The Pleo saga continues with a splash of good news and a bit of oddball information.

The good news first: Ugobe's long-aborning robotic dinosaur is finally being manufactured and will arrive before December 25th for around $349. The oddball info: The pet's paint wears off the flexible, pliant skin. According to a FAQ delivered by Ugobe via its e-mail newsletter, the more you pet Pleo, the more its paint job will "flake off".

The newsletter cheerfully delivers this information and even offers some ideas for how consumers can help keep the paint intact. The departure of these non-toxic flakes will leave the little robot with a somewhat weathered or "loved" appearance that may or may not please owners. Ugobe recommends baby powder and a soft, nail-free, touch to maintain Pleo's youthful appearance. Since the robots body is covered with sensors, one has to wonder about the effectiveness of any of these tactics.

Additionally, Pleo's version 1 software will allow for "subtle shaping of personality," but not the real learning that Ugobe previously promised. Expect that update sometime in 2008.

This isn't Pleo's first run-in with design and development trouble. Earlier this year, the company had to delay delivery of the robot as it figured out how make the robot's battery accept a full charge.

Post by Lance Ulanoff