Techmamas

Girl (and Mom) Gamers Are On The Rise

Recently I seem to be reading lots about an increase in girl gamers. At SXSW, I went to an interactive panel that discussed getting girls into gaming as a gateway to getting them interested in technology. I also saw that there were lots of activites at SXSW centered around girl gamers.

Today I received information about a NPD study press release that discusses girl gaming is on the rise:

"According to The NPD Group's Gamer Segmentation 2009 report, girl gamers are on the rise.  The study found that females increased by five percentage points to make up 28 percent of console gamers, up from 23 percent in 2008.  This trend can be attributed to the strong sales of titles such as Wii Fit and the recently-introduced EA Sports Active, which allow women to stay active from the comfort of their own homes.  In addition, Wii Sports was very popular among non-traditional gamers, and Nintendo is expecting this momentum to continue with Wii Sports Resort. 

Activision's Guitar Hero and Electronic Arts' Rock Band appeal to young girls who enjoy the interactive nature of the games.  Nintendogs, a puppy simulator and Animal Crossing: City Folk, which allows players to interact with hundreds of animals, are also big with women.  Nintendo will continue to capitalize on this trend with the upcoming launch of Style Savvy this holiday season.  Players become the owner of a clothing boutique, and the game combines creativity and fashion with a collection of trendy clothes, chic accessories and stylish shoes.  In addition, the company regularly hosts Girlfriends’ Guide to Gaming nights, male-free events in cities throughout the country in which young, professional women have the opportunity to experience video games in a social atmosphere."

I have seen an increase in my mom friends gaming habits as well in the following areas:

• FITNESS: Moms that are too busy to go to the club are taking advantage of the family Wii and exercising with the Wii Fit or EA Sports Active.
• INTERACTIVE FAMILY TIME: When it is "screen time" moms are finding that using interactive gaming makes it a family affair. Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Wii Music are popular for the musical family. Multiplayer sports games like Wii Sports are also popular with families, but I even heard of moms that challenge their husband to Wii Tennis after the kids go to sleep. Other multiplayer Wii games that my mom friends use with their families are Mario Kart, Mario Galaxy, Big Brain Academy, Animal Crossing: City Folk and Carnival Games.

I few weeks ago I went to a press briefing with Nintendo on the new Wii Sports Resort (that has dozen resort-themed activities) and imagine that that game will be used by families for interactive screen time as well.   Wii Sports Resort comes bundled with a Wii MotionPlus - that captures additional movements for more activities (i.e. throwing a frisbee to a dog). Which is really good for me because I told my boys we can't have a pet. So having a frisbee throw with a virtual pet may keep them satisfied for now.

It Was a TwitPic July 4th: Moms Using Social Media

Many of my mom friends comment how overwhelming social media is and I suggest taking things slow until you find your social media "mojo". For moms, I suggest a great place to start is Facebook for social and LinkedIn if you want to make business contacts. Start off setting privacy levels as high as possible, then open things as you see fit. 

Guy Kawasaki (a.k.a How to Change the World blog and Alltop) wrote a good post about using LinkedIn. Some good links to find information about using Facebook is on the Facebook website, Mahalo - How to use Facebook article and Mashable's article on privacy settings.

Next I suggest Twitter for those that want to have a "public" online community to share information with. David Pogue just wrote a book about Twitter and Mashable has a post about using Twitter on the go. Twitter can be compared to texting - but onto a "public" website where your "followers" can read and respond to what you are doing at that moment (only 140 characters allowed). You can either open your updates to the public or restrict to only those you approve. Some start out with protected updates but then switch to public to be more open. I always tell my friends that ask my advice about social media privacy - to NOT put any private information online, especially on Twitter. Twitter should only be a place to share information about yourself that is public.

I enjoy sharing what I am doing, reading, posting, struggling with and most of all reading my followers Twitters and replying to them. I will be posting more about Twitter, but for now I want to share my latest social media test: using TwitPic.  Twitpic is a way to share pictures on Twitter (many celebrities use it) by taking a picture with your smartphone and sending it to the TwitPic application - which then posts it on Twitter. I don't like posting pictures of my kids in public forums, so I will probably use it to post pictures with my blogging friends (who are already public) and pictures of events.

Here is my first real TwitPic - I took a picture with my BlackBerry and sent it to Twitpic. It was a picture taken at our family and friends trip to the beach on July 4th. I took the picture of my foot (with my strawberry colored toes) and one of my 6 year old twins (with sandy covered toes). He is constantly growing, just looking at the picture makes me realize his foot is growing as well!

My test picture was of a grenade water ballon - but I had to take that quick and get out of the way!

