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Category Archives: High Tech Fun

Disney California Adventure Park New Attraction: Cars Land Opens June 15

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***Update’s June 15: Disney’s California Adventure and Cars Land is officially open! I just finished the media event  yesterday so I will be reporting back on all the new attractions soon.

 

 

I remember the first time I heard about Disney Cars Land at a media event years ago, I could not wait until the opening to experience the magic of Disney converting a 2D movie (Cars) to a Disneyland 3D attraction. Tomorrow I am heading off to the Disney Cars Land media event to not only learn more about the attraction,  but also (even more fun) to take a ride. Disney Cars Land is located in the Disney California Adventure park and opens to the public on June 15.

 

Here is a quick video on Cars Land from the Ground up:

Then Cars to Cars Land:

 

I will be loading pictures to my Disney Cars Land Flickr set and will be thrilled to report back on all the fun after the event which runs from June 13 to June 15.

www.flickr.com

Beth Blecherman's Disney Cars Land photoset Beth Blecherman’s Disney Cars Land photoset


Disclosure: I was invited to the Disney Cars Land opening event as media and as such media related travel expenses are covered by Disney. My words are my own.

 

So Exciting – Cool Mom Tech Has Launched!

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If I have not posted for some time on my personal blog TechMamas.com, it’s because there is something keeping me busy. My wonderful family is always a priority and those with kids that just entered 6th grade (like my son just did) understand what a big transition that is.

This middle school transition would be so bloggable if I had not already promised my son to keep things under wraps. In fact, my tween is probably reading this post on his smartphone right now – so I may as well say hi to my son: “Hi sweetie..Whoops, I am not supposed to call you that in public. Sorry”.

Let’s just say that kids these days are skipping from kids to teenagers, and it happens fast. As my dear friend with a newly “teenaged” kid told me last year: Put on your seatbelt. And I did.

On the business front, my most exciting announcement is that I joined on as Chief Technologist of a sister site to the fabulous Cool Mom Picks (a top shopping blog for parents).

The amazing founders of Cool Mom Picks Liz Gumbinner and Kristen Chase were planning to develop a sister tech shopping blog for parents when I happened to call them saying I would looove to work with them on such a venture. Wella: Cool Mom Tech!

Does it show how excited I am? If I could add audio, it would sound like cyber-shreaks of joy! Check our our awesome Cool Mom Tech team, I am so honored to work with them (another cyber shreak).

Here is a link to a post about Cool Mom Tech on BlogHer written by an fabulous tech mom herself (I have a soft spot for tech moms) Little Tech Girl Kris Cain : “Get the Real Scoop on Technology with Cool Mom Tech“.

Here are juicy details from the Cool Mom Tech About page:

“Cool Mom Tech is the intersection of tech and style, of parenting, practicality and fabulosity, brought to you by the same moms behind the influential shopping and design site, Cool Mom Picks. Plus a few more who really know their tech stuff.

We’re not techies who parent, we’re moms who use tech in our everyday lives. Same as you. Same as millions of mothers who are online every day.”

Please take a click over to Cool Mom Tech and see what we are up to!

 

Update: Nintendo DSi XL

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Listed below are my post details that I provided when the Nintendo
XL release was first announced.

I assigned TechBoy (my tween son) the job of taking the Nintendo DSi
XL on a test run. He has a way with words(short and to the point) so I
asked him for a sentence that I could use on my blog.

TechBoy’s Take: “Have you ever herd about the DSi XL? Its
the latest Nintendo system since the DSi. What I like about the DSi XL
is it has a larger screen, when you go back to using the regular
DSI it fells like playing on a cell phone.”

He enjoys playing on the larger screen, using the photo/sound
manipulation tools and the camera. Overall – there is not going back for
TechBoy – he now only uses the Nintendo DSi XL. But that is good news
for his 7yr old brother – who was the lucky one to get his Nintendo DSi.
And TechBoy’s brother is very happy to finally have the DSi – so all is
good in the TechFamily house!

