Kid-Friendly Osmo iPad Accessory Coming to Apple Stores

The evolution of children's toys, from Matchbox cars to smartphone-controlled droids, continues with the learning-enhanced Osmo product for iPad.

Developed last year by a pair of ex-Googlers under the working title of Tangible Play Inc., Osmo uses a reflective mirror that clamps over an iPad's camera to turn the surface in front of the screen into an interactive play area.

Tangible Play began selling its hardware-and-games package in May for a discounted $50, as part of an early-adopter crowdfunding campaign. The accessory, which comes with three kid-friendly games, accessible via apps in the App Store, has amassed $2.3 million in pre-orders, according to The Wall Street Journal, and the attention of a very big investor.

The startup recently struck a partnership with Apple to sell Osmo in all U.S. and Canadian retail stores, with Cupertino earning a percentage of each sale. It will also be on sale at Marbles Toy Stores around the U.S.

At launch, Osmo comes with the red reflector to snap onto your iPad, a durable stand, and three games, including Tangram (arrange puzzle pieces to match on-screen shapes), Newton (use inventive objects to guide on-screen bouncing balls), and Words (guess and spell on-screen hidden words).

The company this week also announced the launch of myOsmo—an add-on to customize the Words game using your own photos and words uploaded onto my.playosmo.com.

New funding rounds, Osmo told the Journal, could mean another three or four games—possibly involving math and art—in the coming year.

"Get silly with your siblings. Debate word definitions with friends. Compete with Dad (and make him sweat!)," the product website said. "Osmo brings kids and families together in the real world—for real time laughs."

The Osmo works with a number of different iPad variations, including the iPad 2, 3, 4, mini, mini Retina, and Air.

But while Apple Stores have gained a new product, the retail giant appears to have lost another. Following rumors that Apple is dropping Bose products from its retail locations, new reports have surfaced that the popular Fitbit devices may meet the same fate.

Re/code said on Wednesday that the fitness tracker wearables could be pushed off the shelves, in order to make way for Cupertino's own Apple Watch, set to launch sometime next year.

Neither Apple nor Fitbit immediately responded to a request for comment. But the news comes a week after Fitbit said it has no plans to support Apple's new iOS 8 Health app.

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 4:45 p.m. ET with confirmation from Osmo.