When my son’s brand new IPhone 6s appeared with a cracked screen, it not only broke (sorry for the pun) his heart but also presented us with the problem of getting it repaired. After all, it’s the most modern, advanced version of the iPhone and also his favorite belonging in the world, so we needed to remedy the situation at our soonest..without a delay or wait. He wasn’t sure exactly how the phone had broken, after owning it for a mere six hours, but we carefully stressed the need to be patient and understand that these things happen to everyone.

We did get him insurance, but we didn’t want to pay Apple a couple hundred dollars for a replacement iPhone. Thankfully, there are other options, and we investigated what was available to us in the NYC area.

Step in iDropped, a mobile device repair service, which just opened in Brooklyn at the end of 2015. Unlike many wireless retailers that require customers to go days without their phones while being repaired, iDropped strives to mend phones in an hour and other electronic devices within24 hours. Each device goes through a rigorous pre-repair and post-repair checkpoint to ensure complete functionality before it is returned to the customer. They use the highest-quality parts and supplies and supports each repair with a one-year warranty, repairing androids, iPads, mini iPhones, and, of course, iPhones.

We dropped in early on a Sunday morning around 11am. Raheem, the store manager, happily took my son’s phone off his hands and immediately got to work. From start to finish, the screen change probably took no longer than 30 minutes. I was surprised at not only how complicated and intricate the process was, but also how incredibly patient Raheem was whilst changing out all the screws that keep the phone together and working. My son, who happens to be a future technical engineer, was very intrigued by the process and delighted to be given an opportunity to share his love of technology and everything Apple with Raheem and Roberto, his colleague.

iDropped is an interesting business model, repairing iPhones in a flash, with an ultra-pleasant staff, and at reasonable prices to boot. It’s a service I’d definitely recommend.

The location we visited is located at 611 Flatbush Ave. in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. To learn more about iDropped in Brooklyn and/or find out about their locations, please visit their site or call 866-611-1456.

Disclosure: I partnered with iDropped on this review, however all opinions are my own.

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The new Ruckus Reader aims to stand apart by helping to evaluate how a child is doing while reading and then emails parents a progress report. It’s kind of like a report card: once a week it highlights highlights where the child is doing well and where they need some help.  The titles range from things like My Little Pony to SeaWorld. Ruckus Reader is a free app for iOS devices. Individual books range in price from free to $5.99 or you can get a six month subscription for $24.99 for full access to the library, with 15-20 new titles being added every month.

I like that I don’t need a separate device for my kids to read (like LeapPad): I can just use my ipad.

Reviews so far have been solid:

“Watch Out LeapPad.” — Daily Candy
“A wealth of content for every learner…” — Parents.com
“Awesome reading App…” — Five Minutes for Mom

If you are interested in finding out more about it works, head over to J&R at 1 Ann Street, Jr. in NYC on May 19th anytime between 1-5pm.  They’ll have demos, giveaways, snacks and more.  Everyone is welcome and stop in anytime.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post as no compensation or product was received.  It was originally posted on AChildGrows.com.

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Who would have thought my inspiration to movewould arrive at my doorstep in a small box?

I was recently sent a digital fitness pedometer called Striiv, which I had heard about while at a BlogHer event hosted by my friends in the Blogging Angels a few months earlier, and I supposed I offered to be a early reviewer.  Now maybe now I wouldn’t just think about walking to my kids to school or taking the steps instead of the elevator into my doctor’s office. Now I would realize that even walking from one room to another burns calories, and that seeing the results in my hand on a device would actually inspire me, all with the help of a gadget you can git into the palm of your hand.  Using TruMotion technology based on an accelerometer and gyroscope, the gadget figures out whether you’re jogging, climbing stairs, dancing or doing some other type of exercise.  If you want to see what I’m talking about, watch this:

Striiv is challenging.  It inspires me to get up and move.  There are personal challenges, games and even donation opportunities based on how much exercise I get.  The more I move, the more I achieve.  I can play games and spend my points on trophies or badges (you have to see these to understand what I mean) and they push me to work harder.

But what I really like best about Striiv is that the more you walk or exercise, the device calculates your every move and donates to a charity on your behalf.  It’s very special. and very motivating.  Striiv, with the help of sponsors, has carefully chosen charities to donate to, including GlobalGiving which donates clean water to children in South America or a polio vaccine to children in India.

