We’ve told you before about Kidz Gear volume-limiting headphones designed for kids, and now we have the Kidz Gear Volume Limit Headphones for Apple Products to tell you about.  These headphones are designed to fit children’s smaller heads, and they have the KidZControl Volume Limiting Technology that keeps sound pressure levels between 80dB – 90dB to protect hearing.  These over-the-ear headphones reproduce 20-20,000Hz, and they have in-line playback controls.  They also have a microphone incorporated into the contoller, so you or your child can make or take calls from an Apple device.  Okay, most small children aren’t going to have an iPhone, but they can use it when they talk on your iPhone or when they FaceTime with the grandparents.  They have a 3.5mm audio plug, so they’ll work with any audio device with a 3.5mm audio port – while they’re waiting to get that Apple iPhone.  They are $29.95 in the Apple Store.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Headphones, Kids' gadgets

Kidz Gear Volume Limit Headphones for Apple Devices originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 2, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

One of the hardest things about taking your young child with you when you do errands is dealing with the stroller.  The Origami Stroller from 4Moms opens and folds itself at the touch of a button, so you don’t have to fight with it yourself.  One of the wheels has a generator inside to keep the battery charged up; one short walk is enough to keep the battery charged, or you can charge it with AC power.  (You can also fold it manually).  It has safety features: seat sensor so it won’t fold when a child is in the seat, a 2-step fold process so you don’t start it accidentally, daytime “running lights” so other people see you, and pathway lights so you can see your way in dim lighting.  The generator even produces enough power to charge your cellphone (requires an optional accessory).  An LCD display shows you the status of the battery and even shows how far you’ve walked.  The Origami Stroller is $849.99, and optional color seats are $99.99 each; both are available now.  You can pre-order the cellphone carry bag and charger for $39.99 or the Graco car set adapter for $59.99.

Filed in categories: Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Baby Stroller, Charger

Charge Your Phone with Your Baby Stroller originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 31, 2012 at 8:00 am.

With a traditional baby monitor, you have a camera for the child’s room and a monitor that you carry around with you so you can see what’s happening with the baby.  You’ll need a power source for the monitor, and that means finding an outlet in the room you’re in or keeping the monitor supplied with batteries.  With the BabyPing monitoring system (from a newly-created division of Y-cam Solutions Ltd), you won’t have to worry about lugging around a separate monitor.  Place the BabyPing camera in the baby’s room, connect it to your home WiFi network, and use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as your monitor.  The free app “offers a wealth of security and safety features which include double-layer security and alerts to inform the user if the baby cries, if the Wi-Fi connection has been broken or if the monitoring iOS device is out of range.  Using specially developed technology, the Smart Filter™  cuts out the background noise and static normally associated with baby monitors, while Constant-Connect™ acts as a permanent tether between the app and monitor, instantly notifying the user when the baby is upset or if the connection is broken at any point, ensuring parents can put their trust in this new technology.”  The BabyPing will be available in the UK starting in February for £149.99 (about $230).  You can sign up at the BabyPing website to be notified of availability.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: baby monitor, Security

Use BabyPing and Your iOS Device to Monitor Your Child originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 18, 2012 at 10:00 am.

How do you add a little flash to brushing your teeth?  Why, with a Firefly Toothbrush, that’s how!

Getting kids to brush for the dentist-recommended two minutes has always been a challenge.  The Firefly Toothbrush lights up and blinks for one minute, making teeth brushing fun so kids will do it longer.

The premise is simple:  The Firefly Toothbrush contains a blinking LED in the handle that turns on once you squeeze the bottom.  What’s more fun than things that light up?

The toothbrushes come in a wide variety of age ranges (4-24 mos, 2-4 years, 5-7 years, 8+ years) including character brushes, such as Hello Kitty, Hot Wheels, Barbie, Spider-Man.  You can actually test out the toothbrush blinking from the opening on the bottom of the package.

The clever packaging lets you try out the blinking bit by squeezing the bottom tip

I was sent a small, non-character based assortment to try out.  Since I have a 5 year-old son, I thought I’d try out the smaller kid version, which measures just under 6 inches long.

Squeeze the soft, rubbery tip to turn on the flashing LED

Once you turn it on, the LED starts flashing for one minute (or two, depending on model).  Because it’s on a timer, kids can’t “cheat” and turn it off again.  It also doesn’t seem to reset the timer, either.  It just goes for one minute and turns off.  Did you start on your top teeth?  When the blinking stops, you work on the bottom row.

All smiles

The toothbrush is designed for 200 uses, or 3 months, according to Firefly.  Just as well – the batteries in the handle are not replaceable.  I tried pulling the end cap off, but it seems if I did, I probably wouldn’t be able to put it back together without damaging it.  Besides, if the batteries run out, it’s probably time to replace your toothbrush anyway.

Filed in categories: Health Related Gadgets, Kid Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Kids, toothbrush

Firefly Toothbrush Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 6, 2012 at 11:00 am.

