COMMENTARY: Everyone Has One, But I Want Mine to be Unique

March 18, 2013 By

Last Friday marked my niece Courtney’s eighth birthday, and what was she hoping for most? An iPod. Now, in my opinion, an 8-year-old doesn’t have much business with an iPod, but kids today are getting into electronics at a much younger age. Though part of Courtney’s argument for “needing” an iPod was, “everyone has one except for me,” the first thing she did when she got it was personalize it. Before even putting a song on it, she slapped a peace-sign sticker right on the back of it—10 minutes out of the box (hence why 8-year-olds probably shouldn’t have iPods). But, this was her way of making it her own.

For parents buying their children expensive devices such as smartphones, iPods, or even portable gaming devices like the Nintendo 3DS or the PS Vita, there are some awesome products on the market that will allow kids to dazzle and personalize their devices without placing a never-gonna-come-off, gooey-backed sticker on said device.

Plugy

Plugy, from Hashy, is a universal 3.5mm plug that fits snuggly into all standard headphone jacks. Plugys come in more than 40 different styles, including zoo animals, robots, and glow-in-the-dark options. Plugy has something for everyone, including a rainbow, Eiffel Tower, and an apple stem, and allows kids to  take their smart device to a more personal level in a not-so-permanent way. Plugys are made of rubber and will not break when inserted into the headphone jack. They even protect the device from rain, dust, and sand when earphones are not plugged in. Plugys are available on amazon.com and from Hanging Mobile Gallery. For more information on Plugys, email plugyUSA@gmail.com. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 6-8, 8 and up, 9 and up, Commentary Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fisher-Price Combines Toys, Tech to Ignite Children’s Imaginations, Infants’ App-etite for Learning

January 8, 2013 By

Fisher-Price has developed a new line of Apptivity products that bring a whole new level of interactivity, learning, and imagination to children to create larger-than-life play experiences.

Infants can connect with their favorite Laugh & Learn characters with the Laugh & Learn Apptivity Storybook Reader. The Storybook Reader is a case with benefits, allowing moms and dads to protect their iPhone or iPod touch from dribble and drool while their baby enjoys engaging content, turning the page of the book or swiping the screen to advance the content. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 0-2, 3-5, New Products Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Little Tikes Pioneers Technology-Enhanced Educational Toys

August 15, 2012 By

This month, Little Tikes launches the iTikes line of pre-school toys. Designed to be enjoyed on their own, iTikes also have extended capability through free iTikes Apps. iTikes products are suitable for kids three years old and up. The following iTikes products will debut this month:

  • The iTikes Canvas comes with a classic magnetic doodle board. With the App, kids can draw with the conductive pen, play interactive learning games, and press the shapes on the sides to magically stamp images. Compatible with iPad, iPad 2, and the New iPad.
  • The iTikes Piano teaches kids how to actually play and read music, with four songs built in that can be played in four modes: Freeplay, Stepper, Solo, and Playback. With the App, kids can learn pitch training, sight-reading, and music theory. Compatible with all Apple mobile digital devices.
  • The iTikes Map includes a smart-pen that recognizes images on the map. Through the device camera and Augmented Reality, the map virtually turns into a lifelike playground. Compatible with all iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, 4s and iPod touch 3 and 4.
  • The iTikes Microscope lets the child use a real lens-based microscope to examine and interact with 36 actual specimens. With the App, the specimens come to life with interactive 3D images and animated facts. Compatible with all Apple mobile digital devices.

All iTikes Apps can be downloaded for free on iTunes.

This post was originally written by Ali Mierzejewski and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

Filed Under: 3-5, 5-8, 6-8, 8 and up, 9 and up, New Products Tagged With: , , , , ,

Electric Friends Debuts Animal-Themed Speakers

July 10, 2012 By

Electric Friends announced the immediate availability of its line at Staples.com and JR.com, with additional national retailers scheduled for the fall. The collection includes Sing Sing the Panda, Chew Chew the Dog, Kwack Kwack the Duck, and Ki Ki the Cat.

Electric Friends include five-watt speakers,  40mm full-range neodymium drivers, volume-adjusting touch controls located on the ears, a built-in charging dock for iPod or iPhone, and a 3.5mm stereo auxiliary input to connect other audio devices. They can be powered by the included AC adapter or four AA batteries and are compatible with  the iPhone (4/4S, 3GS/3G), iPod Touch, iPod Classic, and iPod Nano (1st-6th generations).

 This post was originally written by Ali Mierzejewski and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

Filed Under: 5-8, 6-8, 8 and up, 9 and up, New Products Tagged With: , , , ,

Electric Friends Launches New Speaker Line

June 26, 2012 By

Electric Friends, a new speaker line for the iPhone and iPod, announced the release of animal-themed speakers. The four varieties, including Sing Sing the Panda, Chew Chew the Dog, Kwack Kwack the Duck, and Ki Ki the Cat,  are on sale now.

As the back-to-school season approaches, these speakers can serve as a new classroom accessory and charging dock. The speakers are compatible with  iPhone (4/4S, 3GS/3G), iPod Touch, iPod Classic, and iPod Nano (1st-6th generations).

This post was originally written by Gigi Rubin and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group.

Filed Under: 5-8, 6-8, 8 and up, 9 and up, New Products Tagged With: , , ,

Oscura App Now Available on Android Phones, Tablets

June 25, 2012 By

Viacom International Media Network (VIMN) launched its spooky gaming app, Oscura, for Android phones and tablets. The game comes in nine different languages including, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, German, Dutch, and Brazilian Portuguese.

In the game, players attempt to restore light to a darkened land that has not seen light since the power crystals in the lighthouse exploded. Players travel through different environments, finally entering a dark and disastrous world, to save the land.

This post was originally written by Gigi Rubin and published by ToyBook.com. For more news, visit www.toybook.com, follow The Toy Book on Twitter, and like The Toy Book on Facebook. The Toy Book is a bimonthly trade magazine covering the toy industry, published by Adventure Publishing Group

Filed Under: 6-8, 8 and up, New Products Tagged With: , , , , , ,