Don’t be that parent! 8 smart parent-teacher communication etiquette tips for the digital age
We're thrilled to welcome a new monthly columnist, Dr. Devorah Heitner, author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive and Survive in Their Digital World and the founder of Raising Digital Natives, a resource for schools and families wishing to cultivate a climate of...
Why I’m switching from Chrome to Firefox (and how to do it)
I've been a longtime Chrome user, but after having some functionality on a few different websites, I've decided it might be time to seek other options. And then I did a deep dive into their privacy issues, let's just say it's a very good time to switch. Yes, it's...
Sugarfina x Nintendo makes the tastiest gift for the gamer in your life
My Facebook ads have been on-point lately with a fancy mascara (hello!), a super cool pantsuit (yes please!), and just yesterday, this new collab between Sugarfina and Nintendo (heck yeah!). You know I clicked right through and boy, am I glad I did. Related: The...
3 free audiobook apps you need for back to school
School will be starting up soon, and that means my kids' tech will be focused more on education than Fortnite in a few weeks. Sorry, kids. I'm going to start by downloading these free audiobook apps that let you borrow them (along with books, movies, and more) from...
Postagram makes sending camp letters a snap. Or, a click.
If you've got kids in summer camp, you may know that each day they don't get a letter from home is another reason they grow up to resent you. Kidding. But they do like to get lots of letters -- and I admit, I am not the best daily letter writer. At all. So it was my...
iPhone trick: How to search your photos quickly using multi-keyword search
I currently have just under 12,000 photos on my iPhone. I know, I know, but when you work in social media and have four adorable children, it happens. As you might guess, even with the handy location feature, as well as moments, favorites, and face recognition, it's...
Dagne Dover makes tech organization easy and stylish.
Ever since the Dagne Dover backpack converted me into a backpack person, I've kept my eye on them, hoping that they'd launch a tech collection. Well, apparently their ears were ringing because they've finally launched the Dagne Dover tech capsule collection that I...
The Pocket app helps you save and read your favorite articles to you
Liz has raved about the Pocket app for years now, and for good reason. It's a super handy app that lets you save your favorite articles, recipes, even tweets so that you can read them later. But, you know, how much time do we all have to read them later? That's why we...
This Facebook design flaw allowed kids to chat with unauthorized users on Messenger Kids.
Since Messenger Kids launched back in 2017, we were pretty skeptical about the messaging app that purported to offer kids a safer way to chat with friends, all without having to actually be a Facebook user. Not surprisingly, the Messenger Kids app was highly...
Smart diapers are here to help tell you if your baby’s diaper is wet. File this under: AYFKM?
We're all for cool, innovative uses of technology to help make our lives easier as parents. And then there are the gadgets and inventions that make us go "Really?" which is pretty much the reaction we had when we saw the news about the new Pampers smart diaper system....
How to take great photos of your kids? Use this trick my teenager taught me.
A few weeks ago, my teenager asked me to take a few photos of her while we were visiting my son at camp in Washington D.C., but she kept moving through her poses too quickly that all I kept getting were photos of her in motion. Not so great for the 'gram, Mom!...
Is the FaceApp safe? Read these tips from experts first.
Our social media feeds are blowing up photos from the FaceApp, thanks to the new FaceApp Challenge, but is it safe? If you'e missed the buzz, this hilarious (ish) app lets you upload a photo to the app, then edits it using AI filters so you can see how you'd look...
Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way!) Easier
iPhone trick: Here’s how to hide photos in your iPhone photo gallery
If you're like me, you've gone into your iPhone to show someone a photo, and as you scroll through the thousands of images, you realize you didn't delete those photos. Yes, you know what I'm talking about (actually, I'm talking about my son's knee after surgery. What...
Don’t be that parent! 8 smart parent-teacher communication etiquette tips for the digital age
We're thrilled to welcome a new monthly columnist, Dr. Devorah Heitner, author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive and Survive in Their Digital World and the founder of Raising Digital Natives, a resource for schools and families wishing to cultivate a climate of...
Why I’m switching from Chrome to Firefox (and how to do it)
I've been a longtime Chrome user, but after having some functionality on a few different websites, I've decided it might be time to seek other options. And then I did a deep dive into their privacy issues, let's just say it's a very good time to switch. Yes, it's...
Amazon Prime Day tech deals you won’t want to miss!
These days, July 15 and 16 means Amazon Prime Day. (Yes, it's two days this year.) We've been keeping an eye on the tech deals to see if they're worth the hype, and well, depending on what kind of gadget you're in the market for, they just might be. Here are a bunch...
Rebel Girls Boundless: A new, inspiring digital magazine that we desperately needed
We've said it before but we'll say it again: Representation matters. That's why we were thrilled to support Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls when it launched a few years ago on Kickstarter, along with their journal, and their podcast. Because we all need to see and...
How long does Amazon Alexa keep your data? You’re not going to be happy with the answer.
We know how helpful the Amazon Alexa can be for busy families, and over the years, we've shared a ton of helpful skills right here on Cool Mom Tech. From fitness to meal planning, even budgeting, there are no shortage of cool uses for this gadget. But we've also...
Mac users: Do you know these important macOS privacy settings?
I've been a Mac convert for many years now, and one of the big reasons I switched was due to all the Malware issues I was experiencing with my PCs. Macs are safer! You've probably heard someone tell you that, right? But if you're under the impression that your privacy...
This high-tech baby monitor and swaddle is helping parents and newborns breathe easier
Attention, new parents! We've found one of the coolest new high-tech baby products: the Nanit Breathing Wear that monitors baby's breathing for you by "reading" ink patterns on the swaddle or breathing band. We've been fans of the Nanit monitor for awhile now, but...
A little extra security for your precious AirPods
I've been a longtime AirPods convert now, even convincing a few of our Cool Mom Tech staffers to give them a try. And while I love that there is no cord or cable attached, sometimes I wish I could just hang them around my neck when I need a little break rather than...
Listen to your favorite music or podcasts through your sunglasses.
Just when you thought you were super cool with your hot new AirPods, you can now listen to music through your sunglasses thanks to these Bose frames audio sunglasses. For real. Related: The coolest eco-friendly sunglasses we've ever seen It's actually pretty smart...
Power strips go pastel
At this point in our digital lives, power strips are just part of our decor, at least at my house anyway. I've got at least one in pretty much every single room of my house. But, let's be honest here: they're ugly. That's why I did a double take when I saw these CYLO...
What you need to know about Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
If you've got a Harry Potter fan in your house, or you are one yourself, then you've probably already downloaded the new Harry Potter: Wizards Unite app on your phone and are ready to play. The game, which was announced back in 2017, is rolling out today, starting in...
Forget your readers? Try the magnifier on your iPhone instead.
For those of us ladies who are now of reading glasses age, I have a pleasant surprise if you happen to be an iPhone owner. You might not know that the iPhone actually has a magnifier feature that can help you in case of a reading glasses emergency. And it's even got a...
Some of the funniest Twitter responses to #GoogleCalendarDown
If you've tried to access your Google Calendar on your desktop (or laptop) today, you might have gotten a 404 error. And as people do these days, they took to Twitter to air their grievances about being without a calendar. Though, the Google Calendar app on mobile...
How to fix your sticky new MacBook butterfly keyboard
I've written a few times here at Cool Mom Tech about my love-hate relationship with the new MacBook, particularly the butterfly keyboard. It makes typing so incredibly fast and easy, but it gets stuck very easily. And it's not just me! It's such a pervasive problem...