4 tech summer camps for kids that parents will think are way cool, too.
Getting our kids on board with STEM early in the game seems like a great way to go. And just because it's summer doesn't mean that gentle parent-ly nudge in the right direction has to take a break. An easy way to get kids hyped about things like computer programming...
The ABCiné app develops literacy of the pop culture variety.
Yes, it's an ABC app. But unlike other ABC apps we've covered here, I don't know that the new ABCiné app (as in cinéma) from Spanish design studio Atipo for Meikme is going to help kids with the alphabet as much as it will help adults -- and a few precious kids...
Makesto is a sweet, free storytelling app to let kids’ imaginations run wild
They say every picture tells a story, which makes my six-year-old a master story teller. We get a book's worth of drawings from her each day and the explanations of her creations are always mind blowingly crazy awesome. So imagine our excitement when we discovered...
Trees by Lianne Bassin: Kids’ music download of the week
With their great climbing branches, ability to provide cool shade on a hot day, and the leaf piles they supply in the fall, it's no wonder that our kids love to play around trees every chance they get. So I'm especially liking one thoughtful song about trees by NYC...
The Prong PWR iPhone charging case works without a single wire or cord. Rejoice!
With all the fun we plan to have this summer, the one thing I don't need is for my iPhone to run out of juice right when I'm about to snap that perfect picture or need directions to the closest ice cream stand. But, since I don't always remember to pack my portable...
A new fireworks app for kids that is all fun, no fear
If a single BOOM from a nearby fireworks display sends your kids running to bury their heads in your lap, you may need kinder, gentler fireworks this Fourth of July. Like the ones found on this cute new fireworks app, Fireworks Lab, which lets our youngest kids set...
Alto’s Adventure: A beautiful app to cool you down on a hot day
I may be the last person to discover Alto's Adventure which blew away the gaming world when it launched a few months back. Even my eight-year-old is like, Mom! You finally got it? But I admit that when I hear "snowboarding app," I don't feel the need to race to the...
Ily vs Triby smackdown! Which is the best no-landline family phone for you?
One of our top family tech picks from CES this year was Triby, the wireless hands-free speaker phone that helps keep the whole family in touch, even without a landline. The preview got us giddy for the technology to come for those of us getting rid of landlines at...
Olloclip Active Lens: Get your iPhone ready for summer adventures and group selfies.
To say that we like iPhoneography is like saying Frozen was a marginal success. Yeah. No understatement: We are huge fans of iPhone picture-takin' over here. Which is why I'm always excited to see what cool, new accessories are popping up to tack on to my iPhone to...
Free song download from the Not-Its: Love is Love, our kids’ music pick of the week
Our young children may not entirely understand why mom's Facebook avatar is covered in rainbows or what all those happy tears on Friday were for, but quite simply, kids can understand the basic premise that all of us here share, that love is love. And to celebrate...
Finally, Gmail Undo Send has been gifted to all. Pack it in, typos!
Think about the last email you sent off in haste. Maybe it had a ridiculous typo. Or, worse, you spilled out all your anger or hurt feelings across the QWERTY instead of taking a breath -- or a night's sleep -- before hitting send. Ugh. The worst. Basically, we've all...
Tiggly Words spells out fun while kids learn this summer
With school out for the summer, I know that many of us will be letting our kids have a bit more screen time during these long, less-scheduled days. And if you'd like that time to be educational, at least some of the time, definitely check out the brand new Tiggly...
Tech Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way) Easier
How to clear your phone cache? We can help.
With the advent of Vine and now Instagram video, I'm betting that your phones are getting filled to the brim with sheer data. While thinking about your phone cache probably isn't something you do regularly, having a phone nearing capacity can result in slower...
AT&T Street Charge means Free charging stations. Free solar charging stations. And in NYC no less.
