Techmamas

Update: Nintendo DSi XL

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!

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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

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

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.

The Three Celebs

OMG, did you know that @herbadmother and @motherbumper met @johncmayer today. Yes, all three celebs hung out together. Here is picture of them hanging out together.. OK, well, Catherine and Katie's picture are from the Canada Moms Blog bio section and John Mayer's picture is from Wikipedia.. But close...

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

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

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:

YouTube Regulatin Genes - A Modern Way To Learn Biology?

I know my 10 year old son would be thrilled to learn biology if the lessons were like this:

Liveblogging Pillow Fight With My3Boys - Part One

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):

Wired Post on TED Conference: MIT Students Go Tech With Sixth Sense

The post on Wired titled "TED: MIT Students Turn Internet Into a Sixth Human Sense -- Video" caught my eye not only because it sounded interesting - but it was MIT students at TED! Here is what they developed via the Wired post:

"Students at the MIT Media Lab have developed a wearable computing system that turns any surface into an interactive display screen. The wearer can summon virtual gadgets and internet data at will, then dispel them like smoke when they're done.

Pattie Maes of the lab's Fluid Interfaces group said the research is aimed at creating a new digital "sixth sense" for humans."

I already getting excited about touch screens, but "wearable computing" just sends me over the top. Instead of printing my sons homework, could he load it to his wearable computer jacket to display to his class? Or instead of booting up a computer or watching a small screen, could I project a movie on the back on my jacket while my kids and I are waiting in line at the grocery store? Forget about a sheet in the back yard and an expensive project, movie night can be anywhere anytime?

Maybe I am getting carried away, but it is an exciting development. Here is the video:

Past the fact that a wearable computing system has so many amazing applications, it was a bunch of students that developed it. As a mom of one (an maybe more) geeks to be - this is very inspiring. One of my sons is an out of the box thinking that creates the most amazing things. The other day he hooked wireless iPod speakers up with a boombox and then to a computer to make a home theatre extraordinaire (the YouTube videos come to life).

TED is one of the most dynamic and interesting conferences because it is brings together people from technology, entertainment and design. The MIT Lab designs technology for people to create a better future. Just a quick look at the MIT Lab website and I saw an article from Feb. 3rd that discussed a Chameleon Guitar that mixes wood and old fashioned electronics.

This is a tribute to TED for highlighting the MIT students, to the MIT students for their discoveries and for moms all around the world with young out of the box thinker kids to tell them to keep dreaming and creating, someday you may end up speaking at TED...

Super Bowl Ads Go 3D

I was at Safeway the other day when they asked if I wanted some 3D glasses for the Super Bowl.

At first I said "Whaaaaattt?" 3D glasses for the Super Bowl?

The cashier said "yes" and gave me a bunch.

Later I found out that Intel and DreamWorks took 3D Graphics to the Super Bowl (as reported by CNET News - CLICK HERE to read the details). The technology is called "InTru3D". Here is information on the movie coming out this March that will utilize this technology:

"March 27, 2009 marks the next leap forward in animation history, when audiences can take a seat and be immersed into the future of animation with DreamWorks Animation’s "Monsters vs. Aliens", the first-ever feature film using InTru 3D technology."
Here is the YouTube promo for the commercial to get a taste:

The NBC show "Chuck" (one of my favorites since I happen to like geeks) and some other commericals will be in 3D. All Things Digital summarized all of the fun ads that will appear this Super Bowl in their post: "Super Bowl Ads Web 2.0 Roundup: Watch, Tweet and Widget".

Back to the game, I need to get my glasses ready for the first 3D experience...

RELATED LINKS:

CNET NEWS "The tech that makes the Super Bowl super."  and a list of their other tech Super Bowl posts...

Even HULU had an ad on the Super Bowl (via TechCrunch). The TechCrunch post also mentioned some of the other interesting tech related ads, including the talking baby E-trade ad and a trailer for Transformers 2. 

GoDaddy on the other hand, is getting some negative twitters about their Super Bowl ads