I'll be appearing on SiriusXM Channel 110 on December 7, 2016 from 11am to Noon. Since the show is live it is impossible to know exactly what products will be discussed, but here is a list compiled before the show of likely talking points. I've tried to arrange them by topic to help jog your memory and facilitate your reading and shopping.
What are the big trends in toyland this season?
- Robots
- Creativity
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Skylanders Imaginators($59.99 for Starter Set)
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- Playing Together
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Anki OverDrive ($149.99) and Anki OVERDRIVE Supertruck X-52 Vehicle ($59.99)
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- Stealth Learning
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Wonder Workshop Dash ($149.99) and Dot
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- Faster Internet Everywhere
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Portal Router ($199)
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Technology for Younger Tech-Heads
- Finding the right balance
- Playsckool Love2Learn Elmo ($59.99)
- Vtech Ring & Learn Cash Register ($24.99)
- LeapFrog Count Along Register ($18.95)
- High-Tech Without Batteries
- Grippies Builders ($47.99)
- Better Builders for 2+ ($36.95)
- Guidecraft IO Blocks (sets from $23.33 & up)
- Tablets for Kids:
- Fisher-Price Tablet ($84.99)
- Fire Tablet for Kids includes 1 year of Amazon Free Time($99.99)
- Amazon Rapids (Free trial, $2.95 a month thereafter)
- Learning to Code
• Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-pillar ($33.88)
• Osmo Coding ($49.99)
• Cubetto from Primo ($245 with Adventure Pack
• Wonder Workshop’s Dash ($149.95) and Dot - Electronic Building Sets
- Technology Will Save Us
- DIY Gamer Electronic Kit ($97.99)
- DIY Synth Kit ($38.90)
- Circuit Scribe Draw Ciruits Sets ($49.95)
- littleBits
- Gizmos & Gadgets, 2nd Edition ($159.99)
- Synth Kit ($127.99)
- Technology Will Save Us
Talking about the internet
What can/should we do to limit internet access?
How can we make it faster? The rise of new types of routers.
- Portal Router ($179.87)
- Orbi Router ($379)
New advances in streaming media players
Talking about Gaming Platforms
What makes for good or bad video game?
- New vs. Old
- NES Classic Edition
- Xbox One vs. PS4 vs. PC
- Apple vs. Mac
- Next Year's New Platforms from Nintendo and Xbox
- Virtual and Augmented Reality enter the living room
- Gaming Gadgets that enhance the play experience
Non-Gaming Gadgets and Gifts for Tweens, Teens and Adults
Where can I find information on the best gadget in a given fields? Answer: there is no such thing as the objective "best"! Technology is about tradeoffs: Juggling price/features/ergonomics/quality. These are great jumping off points for talking with your kids.
- Kindles
- Headphones and Earbuds
- Cameras
- Printers
- Phones
- Tech Enabled Sporting Gear
- Bluetooth Speakers
Note: Prices listed were correct as of the date of this article as offered on Amazon.com. Your actual price at time of purchase may vary. Some of JamesGames.Com 2016 holiday segments are sponsored by Activision, Wonder Workshop, Anki, and Ignition Design Labs. They have no editorial control over the content of this blog, or of the opinions stated by James Oppenheim in any segments. Some links generate referal fees to Acme Computing Inc.