Canada Moms Blog Road Trip

We are excited that Catherine Conners and Katie York, from Silicon Valley Moms Groups Canada Moms Blog have taken off on a road trip across Canada. Here is a link to more details about the drivers, the Mom Road Trip blog and Twitter ID (and yes - even Twitpics). I am enjoying following them on their adventures - so I suggest taking a vacation, I mean click over to the Mom Road Trip blog to read about the Canada Moms Blog summer road trip.

Shout out to the Sponsors: GM, Fairmont Hotels and BTrendie.

BlogHer '09 Room Of Our Own Session: Gadgets For Blogging

I am very excited to be speaking at a "Room of Our Own" Session at BlogHer titled: Gadgets For Blogging. BlogHer is the premier blogging conference for women bloggers and this year will be held in Chicago.

If you are going to BlogHer  - please come by!

Friday July 24:

Breakout Session #3 - Room of Your Own 2: Gadgets for Blogging:

So you want to stay ahead of the curve in the latest tech gadgets? In this session, you’ll learn about the newest developments in vlogging, blogging, liveblogging, uploading photos, taking photos, going wireless and using mobile technologies. Get the scoop from Beth Blecherman from TechMamas, Eliane Fiolet, the writer behind Ubergizmo, Gina Hughes, who blogs at Techie Diva and Ponzi Pirillo, who blogs at Ponzarelli. These four women are driven by staying in-the-know about the latest in social media technology and gadgetry.

Day in the Cloud Challenge - With Virgin America and Google

I made the sacrifice this morning to get up at 3:30am (after blogging until 12:30am) to attend a 6am Virgin America/Google event called " Day in the Cloud" challenge. There are very few things that will get me out of bed at 3:30am. Before this it was only for night breastfeedings when my boys were infants. This time I had to chance to be on a Virgin America flight from SFO to LAX with other media - that were playing an online challenge game against the Virgin America flight from LAX to SFO. The Virgin America flights have GoGo Inflight Wi-Fi so we could all go online after the flight was above 10,000 feet. 

The challenge is an online game that is a combination of brain teasers and questions. The term "cloud" relates to cloud computing: "Cloud computing is a new way of using your computer that lets you store, access and share your information through the web, instead of on your hard drive."

Gaming on the airplane - my 10 year old son would be so proud.

**All of today those on other Virgin America flights and even those on ground can play the challenge (on June 24 until midnight) by logging onto the Day in the Cloud website**

Luckily, I answered questions on cloud computing and Google Apps right - but could not handle the brain teasers on 2 hours of sleep.. I tried... One of the questions was about Google Talk emoticons. I was sitting with a group of fellow gamers and we just "Googled" Google Talk emoticons to find the answer. One brain teaser was "What is second largest cave chamber in the United states", which we also found in Wikipedia using Google search.  Part of the challenge is demonstrating the ability to find the answers online. One of the gamers is an official "puzzle" expert, so I decided to site next to him to learn some puzzle strategy. He was helping me with strategies to find answers, and I was excited to at least help him on one question (it required language translation so I said he should just enter the phrase into Google Translate).

As always, meeting the other participants is part of the fun. I sat next to my GadgetSpin buddy Eliane from Ubergizmo. Behind us on the plane was one of the Virgin America social media guys that we had met originally on the Orange County Virgin America launch party (Bowen).  Two bloggers from sites that I read every day on my RSS feeds were sitting in front of me ( Ben Parr from Mashable and Anthony Ha from Venture Beat). There were also Google and Virgin America representatives to talk with.

The most fun Google representative for me to talk with was Google Digital Mom Jenn Mazzon. We not only shared thoughts about our busy lives as moms of multiples, but also strategies for working mom family management. Jenn shared her use of Google Calender and Google Apps as family management tools in a video interview that I will load this weekend.

I will have another chance on my flight back to SFO to play the challenge. I need to have more caffeine before I can attempt playing again. Or just sit next to the Puzzle expert...

Later tonight I will load some pictures.

Disclosure: I was NOT paid to attend this event, but the Virgin America flights for media covering the event were complimentary.

Disney And ASUS Launch Netbook With Disney User Interface (Netpal)

The last few days has been full of press briefings. Today I had the chance to meet with the Disney Consumer Products representatives to discuss their new collaboration with ASUS (makers of the Eee PC). The result is a 8.9 inch netbook with a 92% keyboard and Wi-Fi capabilities. ASUS manufactured the PC, but Disney created the user interface/experience. Everything from the designs ( Princess Pink, Magic Blue) to the kid friendly user interface, 40 parental controls and a spill proof keyboard. What I found unique (other then the designs) was the user interface made it easy for  parents to set up controlled accounts for their kids.

