A simple trick that could save you a ton of battery life
If you're having issues with your iPhone on iOS 10, here's a simple trick that could save you a whole lot of battery life. Bonus: It'll help with data usage too. Although Wi-Fi Assist is meant to be a helpful service by automatically switching your phone over to...
Duolingo app: Our cool free app of the week
If you're looking for a fun way to expose kids to new languages, we've been very impressed with quality of foreign language training you get with the free Duolingo app. You can choose from dozens of foreign languages, including common ones our kids learn like Spanish,...
Prime Reading: Being an Amazon Prime member just got a whole lot more awesome
As if free two-day shipping on almost any purchase and the ability to shop for groceries in my pajamas wasn't reason enough to join Amazon Prime, their newest feature, Prime Reading, has convinced me to keep on renewing my membership. Prime members now get free access...
Charge your smart phone with poop. Emoji, that is.
I've seen a whole lot of portable battery chargers, but this rainbow poop emoji one from WattzUp is definitely a first. I can already hear my tween daughter squealing. These hilarious emoji portable battery chargers work with most smart phones, as well as cameras,...
Up, up and away with the Sago Mini Planes app
Lately, my preschooler is all about airplanes, but even if your kids aren't as obsessed as mine, I bet they'll still love the Sago Mini Planes app. Similar to Sago Mini Friends app (which we've featured here on Cool Mom Tech), the Sago Mini Planes app features the...
Never miss a shot with the Cloak Bag
I actually stopped carrying my DSLR with me because by the time I could get it out of my bag, I had missed the photo of my kids I was trying to get. And walking around with the camera out in my hands? Not really the safest option. That's why I'm intrigued by the Cloak...
Google Trips app: Our cool free app of the week
My family will be taking a trip to Seoul, South Korea, in the next couple months, and I'm a little overwhelmed trying to plan our itinerary. Pinterest is somewhat helpful, but there's a lot of link bait to wade through. That's why I was so pleased to discover Google...
Printing from the palm of your hand with HP Sprocket
When school started a few weeks ago, one of my daughter's first homework assignments was to bring in photos of favorite people and things to decorate her daily notebook. I love the idea, but didn't love that I had to email myself photos, print them, realize the toner...
Grammar Snob: The quickest, easiest way to get people to send you a middle finger emoji
One of the funniest new Message apps now available for iOS 10 has to be Grammar Snob, a sticker app that lets you correct the grammar in your friends' texts. Grammar police, this one's for you. Does the wrong use of your vs. you're drive you nuts? Go right now and...
Nearly 100 of the coolest free geeky pumpkin carving templates for Halloween
With Halloween right around the corner (nope, we can't believe it either), we thought it would be fun to round-up a bunch of the coolest free geeky pumpkin carving templates. As in, a whole lot of them! Whether you've got Pokémon fans, emoji lovers, Star Wars...
Flybrix kits let kids build their own LEGO drones. Then crash them. Then build them again.
Of all the STEM toys out there for kids these days, LEGOs are my hands-down favorite. Except when I step on them, that is. Over the years, we've seen so many companies incorporate them in their learning toys and no surprise, considering how popular they are. That's...
Verne: the Himalayas app: Our cool free app of the week
I love the idea of traveling the world with my kids, but actually getting out there and doing it is another thing. I mean, the chance that we'd go float the Amazon or climb the Himalayas anytime soon is minimal. Scratch that, it's nonexistent. But thanks to today's...
Tech Tips & Tricks to Make Life (Way) Easier
The Apple invoice scam email to watch out for, and what to do if you get it
This week I got a scam email claiming to be an invoice from my iTunes account on Apple. Luckily, a few things tipped me off that this wasn't legit, so I contacted Apple about it and saved myself the tremendous hassle of having to change all my credit card numbers --...
Tablets vs E-book Readers: What’s the best way for kids to read? Reader Q&A
So, I want my daughter to read more this summer, and with all our upcoming travel, I'm considering a tablet or e-book reader but I'm not sure which is best. -Dawn We're definitely with you that gadgets can be a whole lot easier to travel with, Dawn, and while we love...
