free or close to it

Ring, ring! Calling all Cool Mom Tech readers who like to win hot new smart phones! Next week, one lucky Cool Mom Tech subscriber will with this Samsung Focus 2 Windows 7.5 AT&T phone, valued at $400, and it could be you. If you're not a…

Whenever I take back my iPhone from my kids' sticky hands, I find loads of goofy pictures they've taken. Because if there is one thing my kids love about my iPhone, beyond playing games, it's being able to snap photos of everything they …

LEGO has gotten so sophisticated. Whether you're into female scientists or hunting swamp monsters , there's a set for that with all sorts of fascinating accessories. But here's a free online site that takes LEGO back to its roots: claimi…

If you're as addicted to Pinterest as we are, then you know that up until now, you've only been able to use it on the web or through their Pinterest iPhone app . But just yesterday, they added a couple of new apps that means more of us (…

Have you ever wanted to turn all of your friends' various Instagram photos into a gallery on your tablet? What about finding a way to share your Instagram, Facebook, Shutterfly and iPhone galleries with your family in an easy way--emphas…

About six weeks ago, Liz sang the praises of Spotify and its new mobile app that provide iOS users with free mobile radio. And about six weeks ago, all Android users who read that post probably grumbled a bit. Well, now the same free mob…

While a business called Wedding Chicks was originally intended for brides (shocking!) we're glad to know they're thinking of the rest of us too. Because they're designing totally free, beautiful custom wallpapers for your iPhone, that yo…

I fondly remember trying to track all the "activities" when my first was born, namely, diaper changes, feeding and sleeping. Back then, I had to rely on writing things down on Post-Its (and then forgetting where I left them). Now, there …

I am really into Words with Friends . "Into" is an understatement. And I know Liz is really into Scramble with Friends (though rumor has it no one will play her anymore; she's some kind of Scramble savant.) So when Zynga announced a new …

If you've got a busy summer ahead of you with adventures in new and exciting places, and you like to share your every move with your closest friends and family, a new app called Trip Lens is one to add to your packing, er, download list …

We're all longtime fans of Pingg , the free ecard site with their designs created by independent artists and designers. It's been a while since we checked in, and now they've got so many cool new options especially for any summer parties…

Since I work off a five-year-old laptop that looks like a Commodore 64 next to some of the newer laptops on the market, I'm always looking for ways to spruce it up. I frequently update my desktop wallpaper with kids' photos and change th…

It's time for those lazy days of summer, when our kids just want to swim, eat ice cream, and make sand castles. . .and not spend one moment thinking about math facts. But, when there are a couple of apps that sneak math practice into a r…

We're already serious Spotify evangelists around here--this streaming, social music service is changing the way so many of us find and listen to new music. And the finding part is important, especially post-parenthood when I realized tha…

Usually we hear our Android-owning friends bemoaning the unfair ratio of cool apps available to them versus iPhone users. But they always had one awesome advantage: The free Android app of the week . Now it looks like the Apple app store…

If you've got a gadget-loving dad, we imagine he'll appreciate this clever printable Father's Day card that you can DIY with not all that much effort. No hot glue guns, promise! The very creative iDad card just requires printing and cutt…

We think it's smart to subscribe to Cool Mom Tech . And while we imagine winning this $700 Galaxy smartphone is more lucky than smart, why not get a chance to do both? All you have to do to enter is click here and subscribe-- being sure …

My kids, like many, fall into the "Quasimodo trance" as I call it when they are alone with my iPad and play mindless games. They sit, hunched over and when asked a question, simply respond with grunts and indiscernible noises. Not so whe…

You know those cards you get from various retail establishments that you are supposed to hold onto until each box has been stamped so that you can redeem your free latte, or soup, or frozen yogurt? I must have millions of those cards acc…

Sometimes you just have to color outside the lines. This awesome coloring app for kids just requires a few squiggles from your kiddo to get animated--getting him animated too. The aptly named Squiggles! has 14 different pre-set pages (in…

We love how diverse families have become and we definitely recognize that the typical Mother's Day card might not meet everyone families needs. Luckily, we found a site with free Mother's Day e-cards that acknowledge all kinds of moms an…

If you're not a Cool Mom Tech subscriber , why not jump on that aysap? Not only will you receive our very fun (promise) monthly newsletter, weekly tech tips that you can actually use, and amazing deals and free apps that you won't see on…

I'm a big fan of technology that gives people an opportunity to learn things they wouldn't normally have access to. We've previously raved about the universally beloved Khan Academy , and now I'm thrilled that they've just released a mob…

Along with some early spring cleaning, I've decided to beautify my desk a wee bit with a fresh new look for my laptop. The wallpaper I've chosen is definitely for the birds. And that's a very cool thing. Created by the Philadelphia illus…