The Parental controls allows parents to set up email, website monitoring and website access controls. The website access is set up by just selecting the "approved" websites (and the system then maps that approval to the website domains and subdomain - a step that can be confusing to do on your own). But right out of the box there are already Disney approved websites that can be launched from the browser. The email works with a "white list" so only emails from approved email addresses will be allowed through. Standard email services such as Gmail or Yahoo can be used as the email service.

The computer was designed for kids 6-12 and the suggested retail price is $349.99. The Disney Netpal by ASUS will be available in 32 countries and in 19 languages. I will post in the next week with video and pictures from my press briefing, but for now here are some pictures from the website:

Disney Netpal by ASUS Princess Pink-

Disney Netpal by ASUS Magic Blue-

Listed below is a picture I took at the briefing of the image my 10 year old would probably use as his wallpaper (also in the picture are the desktop widgets). There are 10 customizable themes, general colors and the ability to import your own themes:

 

Here is a view of the (one of the) matching bags that will be for sale along with the netbook made by Belkin:

Click HERE to read the PRESS RELEASE:

Here are the product specifications from the press release:

Toshiba Satellite L Series Laptops

I am getting lots of press releases regarding laptops because it is getting close to back to school. The press release on the new L Series from Toshiba looked interesting. I had a Toshiba when I was at one of my prior companies and found it to be very rugged.  I took at look at their current offerings and found the a nice selection of low cost laptops listed on their website including a $349 10-inch netbook (Mini Notebook NB200) and a 15.6-inch Satellite L500 (pictured below) for $504.
 

PRESS RELEASE:

HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web: World's First Web-Connected Printer

I dropped the kids off at camp this morning and headed to the HP Reveal press conference to hear a briefing on a *mystery* product. As someone that loves mysteries, I could not wait to get there and find out what it was. I missed the press conference because of camp drop off timing, but I did demo the product and talked with the HP Marketing/Engineering staff - who were all very eager to hear what moms would look for in the product. Luckily I had another mom blogger with me to also discuss ideas ( @Vdog).

And the mystery product is....."The world’s first web-connected printer:  HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web".

Here are details from their press release:

"HP introduced a category-changing product and an entirely new web-based printing platform with HP apps. Powered by touch, the HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web – the world’s first Web connected home printer – allows people simple access to popular and personal online content PC.

Additionally, HP apps allow people to connect instantly with fun, informative and personal content. People can easily access these Print Apps via the printer’s 4.33-inch touchscreen – the largest LCD touchscreen of any all-in-one inkjet printer on the market – to print maps, coupons, movie tickets and more from their favorite web sites including USA TODAY, Google, Fandango and Coupons.com."

What does this mean for moms/parents/kids? Basically the new printer allows the user to access the web for select applications on a touchscreen and then print via wireless - without using a computer. The applications need to be developed for the Photosmart with TouchSmart Web, similar to the applications that are developed to use on the iPhone. The target is for the printer to launch this fall. The HP App Studio (SDK -developer kit) will be available in the beginning of the new year after the launch. This will allow the people to create their own applications. The target retail price for the United States is $399.

The printer does not have internal storage so it is not a replacement for a computer. What it does offer is the time saving functionality to print directly from the web from one gadget (the printer) via the house wireless system. The Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web also includes PictBridge, Ethernet, USB, Bluetooth, as wells as CF, SD, and MS-Duo slots. The extra slots allow users, for example, that use SD flash cards in their digital cameras to insert them directly into the printer for printing pictures.

More technical details will be released soon. 

ASK TECHMAMA READERS: WHAT APPLICATIONS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE ON THE HP PHOTOSMART WITH TOUCHSMART WEB?

Here are some of the pictures I took at the HPreveal:

 HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web:

 

Vdog is displaying a picture printed on the HP Photosmart with TouchSmart Web.

 

Here is a close-up of the front of the printer with the touchscreen for web access.

 

The HP Photosmart with TouchSmart Web can also scan, copy and fax (for faxing, the printer must be hooked up to a phone line).

This is a picture of the touch keypad input screen.

This picture shows the coupons application.

 

And here is the coupon that was printed at our demo.

The ink cartridges are in separate colors.

Photo tray that can handle many different types of paper (including photo and laser).

Here is an example of the screen to choose crafts to print.

 

You can also view movie clips (video streaming) from the Touchscreen. This picture is of the Monsters vs Aliens video that played screen during our demo.

PRESS RELEASE:

Fathers Day Ode to Dr. Seuss

I asked my husband if he would do a blog post for me that I can put up for Father's Day. So my wonderful husband, Neil Blecherman (and super Dad to our 3 very active boys), wrote a poem for Father's Day. Happy Father's Day!!