The PowerUp Electric Powered Paper Airplane Conversion Kit from TailorToys will turn a homemade folded paper airplane into an electric powered propeller driven plane. It comes with one propeller module and a charger module which runs on 3 AA batteries. You will need to supply your own paper to fold your plane. Once folded, clip the propeller module in place and charge it. 20 seconds of charge time will fly your plane for around 30 seconds or so. This looks like it could be a lot of fun for less than $20. You can get yours at Amazon.com

Filed in categories: Do-It-Yourself, Geek Toys, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Toy

Convert a Paper Airplane into an Electric Plane originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 30, 2011 at 10:00 am.

Sakar and Disney have introduced the Sakar Disney iPad Camera.  This 7MP camera is designed with children in mind, but adults might like it, too.  This simple camera takes still photos only; it has a 1.5″ preview screen and a 4X digital zoom.  There’s no internal memory, but it comes with a 32GB microSD card.  With the built-in rechargeable battery, you’ll be able to roam around taking pictures.  There’s also a built-in 30-pin Apple connector, so you can connect the camera to your iPad and transfer over your pictures. You can also use it while connected to the iPad – so it’s a way to add a camera to the original iPad and perhaps replace the iPad 2′s cameras with something better.  There’s even a free photo-editing app in the iTune’s store.  The Disney iPad Camera is available with a Mickey, Minnie Mouse, Disney Princess, Tinkerbell, or Phineas and Ferb design at  B&H Photo and Video for $59.95

Filed in categories: Digital Cameras and Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Digital Camera, iPad accessory

Sakar Disney iPad Camera originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 19, 2011 at 8:21 am.

If you passed your old iPad down to your kids or if you let them play with your iPad, you may remember that we told you about an upcoming Crayola app and stylus from Griffin that allow your kids to color and draw.  The free Crayola ColorStudio HD app has been available for some time.  The touchscreen-safe iMarker is available now, and it opens up new features in the ColorStudio app.  The app can distinguish between your child’s fingers and the iMarker without requiring your child manually switch modes.  The child will have access to coloring pages (frequent updates are promised), and they can draw and animate their own pages.  Parent’s will be able to share their child’s artwork through print, email, or uploads to Facebook.  The iMarker is $29.99 at Griffin – perfect for Christmas gifting.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Crayola coloring app

Crayola iMarker Plus Crayola ColorStudio HD = Hours of Fun for Your Kids originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 6, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

The MudWatt kit from KeegoTech is an educational DIY kit that can teach kids about soil chemistry, microbiology and electricity. By combining ordinary dirt from your yard, along with scraps from your refrigerator, kids can create a fuel cell that will light up an LED. The MudWatt set is priced at $44.95 and can be expanded with other accessories such as a hacker boards for even more learning fun.

Filed in categories: Do-It-Yourself, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Learning

MudWatt Generates Power from Mud and Garbage originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 27, 2011 at 11:30 am.

I am guessing pretty almost every parent has had a moment where your little one has decided to wake just at the sight of sunlight in the morning, ready to take on the day hours before you would like him or her up.  Zazoo Kids has created the Zazoo Photo Clock to help alleviate some of these moments.  The Zazoo Photo Clock has recently received 2011 awards from The National Parenting Center and the Parent Tested Parent Approved organizations.

The Zazoo Photo Clock is for toddlers on up.   As the child becomes older, the Zazoo Kids Photo Clock can function as a digital picture frame and highlight personal photos.  You can also play videos, songs, and audio books with this device.

The photo clock has images to help recognize when it is time to get up or stay in bed.  There is also an optional nap time feature.  It features a USB port and SD memory card slot so you can personalize it with your own photos.  These photos can be associated with alarm times and be made into visual cues.  You can also use the two sets of awake and asleep images that are pre-loaded.  The Zazoo Photo Clock also comes with some pre-loaded songs, but a “ring” or “beep” are only allowed as the alarm tones.  The music setting for the audible alarm is functional if you download a music file from your computer and select to use the downloaded file for alarm music.

I placed the Zazoo Photo Clock in the bedroom for my two daughters, ages 3 and 5.  It’s a small room, so it was a little difficult to set up with needing to be plugged into an outlet and having a stable location that they could see and not yet disturb it.  I wish this clock had the option to be powered by batteries.  With going through daylight savings time a few weeks ago, my kids think 6:30 or 6:45 a.m. is their now normal wake up time.  I set the photo clock for 7:30 a.m., but so far they haven’t caught on to staying in bed with using the photo clock for the duration we have used it, which is less than a week.

The set-up options are fairly simple.  With the remote, it would sometimes scroll by my choice too quickly and I would have to go back and try again.  I was a little bummed to find that the pre-loaded MP3s could not be used to set the alarm and that they were only present to listen to as songs.  Otherwise, it’s attractive in design and has nice pre-loaded images.  I’m not sure if it is enough to get a child to stay in bed though, due to my personal experience with it so far.

Filed in categories: Kid Gadgets, Reviews, Watches and Clocks

Tagged: Alarm Clock, Kid's gear

Zazoo Photo Clock Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 25, 2011 at 2:15 pm.

The FishEyes Rod and Reel reminds me of the Ronco Pocket Fisherman from days gone by (I was surprised to learn that they are actually still available!). It’s a fishing “pole” with a high tech twist. Attached to the end of the line is a camera that you can use to watch fish in the water through the built in color LCD. Kids will enjoy it, real fishermen, not so much…

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Package Contents

FishEyes Rod and Reel
Bait box, weights and extra clips
User Manual

The FishEyes is a fishing rod and reel constructed entirely of plastic with a small color LCD built into the handle.

