Here’s what you need to know about IGTV
If you noticed a new little TV icon at the top of your Instagram feed, then you've already discovered IGTV (Instagram TV), a new app from Instagram that allows users to upload longer form videos for their followers to watch. And yes, it sounds like YouTube because it...
How kids can get artful with coding: The fun new sketch pack from Wonder Workshop.
I'm always happy when companies find a way to take their kids' toys, games and activities and add components or extensions that keep them fresh for kids to play with. One of the best tech companies at this: Wonder Workshop, whose robots we've called "the best of what...
Are teens still sexting? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding YES.
The good news: most teens know that sexting is a crime. The bad news: older teens are less likely to think sexting will have negative consequences. All this from a new study about teens and sexting, conducted by researchers at Boston University and the University of...
Free Apple Camp registration opens June 18. Mark your calendar!
Turn that summer screen time into learning time at your local Apple Store thanks to their annual free summer camps. We've been lucky enough to snag a spot for our own kids in previous years and they've loved it. The catch: the spots go quickly so you need to be ready...
Did you know your screen time could be causing skin damage? Ack!
I've become extremely diligent about using a moisturizer with an SPF that I slather all over my face and hands on a daily basis, but I had absolutely no idea that staring into my phone and computer could be causing skin damage. Well, that's what researchers have just...
5 practical Father’s Day tech gifts you can still get before Sunday.
For the practical dad in your life, tech is a smart go-to gift. Luckily, you can snag all of these gifts well before Father's Day on Sunday. So happy shopping, and while you wait for your order to be delivered, have your kids make a handmade card, to pair with one of...
Where to play all your favorite classic video games from childhood, for free!
Warning: you're about to seriously waste some time reliving your childhood. We've found the motherlode of retro computer games thanks to Classic Reload. They've collected and preserved more than 5,000 classic video games for future generations to play for free. It's...
Watch out Musical.ly: Facebook Lip Sync Live is here!
With the popularity of the Musical.ly app, it's no surprise that Facebook has jumped on the bandwagon with the launch of their new Lip Sync Live feature. Related: 12 risky apps parents should watch out for Similar to what folks share on Musical.ly, Lip Sync Live will...
The new Highlights Hangout podcast brings your kid’s favorite magazine to their ears
As someone who grew up on Highlights magazine and took everyone opportunity to introduce it to her kids, I was so excited to hear that they were launching a podcast for kids, and from the makers of Wow in the World! I loaded it up on my son's phone as soon as it...
Did you know you can request what movies and TV shows you want on Netflix?
Thanks to comedian Chelsea Peretti, Netflix is about to get a whole lot of movie and TV requests. She recently discovered a link on the Netflix site that allows you to submit your suggestions for what you'd like to see offered. Related: These secret Netflix codes let...
Celebrate Father’s Day like it’s 1996
If the dad in your life likes to reminisce about phone books, floppy disks, and cassette tapes, we have found the ultimate Father's day gift: this new funky Polaroid 600 96 cam that's ready to snap some instant pics. Related: 9 creative kid portraits that make pretty...
The new parental controls and screen time management tools coming to iOS 12. THANK YOU, APPLE.
No judgments, parents -- we too have admitted (often) that it can be hard to manage kids' screen time, especially when our kids get older and we're not attached at the hip. Well Apple gets it too, and in today's big iOS 12 announcement, we're particularly excited...
Tech Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way) Easier
Kids and digital footprints: 6 things kids should know to keep them safer online
Keeping our kids safe and healthy is our number one job as parents. And with so many of them using smartphones and other electronic devices, their online safety has become a huge part of that. At Cool Mom Tech, we have always provided parents with helpful advice and...
Sales and discounts: 9 of our best tips for saving money when you shop online
If you plan on hitting up the Labor Day sales this weekend -- or sales any day, honestly -- our best advice: Do it online! While there are always some great deals in store, if you'd rather chill with the family, or do basically anything besides circling a mall for...
A clever Google Maps trick you’ll be very glad to know about if you travel
As I was prepping for our family vacation to Iceland, I found myself searching for information about cellular signals -- not so I can check my email while I'm gone, but so I can use Google Maps. While I found several posts that assured me my service provider's signal...
Even More Coolness. Enjoy!
How huge changes to Spotify Free just made it even more amazing | Sponsored Message
This is a sponsored message from Spotify Spotify remains the world's largest global music streaming subscription service and for good reason. It's transformed the way we can all find and enjoy music for free. And now, thanks to some amazing updates -- the first big...
These Nintendo water bottles are S’well. Literally.
Aren't these water bottles such a clever collaboration from our friends at Nintendo and S'well? We love S'well bottles, and we love Nintendo, so it's no surprise we're loving these new bottles. Sure, they're fun for Father's Day, but keep them in mind for graduation,...
Science Activities for Teens and Older Kids: The Cool Mom Tech Science Guide for Kids
While kids are born to love science, every kid at every age has different abilities, inclinations, passions and skills. We started Cool Mom Tech in part to help parents foster that love of STEM in their kids, which is why we couldn't be more thrilled to bring you this...
Yes, it’s true. Amazon’s Alexa has been recording your conversations.
So, we were all a little freaked out about the story that an Amazon Echo had recorded a private conversation in a user's home, then sent that conversation to someone else. Because, oof. Beyond embarrassing, this is a major privacy breakdown on Alexa's part. Girl, that...
Why iOS apps are better than Android apps, and why we tend to review more iOS apps
Every so often, a commenter gets frustrated that we have reviewed an iOS-only app, and asks why we don't review more Android apps. We feel you. So every so often, we offer a response as to why iOS apps tend to be better than Android apps, and why iOS apps are easier...
Science Activities for Kindergarteners: The Guide to Science for Kids
While kids are born to love science, every kid at every age has different abilities, inclinations, passions and skills. We started Cool Mom Tech in part to help parents foster that love of STEM in their kids, which is why we couldn't be more thrilled to bring you this...
Science Activities for Tweens: The Cool Mom Tech Science Guide for Kids
While kids are born to love science, every kid at every age has different abilities, inclinations, passions and skills. We started Cool Mom Tech in part to help parents foster that love of STEM in their kids, which is why we couldn't be more thrilled to bring you this...
Science Activities for Grade Schoolers (Part 2): The Cool Mom Tech Science Guide for Kids
While kids are born to love science, every kid at every age has different abilities, inclinations, passions and skills. We started Cool Mom Tech in part to help parents foster that love of STEM in their kids, which is why we couldn't be more thrilled to bring you this...
Add some positivity into your news feed with the Womaze app
If your social media feeds are like mine, they're no longer places for me to find out what's going on with my friends and distant family. Instead, they're oftentimes the source of stress and anxiety for me, given the constant influx of sad news and anger. While I do...
What you need to know about Cosmo After Dark on Snapchat, parents.
I am not going to say "I told you so!" when it comes to Snapchat, but it's mighty tempting after the recent launch of Cosmopolitan's new Cosmo After Dark stories that go live every Friday at 6pm EDT. And hey, I even wrote a book about sex for parents. Let's just say...
Summer travel news: What you need to know about the smart luggage ban
With summer travel season right around the corner, and many families, including ours, planning vacations, we wanted to take a moment to talk about the smart luggage ban that came down earlier this year. While it might only affect a few of you, we think it's important...
The NES Classic is back. Back again.
So this is how the story goes. Nintendo brought back the NES Classic in November, 2016 and it sold out almost immediately. Then lots of people were sad and gnashing their teeth (okay, slight exaggeration. Maybe). Well, it's back. Again. Related: Got a Nintendo Switch?...