Beth, Author at Cool Mom Tech

E3 Expo update: 7 gaming announcements parents will be excited about

Let’s just say that smartphone and tablet games we love are nothing compared with what’s coming out soon–console games are alive and motion kicking in the most amazing ways. Last week, nearly 50,000 people in attendance at the 2011 E3 conference, or...

Wii U – the next generation Nintendo Wii.

by Beth | Games + Gaming

If you are a Nintendo Wii fan (and really, who isn’t?) then yesterday’s announcement from Nintendo is one you won’t want to miss. The next generation Wii gaming system has been announced and it is called (drumroll) Wii U. Think everything cool about...

Buy a Windows PC and Get a Free XBox 360. We smell grad gift!

by Beth | Games + Gaming

If buying an computer for a lucky high school grad this year is part of your plans, then you’re in for an extra bonus of the awesome variety. Starting today, participating retailers are offering a free Xbox with the purchase of a Windows 7 PC, when you show a...

New shopping spree enabler! Call a support group!

by Beth | Shopping Apps

I always used to look forward to catalogs appearing in my mailbox. Now that I am more eco-conscious (and busy), catalogs are like paper spam, or at best, something for my kids to cut up for art projects. While I still enjoy the experience of looking through a catalog,...

Smart new tools to help keep kids safe on Facebook

by Beth | Tips and Tricks

Just when I thought I finally understood the privacy settings on Facebook, my son reminded me that he will be 13 soon–old enough (shriek of terror) to have his own Facebook profile. At that moment, I had a feeling that another “talk” must be added to...

Web Coolness – The scoop on batteries, going green with old tech, and LEGOs you wear

by Beth | Link Roundups

Here are a few things we’ve liked reading around the web this week. We hope you will too. We’re already walking all over LEGOs anyway. Why not LEGO Stilettos? Looove this tip at ParentHacks for how to use Amazon to help navigate the library with your kids....

Nintendo 3DS: Effects that jump out at you, hold the glasses

by Beth | Games + Gaming

As with most families with pre-teens these days, we’ve got those moments when I need something new and cool to keep my boys entertained: that very important phone call, the long wait in the doctor’s office, the never-ending road trip. You know, those times...

Free streaming movies from Amazon. Second only to free ice cream.

by Beth | Helpful Services

This is Oscar day. In other words, the day parents everywhere realize they have seen pretty much none of the movies nominated and vow to do better next year. Just in time, Amazon announced an awesome new offer for free video streaming, available to all Amazon Prime...

5 tips for picking an e-reader that’s right for you

by Beth | Tips and Tricks

From the rumors we’re hearing, it might not be long before our kids are toting a single e-reader to school in lieu of all those heavy textbooks. e-readers are changing the world, so it’s not surprising that we get a ton of mail from Cool Mom Tech readers...

Protecting your iPad screen. And probably, your sanity.

by Beth | Laptop + Tablet Cases

Anyone else get a shiny new iPad and then realize that all the little, greasy fingers in the family will also be sharing your new prized possession? (We tried to warn you!) I initially tried to fight my type A “don’t touch that” tendencies and let my...

NEW: The podcast that helps you be a savvier digital parent in under 15 minutes a week

Hi! We’re Kristen + Liz

Kristen Chase + Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks

We started Cool Mom Tech in 2010 to help make our increasingly digital lives easier, more organized, more meaningful, and more fun, however old your kids may be.

We love that it's grown to become the go-to source for millions of parents who want commonsense info about tech delivered with a smile.

We even have the privilege of sharing our tips + tricks with The TODAY Show, CNN, HLN, GMA, Nightline, newspapers and magazines around the country, and our favorite -- regular parents who stop us at PTA meetings and ask us how old kids need to be to get a smartphone, and whether they really need to panic about Snapchat.

(Answer: It's complicated.)

We're so glad you're here! And we hope we can help you too.