The 2.5 inch color LCD has two buttons: Power and Fishlight (flashlight).

A weighted sealed camera is attached to the end of the fishing line. You can attach the included bait box to this camera so that you can watch fish as they are attracted to the food.

If you are fishing in murky waters, there is a built in flashlight aka fishlight.

Before you can use this gadget, you’ll need to feed it some batteries. 4 AA’s to be exact – and not included in the package. The battery compartment is located in the handle and is accessed by removing 2 screws.

Once the batteries are installed, you’re ready to go fishin…

In order to test the FishEyes Rod and Reel, I decided to see if I could ‘catch’ the very rare Orange Striped Shower Wall Sucker.

The lake I fished in, was a Walmart special bucket.

Look at that! She’s a beauty!

The camera is pretty grainy and if the water is muddy or very dim at all, you’ll not be able to see much. The fishlight doesn’t help either.

The most annoying thing about the FishEye though is the horrible ratcheting sound that is made when you reel in the line. It’s loud and annoying and would probably scare away fish!

I tried to cast the line like I would with a true fishing rod out in my yard without much luck. Even though the line is pretty long (I pulled out at least 20 feet and there was still more to go…), the weight of the camera causes the line to cast out a few feet before dropping like a… well… lead weight. It would work fine off a dock or boat though.

For $60, this might be a fun toy for kids ages 8 and up to get them introduced to fishing. Just remember, this is a toy though and not a real fishing pole.

Filed in categories: Kid Gadgets, Outdoor Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Fishing

FishEyes Rod and Reel Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 25, 2011 at 12:45 pm.

Sivlerlit did well when they named this toy the 3D Twister because my play (err…I mean precise testing methodology) mostly involved watching the car skitter around our home and later our concrete driveway literally flipping, spinning, hopping and jumping around. At full throttle the car looks more like a frenetic animal than a toy car, so much so that a squirrel actually charged it a couple of times while we were playing (err testing).

A note to parents while this car seemed relatively safe for children five and older you’re going to have to help them get it out of the packaging and up and running. Manufacturers needs to rethink their packaging because holidays and birthdays are no fun when a parent is required to bring a toolbox and spend more time opening their child’s gifts than they do playing with them. The 3D Twister is not the worst example of problem packaging, but it does require an adult to cut many pieces of tape, then cut through two plastic wire ties (scissors, knife or snips are necessary) and finally either undo or cut two more twist ties to free the car. Then it’s time to get out your small screwdriver and find four AA batteries because they’re not included.

What's in the box...

Once I got the box open I found the car, remote, two spare tires, an instruction sheet, small “pairing” addendum, two sheets of paper-backed tape and a piece of cardboard. The car is about six inches long and weighs just under two ounces (50g). I’ve owned several small RC cars in the past and the build-quality of this one seemed a level or two better (in other words I wasn’t afraid it was going to fall apart in my hands). This proved to be true as during the crash-test stage the 3D Twister exhibited no signs of physical damage despite many hard crashes and the aforementioned squirrel attack.

However, out of the box my 3D Twister had a couple of problems. The front end of the car that controlled the steering was defective as it did not have enough tension to keep the wheels pointing straight. One side was good the other allowed the wheels to flop in that direction. The trim adjustment had no effect on this problem. It was possible to drive the car straight by correcting the wheels back in place with the remote steering, but this car moves very, very fast and that’s pretty hard to do. I saw no sign of damage to the car, but I believe a spring or tension device was either missing or defective on one side.

The front wheels just didn't want to stay straight.

The other problem involved the car’s crash feedback system. For those of you who are familiar with video game consoles that send vibrations back to their controllers this was supposed to be a similar mechanism. When the car crashes it would send a signal back to the transmitter causing it to vibrate. I felt the feedback twice in all the time we tested it and it was seemingly a random event. I believe the technology works; I just think the unit I received was defective.

What wasn’t defective was the little electric motor or the flip sensor. Flip sensor? Yes, the car actually has two tops, one red and one blue. It doesn’t matter which side is up as the car will send a signal to the controller and the controls adjust automatically. So turning the wheel to the right always makes the car go right, forward is forward and so on. This is a much-needed feature for this car as the power delivered to the rear wheels has the front end off the ground quite often. Have I mentioned that this little car is fast? The 3D Twister travels at about 21 feet per second (14.5 MPH). That means it will move across most rooms in under two seconds. Parents don’t despair while the 3D Twister moves quickly and will collide quite often with…everything…it’s so light that I didn’t see any damage or marks to our walls or furniture.

The 3D Twister is almost always a blur...

I was disappointed in the Bump & Run Stunt Ramp that was included with the car. The pictures on the box show the 3D Twister flipping and driving down a plastic road/ramp. What you get is a rectangular piece of cardboard with some cuts that allows you to use the included tape (if you can get it off the back which I couldn’t) to build a small, four-sided ramp. Of course, it’s possible to build your own ramps out of some cardboard.