*********************************************

Nintendo DSi XL™ 

Nintendo DSi XL™ features
listed from the press release:

  • 4.2-inch screens – 93
    percent larger then the Nintendo DS™ Lite system screens (improved wider
    viewing angle)
  • Colors are Burgundy and Bronze, including a matt finish
  • 2 cameras
  • Photo-and sound-manipulation tools
  • Larger pen-like
    stylus
  • Parental controls that let adults manage the digital content their
    children can access
  • The press
    release states    : “With a broadband Internet
    connection, you can also upload photos directly to Facebook to share
    with friends or access downloadable Nintendo DSiWare™ games via the
    Nintendo DSi Shop.” Two free applications: the Nintendo DSi Browser and
    Flipnote
    Studio™ are also included.

The release date was March 28 and the suggested retail price is
$189.99.

Website: Nintendo DSi  XL

Disclosure:
I was provided with a Nintendo DSi XL for long term review use.

 

Forget About the iPad, I Want the Clothes Folding Robot

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I was reading Guy Kawasaki’s Twitter stream today and what do I see on one of his posts?

Hark – it is something I have been waiting for ever since I became a mom….Yes, A Robot that folds clothes!

Here is the link to the post from Alltop – Holy Kaw (that saw the video on Geekologie.)

Forget about the iPad, I want one of these:

 

Parents Magazine Lists the Parents Power Moms

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I have been reading Parents magazine for some time, it is a great resource parents of babies, toddlers and even big kids. So I was thrilled when I found out they included me (TechMamas.com) on their list of Parents Power Moms along with DesignMom.com, CityMama.com, CoolMomPicks.com, AlphaMom.com, TheMotherhood.com, MomItForward.com, Dooce.com and CutieBootyCakes.com Click HERE to see the article on their website. The print article will be available in their February issue. The Parents’ Goodyblog.com has blogging tips, including information about social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

 

Disney Extends Their Digital Offerings: Disney Digital Books Launched This Morning

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Today I received this press release that announced Disney is going Digital in yet another away with Disney Digital Books. I will be finding out more details and will add them to this post:

“Disney Digital Books (www.disneydigitalbooks.com) officially launched this morning. This vast library is Disney’s first-ever collection of digital children’s books – and the browser-based service is PC- and Mac-compatible, and does not require a download.

The new portal is the brainchild of a team of young, tech-savvy, creative folks at Disney Publishing Worldwide (the world’s largest publisher of children’s books and magazines), which has been around since 1930.

If you’re interested in learning more, there’s a webcast today at 1:00PM EST (open to the public).  Join here: http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=62362

Over 500 Disney picture and storybooks will come to life with animated illustrations and authentic character voices.  Classics include more than 60 Winnie the Pooh books and such popular titles as Mickey Mouse, Toy Story, Disney Princess, Cars, and Hannah Montana.

Key features include:

* An age-appropriate dictionary that lets children click on any word to hear it read aloud;
* Reading certificates to encourage readers;
* A “Story-Builder” feature so kids can create their own stories;
* Books are separated into three reading levels:  (1) for beginner readers and a companion, (2) for independent readers, and (3) for readers ready for chapter books;

Monthly subscriptions are only $8.95 – and annual and gift subscriptions are available as well.  A free trial of the service is available today.”

 

3 Big Nintendo Announcements: Wii Price Reduced to $199.99, World of Nintendo Sampling Tour and new Mario Bros. Game

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I had to opportunity to speak with Denise Kaigler, the VP of Corp.
Affairs for Nintendo of America on a press call to find out about 3
announcements Nintendo has just made. Here are some key items from the
conversation:

  1. Nintendo Wii price decrease: Just in time for holiday shopping, the price of the Nintendo Wii will drop $50 from $250 to $199.99 – effective Sep 27.
  2.  NEW Wii Game out Nov. 15: New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a simultaneous
    multiplayer game that “offers a combination of cooperation
    and competition “.
  3. World of Nintendo – Consumer Sampling Tour starting in Oct. and ending in January: Click HERE to see full schedule.
    The World of Nintendo Consumer Tours are firsthand sampling events that
    will showcase the diversity and breath of unique product experience.
    The tour will include Nintendo titles already launched (including the Wii Sports Resort that utilizes the Wii Motion Plus) and new Nintendo
    products (including the Wii Fit Plus )and is expected to reach 1 million consumers in 35 to 40
    markets. The tour will be at different larger venues like Long Beach Comic Con, VGXPO in Philly and Big Apple Comic Con in NYC on Oct 2-Oct 18.

