Polaroid 7in Kids TabletI bought my wife an iPad in the hopes that it would keep her away from my laptop. That didn’t work. She still steals the laptop every chance she gets and lets our young children hammer away on the (expensive) iPad.
Polaroid, the company I associate with fun photography, has come to our rescue with the release of their impressive 7” tablet for kids. The tablet joins a great gadget case company and an inexpensive Wii U headset in this week’s gadget roundup.
Polaroid 7-inch Kids Tablet
Vtech and other companies have been making kid versions of adult gadgets for years, and they’re good at it. Polaroid, however, is not the name that comes to mind for such devices. They’re trying to change that image as they enter their 75th year as a company. The Polaroid Kids Tablet is a good start. It might be targeted at kids, but the design and build quality make it feel and look like an adult piece of tech.
The tablet ($149.99) comes with simple parental controls and a safe web browser. Full versions of 35 apps come preloaded along with 10 Dr. Seuss and Smithsonian interactive books. The tablet runs on Android software, has 8GB of internal memory, a camera and a rechargeable internal battery. I felt the battery could hold out a little longer, but that may be due to the test unit I received. Also, you probably don’t want your kids on this or any other screen device for hours on end.
Finally, this tablet feels like it can take a beating – a must for kid gadgets – and can grow with them.
Marware casesMarware cases
There are tons of case options out there for you gadget geeks. You can go cheap and pick something up at the gas station, or you can go all out and drop nearly as much as you paid for the gadget for a high-end case. I’m highlighting Marware here because they’re not dirt cheap or ridiculously priced. They’re right in the middle, though the quality is solid.
The Marware products I’ve used are a good value, stylish and functional. They also reflect the company’s roots in South Florida culture. The beautiful beaches of Hollywood, Florida present a refined, idyllic lifestyle. Buying a Marware product won’t take you there, but you’ll notice the inspired design. One good example is the Marware Axis Case for Kindle. This one even comes in a special Cupid’s Collection edition, which includes the UpSurge Mini Speaker and a stylus. In pink, of course.
Wii U HeadsetEarforce NLa Wii U headset
Nintendo has always followed its own path. So it wasn’t surprising that the company did not include a headset with its Wii U – despite their apparent dedication to building a vibrant online gaming community. Being able to hear and speak to your colleagues and enemies online is crucial in online gaming, something the people at Turtle Beach have known for years.
Their Earforce NLa for the 3DS and Wii U is a great bet at just $29.95. You’ll get high fidelity, amplified game audio and crystal clear communication from these sleek, wired speakers. They feature noise-isolation and independent chat volume controls.
If you live in the UK you can get the white version. Stateside the black version is available.