______________________________________________________________________

Dr. Suess Father's Day - By Neil Blecherman

Hop on Pop

Hop on Pop and do not stop

He is the best, yes Pop is top,

When not arresting like a cop.

 

Couch is old but bounces well.

Boys go up and shout and yell.

Screams are heard all over town.

Kids right side up and upside down

Always a smile, never a frown

They enjoy the Dad Day jumping

But muscles in pops back are lumping

Lumping muscles everywhere

Can I please sit in a chair?

In a chair wayyyy over there?

 

What happened to breakfast in bed?

“Please feed in bed” the dad had said.

Green eggs (no ham) in bed today

Food makes dad glad on dad’s big day !!

Toast is the most, with New York Times

Peace and quiet writing rhymes.

Cereal is also good dad food

Helping calm his “daditude”

No food? Then Bad Dad Poet is rude.

 

Bad Dad Poet goes for a run

Running, phasers set on “stun”.

Stun the dogs, stun the cats

Stun the mailman who wears blue hats.

 

Stun the Sneeches on their beaches

Stun Horton, whose voice Whoville reaches.

 

Stun Thing 1 and stun Thing 2

Stun another Thing, please do!

Keep on running, running slow

Legs say “stop” but brain says “go”.

Brain tells legs, “After run, BenGay

So pain in ancient legs goes away”

iPod playing in old Dad ears

Running with Boston clears ears for years.

Exercise helps grow Dad’s brain

With legs, back, knees and feet in pain. 

 

Big brain helps Dad stay in shape

As hair moves from head down the back (like ape).

Pop’s not Superman with a big red cape.

Hop on pop causes insurance claim

Boys are big, their weight can maim.

 

Dad starts to wonder, “next year please”

Dad’s day in park, (I’m in my forties).

Poem Copyright Neil Blecherman 2009. Names of Dr. Seuss characters belong to the wonderful Dr. Seuss, whose books we read to our kids all the time!!!

CBS News Website Re-launch

CBS contacted me this morning with information about their new site re-launch. I enjoy getting their news over Twitter and online CBSNews.com (which means I can get access to news whenever I want - online).

The video below has a tour of the new website by Katie Couric, who has reached out to the Silicon Valley Moms Group community to share information about important issues like Children and the Recession and blogging at our New York City Moms Blog.

CBS News Twitter Hashtag is #cbsnews for those that want to follow the conversation on Twitter.

Watch CBS Videos Online

(click on the white arrow on the bottom left to view video)

Along with the CBS News Twitter ID, there are also other CBS News related Twitter ID's to follow. I asked them to send me a summary and here it is:

@cbsnews

Our primary and most followed account. Breaking news plus the best of our news organization. We've grown from 4K to 450K followers in just a few months.

 

@markknoller

Mark Knoller, who has been covering the White House since the Ford administration, has become our most prolific Twitter user - offering his followers real time updates on President Obama as well as relevant facts that only Knoller would know. Others are catching on. Check out this recommendation from Marc Ambinder (Atlantic Monthly): http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/04/mark_knoller_on_twitter.php.

 

@katiecouric

What's great about Katie Couric's tweets is that she's letting her followers in on some great scenes. She's tweeted everywhere from the sets of the Tonight Show and American Idol to lunch at the White House.

 

@cbsmcmanus

Sean McManus is the President of CBS News and CBS Sports - he's also the ONLY television news executive on Twitter. I feel like his presence on the service shows CBS News commitment to trying new things.

 

@peterkingcbs

Peter King is our CBS Radio News correspondent at NASA in Florida. He's really good about interacting with his followers and updates FREQUENTLY when there's a mission in progress. I think he's a good example of how we're able to provide folks not just general breaking news but also very specific genres of news accounts to follow.

 

@drjashton

Dr. Jennifer Ashton is the CBS medical correspondent who appears almost everyday on the Early Show. Again, she's very good about interacting with her audience - focusing on medical issues, especially must have info for moms.

 

Other individual accounts to watch: @cbskellywallace (ga), @cbsandrewcohen (legal), @bobschieffer, @jacksonjk (capitol hill), @szirinsky (exec producer, 48 hours), @earlyshowmaggie (early show anchor), and @drlapook. We also have brand accounts for @cbseveningnews (new!), @60minutes, @48hours, and @theearlyshow.

 

Finally, we've got local accounts in nearly every major market. You should check your local CBS news affiliate web site to find out the address (often more than one per station).

When Beth Blecherman is not watching news online, she is a Co-Founder of the Silicon Valley Moms Group (that has the Twitter id @svmomsgroup )and Founder of TechMamas.com (her  personal Twitter ID is @techmama ).