When I asked why Nintendo decided to do the sampling tours Denise Kaigler said “50 million consumers are sitting on sidelines, want to play, but have
not been convinced. They are waiting for that reason. Reducing price of
the Wii, continuing to come out with fun games and then showcasing
these titles will help the consumers
experience.”

Click HERE to see Press Release included at the bottom of this post:

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Liveblogging Pillow Fight With My3Boys – Part One

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IMG_2318
As I was frantically trying to sneak some blog posts in before bathtime tonight – about the tech conference I just came back from – I heard the dreaded words "P I L L O W  F I G H T"  coming from the other room where my 3 boys were playing. My husband is at a business meeting tonight, so there was no one else to "break it up". So what does a modern TechMama do in response to an impending pillow fight?

LIVE-TWITTER IT!

I decided to cover the pillow fighting activities live over Twitter. And in the theme of David Pogue's comment about the benefits of crowdsourcing, I decided to ask my Twitter followers to vote 1) keep blogging or 2) break up a massive pillow
fight between my 3 boys.

So here is my – first ever – one and only LIVE TWITTER FEED from a PILLOW FIGHT. Displayed on the top left is a picture of what the scene looked like after I finished the Twitter feed, evidence that the pillow fight did happen…

First to set the stage, here are my Twitters from tonight:

  1. Am finally
    breaking up pillow fight between my3boys… Sorry folks, tune in for
    more live blogging pillow fights tomorrow night..
  2. Appreciate all of the votes, but keep on blogging wins. @sweatpantsmom seemed to sum it up ""Live blog the pillow fight. Duhr."
  3. @xiaolinmama @danaknisely Two more votes to keep blogging and let the pillow fight go (no "thuds" so far).
  4. @JenniferPerillo agree that it is just a pillow fight, but @douglaskarr brought up a good point that "thuds" and "crying" usually follows
  5. @CandiceStone @ToThink I think I will take both of yours advice: Let my boys wear themselves out THEN join in the pillow fight.
  6. Wondering
    if I should either 1) keep blogging or 2) break up a massive pillow
    fight between my 3 boys? Maybe I should get a community vote.

Then – here are the responses from my wonderful Twitter followers (whom I appreciate very much):

  1. green_colleen@techmama ah no fair! (in response to end of liveblogging)
  2. NathanRichie@techmama pillowfight: Ustream it…UFC-Ultimate Pillow Fight
  3. JenniferPerillo@techmama very true. My girls are only 5yrs and 9mos, so we haven't gotten there yet.
  4. (protected updates)  @techmama I'm just gonna go against the grain and say break it up. But don't ask me what to do after that.
  5. CandiceStone@techmama Yeah … good idea. Wait 'til they're running out of steam first.
  6. green_colleen@techmama just keep right on blogging. If they are hitting each other with hard objects then intervene.
  7. canape@techmama No "thuds," no "bloods." It's all good.
  8. danaknisely@techmama keep blogging! lol
  9. xiaolinmama@techmama keep blogging :) I am sure they won't draw blood!
  10. douglaskarr@techmama let the pillow fight go… until you hear the thud and the usual crying that will follow.
  11. JenniferPerillo@techmama blog, definitely—it's just pillows.
  12. ToThink@techmama the pillow fight will wear them out for bedtime, no?:-)
  13. CandiceStone@techmama or 3) Joing in the massive pillow fight!

Oh Wait – I can't forget the "Facebook" responses I got because my Twitter updates are feed to Facebook as updates (since Facebook is friends only, I did not put their names):

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