3 iPhone tricks for when you’re too busy to answer that phone call. Isn’t that like all parents?
I'm not sure if it's because texting has made me a little phone-call averse or if it always seems like people call at the moment I've got a kid throwing a tantrum, but I have a hard time answering the phone when the calls are coming in. And yes, while you can just...
Even More Coolness. Enjoy!
How to hide hashtags on Instagram
Have you been wondering how to hide hashtags on Instagram? If you're like us, you love using them, but you don't necessarily want to force everyone to read all of them, so here's how to hide them so no one can see them on your post (but people searching them can still...
14 of the best organizational apps for parents to help keep you sane | Cool Mom Tech Back to School Tech Guide 2016
We love finding the best organizational apps for parents each year because honestly? We need them ourselves! If you're anything like me, all household organization seems to disappear over the summer as we fully embrace our laid-back, casual schedule while we can....
Pokémon Go Plus: You can now play Pokémon Go without your phone. Take that, Pikachu.
Just when you were about to clothe you Pokémon Go lover in padded suits and a helmet, Nintendo launches Pokémon Go Plus, a handy wearable that lets PG lovers play without their phone. The small Bluetooth-enabled device can be worn on a belt, in a pocket, or on the...
10 of our favorite iOS 10 features that you should know about
Even though I downloaded iOS 10 last week, like many of you, it's taking me awhile to get used to all the changes and new iOS 10 features. Oof, there are a ton. And while I have to admit that I'm liking most of them, there's definitely a learning curve, even for...
BOSEbuild Speaker Cube: A DIY Bluetooth speaker kit for kids that totally rocks. Yay STEM!
We have certainly covered lots of DIY STEM toys for kids and even more Bluetooth speakers here on Cool Mom Tech, but the BOSEbuild Speaker Cube is the first product I've seen that so awesomely combines these two elements. Hello, holiday gift idea. Related: 5 great...
Hello Sitter app: Our cool free app of the week
Don't you hate when a sitter cancels last-minute on a much-needed date night, or when you can't find one for that important parent meeting at school (the night when everyone else in your social network also needs a sitter)? I've seen friends frantically posting to...
22 of the coolest iPhone 7 cases to suit any style. We’ve got you covered!
The new iPhone 7 is here on September 16, which in our world means a new case, too. And no surprise, there are already tons of fantastic iPhone 7 cases that are ready to ship and protect your precious investment. Jet-black iPhone, hellooooo. Of course, there's no...
Manga madness! The outrageous new animé laptop sleeves from Tokidoki and Ju-Ju-Be
As moms who sometimes want options beyond floral designs or mod prints on our baby gear, we loved the awesome anime-inspired diaper bag collaboration between Ju-Ju-Be and Tokidoki. So when we found out that they're launching a new collection of tech bags -- including...
Instagram launches new Comments tool and the Internet rejoices.
If you've ever read a comment thread online, then you know that in many cases, it can be a pretty awful place. So, we're pleased to hear that Instagram took a huge step in changing that, at least on their app, anyway. Related: How to manage and add multiple Instagram...
A new contender for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds around
Last year, after spending way too long researching the category, I bought a pair of NuForce BE6 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds by Optoma, and soon after, declared them best wireless Bluetooth earbuds thanks to their sleek look, lightweight construction, and very decent...
14 of the best math apps for kids of all ages: Back to School tech guide
Our Back to School tech guide continues with a bevy of the best math apps for kids of all ages. There are so many fantastic options these days -- almost too many to count (ha) -- so we've done the digging for you to uncover lots of the best math apps including a...
Reserve app: Our cool free app of the week
If you've ever sat at a table in a restaurant for 15 minutes (sometimes longer) with fussy, restless kids, waiting for your server to bring your check so you can leave, then you should download the Reserve app (iOS and Android) right now, especially now with their...