Santa's Helper Suggestions

Brightly Green has some helpful gift ideas -
thanks to Consumer Reports!

Consumer Reports News
Subject: Disney AppMATes: Toy cars that come to life on the iPad

Kids love tablets. Some toy companies, such as Vtech, LeapFrog, and Fisher-Price, are responding to this love by creating tablet-toy hybrids (and we plan to test these in the near future). But Disney and Spin Master are taking a different and creative tack with AppMATes: "a new line of toys that comes to life digitally when used with an Apple iPad," for ages 4 and up. The AppMATes toys are Disney-Pixar Cars 2 characters; they come two at a time in a $19.99 package (available in October at Apple stores and other mass retailers). Each of the Cars 2 toys has sensors on its base that identify it uniquely to the iPad. To play with the cars on the tablet, you download a free app and simply place the toy on the screen. You can then explore, race, and perform missions in the virtual world of Radiator Springs by moving your car around. (See the embedded video below for a demo.) AppMATes are inexpensive and look easy to use. And there's a lot of replay potential in the virtual-world connection, to which new content can be added endlessly. The big question, though, is whether mom and dad want to share their expensive iPad for kids to play on. No doubt anticipating potential hesitation on parents' part, Disney also announced a very well padded iPad case, also with a Cars 2 theme ($49, coming this fall).

To read more go to:

http://news.consumerreports.org/electronics/2011/09/disney-appmates-toy-cars-that-come-to-life-on-the-ipad.html

_____________________________________________________

Consumer Reports News
Subject: Family news from the November 2011 Consumer Reports

Fever thermometers (with Ratings), health insurance rankings, outlet store Ratings, a riding-toy recall, and more family news and consumer updates from the November 2011 Consumer Reports. Money and shopping Where to put your money now.Top products of the year. Recommended products that stood out among the thousands our experts rated. Outlet stores: Worth the trip? Readers rate 58 stores for value. Health and beauty Fever thermometers--does infrared beat digital stick? Best laundry detergents. Many conventionals beat concentrates. Best moisturizers for dry skin. Best health insurance for your family. Food and drink Quick brown rices--up to $1.08 per serving vs. 15 cents for regular brown rice. Coffeemakers: the invasion of the pod. Auto Best car waxes to winterize your vehicle. Upscale sedans. Safety and consumer protection Recall: Scoot 'n Zoom riding toy, plus other products. The USDA allows 49.9 percent of ground turkey in test samples to be contaminated with salmonella. Consumers Union says that unacceptable. Plus, more of the latest challenges and possible solutions facing U.S. consumers today.

For more information please go to:

http://news.consumerreports.org/baby/2011/10/family-friendly-news-and-consumer.html

Brightly Green thanks Consumer Reports for these very helpful articles!

Please Leave a comment and a link to your Blog and or website!