After running the car over the ramp  a couple of times my fellow researcher (six-year-old son) reported that the most fun to be had was putting the car on the floor…holding the accelerator all the way down and watching it zip around, bounce off walls, furniture, and cabinets, in a blurred display of hopping, flipping and, top-like, spinning.

Unfortunately, like most RC toys in this class the battery lasts under 10 minutes and then requires a cool-down period of 15 minutes and a recharge time of roughly 20 minutes before play can begin again. The battery is not replaceable so you can’t keep another charged pack ready as is normally done with the larger RC toys. After about two play/cool/charge cycles my co-researcher declared the 3D Twister to be boring and left to pursue his work on forcing cold fission between grape jelly molecules and the surface of several DVDs.

Refueling (charging) the 3D Twister is done by connecting a cable from the remote to the car.

For the sake of science I carried on with the research and took the car and transmitter outside to our concrete driveway to see if a large, relatively flat and clear area would allow me to see just how fast the car was when not hitting all of those bothersome things that we tend to keep inside our homes. The car is so fast, and so light though that even the slightest imperfection in the surfaces causes the 3D Twister to hop or flip. So, while dreams of a mini-Bonneville Salt Flats were dashed the larger open space allowed for some more fun and the interesting encounter with a squirrel.

I was running the car around trying to see what the maximum range is on the transmitter’s radio (about 30 feet) when a squirrel approached and started watching intently as the 3D Twister hopped and flipped around my driveway. When moving at full speed the car is very erratic and really does look like something that could be alive (albeit in a mad frenzy). So either out of lust, hunger or anger the squirrel actually charged the car but backed off when it hit a small pebble and went into a spin. The squirrel then ran at the 3D Twister again…this time though our furry friend got too close and was hit by one of the rear wheels and scampered away. Some rough calculations that required me to actually use Pi (rather than eat it) lead me to believe that the rear tires are spinning at close to 5,000 RPM at full speed…placing them above the maximum safe squirrel facial friction levels.

So, after about three hours of use/cooling/charging my testing of Silverlit’s 3D Twister RC Racer is complete and here are the results:

Be prepared to cut wire and twist ties to free your toy.

1. Packaging: Not great – Requires tools to snip through plastic wire ties and twist ties. Expect safe removal of the toy to take 10 – 15 minutes unless you have everything at the ready. Remember to have four AA batteries and a small screwdriver with you as batteries are not included.
2. Quality – There were two defects in the unit I received (front wheels and crash feedback). If I had purchased this unit I would have returned it for another. I didn’t find any reports of widespread problems with this toy on the internet, so I’ll assume it was just a manufacturing fluke.The transmitter feels and looks like cheap plastic, however it worked well during our testing. I don’t believe it would survive extended use or any kind of drop. Somehow though, I don’t think many of these small RC cars ever get used more than a few times.The 3D Twister car was better built than I expected. After several hours of running into, through and over everything in sight there were no physical signs of damage on the car’s body. The foam tires were beginning to show a little wear, but that was probably from use on the driveway and the kit comes with a spare set.
3. Fun Factor – I have owned a couple of RC cars and boats in the past, but tired of them after a few runs. My son loves cars and trucks, he has watched every episode of Top Gear, owns hundreds of Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars and the complete set of Chevron vehicles. He will pontificate on the advantages that the Aston Martin has over BMW and loves to go to our local race track (Palm Beach International Raceway). He was excited to play with the car, with dad, and on his own. He became pretty adept at using the remote. However, the short battery life followed with the cool down/charge cycle killed his interest pretty quickly. I would expect an older child (around 10 perhaps) might get more use/fun out of this toy.
4. Value – The 3D Twister lists at $49.99. While there is some pretty impressive technology in this toy like the 2.4GHz radio, flip sensor and crash detection and the car, itself, appears to be quite sturdy I don’t believe either me or my son would get $50 worth of fun out of it. However, someone that really likes RC cars may feel otherwise and find this to be a great gift. I should note that it appears the package I received may not be the full kit that is sold for $49.99. If you go to https://get3dtwister.com/ to make your purchase you should receive what appears to be three or four plastic ramps rather than the cardboard model I described.
5. Additional Information – Since I am not an RC car expert I took a spin around the internet and found someone who is and here’s his video review of the 3D Twister. Best of all it doesn’t appear any squirrels were harmed during the production.

Update: 12/23/2011: The people at Silverlit and JS2 (squared) Communications sent me a second 3D Twister this time with the full ramp set. The wheel problem was mostly fixed. The front wheels were still a bit off, but this was easily adjusted to “true” with the trim adjustment. The crash feedback was working very well on this model. The additional ramps are sturdier and allow for some different configurations that my son enjoyed greatly.  After several additional hours of “testing” the 3D Twister has earned the label of “really fun” from my oldest boy (six), it has also not been broken yet which is quite an accomplishment.

I’ve received a couple of comments about the squirrel attack. That same squirrel (there are only a couple in the neighborhood) came up to our front porch and attacked/killed an avocado tree seedling we had recently moved outside.

No animals were harmed in the creation of this review – yet.

Filed in categories: Geek Toys, Kid Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: enj, RC Toy

Silverlit’s 3D Twister 2.4 GHz RC Racer Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 25, 2011 at 11:15 am.

