Moms today are busy – this is not new news. But today’s moms have an advantage over the busy moms of just a few years ago; the time savers and gadgets on the market today help them multi-task better than ever before!
Think about being able to carry everything you need in one handy device. Or having a device that is thinner than a paperback that will allow you to carry 100s of books with you in your purse. You can probably guess these gadgets, but I’m going to tell you about these two and a few more that will make your life easier, or at least more enjoyable!
iPad
Hate the idea or love it, there are a ton of moms out there that covet their iPads! It’s got everything you could possibly need to get your hands on throughout the day: access to your email, web browsing, a syncable calendar and contacts database, an LED screen for displaying photos and video, an iTunes hook-up, a book reader (like the Kindle…built right in!), live maps, and iWorks (Word and Excel type programs).
It’s like carrying your desk around with you! It can eliminate the need to lug around your laptop, your planner, and your e-reader. It’s small, easy to use, and convenient.
The downside? The cost, of course. I’m not ready to shell out $500+ for it just yet. Also? You still need to carry around your phone. Maybe I’ll get one once they build a phone into it.
Nook
So you can’t afford the iPad. Sigh. The Barnes and Noble Nook might be a cool runner up. It’s light and portable and allows you to read books and magazines and more! It allows you to check your emails, connect to the web, and has interactive content for kids and adults. You can even watch videos on it! It also comes with many popular apps including Epicurious, Lonely Planet, Angry Birds, Pandora Internet radio, and various games like chess and Sudoku. Plus it’s about half the cost of the iPad.
Tivo
Who has time to watch TV during the day, or better yet, who wants to try to watch TV during the day when the kids are all running around acting like kids? Tivo is a digital video recorder (DVR) that records shows to watch later (fast forward through commercials anyone?) But it has some other cool features you might not know about. You can stream content through NetFlix, Blockbuster, Amazon, and Hulu Plus. You can even listen to music from internet radio stations, Pandora and Rhapsody.
You can purchase the unit ($99-299), and then the monthly service charge is $19.99. Quite a deal if you enjoy watching TV whenever you get the chance.
Smartphone
Yep, if you don’t have one yet, you might want to think about getting a smartphone. You don’t need one with all the bells and whistles, you can pick one up that will allow you to send and receive texts and remain connected on the go.
You spend hours upon hours on the side of the ball field, stuck in school pickup lines, and in the waiting rooms at doctors’ offices. With a smart phone, you can multi-task while you wait; check email, see what’s on sale at the grocery store, or maybe just keep yourself entertained with a game or two.
Solar Powered Backup Battery and Charger
Keep this solar-powered charger in the car to keep all of these gadgets running! It’s easy to use and eco-friendly. It will charge most devices, including iPhone, iPod, MP3, Blackberry, cell phones and more. And at only $30, you can’t go wrong!
So what do you think? Are these gadgets that you have, want, or need? Are there other mommy-must-have gadgets out there that didn’t make the list?