So, now when I am sitting at my desk, working or blogging, I sometimes still wear my gym clothes that I throw on when I work from home.  Only now, I grab my Striiv and head out the door, even if I have a short time period, feeling motivated to earn points to give back and shed some pounds. All while giving back.  How cool is that?

Striiv retails for $99 on the official Striiv website.

Disclosure: I was provided with a Striiv gadget to facilitate this review, but all opinions are my own.

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Ruckus just released their first author-driven app created specifically for Apple’s iPad, A PRESENT FOR MILO, which is so perfectly targeted for the 2-5 year-old set, the storyline and use of language is right on and the art is just so impressive.

If you have an iPad, take a peek below and order your reviewer’s copy for a free download code. Then go to this post and post your review in the comment section.

A PRESENT FOR MILO written and illustrated (and narrated) by Mike AustinAvailable now for iPad at iTunes • Ruckus Media Group • $1.99 • Ages 2 – 5

Story: With over 80 tap-able objects that initiate more than 125 animations just right for active young fingers and minds, this interactive exciting cat-chases-mouse story is ideal for pre-readers and young readers alike.  With simple vocabulary and sound-out words, A PRESENT FOR provides a fun, engaging read-to or read-aloud experience.

Who’s knocking on the mouse hole? When mouse peeks out, he sees Milo…and off they go! Down the hall…through the kitchen…up the stairs…across the piano…around and around and around and around—Milo and mouse turn the house upside down as they scamper, pounce, jump, and bounce through every room. It’s a spirited chase right up to the exuberant surprise ending.

• Perfect for pre-readers and young readers—all animations, narration, and sound effects are activated by a simple finger swipe or tap.

• Includes read-along text (that repeats when tapped) and comical narration by the author.

• Each screen draws the reader into the story, opening with slapstick chase animations that repeat (and sometimes change) when you touch the main characters.

• Users get to join the fun in Milo’s topsy-turvy world: touch objects in every room to see over 125 animations—dozens of hidden surprises on every screen!

• Hours of fun with a thoroughly engaging story, animations, tap-able surprises and silly sound effects—a perfect digital storybook.

Story behind the story: “We’re especially proud of A PRESENT FOR MILO because the design is intuitive, anticipating where the young child will want to interact with the story,” says Rick Richter, CEO, Ruckus Mobile Media. “It’s the perfect combination of a high quality story, told just right for 2-5 year old set, that fully engages the child on mom’s or dad’s lap as well as the independent reader. And it’s this synthesis that caught the attention of a top children’s book publisher and led to our first app-to-children’s book deal.” Based on the storyboards and app design, literary agent Rubin Pfeffer sold a 3-book deal for MILO and creator Mike Austin to Blue Apple Books.  If that’s not proof of the right-on quality of this app, what is?

Order your reviewer’s copy now by commenting in the section below.  Please make sure to include your email address and first name.

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Technology products are rising on the wish lists of families and are particularly popular as holiday gifts. About one in four parents reported plans to buy a laptop for their school aged children, according to a Toshiba survey that was conducted with Opinion Solutions, Inc., with nearly 74 percent reporting their kids ask for gadgets for the holidays. Parents want a reliable computer that also provides a safe environment for browsing the Internet, but their current options are limited to PCs made for adults or kid-friendly netbooks and toy-like computing devices.

The Satellite L635 Kids’ PC features a 13.3-inch diagonal HD display¹, a built-in DVD drive and Webcam with software designed specially with a younger user in mind.

Toshiba, Best Buy Collaboration

The Satellite L635 Kids’ PC is the latest consumer-driven innovation to come out of the You Spoke, We Listened program, a collaboration between Toshiba and Best Buy that has yielded products such as the Toshiba Satellite E205. With the Satellite L635 Kids’ PC, the two companies combined their consumer feedback and technical expertise to produce a laptop from the ground up for children that is like no other.

“People today expect well thought out laptop offerings customized to meet their expectations, and partnering with Toshiba makes it possible,” said Jason Bonfig, vice president of computing at Best Buy. “We set out to design a laptop that better serves the function and content needs of families, and the result was the Satellite L635 Kids’ PC.”