I saw a news report recently that said kids as young as 6 were requesting electronic devices for Christmas.  When they’re still tiny, you can distract your kid with the pretend device that let’s them hear the kitty say “meow”, but eventually, they’re going to want a real device.  Some MP3 players have built-in volume-limiting methods, but not all players do.  These MyPhones headphones from Griffin are sized to fit kids, but they were designed by music lovers to sound great at any level.  The MyPhones have “30 mm drivers in a custom designed shell for great sound” and a “built-in, always-on sound-control circuit to cap peak volume levels at 85 decibels”.  (That’s the maximum level recommended by auditory health organizations.)  MyPhones are white with swappable inserts for a custom look: blue robot with circuit board design, pink panda with bamboo, or stars on an orange background.  The normal price is $39.99, but Griffin is selling them for $29.99 right now.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Headphones and earbuds, Kids

Griffin Headphones Help You Protect Your Child’s Hearing originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 22, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

Want to introduce your kids to the tablet world but you’re not quite willing to hand them your expensive iPad?  Check out the Nabi Kids Tablet, a Toys “R” Us exclusive.  This 7 inch capacitive multi-touch tablet runs on Android OS (not sure which version) and sports a Duo Core 1.1GHz processor.  The Nabi is pre-loaded with lots of apps, games, learning materials and ebooks that are geared to kids.  There’s also a “Mommy Mode”, which will let mom’s enjoy the full-featured Android tablet.  It’s priced at $199.99 direct from Toys “R” Us.

Filed in categories: Android related, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Android, Tablet

Nabi Tablet – A tablet for your kids originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 15, 2011 at 9:00 am.

If you or a friend have a baby, you need to start the young geekling off correctly with this Star Trek Enterprise Light-Up Feeding System from ThinkGeek.  The set includes a bib with motion-activated LEDs and a feeding spoon.  The Enterprise has an on/off switch and comes with three pop-off spoon attachments.  The bib and the Enterprise should be cleaned with a damp cloth; the spoon attachments are dishwasher safe.  The set is designed for children 12 months and older.  This licensed collectible is only $24.99 and makes a great gift for a Star Trek fan.

Filed in categories: Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Kids' gadgets, Star Trek

To Boldly Go Where No Strained Peas Have Gone Before originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 31, 2011 at 9:30 am.

Even though I’m a big fan of eBooks, I still love browsing through honest to goodness physical books. I find that there are some types of books that I prefer to be of the dead tree variety. One of these types is the large format, picture rich, coffee table book. I have a great example of a coffee table book that a large percentage of you that read The Gadgeteer will probably love to flip through. It’s The Cult of LEGO by John Baichtal and Joe Meno, from No Starch Press. If you love LEGO, you’ll really enjoy this book.

The Cult of LEGO isn’t like most of the other LEGO books that I own, that only show pages and pages of model examples. This book isn’t going to show you how to build a race car, but it does have tons of content about LEGO brick history, as well as AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO) and their creations.

The book is full color, hardcover, with 304 pages. There are 12 chapters that cover topics such as: The History of LEGO, Minifig Mania and LEGO Art.

I love some of the tidbits included in the text, such as the fact that there are over 200,000 LEGO videos on YouTube! Wow, who knew? Now I want to go waste hours watching them Or what about the over 1 million photos that are tagged with LEGO on Flickr?

The Cult of LEGO has interesting stories about people like us, who still enjoy playing with these colorful bricks even when we’re in our 40′s and beyond. There are also stories about people who have taken LEGO building to another level. You’ll definitely be inspired to go looking for your collection of bricks stored somewhere in your house, or to your local Walmart to buy a bucket if you don’t have any.

This book is fun and a great addition to any geek’s library.

The Cult of LEGO is current available for Pre-Order, but will be available in November. It’s priced at $39.95 through No Starch, but you can get it for less through Amazon.

Filed in categories: Geek Toys, Kid Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Book, LEGO

Cult of LEGO Book Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 24, 2011 at 5:00 pm.

The holidays are getting ready to hit again–somehow it seems like I just finished paying off the bills from this past holiday season.  Luckily Hasbro has a new toy out that is very cool and doesn’t put a strain on my thinning wallet–the Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster.

Last season’s R/C “it” toy seemed to be those copters–complete with warning labels about fragility and replacement blades.  When I see a name like “Tonka”, the first thing I think of is the classic sturdy Tonka truck.  That classic look and feel has been miniaturized in these Tricksters.  Kids can take control of their Trick car, perform three pre-programmed stunts including Rampage Flip,” the “Buzzsaw Spin,” and the “Zig-Zag Jolt”.  The cars are all two-sided, meaning they can flip off obstacles, fly off ramps, and even spin from one side to the other in typical tough-Tonka fashion.

The remote requires 5 AA batteries and includes a cable to charge the car directly from the remote.  A 20-30 minute charge provides 15-30 minutes of run time.

Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster is intended for kids 6 and up and is available through Target for about $24.99.

