BACK TO SCHOOL GADGETS SMT
With
Technology News Expert Brett Larson

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Sony’s “DASH” is the ultimate digital window for any and all personalized information – and perfect for the connected dorm room. It features a 7-inch color touch screen and offers instant access to over 1,500 apps, including popular social networking sites, news, weather, sports, Netflix movies and much much more.

Plus – it’s got a USB slot and built-in stereo speakers which offer outstanding sound for music or streaming internet radio. Best of all – Dash stays continually connected and updates content through existing Wi-Fi connection, and that means no monthly fees are required.

There’s great news for millions of college students who rely on Blackboard Learn every day! Blackboard Learn, the leading web-based teaching and learning platform, is now available on mobile phones. And the mobile app is free for college students who are Sprint customers and use an Android (like the worlds first 4G device, HTC EVO) or Blackberry smartphone. Just download Blackboard Mobile Learn to check grades and assignments; interact with instructors and classmates on discussion boards or blogs; and update calendars while on the go…from virtually anywhere and at anytime.

V-Tech®, the creator of the electronic learning products category introduces V. Reader for the new school year. This is the world’s first animated e-book system for children, and one of the most talked about and innovative toys that have come to market in 2010. V. Reader was designed to engage kids – ages three to seven -- in an interactive reading experience. Stories come to life as they follow some of their favorite characters – like Shrek, Dora the Explorer and heroes from Toy Story, to name a few. V. Reader is perfect for children who are new to reading – giving them the building blocks they need – from reading comprehension, vocabulary, phonics and much much more. Guaranteed for hours of fun!

Shutterfly Share Sites are free, individual web pages that are easy to create and customize. Teachers or Class Parents can create a website in minutes to connect, communicate and share important school information with other parents and teachers in a safe, secure environment. All they need to do is log in to their Shutterfly account, follow the setup wizard and within 5 minutes, they’ll have their own secure site with its own web address and email. You can post virtually anything here – from class schedules and the syllabus to homework assignment, upcoming events and snack schedules. The sites are another way to “green” the classroom – since they cut down on the paper that comes home from school.

Duracell Smart Power continues to expand its portfolio of personal power products with the new myGrid™ Kits that offer consumers the ability to charge the latest mobile devices. Recognizing the rapidly evolving needs of the modern consumer, Duracell now offers myGrid kits for Apple products, and smart phones with micro-USB ports. The Duracell myGrid pad simplifies the charging process by allowing them to charge wirelessly – eliminating the need for multiple charging cords that clutter things up. The pads will charge up to four devices at once. It’s efficiently engineered so that it stops charging once the device is fully charged.