Since their arrival in fall 2008, products resulting from the Best Buy You Spoke, We Listened program have changed the dynamics of how computers and other technology are developed. Each generation originates with insight gleaned from sources such as Best Buy’s own customers and employees into desired features, styling and performance. The company then works closely with Toshiba to translate those customer expectations into a unique laptop design that solves for customer needs with the right hardware and functionality.

Designed with kids in mind, the laptop boasts a unique wipeable keyboard, allowing for easy cleaning of smudges left by messy hands and a no-gloss Dura-cross textured finish that helps resist fingerprints.

The accompanying software gives parents the opportunity to help protect their kids from dangers online while providing a fun and safe universe for children to explore the Internet. The laptop comes pre-loaded with KidZui, an Internet browser made for children, as well as Net Nanny, which allows parents to set boundaries on how the laptop is used. The combination of these two programs allows the security of the laptop to adapt as children mature.

For all its kid-ready features, the laptop stands out for still having the power of a standard PC, making it a product to be used and enjoyed by the entire family. Pre-installed entertainment includes two Disney movies and the family-friendly LEGO Batman game.

The Satellite L635 Kids’ PC is available exclusively at Best Buy beginning Sept. 26, 2010.

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1. The iGo charger is absolutely amazing.  You can charge your phone virtually anywhere, either plugged into the wall or on the go.  When you plug it into the wall to charge, it fills itself with enough energy to charge your phone four or five times.  It comes with two USB outputs for simultaneous device charging, a USBN charging cable and foldable wall blades for easy storage.  And the best part about it?  It works everywhere, all over the world, so you don’t even have to worry about bringing a converter.  It’s light, as well as easy to carry and store.  While I didn’t use my phone abroad, I did use the Internet feature on my phone, picking up WIFI every chance possible and was able to charge my phone anywhere, anytime.

2. The next tool is not an actual gadget, but an application for your phone.  I’m sure you’ve all heard of Skype.  You must use it at home, if not, you have to start using it.  Skype allows you to make cheap phone calls over the Internet, as well as have video chats.  We’ve been using it for years and it enables us to speak to everyone in our family who lives abroad.  For some reason, I didn’t realize that not only can you download it to your iPhone, but you can use it on your phone.  While we were recently in Israel, my phone was turned off to avoid roaming charges.  My husband had to leave us for a few days and we were worried about not being able to contact each other for that period of time.  But with the use of WIFI in my flat, I was able to make all my local and international calls.  With all of the calls that I made on it, I still managed to have credit left at the end of the trip.  It’s simple to use.  All you need to do is download the application onto your phone, make sure you have credit and dial your number on the keypad.  It also sounds as clear as day.

3. On the plane, my husband kept declaring that he loves the Jabra Bluetooth Headset.  It’s a Bluetooth speaker and headphone combo.  He plugged it into his phone and was able to wirelessly hear the music downloaded into his phone.  It’s comfortable to wear and contains up to 32 hours of streaming music.

4. I am sure that if you are a parent who travels frequently, you always take the portable DVD player with you when traveling with kids.  Many planes don’t still don’t provide TVs with every seat and if you are on a long ride, I guarantee  you’ll need it.  My kids watched “High School Musical” on our recent flight from Israel back to England.  It kept them occupied for two of the long five hour-long flight.  It’s been a life saver since my kids were wee small.  I remember taking one on a flight to Italy when my daughter was 1-1/2 years old.  We borrowed it for at the time they were very expensive.  Somehow we left it on the plane and had to buy them another one, as well as buy ourselves one.  Since then, they have certainly gotten cheaper and are worth every penny.  I used to call them the greatest invention since the invention of electricity.  You want the kids to be quiet, to get some time alone?  You take this out, plug in the DVD and your child will be happy as a clam.

5. The last few items are obvious.  We loaded up our iPhones before our departure, ready to entertain the kids when they needed entertainment in the car on a road trip or distraction in a restaurant.  The iPhone is a tremendous tool that makes our trips abroad so, so, so much easier.  When the kids get restless, start to annoy each other, etc., we take out our iPhones and hand them on over.  The other item that helps on the plane is the DS-Nintendo.  It’s funny, my kids don’t really play these at home, however, on a plane and away from the home, it totally absorbs them for good lengths of time.

It’s important to be tech-savvy when traveling with kids.

Trust me.

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