Filed in categories: Geek Toys, Home Tech, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: R/C car, tonka

Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster R/C Car originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 8, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

LEGO Life of George takes iOS gaming into a new direction where games aren’t 100% virtual anymore. This game comes with 144 bricks and a Playmat. The idea is that the iPhone / iPod Touch app shows you a model and it’s your task to build it as quickly and as accurate as you can. Once you’ve completed your model, you place it on the Playmat, which acts as a green screen for the iPhone/Touch camera to capture the built model and determine whether it has been constructed correctly. This is done with the app’s built-in brick recognition technology/software (developed by EyeCue).

The game has been designed for builders ages 14 and up and has 12 levels with 10 models per level. LEGO Life of George is priced at $29.99 and will be available beginning October 1st, 2011 at shop.lego.com and select LEGO brand retail stores. Full press release after the jump.

LEGO Group Unveils First Fully Integrated Digital-to-Physical

Gaming Experience

- Combining physical building with a digital gaming application, LEGO® Life of George invites builders to test building skills in a race against time-

BILLUND, Denmark, September 29, 2011 – The LEGO Group today announced LEGO® Life of George, its first product to combine digital and physical play for a hands-on LEGO gaming experience. Featuring patent-pending brick recognition software, powered by EyeCue, the game challenges players to build models, and place them on a play mat that acts as a “green screen” to capture the image and receive a score based on accuracy and speed. Beginning October 1, 2011, players can purchase the LEGO Life of George set for $29.99 from LEGO Stores and shop.lego.com and download the free Apple iOS compatible gaming application.

LEGO Life of George is a 12-level game that can be played in novice or expert mode. Each level showcases an adventure from George, around whom the game revolves, and is comprised of models of varying difficulty based on the number of bricks needed and the building techniques required to replicate them. Builders are challenged to physically recreate the virtual models from George’s photo album using the LEGO bricks included with the game; once they have successfully completed all 10 models the next level will be unlocked.

In addition to Game Mode which can be played alone or against one competitor in a pass-and-play format, a Creation Mode called “My Life” enables users to design and capture their own models in the app’s virtual scrapbook.

“We understand consumers’ powerful connection to casual gaming, and we have seen how successfully the LEGO brand can translate to a virtual experience, so we pursued development of a fun way to combine both physical and virtual play into one product,” says Paal Smith-Meyer, head of new business at LEGO Group.  “Life of George is a result of our desire to provide an innovative way for existing and new fans to play with LEGO bricks and interact with the brand.”

Who is George?

George is a software engineer by day and adventurer by night. His main hobbies are travel, photography and numbers, and has a fun storyline for players to follow and engage with via his Facebook page, I Am George. Fans can expect to see updates and photography from George on his travels as well as hints to new game levels and app updates through his posts.

###

About The LEGO Group

The LEGO Group is a privately held, family-owned company, based in Billund, Denmark. It was founded in 1932 and today the group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of play materials for children.  The company is committed to the development of children’s creative and imaginative abilities through its products, which can be purchased in more than 130 countries.  Visit www.LEGO.com

LEGO, the LEGO logo and the Brick and Knob configurations are trademarks of The LEGO Group.  ©2011 The LEGO Group.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: iPad, LEGO

LEGO Life of George – Virtual meets physical originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 29, 2011 at 8:00 am.

If you’re bored with LEGO, how about checking out Playable Metal building sets. Playable Metal sets are made of an aluminum alloy and come in different colors and allow you to build 3 dimensional structures. The parts are connected together with special screws. YoYo.com offers a variety of sets that range in price from $34.95 – $74.95. YoYo offers a lot of different building toys that I’ve never heard of before. I tempted to pull out my credit card… How many of you still play with building toys?

Filed in categories: Geek Toys, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Construction, toys

LEGO too ho hum? How about Playable Metal? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 25, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

Back in December of last year, I showed you a wooden knife kit by Garrett Wade that helps show kids how pocket knives work. I have an alternative kit that is less expensive, requires no tools for assembly and has nicer looking chunky parts. It’s Nathan’s Knife Kit from Klecker Knives. Klecker’s website even has a Hall of Fame area where they post pictures of kids with the knives they’ve made. This would make a great afternoon project with your kids… or even yourself

Filed in categories: Do-It-Yourself, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Kids, Kit, Pocket Knife

Wooden Pocket Knife Kit Teaches Knife Mechanics to Kids originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 20, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

If you love RC cars and iOS devices, how about combining the two with a Dexim Monster Truck that can be controlled by your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Using the included transmitter and the free AppSpeed app, move the truck either by using the on-screen touch controls or use the device’s accelerometer. The car can be moved by tipping your iPhone forwards, backwards or sideways. The AppSpeed Monster Truck will retail for $69.99 and will be available this Fall.

Filed in categories: Geek Toys, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: iPhone, RC Toy

Dexim Announces New AppSpeed iOS-controlled Vehicle originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 8, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

Nintendo releases 59 LCD based handheld electronic games. Created by game designer Gunpei Yokoi, these LCD screened games include a clock and an alarm.
Ancestor to:  Nintendo 3DS

In 1980 Nintendo released a handheld electronic game including a clock and alarm hence the name Game and Watch.  Between 1980 and 1991 Nintendo released 59 different retail  titles. Some models had a hinged double  screen design  where the action either went on simultaneously on both screens  or where gameplay extended from one screen to the other. Interestingly enough this clamshell design continued on with the Nintendo DS and Gameboy Advanced SP model and is still a feature of the current Nintendo 3DS.  The units used LR4x/SR4x button style batteries for power.

