Cool Mom Tech - the coolest technology toys for parents (and kids)

Wednesday 22 February

Charge your iPhone with a rainbow

If you live in an iPhone household like I do, then you're probably up to your ears in those white charging cords. Well now that I've discovered these bright alternatives, there will be no question which cord is mine.

Comments: 0 | Find More: Cell Phone Accessories

Wednesday 22 February

Block to the future

Remember when Marty McFly had to go back to the past to save the future?

These blocks don't have the powers of a time traveling Delorean, but they can give you a sweet reminder of a simpler time when phones only had one ring and alarm clocks were really, really annoying.

Plus, they're really, really pretty.

Comments: 0 | Find More: Around the House, Toys and Other Playthings

Tuesday 21 February

Piquing Our Geek: Super Mario Bros One-Star Converse

How fondly I remember those giddy days (and nights!) of playing Super Mario Bros. in brilliant 8-bit color. It was a simpler time. A time when I loved nothing better than stomping turtles.

And I still remember the panicky excitement of catching that bounding star and being invincible, at least for a few seconds.

Can I have that in real life? No. But this is the next best thing.

Comments: 0 | Find More: Games + Gaming, Piquing our Geek, Tech as Fashion

Tuesday 21 February

Phonics apps for early readers? Reader Q&A

I (want) to know what some of the best apps (are) for a 4 year old. She's so interested in learning to read, yet I have no idea where to begin. I think she may have a bit of photographic memory, so it's hard to tell if she is actually reading, or just has the book memorized. Thanks again! Kendra

Phonics mastery is a great place to start, especially if your daughter has a photographic memory or is reading whole words---she'll learn how to break down harder words. Here are a few cool pre-reading and phonics apps that I would recommend. -Christina

Comments: 0 | Find More: Apps apps and more apps, Apps for kids, Ask Cool Mom Tech, E-Readers, Educational!, Free or close to it

Monday 20 February

Updated Foursquare feature lets parents Explore

I'm envious of so many friends headed out for winter break this week (lucky!). If you, like them, find yourself in a new city without a good grasp of what are the most kid-friendly locales, you may be interested in the updated Explore feature on Foursquare.

Comments: 0 | Find More: Apps apps and more apps, Helpful Services, Parents' Lifesavers, Social Media, Travel essentials

Monday 20 February

Getting tough on aliens this Presidents' Day

This Presidents' Day, between shopping for a car (heh) and going to crowded play spaces with every other kid on their day off from school, find a quiet spot and spend a little time flinging presidents at alien attackers. Don't worry, it's way mellower than that play space will be today.

Comments: 0 | Find More: Apps apps and more apps, Apps for kids, Educational!

Sunday 19 February

Kids' (free!) music download of the week: Why Is Dad So Mad?

When I told friends that my son and I were headed to Skywalker Ranch to see an early viewing of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace 3D, a startling number of them wanted me to find George Lucas and ask him "Why???" Why Jar Jar? Why mess with Yoda? And on and on. . .

So this new song from Seattle's Board of Education is absolutely perfect for all those adults who have a bone to pick with Mr. Lucas. And, it's also for all those kids who honestly don't understand why the grown ups are complaining.

Comments: 0 | Find More: Free or close to it, MP3 and Audio, Tunes

Sunday 19 February

The fastest way to put the kibosh on texting and driving.

The Textecution App puts the brakes on texting while driving

We all know that texting and driving don't mix. But whether we don't trust our text-loving teen--or even ourselves when we hear the joyous ding of a new message on our phone--this genius app has a very clever solution. (And hint, hint: It's not letting your 10 year-old read your texts aloud to you while you drive.)

Comments: 0 | Find More: Apps apps and more apps, For the Car, Tweens + Big Kids

Sunday 19 February

Gentlemint - Pinterest for dudes. (You knew that would happen.)

Why is there Gentlemint? Well let me tell you a story.

A few nights ago, I found my husband perusing my Pinterest pins looking for gardening ideas. After several minutes of scrolling through knitting inspiration, this year's hot pantone colors and ideas on how to decorate with pompoms, he'd had enough.

Maybe it's the fact that not too many men are on Pinterest--or maybe this man just needs his own place to pin.

Comments: 1 | Find More: For the Menfolk, Websites Worth a Bookmark

Saturday 18 February

Orla Kiely fabric on the outside, your beloved laptop on the inside. Sweet combo.

I love Ora Kiely prints so much, we even included the new diaper bag in the Cool Mom Picks Baby Shower Gift Guide this year. But even if you've outgrown the diaper bag stage--or never went through one at all, oh cool aunties of the world, you can grab one of her swanky fabrics now for your tech gadgets.

Comments: 1 | Find More: Laptop Bags + Portability, Tech as Fashion, Techcessories, iPads + Tablets