+iPad iPhone Life - USA (2019-Winter)

(Antfer) #1

BUYER’S GUIDE


KIDS GEAR


SMART GADGETS CHILDREN WILL LOVE


BY LEANNE HAYS Jiusion WiFi Digital Microscope & Camera


($36.99)
Connect this microscope wirelessly or via USB to a
Mac, iPad, or iPhone, then explore the microcosm
with the help of a stand and LED light. Magnifi -
cation begins at 40x, can enlarge to as much as
1,000x, and the snapshot feature allows you to take
pictures of your best fi nds. Although this portable
microscope can’t rival a pricey classroom or scien-
tifi c instrument, it’s a wonderful way to get kids ex-
ploring plants, insects, gems, minerals, and more.

LEGO Star Wars Droid Commander ($199.99)
Here’s a classic toy that’s been updated for today’s kids; LEGO
now offers app-based options like this Star Wars-themed
set. Building instructions help kids assemble their robots by
providing a 3D model of the build in progress and showing
where each piece and component belongs. Next, immersive
games and stories help players advance and build new bots.
Kids learn to code along the way, as well, by using Scratch to
program their bots. Our testers Raph (CTO at iPhone Life) and
his son Andrew report that it took a couple of tries to get the
app synced with the motor control unit of their droid, but once
connected the whole experience worked well.

Pinna: Audio Stories for Kids ($79.99/Year)
Grandparents in my generation could be counted on for a magazine
subscription every holiday season. Print magazines still make great
gifts, but Pinna offers versatility and a volume of content that paper
just can’t match. Pinna is an audiobook and podcast platform for kids
ages three to twelve that offers an ad-free experience that’s great for
the whole family. The only visuals are title page art, which allows kids
to use their imaginations rather than zone out. This gift is money well
spent; kids will want to use Pinna every day, and parents will thank
you for helping them get their kids unglued from the screen.


TechDen ($179)
This gift might not make you
popular with the kids on your
list, because TechDen secures,
charges, and monitors electron-
ics so that screen time doesn’t
become all the time. Adults can
use the TechDen app to create
a weekly routine for device use,
reducing the “When can I use
the iPad?” struggle. Kids get
screen time when their assigned
door is unlocked, and when their
time’s up, the device must be
returned and plugged in, or the
TechDen will tattle! The current
version of TechDen can only hold
two devices. Hopefully, the com-
pany sees such success from
their fl agship offering that they
produce larger versions for big-
ger families in the near future!


My Audio Pet Splash!
Waterproof Bluetooth
Portable Speaker
($39.99)
There are lots of wa-
terproof Bluetooth
speakers out there, but
this one is designed
for the young (and the
young at heart). What
immediately sets these
speakers apart is their
incredibly adorable
design; you can choose
between a cartoon-
featured narwhal,
polar bear, octopus,
and shark. Not only are
they cute, though, they
also fl oat and create
a huge sound from a
device the size of a
baseball. Purchase and
pair two Splash Pets to
enjoy stereo sound!

ESTABLISH
HEALTHY
HABITS
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