Each Game and Watch  was only able to play one game, due to the use of a segmented LCD display being pre-printed with an overlay. The speed and responsiveness of the games was also limited by the time it took the LCD to change state.

Movement was accomplished via either up to 4 buttons ( many games only had two buttons, left and right )  or a cross joystick and generally there was only one action button ( if one at all ) .  Each game came with 2 difficulty settings Game A or Game B, Game B normally being the faster and more difficult version.  While Nintendo characters such as Mario and Donkey Kong were the mainstay of the games , Nintendo also licensed a number of other popular franchises including Mickey Mouse, Popeye and Snoopy. The maximum high score that could be displayed was 999 even if the game was clocked.

Do you remember ? : Somewhere in a box at home I still have my original Game and Watchs. There’s Donkey Kong, Green House, Manhole , Mario Cement Factory and Oil Panic. As a social experiment I should get these out and give it to my kids ( 13, 16 and 17 ) and see how long the “static” game play can hold their attention.

I do remember that because the screen was LCD based you needed to have light to view the screen properly, so sneaking a quick game to try and clock it just that one more time when you were supposed to be sleeping involved trying to hide the light from the flashlight as well.

It’s strange how things come around. I’m always at my kids to turn off their DS or Ipod and try to engage them in normal conversation however my mother still reminds me to this day ( in fact she reminded me again less than a week ago ( sheesh get over it mum, it was  31 years ago  )) of a trip we took away where all  my sister and I  did was play our Game and Watches.  Do as I say, not as I do !  :)

Memories folks, that’s what this series will be about. Please share yours  :)

 This is the first ( and hopefully not the last ) entry in the Do you remember? series, a chance to “show off ” to the younger Gadgeteers the “cutting edge” technology that some of us ….ummm more experienced Gadgeteers had in our day, to show the progression and ancestory of the technology we use today and just a chance to reminisce……. I remember when I were a lad………

Filed in categories: Gaming Gear, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: DoYouRemember, Nintendo

Nintendo Releases Game and Watch LCD Handheld – Do you remember? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 24, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

One of the worst things about summer is hearing the news report of a child’s death because someone forgot their infant was in the carseat.  They go in to work for hours, and it’s too late for the child when they finally remember.  A grandfather who suddenly became a care-giver for his grandchildren was determined no harm would come to his grandkids because of a minute of forgetfulness, and he created the Suddenly Safe ‘N’ Secure Systems car seat alarms.  There are two versions of the car seat alarms.  Each has a receiver fob for your keychain.  The B-101 Safety Seat Alarm System ($44.95, left) has a transmitter that attaches to the car seat; press a button to “arm” as you are buckling the child into the safety seat.  The D-201 Deluxe Padded Safety Seat Alarm System ($69.95, right) has a weight-sensitive pad that goes under the safety seat that automatically arms the transmitter when the child is placed in the seat and disarms it when the child is removed.  When you move more than 6 feet away from the car, the armed transmitter will cause the receiver to emit an 80dB alarm and vibrate.  If my daughter was still small enough for a car seat, I would buy two of the Deluxe Padded Safety Seat Alarm Systems – one for each car.  Russ, the inventor, says you can buy extra receivers so each driver can have one.

(via WFMY in Greensboro)

Filed in categories: Car Gear, Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: Child, Safety

Keep Your Child Safe in the Summer Heat originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 22, 2011 at 7:57 am.

A lot of smartphone users I know have young children like I do. While every kid is unique, one consistent theme is that the little buggers are constantly asking to play a game or watch a movie or something. And sometimes, that’s OK, such as when their only alternative activity is shrieking in a restaurant, kicking their sibling in the head, or seeing how many army men fit in their mouth.

So, I’ve tried lots of Android games & apps hoping to find ones suitable for young kids (mine are 6 and 3). Most seem to be for older children, but here are 10 apps, in no particular order, that I’ve found my kids really enjoy using and consistently ask for. As always, YCMV*.

1. Zebra Paint
Paint a coloring-book-style template by touching a color and then touching the area to fill in that color. Lots of colors to choose from and around 40 different templates. Easy to use, even for my 3-year-old, and difficult to mess up to a point where adult assistance is needed. No ads. Free. 136K

2. Reversi
The classic game of Othello. Sure, some younger kids might not get the concept, but my 6-year-old loves it. Smooth graphics, good UI, and very stable. A free (lite) version is ad-supported. No ads. $1.60 (UK pricing). 1.7M (supports App2SD)

Here’s Sam, my daughter, giving us a little tour of Reversi (Free) and Zebra Paint:

3. Math Magic
A large variety of math mini-puzzles accommodating a wide range of skills, from single-digit addition to multi-digit division. The high-quality sounds, such as the voice of a kid saying “Excellent!”, and graphics make this especially enjoyable for kids. No ads. $1.50. 7.8M

4. Word Magic
From the same developer as Math Magic, this is the equivalent game with words and letters. Highly recommended. No ads. $1.50. 16.5M