I figured the big news about ATT's free mobile charging station program would be taking place somewhere like San Francisco or Portland or Austin. But nope, NY mamas like me--and those who visit our fair northeastern hamlet--are in luck when their phone power is down...
Some helpful tips for the new and improved Gmail tab browsing
Good news for Gmail users: The interface just got a little more organized, and whether you use it on the Web, on your iOS or Android device, you can keep those 3,420 emails in check with some of the new features. And the new feature of the hour? Tabs! Organization...
Even More Coolness. Enjoy!
#LoveWins
Today, we celebrate love. It feels good. - Liz + Kristen Rainbow iPhone cases on Society 6 via Mindful Designs, Irina Chuckowree, Whatiswrongful, BudiKwan , Katayoon Photography and Design
The Instagram 7.0 update is practically begging you to travel
Oh, Instagram. Just when we think we couldn't love you more, you go an pull something like this? Yes, our fave photo social media app just got a really cool update that will help you discover new places and may just revitalize the way your travel this globe. Instagram...
Tips from a pro for taking better family vacation photos. Good timing, right?
If you're like us, you're counting down the days to a summer vacation, whether it's a weekend at the grandparents' place or something bigger. Either way, hopefully it means sleeping in late (kids willing), lazy days, catching up on books and of course, lots and lots...
How to get your kids a free coding education this summer from Microsoft.
School's out (finally). Time to really sink into summer's sun and fun. But for many parents, summer also means tackling this gnawing question, how are we going to keep these children entertained? Well, for your tech-head kid, we're happy to discover Microsoft...
Setting up email for kids: 11 essential things to teach them first — that you probably haven’t thought about.
When I finally broke down and got my daughter an email account (all my friends have one! actually does work sometimes) we had the long, requisite discussions about safety, etiquette, and responsibility. But wow, it turns out there's so much more than that. Especially...
The smart bulb with a speaker built right in: A bright new trend in mash-up technology.
Question: How many Beyoncés does it take to screw in a light bulb? Answer: As many as you're in the mood for, because these rad LED light bulbs are also Bluetooth wireless speakers. So basically whatever strikes your fancy when you're turning them on, whether...
Kids Music Download of the Week: Home When I Hold You by Alastair Moock, a song every parent should hear.
After spending your Father's Day celebrating with the special dads in your family's life, take a few quiet moments to enjoy a song from one very special dad, writing one heck of a special song. Singer-songwriter Alastair Moock. Home When I Hold You reminds our kids...
Last minute gift idea: 6 great video editing apps that let you easily send something more sentimental than a card
One of our favorite last-minute suggestions for sentimental Father's Day gifts (and any gift really) has been to make a short, shareable video that you can create easily. While video editing used to reserved for professionals with zillions of dollars worth of...
The Kids Stay in the Picture: A pre-Father’s Day brunch event with Cool Mom Tech and Amazon Cloud Drive
As admittedly heavy Amazon Prime users, we can't believe we didn't know about the free access all Prime members have to Amazon Cloud Drive. And we can't believe how many other in-the-know friends weren't aware either. (Hey, Prime isn't just for free shipping and...
New Moleskine Timepage app for iPhone is about beauty and brains. We like that combo.
First, let's get this out of the way: There's an ongoing tomayto-tomahto situation around the correct way to pronounce the popular notebook-maker Moleskine -- is it skin or skine? The official response according to the company is, your way is the right way. So now, no...
Geeky gifts for gamers: 6 fun ideas for Father’s Day and beyond.
Okay procrastinators. It may be a little late to order something awesome online for Father's Day...or maybe not! Check for shipping options for some of these cool geeky gifts for your favorite gamer, or just bookmark it for future gift ideas. There are always...
Life management tip: How to turn off Twitter notifications during certain hours using sleep settings
I was going through my settings on Twitter recently to tweak something, and I never realized it, but there's a way to turn off your Twitter notifications during pre-set hours only. And if I just discovered this for the first time, then I'm probably not the only one....