Toy Fair 2010: Off the Beaten Path, Technology-wise
Written on Mar 2, 2010 by RuthJS and filed under Featured, News
One of the really cool things about Toy Fair is that along side the big toy manufacturing conglomerates like Mattel, Fisher Price, Hasbro, VTech, and Lego, you also get to see small mom and pop shops, toys that are waiting to be picked up for manufacturing, and items sold overseas looking for a market share in the US. Here’s where I found some of the coolest items.
Review: Ultimate Buzz Lightyear Robot
Written on Dec 18, 2009 by Brian and filed under Disney, Reviews, Thinkway
Ultimate Buzz Lightyear was a summer announcement for Disney and followed in the steps of the Ultimate Wall-E from the year prior. Ultimate Buzz features 7 motors, multiple sensors and over 100 sayings in Tim Allen’s Buzz voice. The sometimes-delusional Buzz can also walk, play games and otherwise be directed by kids via 15-button remote.
Disney Launches The Muppets Animal Drummer for Apple App Store
Written on Dec 16, 2009 by Brian and filed under Disney
Disney Interactive Studios has launched another Apple App Store program, this one centered around Animal of The Muppets fame. Kids get to sit in the drummer’s seat for a game that combines memory and finger dexterity.
Review: Disney Pix Twist
Written on Dec 16, 2009 by RuthJS and filed under Digital Blue, Disney, Reviews
Disney’s Pix Twist digital cameras are designed for kids age 7 and up and come in two styles: Jonas Brothers and Disney Princess. The Pix Twist was part of Disney’s summer announcements of digital cameras and digital video cameras for the tween crowd and features a rotating lens for self portraits, 5 megapixel sensor and the Disney PhotoFriends image overlays.
Review: Playskool Monty Rex
Written on Dec 14, 2009 by Brian and filed under Hasbro, Reviews
We recently reviewed Playskool’s smaller animatronic dinos – we’re back this time with the much larger Monty Rex Dinosaur who was announced earlier this year at Toy Fair. Monty features six sensors that detect touch or sound and reacts accordingly with roars, crunches and even a little walking.
Norton Online Family Software Launched
Written on Dec 10, 2009 by Brian and filed under News
Symantec has just launched a new software for parents who want to manage and keep an eye on what their kids are doing online. Norton Online Family is PC and Mac compatible and available now for free, for a limited time.
Review: Disney Mix Lights Digital Music Player
Written on Dec 8, 2009 by Brian and filed under Digital Blue, Disney, Reviews
Disney has expanded on their digital media products for kids with the Mix Lights line of digital media players from Digital Blue. The Mix Lights media players feature internal rechargeable batteries, 2GB of storage, SD card slot and a light show that pulses with the beat of your music. The Mix Lights comes in four designs: Jonas Brothers, Wizards of Waverly Place, Princess Wish and Hannah Montana.
Review: Disney Flix Jr. Video Camera
Written on Dec 5, 2009 by RuthJS and filed under Digital Blue, Disney, Reviews
The Flix Jr. video camera by Disney is a functioning digital video recorder for children ages three and up. Able to record up to 30 minutes of video in two minute increments, the Flix Jr. comes in three varieties: Cars, Toy Story, and Princess. I reviewed the princess version.
Review: LEGO Alarm Clock Radio
Written on Dec 2, 2009 by Brian and filed under Digital Blue, Reviews
Digital Blue teased us earlier this year (here and here) with a line of LEGO branded electronics. Those two news postings have been some of the most popular we’ve ever written. We’ve finally received the first one of these LEGO gadgets in for review, the alarm clock radio. The radio comes in four colors and is 10 times the size of a regular LEGO brick.
Review: Disney Netpal [Asus Eee MK90H Netbook]
Written on Nov 30, 2009 by Brian and filed under Disney, Reviews
Kid’s computing usually comes in a few varieties, but often a kid’s first real computer is a hand-me-down PC from Mom or Dad. While there have been plenty of cheap laptop, desktop and Netbook solutions on the market that can be made to work for kids; Disney has taken an interesting approach, totally customizing an Asus Eee Netbook. Their re-defined Netbook, called the Disney Netpal, offers many enhancements designed for kids that are both cosmetic and designed for Internet safety.
Review: Disney Pix Jr. Digital Camera
Written on Nov 25, 2009 by RuthJS and filed under Digital Blue, Disney, Reviews
Disney’s Pix Jr. digital cameras are designed for ages 3+ and come in four varieties; Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Cars, Toy Story and Princess Pink. The cameras are made by Digital Blue and feature 1.3 megapixel sensors, storage for 500 photos, USB connection, fixed focus and 1.5″ color screen.