5. Monkey Preschool Lunchbox
Six different monkey-themed minigames involving counting, matching, colors, and sizes. Better for younger kids. No ads. $1.99. 7.2M (supports App2SD)

6. Green Eggs and Ham
This is an interactive storybook of the iconic Dr. Seuss book of the same name. The “book” is easy for kids to navigate and can be interacted with in three modes: read to the child at their pace, interactive play (touch items to see and hear their names), and fully automatic story-telling. The voice is recorded, not synthetic, and quite fun. The developer offers several Dr. Seuss titles in the series. In my opinion, it’s a little expensive if you already own the physical book, but can be found occasionally for $0.99. No ads. $3.99. 14M (supports App2SD)

7. Hangman Pro
Hangman…plain and simple. However, it offers three different skill/age levels, so younger kids don’t have to face words like “phlebotomy” (OK, I don’t actually know if that word’s in there, but it could be). There’s also a free (lite) version that’s ad-supported. No ads. $0.99. 3.7M (supports App2SD)

8. Kids Shape Puzzle
Slide the shapes into the outline to reveal the picture. Lots of pictures: animals, numbers, letters, shapes, etc. Very simple, so better for kids under 6. Free (lite) and tablet-optimized versions also available. No ads. $2.99. 9.1M (supports App2SD; can be moved to the SD card)

9. Doodle Fit
Fit the geometric shapes into the outline exactly. It’s actually a great game for grown-ups, too. Sometimes it can be a bit challenging, but it seems to be a very intuitive task for kids. Lots of levels. A free (lite) version is ad-supported. No ads. $1.41 (Euro pricing). 6.1M (supports App2SD)

10. Safari!
Link chains of the same animal to make them disappear. It’s a twist on the classic bubble popper theme, but with charming graphics and several gameplay modes (the untimed mode is especially kid-friendly). There are free/lite (ad-supported) and HD (for tablets) versions available as well. No ads. $1.41 (Euro pricing). 3.1M (supports App2SD)

If you have any suggestions to add to this list, please let me know…my kids will be delighted!

This post was also published at the Verizon Wireless Midwest Region Tumblr site.

*Your Children May Vary

Filed in categories: Android related, Kid Gadgets, Reviews

Tagged: Android

10 Android Apps Perfect for Preschool-Age Kids originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 24, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

Being both a gadget geek and a dad, I am very familiar with LeapFrog’s collection of gear. Their latest gadget is the LeapPad Explorer. It is a tablet designed for the 4-9 year-old set. My 4-year old loved playing with the Xoom while I had it, so I wondered what value could a kids version provide. Well, it didn’t take me long to discover 500+ reasons. That would be the difference between the $99 for the LeapPad and the $599 + monthly service fees for the Xoom.

From their press release:

LeapFrog brings to the table (or the back seat) what parents seek and kids crave:

• Breadth of Learning: The largest-ever learning library at launch: 100+ learning games, videos, e-Books, flash cards, and more, featuring kid’s favorite characters. Compatible with the entire existing Leapster Explorer library.
• Education: Curriculum covers everything from spelling, phonics skills and mathematics to creativity, science, music, geography, and more. Included stylus also lets kids practice writing.
• Creativity: The first kid’s tablet with built-in camera, video recorder, microphone, and animation studio allows for creative exploration that can be shared with family and friends.
• Personalization: Automatically adjusts the learning across experiences so kids can learn at their own pace.
• Engagement: Tilt-sensor for game control and 5″ brilliant color, finger-touch screen create an interactive experience that puts kids in the middle of the action.
• Durability: Though sleek and thin, LeapPad Explorer can withstand roughhousing and is designed for little hands.

The specs include:

• 5″ 480 x 272 display
• 400 MHz processor
• Uses 4 AA batteries
• 2 GB of memory
• Built-in camera
• Built-in Microphone

You will be able to download applications for $5.00 and up, and it will also take game cartridges with an MSRP of $24.99. There is a part of me that says my son is worth a $500+ tablet (and he is), but a bigger part of me likes the idea of him using a $99 tablet that is probably more durable.

Filed in categories: Kid Gadgets, News

Tagged: leapfrog, Tablet

LeapFrog Announce LeapPad Explorer Tablet originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 29, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

It’s summer, and a lot of us will be spending time at pools, lakes, and the ocean.  Life jackets are a requirement for many activities, especially for little kids.  Why not make wearing them fun for the kids – and for us, too.  With the Sea Squirts life vests and swim assist vests from Opa Cove, you can turn your little swimmer into a Grrreat White Shark (shown), a Blue or Pink Dolphin, a Killa Whale, Clown Fish, or an Angelfish.  The fins will fold flat so kids can sit comfortably on a boat seat or chair.  The vests are sized for children and are available in Small/Medium/Large sizes.  The life jackets are US Coast Guard approved and are $69.95; the swim assist vests serve as a learning aid for beginning swimmers and are $59.95.  You can purchase the vests at the Opa Cove website, or you can check their list of retailers for a local or online vendor.

Filed in categories: Kid Gadgets, News, Outdoor Gear

Tagged: Life Jackets, Pool safety

Shark!! – Nope, Just Junior in a Sea Squirts Life Jacket from Opa Cove originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 28, 2011 at 12:00 pm.