Here's another cool iPad thing for kids. Osmo is a system consisting of an iPad stand (which works with pretty much any iPad but the original model) and a mirror attachment that fits over the iPad's front-facing camera to redirect it downward. Once attached, Osmo lets you load up one of three games that scans real-world objects in front of your iPad…
If you're an avid LEGO "minifig" collector, if you recently developed an interest after seeing The LEGO Movie, or if you're just a kid who never grew up, then you'll definitely want to check out LEGO Minifigure Year by Year: A Visual History by Gregory Farshtey. This full-color 255-page book starts with the detailed origins of the classic Lego Minifigure and follows…
From the department of things that are both tools and toys: ToolChess is a handsome, handmade chess set with pieces fashioned from everyday nuts and bolts. The sets are crafted by a father-son duo, and the proceeds help sponsor kids at one of their local chess schools. These guys put some great presentation into their product—every chess piece is finished with a…
I've yet to meet a kid who doesn't love playing with cardboard boxes. A lot of them also appreciate rocket ships, so the Cardboard Rocket would make an awesome gift for them. Obviously you could make your own rocket ship out of boxes if you wanted, but these guys have done all the work for you, cutting out not only the necessary…
I've always been kind of a sucker for geeky kid stuff. I grew up watching shows like Bill Nye the Science Guy and Beakman's World, and of course I had one of those Creepy Crawlers bug-maker kits. Now that I'm a dad, I like to keep an eye out for these same kinds of geeky things I can share with my son…
Learning how to play guitar is something I've always wanted to do, but like so many skills, getting started from scratch seems daunting. The gTar (pronounced with a soft 'g') aims to make this part of the experience a lot more fun. It's like a real-world version of Guitar Hero that actually teaches you something. What you do is dock your iPhone…
It's no secret that I love LEGO stuff. I have kits stashed all over the place, with a giant box of the toys in the attic, waiting for my kids to get a little bit older. Belkin's LEGO Builder Case for iPhone 5 isn't the only LEGO-inspired case out there, but it might be my favorite, as it's built with a real,…
Chess, traditionally played between two people, is an ancient and treasured pastime. That doesn't mean we can't mix it up a bit, though. Enter the 3-Man Chess set, which introduces some fascinating mechanics and strategy, even making it feasible for two players to form an alliance and crush the third player before inevitably turning on one another. Pick the set up for…
I'm a big believer in office toys, and the Syma 3 Channel S107/S107G Mini Indoor Co-Axial R/C Helicopter w/ Gyro is the funniest one I've ever had. With a range of about thirty feet, this mini helicopter is great for zooming in and around cubicles, past meetings and through the breakroom. The helicopter charges via USB, and is small enough to store…
Lots of people have a love for vintage tin toys, and this drum-playing robot would be a great addition to any robot-guarded bookshelf or desk. You can pick this little guy up on Etsy for $18.
The Silverlit Bluetooth Porsche remote control car lets you use your iOS device as a controller, with gesture control, force feedback and sound effects. The remote app is free, while the car itself is $66 from Amazon. Riding in style has never been so affordable.
To one lucky reader, we’re giving away a Glif tripod mount and stand for your iPhone 5 and a brand-new 3-pack of Traveling Salesman Edition Field Notes. How to enter: Follow the Tools & Toys Twitter account Send us a tweet with a picture you’ve taken on your iPhone and hashtag it #toolstoysgiveaway The winner: On Monday morning, December 3 we’ll pick…
If you're looking for a more mature toy for the Lego-lover in your life, these hand-crafted, larger-than-life wooden Lego mini-figs looks just downright awesome. Each toy is unique, and numbered under the feet of the character. They come in a box full of wood shavings, so they'll travel safely from French designer and woodworker Malet Thibaut's shop.
The 20th Anniversary Macintosh was released in 1997 in celebration of the company's 20th birthday. Apple manufactured 12,000 TAMs, with a release run of 11,601. The remaining 399 were kept by Apple for use as spare parts. The company was quite proud of the machine. Well, there's one on eBay at the moment. If you want to add a rare, unique Mac…
The Rover 2.0 Wireless Spy Tank is smartphone-controlled tank armed with a camera, speakers, microphone, infrared and regular headlights that's able navigate up to 200 feet away. This is due to the fact that unlike some devices that use Bluetooth to communicate, the Rover 2.0 sets up its own wireless network to talk to its control device. The rover is powered by…
The Parrot AR.Drone is not the remote control helicopter you got your nephew for his birthday. This thing is piloted with an iOS or Android device, stream 720p high-definition live video, has built-in Wi-Fi, accelerometer and gyroscope, and has a control range of 165 feet. The AR.Drone has 4 brushless inrunner motors that pull 14.5 watt & 28,500 rpm when hovering, for…
Most of us nerds have some LEGO around the house, dating back from our childhood. Mine are in a giant tub in the attic. After finding today's item, I'm ashamed of how I am storing them until my kids are old enough not to eat them. The IRIS LEGO 6-Case Workstation and Storage Unit is part storage, part workspace. With 6 sliding…
As a kid, I always enjoyed model rocketry. Getting to build something with your dad then launch it in to the sky is hard to beat. The Estes 1469 Tandem-X Launch Set is a great way to get started. For $30, you get two rockets and a launch system, including platform and electronic starter. I can't wait for my son to be…
Just because it's recommended for ages 10 - 14 years, doesn't mean grown men can't also buy a box of LEGOs. This ultimate collector's edition of the Batmobile is like the cousin to the ride in Tim Burton's Batman films. This LEGO set is not too full of "specialty" pieces, and so it keeps with the best of LEGO tradition of building…
When I was a kid, not only did I have to walk to school in the snow (uphill both ways, mind you), but I also had to keep my Legos in a big, heavy, plastic bin. I spent half of my play time digging around in that 2-foot-deep bin looking for a particular Lego (until finally conceding, and just dumping the whole…