In the application, it is also possible to adjust the sound of Cayla, abundance of speech, add banned words, to geotag and choose another name.
So on this last I was really disappointed. My daughter wanted to call as she, Lisa. So we entered the new name, and when asked how she sappelle she meets "LISA" but adds, "with a C, not a K". It uses the same answer for his former name

In offline mode, Cayla does not have much interest, she gossiped alone and goes from one topic to another very easily. What is unsettling for the child!

*** In conclusion ***

Overall, despite a few bugs, Cayla works relatively well. She manages to answer some questions. This is a very interactive doll, innovative and it is full of good feelings.

It will take just that the child is patient to successfully play well with it

My daughter naccroche not more than that with this new doll. Yet she wanted her enormously. I strong sense disappointed because she expected something else, like more ease and spontaneity. There is no real dialogue with Cayla. The doll often talks to herself and repeated a lot. We can actually ask questions, but it is often hard to get the right answers. It takes a lot rehearse and find those to which it can meet ...

So I think my daughter will not play a long time with. Besides, she already has a bit set aside and the claims me little
I will keep you posted in the coming months to tell you the evolution as well as application ...

Finally, there are few things that annoy me. First of all it is a doll too "girl." Let me explain, everything still revolves around princesses, pink, clothes, makeup and I find it boring in the long run reduce the little girl that kind of stereotype! While my daughter likes because it is conditioned by the school, cartoons and advertisements, but it would have been nice that stands out a little Cayla

Then I ask myself the following questions: What if tomorrow, the application stops running or not? If the house manufacturing put the key under the door? We will end up with a doll that no longer work! For as I said earlier. Cayla can only function with a connected device and its application. Without them it is nothing more than a doll to style.

If I had to rate this doll, I will give 5/10. The concept is interesting but it is difficult for the child to really own. It is certainly very interactive, but it lacks some customization that makes my daughter is not attached to Cayla

Anyway if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them

**** Important note to store Apple users. If I understand the 3000 IOS users have issues involving Internet research, from 3001 it will buy credit. For questions against the doll database are free ***

Edit of 18/12/2014:

After two months of use I return this comment to say the evolution I've seen on this doll:

*** There was a update The application, but nothing new in games, stories and albums.
*** Level spelling, she happens from time to time on single words.
*** It speaks more cigarettes (Vivid has the remedy!).
*** The first function is still not developed.
*** She does not sing as can show the pub. Anyway my daughter can not get him to do.
*** Overall, it always say a little off the mark and his responses to questions are always very encyclopedic. As against China this has been fixed.
*** I tried to install it on the shelf of my daughter, a meep 2 (to protect a little mine). Can not happen. Also on my smartphone it does not work (???), it connects more.
*** In summary little improvement in two months.
*** Finally my daughter plays with virtually no this doll, she quickly abandoned ...

Edit of 31/12/2014

I have found that an update of the application took place just before Christmas.
News emerged:
*** 2 new stories (one siren and one of his dog Poppy)
*** 4 new photo albums (at the carnival, important places in the aquarium and pet)
*** A memory game appeared but it is not yet working as it is registered "soon".
*** A small heart is also visible, indicating that the doll is ready to hear.
*** Finally, the new settings are available, such as Internet outage or other showing the micro and the heart, but I do not quite understand what is it.

So a good update of the application that brings (finally) a little more substance. By cons since that the doll almost more will not answer the questions. It limits understands nothing !!! She never know, even on issues concerning! If by luck she manages to capture a word, it will answer most of the time next to the plate ...
Level geography is a cat, all of them in Africa.
She not spelled the right words ...

In short this update is a disaster in terms of connectivity. I urge the manufacturer to do something for little girls who dream of playing with Cayla !!!
Otherwise my daughter, she no longer plays with, it's more out of curiosity I wanted to see where that was the doll ...