Once your baby hits the six-month mark, it's time to begin the process of transitioning from the bottle to a sippy cup. The number of options available when it comes to finding the perfect drinking vessel for your little one are enough to overwhelm any mama, so we've taken some of the guesswork out of the process.
Check out a sampling of the sippies that our own little reviewers put to the test!
Hands-free, point-of-view cameras aren't just for high-action thrill seekers anymore. The waterproof ContourROAM2 is billed as a simple, wearable recording device at a relatively low price point ($200), and we took the ultraportable camera for a spin to experience all the high-def action for ourselves.
The ContourROAM2, which debuted last Fall, is the sequel to Contour's bestselling Roam HD camcorder, with improved image quality, video stabilization, and brand-new colors. The camera is targeted toward mobile moviemakers who don't need GPS or WiFi capability or aren't in a position to drop serious bank on a recorder (the high-end Contour+2 is $400).
Find out all the pros and cons of the ContourROAM2 to see if the colorful action camera suits your hands-free recording requirements.
Donatella Versace isn't concerned with critics who call her clothing tacky, so long as they're calling it something in the first place.
"First of all, any reaction is a good thing," said the designer in an interview with Susanna Lau of Style Bubble. "The people who struggle are those who have no reaction at all. They are too safe. Tacky — never mind. What is tacky? What is chic?"
And while critics didn't call Versace's Spring 2013 collection tacky or chic, they didn't give it negative reviews either. Tim Blanks of Style.com said the dresses "had the carefree sensuality of festival gear," and Cathy Horyn of The New York Times called Versace's theme of lightness "an interesting idea."
It's been a year since LeapFrog debuted the LeapPad and gave tots the first tablet of their own. And while the devices weren't exactly easy to come by (it was easily the hottest toy of 2011), those who did get their hands on them were easily impressed with the pad's touchscreen, built-in camera, tilt-sensor, and enhanced ereader.
That's not to say the LeapPad didn't have its detractors. Well, it appears that the company listened to some of the users' complaints, and less than 12 months after the original version hit the stores, the company is preparing to introduce the LeapPad2 Learning Tablet ($100 for pink or green and $130 for a Disney Princess Bundle) next week. While I've been more than happy with our first-generation LeapPads at home, I was eager to see where the company made improvements on the devices. LeapFrog sent us a tablet to try out; see what we thought below.
Who is this product designed for? After seeing preschoolers snag their older siblings' LeapPads last year, LeapFrog has expanded the age range to include 3- to 9-year-olds (rather than starting at 4 years old), meaning games and apps will also be available for the younger set.
What sets it apart? The original LeapPad made its mark with its tablet-like features that gave tots the feeling they were playing with a sophisticated system. With an accelerometer that transforms the tablet into a gaming console for motion-based games; a library of more than 325 games, apps, music, and videos; and the incorporation of Ultra eBooks, the LeapPad had virtually everything a kid could want. The next-generation version only improves upon those features.
Keep reading to see what could be better an how long the tablet entertains a youngster.
The tablet market is crowded, and with seemingly no slowdown to the quick pace that manufacturers churn out new gadgets, it's a confusing space to know where you're getting the most for your money. Hitting store shelves April 22, Samsung's new Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is an almost perfect solution for a mix of Internet browsing, video watching, reading, and home entertainment control hub. For $250, the tablet comes with 8GB storage, dual-core processor, microSD card slot, and 3MP camera.
Compared to the high-quality cameras we've become used to on smartphones and the Apple iPad, the poor camera of this tablet might be a major point of contention for some. Still, after the week we spent with Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, there's a lot to love at a very attractive price point. Click through for our favorite features of Samsung's newest addition to their tablet family.
I couldn't get the Nokia Lumia 900 off my mind after getting a look at this year's CES, and now that I've spent a few days with it as my main device, it appears it was worth the wait. The Lumia 900 is a fantastic device for those who just can't get into Android and don't want to drop hundreds on an iPhone. The easy-to-use Windows OS is visually appealing, and paired with the Lumia 900's design, it's a match made in heaven.
Jumping on the Lumia 900 bandwagon is easy, but here are five features that will lure you in right off the bat.
While there aren't that many upgrades coming with the new iPad, there are a few that geeks will love: a higher-resolution Retina display and a 5MP camera. Considering a purchase? There are some tempting features, and if the camera is a deciding factor for you, take a look here: a side-by-side comparison of the new iPad (on the left) and the iPad 2 (on the right).
You can see that the new iPad camera allows a better range of colors and the iPad 2 photo is more pixilated. It's an obvious upgrade, but one that I'm not sure is worth a purchase alone.
There's nothing like an outdoor adventure to get you in the Springtime mood. Add in some sweet camera gear, and I'm all over it. I got to experience both during Sony's recent Sedona Outdoor Excursion, when the company sent me off to explore the red rocks of Northern Arizona, all in an effort to get to know its lineup of new Cyber-Shot, Bloggie, camcorders, and NEX cameras.
While you couldn't capture a bad photo of Sedona (it's so beautiful!), this rugged 16.2MP pocket-friendly shock-, water-, freeze-, and dust-proof Sony Cyber-Shot TX20 ($329) was one of my favorites to use on the trip, and stayed in my bag the whole time. Coming in five different hues (PopSugar pink was my obvious choice), this camera packs quite a punch in such a small package. Great in both bright-light and low-light situations, the TX20 comes with seven different picture effects — HDR Painting, Richtone Monochrome, Miniature, Toy Camera, Pop Color, Partial Color, and Soft High-Key — to heighten the mood and add some extra personality to your shots. It's kind of like adding an Instagram or Hipstamatic filter to your pics as you take them. Not only is the picture quality fabulous, but the video isn't too shabby either. The microphone isn't as sensitive as ones you'd find in say, the NEX models, since the TX20 can be used underwater; an expensive mic in a waterproof camera wouldn't hold up well anyway.
The TX20 will hit in May for $329, and is the perfect camera for light packers traveling to far-off locales, and budding photogs that want a portable and reliable camera to tote around for day-to-day image capture. Check out some of my unedited sample images in the gallery, some of which were captured using the cool TX20 picture effects.
Honestly, at this time in my life, I'm just not ready to shell out hundreds of dollars or give up precious counter space in my tiny kitchen for a massive juicing machine. But that doesn't mean I'll never get to enjoy a glass of freshly pressed orange or grapefruit juice from the comfort of my breakfast table. I swear by the manual citrus juicer that was passed down to me from my grandmother. It's a solid piece of equipment that is incredibly easy to use, store, and clean. And if you're a fan of pulp like I am, then you'll really appreciate the juice that this little contraption produces. To find out the benefits and drawbacks of this affordable juicer, keep reading.
I've never been much of a juicer. Perhaps it's the intimidation factor of learning to use a new appliance or the ugh factor of sticky, pulpy cleanup when I'm done, but I've resisted the juice movement despite the amazing health benefits its proponents espouse. So when we received a Hurom Slow Juicer as a Christmas gift from my in-laws, I was awfully skeptical about its future as a kitchen fixture. After some balking on my part, my gadget-loving, juice-guzzling husband convinced me to give it a try. Would I become a juicing convert? Find out when you keep reading.
