3 of the best gift card apps for last minute holiday gifts
While gift cards won't necessarily elicit tears of joy, they actually can make a lot of sense. Gift cards are a great choice for people you want to recognize, but don't know well enough to choose a personal gift, or for when you have a limited budget. Here are...
A last minute donation for good: Your frequent flyer miles
I think a subscription to TripIt Pro is a fantastic last-minute gift for any frequent traveler. In fact, an alert from them recently helped me score a $300 refund (!) when an airfare I had purchased dropped significantly. So yeah. That subscription paid for itself...
Sending holiday ecards: 7 of the best resources for last minute thoughts that still count
I still have some gifts to buy and cards to send, but it's nice to know that I can take care of some of those greetings to friends and families with a few clicks on my phone or computer. Here are seven of the best websites and apps that let you send pretty holiday...
Yes, those were angels you heard singing. The Polaroid Socialmatic camera is finally here!
When we teased the idea of the Polaroid Socialmatic camera back in the spring, we could hardly contain ourselves. So you can imagine how amped we are now that you can pre-order the Socialmatic right now. Why all the excitement? Well, first, just look at it. That's one...
Last minute holiday shipping deadlines, because there’s always one last thing
You might think that we'd have all of our shopping finished, but even we keep running out of hours in the day. So we've gathered all the details on holiday shipping deadlines from a bunch of our favorite online retailers -- some techie, and some not-so-techie -- who...
Sorry Santa: Kids music download of the week
We're pretty sure Santa is checking his list twice as the sleigh gets loaded with gifts, so it's a little late for any of our kids to make amends if they've been just a wee bit difficult this year. But rather than threaten them with lumps of coal, we've got a funky...
5 fun Christmas apps that make us feel like kids again
It's Christmas! Time to sip some cider or egg nog and enjoy the age-old tradition of playing on the iPad with your kids. Ha. Even though the technology is so not what we had as kids, these fun Christmas apps are getting us in a festive mood and making us feel like...
GiftGram: How to send a personal greeting by video to go with those gifts you’re shipping
The holiday season involves some of my all-time favorite things: family, friends, good cheer, giving gifts, and sugary treats. And butter. But one of drawbacks of this time of year, for me, has to be the shipping stress. My family is close-knit, but we live all over...
6 of the most fun Santa apps for kids that offer proof the big guy is real.
My daughter came home from school last week, begging for a video chat with Santa. How very 21st century. But what was more surprising was that my ever-practical, Elf-on-the-Shelf-mocking, not-believing-in-Santa kid flip-flopped! And I owe it to these creative and fun...
Fun geeky stocking stuffers all under $10.
While we love finding cool gifts for kids under $15 that don't seem like stocking stuffers, there's something to be said for finding actual awesome stocking stuffers that won't break the bank either. It's not easy though when you've got an adult to shop for, or...
Looking for a great gift for a camera-loving guy? ONA Bags has you covered.
Whether he goes for the rugged backpacker look or opts for a hip messenger style, you are sure to find just the right camera bag for your favorite photographer guy from ONA Bags. Actually, any of these finely crafted bags would look outstanding slung over your...
3 geeky holiday cards with a sense of humor
Oh my geeky friends, not just any old holiday card will do, especially if you're taking the time to write it, stamp it, and send it in the actual mail, which is why I had to share these 3 geeky holiday cards I found that gave me a much-needed giggle. Even better, you...
Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way!) Easier
4 easy ways tech eliminates unnecessary paper in your life
This is part of a sponsored series for Sprint Replenish who is helping us think about going green with our tech. I'm all about saving trees--hey! I like trees!--so I do my best to avoid overindulgent paper use. Sure, we recycle junk mail as scrap paper for the kids...
3 reasons to finally get on board with Bluetooth
Confession: I have never been an earpiece kind of gal. I still snicker at those people who walk down the street looking like they're talking to themselves. But ever since the announcement last week about the potential hazard of cell phone radiation, I figured better...
3 reasons to love the Kindle app on your smartphone
I downloaded the free for iPhone app way back when I upgraded my first generation iPhone to a pretty new iPhone 4, but it was only recently that I actually decided to upload a book. Now I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner. While many people keep telling me that...
Harman Audio’s Infinity One Bluetooth speaker offers quality sound to go
We've covered plenty of Bluetooth speakers here on Cool Mom Tech, from teeny, slide-in-your-pocket speakers to rattle-the-wood desk, powerhouse ones. But when I saw that Harman Audio -- the world's largest car audio manufacturer -- was behind the new Infinity One...
littleBits’ Holiday Kits will add bling to your holiday decorations
Need to add a little oomph to your Christmas decorations? Want your gingerbread house to be the one that makes all the others jealous? Going for the win in this year's Ugly Christmas Sweater contest? You may need a little bit of help with littleBits Holiday Packs that...
The new, limited edition Diana F+ camera: It’s artsy, cool, and special.
Sometimes your camera can help you capture a brilliant moment. And other times, the thing of beauty is the camera itself. Case in point: the special, limited edition Diana F+ Explorer Nocturne medium format film camera. Between the copper color scheme, the starry...
20Stamps: Cool customized photo stamps for the holidays and beyond
It's not often that we have good news for procrastinators, but if you haven't yet mailed your holiday cards, then today is your lucky day. Because we just discovered 20Stamps, an awesome iOS app that lets you design your own customized photo stamps, right from your...
BOLT reinvents the travel charger, beautifully
As a frequent traveler, I've come to terms with the fact that I carry a big pouch around with way too many cords, accessories, portable chargers, and backups to the portable chargers. Even so, I'm always looking for ways to lighten the load so I really love the idea...
Bitsbox: A cool website and subscription box for aspiring young coders
If last week's Hour of Code got your kids fired up to learn more about computer science, then we've got an awesome gift recommendation for you. Bitsbox is a cool free website where kids can learn and practice code, and now they've launched a fun subscription box...
14 of the coolest gifts for photographers
The photographers in our lives are always trying to capture the fun, inspired, beautiful, worth-a-thousand-words moments. So, this holiday, what do you get the brilliant photographer in your life to let them know you'd like them to keep up the good work? Obviously...
Light by Lisa Loeb: Hanukkah music download of the week
With Hanukkah beginning this week, it's a good time to download kids' music and 90's songstress Lisa Loeb's brand new song to have ready to play as you light your evening candles and enjoy the holidays with your family. Titled simply Light, Lisa is joined by Cool Mom...
Moshi: A gorgeous iPhone case to match your gorgeous new iPhone 6
The men in my life don't always see smartphone cases the same way we do -- as accessories that can be updated with the season, or even just on a whim. But since we're all pretty equally impressed with the attractive designs of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus as we are, I...
Here’s how to follow Cool Mom Tech! Because we are everywhere. In a not scary way.
Whichever social media site you prefer, we're probably there, passing on great content from our site, the web and beyond every day. Sometimes lots of times during the day. Follow us for links to cool articles, breaking news, tips for last-minute sales and discounts,...
TZOA: A wearable to measure air quality and help you breathe easier
Don't laugh, but I rely on frequent deep breaths to get me through the day, especially when my kids are being especially ornery. And thanks to a really cool gadget to measure air quality called TZOA, I can see if those calming breaths I'm taking are full of clean air....
Pepi Ride: A fun intro to driving games
To be honest, I was a little hesitant when I first downloaded the Pepi Ride app. But then I turned it over to my 5-and-half-year-old son, and this doubting mama loved his reaction. Pepi Ride is a fun intro to video games. There's no real educational piece to it, but...