Angry Birds was already a success before its Telepods toys were selling in their millions. As the trend continues the franchise is firmly on the toy as well as the video-game map. If you’ve not kept up, Telepods are physical toys that unlock in-app characters and content. They are scanned in like Skylanders by placing them on the camera of your Tablet or Smartphone.

Telepods first featured in Angry Birds Star Wars II, then the kart racing game Angry Birds Go! and will soon come to Angry Birds Stella. But before the new game lands we have fresh iterations of Telepods for the first two games. The Carbonite packs for Angry Birds Star Wars, playing to the chemical deep freeze theme from the film, offer new characters and play things. Then we have Series 2 Angry Bird Go! characters bringing new vehicles and birds to the flock.

I recently got hands-on time with the two updated product lines which each match related content and updates in the games themselves. Before diving into the toys themselves it should be noted for parents that the in-game characters can also be purchased in app without buying the toys.

Official blurb: “Check out the awesome new Carbonite Pack update for Angry Birds Star Wars II – bringing you six classic characters and two bonus ones! Play as Carbonite Han Solo, Jabba the Hutt, Wicket the Ewok, Lando Bird, Royal Crimson Guard and Tusken Raider, or fling Clone Trooper or Jedi Knight Kit Fisto! There will also be new bonus levels for each of the characters.

Right away you can test out all the characters for free, and then just earn or purchase more. Of course, with the collectible Angry Birds Star Wars II TELEPODS you can unlock them permanently. Update your game and get blasting! “