Tech & Gadgets
Change is Good
If you’re like me, the announcement of the new iPhone left me perplexed. “You mean I can’t charge my phone and listen with headphones at the same time?” But just like any new version of anything … we’ll all get...
Stay in Touch
Get added protection and a long-lasting charge with PowerShadow Battery Case by Spyder ($99, www.spyderstyle.com). The case is surprisingly lightweight and extra thin (weighs in at less than 3oz and is 12.5mm thick), and gives the phone an extra 120% charge...
Lights, Camera, Selfie!
Whoever said you couldn’t fall in love with a phone case has obviously never seen a Lumee! I have had one too many selfies ruined due to poor lighting… but now I don’t have to worry about that anymore! This...
Voltron: Legendary Defender
No plans this Friday? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Whether you’ve been a Voltron fan from the start or are looking for a new series to binge watch, the Voltron reboot by Dreamworks will surely provide you with hours...
Wish You Were Here
Show your friends and family the highlights of your vacation by sending customized postcards with the Postly app. Just snap a picture with your phone, upload it to Get Postly, design your card, write a message and send! Postcards are delivered worldwide for just $1.99. Available for...
Device Makeover
Devices need a makeover? Then Casetify has got you covered! With hundreds of super cute designs and collections, the hardest part will be deciding which case to pick. Whether you’re a foodie, fashionista, minimalist, animal lover or more, you’re bound...
Spinning Old School
Unearth your vinyl and listen to the crackle and pop on the portable CR8016 Messenger Turntable by Crosley. This full-functioning record player spins in three speeds and looks totally groovy in a sturdy messenger bag. Price: $89.99 www.AlwaysFits.com
Hey, Mr. DJ
Mix it up with Crayola DJ by Legacy Games, an app that turns your iPhone or iPad into a DJ booth. Kids learn the basics of music production and mixing by combining color-coded layers of beats, melodies and scratches. Up...
Rock On
Put down your air guitar and pick up jamstik+, a "smart guitar" that connects to your Bluetooth-enabled iOS or Android devic. Download software for lessons, games and an app called Four Chords to play more than 1,000 of your favorite...
Safe and Sound
Etymotic's ETY Kids5 Earphones fit snuggly into little ears providing optimum sound quality so kids won't feel the need to crank the volume. Volume control keeps sound at safe levels. Available in black, pink, and yellow. Age: 4 and up...
Breathe Easier
If you are an allergy sufferer like me, you’ll surely appreciate the Dyson Pure Cool (www.dyson.com, $499.99), which removes 99.95% of harmful airborne particles by trapping them in a high-efficiency HEPA filter. In other words, the gunk we breathe that...
My Friend Cayla and My Friend Teddy
My Friend Cayla is the world’s first interactive doll! Cayla is compatible with clothing and accessories for most 18” dolls, uses Bluetooth and speech-to-text technology, and is “universally embraced by hundreds of mommy bloggers.” My Friend Teddy is the bear...
Straight from Arendelle
Whether it’s a day out in the snow or by the fireplace sipping hot cocoa, kids can chronicle their holiday highlights with Disney’s Frozen themed HD Action Camera ($79.99, www.kohls.com). Comes with a waterproof case, bicycle mount and helmet mount.
Think Outside the Cube
Travel light during your holiday visits with the Polaroid CUBE HD action camera ($99.99, www.PolaroidCUBE.com). This cute, colorful and compact camera fits perfectly in any pocket, making it a snap to capture holiday memories.
Stick It
Forget the hammer and nails! WeMontage (3x2 collage, $59.99, www.WeMontage.com) is a removable, customized photo collage that adds a personal touch to any room! Available in many sizes, it adheres to textured and non-textured surfaces.
Photo Ready
Say goodbye to old-school photo albums and hello to Blurb (starting at $12.99, www.blurb.com). These DIY books are easy to make and a great way to show off your family photos.
Share Party Memories
Looking for a cool and easy way to showcase party photos? Mosaic is a free app (compatible with iOS and Android devices, www.heymosaic.com) that creates a quality, 7-inch-square photo book ($25) from your mobile device. Select 20 photos, add a...
Take a Listen
Great for traveling, Etymotic’s ETY Kids Earphones (www.etymotic.com, $39, Ages 4+) are made just for kids. They come in black, pink and yellow and come with a handy pouch for safe keeping. They fit snuggly to seal the ear canal,...
Fun Ideas for Kids- Take Charge, literally!
Alleviate the worry of a drained cell phone battery with Style Power by myCharge, ($19.99, www.mycharge.com), a 2000mAh charger that’s both compact and stylish. Simply charge it up with the integrated USB cable, and then connect your phone to re-juice;...
Bottle Pop!
Pop open a fresh brew or soda with ease – and a laugh -- with BottlePops ($14.95, www.bottlepops.com), sports-themed bottle openers made of recycled plastic that say 15 to 25 sports phrases when you use them. Choose from baseball, football,...
Control Freak
Lost remote? No problem! With Pronto ($49.99, www.getpronto.com), your cell phone becomes a universal remote giving you control of all your entertainment devices (TVs, set-top boxes, DVDs and Blu-ray players). Pair with the free Peel Smart Remote app and get...
Listen Up
Great for the teen in your life, Bell'O Digital BDH806 Headphones (www.bello-digital.com, $24.99) are an amazing deal with great sound and a microphone for cell phone use. They’re lightweight and durable, with a thick no-tangle cord, and come in black,...
Hot, Hot, Hot
Be a safer chef with the iDevices Kitchen Thermometer mini ($39.99, www.idevicesinc.com). Insert the probe into whatever you’re roasting and connect the thermometer via Bluetooth to your iPhone or iPad. Choose a pre-set temperature from the iDevices app menu and...
Blend, Baby, Blend!
There’s more to blending than just shakes and smoothies. The Designer 625 with Wildside Jar by Blendtec (www.blendtec.com, $454.95) is a USA-made, industrial-strength blender that whips up everything in seconds. Create your own juices, soups, salsas, dough and baby food....
Practice Makes Perfect
Practicing won’t be a chore with Piano Maestro (www.joytunes.com, Free to $59.99 for premium access, all ages and levels), an app for a Smartphone or tablet controlled by a piano or keyboard – sans wires. As piano students play through...
Power Buddy
Keep all your tech items up and running with Andru Charger ($25), a desk companion whose eyes light up blue while charging, then switch to white when complete. Comes with a stand and a micro-USB (Android) plug. Also works with...
Tail Support
Whale Tail ($39.99), a flexible one-of-a-kind tablet stand, attaches to your device with an industrial-grade vacuum dock and works beautifully in different typing and viewing angles. www.octa.com
Star in a Story
StoryBots’ new Starring You Book app (free single download, $4.99/month all-access pass) features “The Great Engineer” as one of its 39 animated iPad storybooks that encourage imaginative play. www.storybots.com
Turn It Up
Connect and play music from your smartphone, tablet, laptop or other mobile device with the NYNE Mini ($49.95), a portable mini speaker with high-quality sound and a sleek carrying case. Website: www.nyne.com
Spin and Snap
More than just a phone case, Izzi Slim ($99.99) includes four super-cool photo lenses (fisheye, wide angle, 2x telephoto and macro). Just rotate, focus and snap! Available for iPhone 5 and 5s only. Website: www.izzigadgets.com
Safe and Sound
nabi Headphones by Fuhu, Inc. ($69.99) are DJ quality headphones that transform into...whatever you’re into. They're the world’s first DJ quality, dual-mode headphones with volume limiting technology for kids. These high performance headphones deliver pristine, isolated listening experiences, while providing peace...
Good Dog
Zoomer (Fun for the entire family, $99.99) is such an endearing Dalmatian that it’s hard to believe this eager-to-please pooch is robotic. Kids can teach him to speak, sit, lie down, roll over or shake in English, Spanish or French. ...
Creepy Crawlers
Like a Habitrail for bugs, HEXBUG Nano V2 Black Hole ($49.99 Ages 3 years+) has rubber techno insects climbing up, free falling and constantly finding new courses. Moving like real bugs these two busy Hexbugs with newly redesigned exo-skeletons scurry...
Watchful Eye
The AC1200 Video Movement & Sound Monitor by Angelcare for Smartphone ($299) goes where no monitor has gone before. Parents can simply download the Angelcare app to turn their Smartphone (iPhone/Android), tablet or iPad, even their computer into a monitor...
In the Loop
Manage day-to-day activities in one central location with Cozi (free), an app that makes sharing shopping and to-do lists, schedules and calendars a snap through any computer or mobile device.
Tidy Up Your Treasures
Save your child’s artwork digitally with the free app Artkive (Books start at $25),compatible with most iOS devices. Snap a photo of each masterpiece, note the artist’s name and date, and order a keepsake book at the end of the...
Learn Something New
Kids can play their way to Spanish, French, German, or Portuguese language skills with Quick Tap ($1.99, Ages 5 to 11), a high-speed app where players race to match foreign words to their English counterparts. Teaches more than 100 words...