Must-Have Gadget: Hitachi’s DVD Camcorder

When you're shooting a movie, there are often great moments that would make the perfect photo...and with Hitachi's DZ-BX35A (yup, it's a mouthful), you can grab photos from any video frame and quickly copy it to the camera's SD card to print or share.

For example, you're playing back the video you just shot of your daughter's first softball game - while watching you can stop at a specific point in the video and send that image to the camcorder's SD card, which can then be taken to any digital photo booth or a home printer to make a high-quality photograph. Plus, this camcorder records right to DVD, so there aren't lengthy, difficult transfers...just point, shoot and watch. If your computer is equipped with a DVD drive, it's that much easier to upload videos to YouTube and share or burn more DVDs.

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Though it lacks some bells and whistles you'll find with more expensive DVD camcorders, this lightweight, moderately priced model ($329.99) offers everything you'll need to capture those special family moments.

Hitachi DZ-BX35A DVD Camcorder - $329.99 at CircuitCity.com

Marcia Cross Welcomes Twin Daughters

Desperate Housewives' Marcia Cross and hubby Tom Mahoney welcomed twin daughters, Eden and Savannah, on Tuesday in Los Angeles. "Mother and babies are all doing well," Marcia's rep told People.com. Cross co-hosted our Modern Mom Mingle in November.

Kids Music for Parents Who Hate Kids Music

Today's music for kids does not have to be torture on a parent's ears. Below are some of our favorite well-known, and not-so-well-known musicians that you'll gladly pop in...and may even find yourself listening to when the kids aren't around:

Ralph's World

Our family favorite, singer / songwriter Ralph Covert understands that parents need music that won't make them crazy when it's stuck in their head all day.

With six CDs (our pick: Happy Lemons) and a DVD,

Ralph's tunes are catchy, sometimes educational and best of all: most parents we know love the songs too. (My personal favorite would have to be The Coffee Song: "M-O-M-M-Y needs C-O-F-F-E-E ")

Laurie Berkner Band

No doubt, you know her and your kids love her from Nick Jr. where Laurie Berkner's perky tunes fill the voids between Dora The Explorer and The Wonder Pets.

Laurie's CD's and new chart-topping DVD, We Are The Laurie Berkner Band, bring her folksy rock with all the enthusiasm and energy of her Nick Jr. interstitials.

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They Might Be Giants

Yup, They Might Be Giants, the quirky, eclectic band we loved when we were teens is back with an album designed for our kids. No! features 17 zany songs that inspire everyone to dance and sing along.

Best of all, the last two "sleepy" tunes mellow the kids out just enough to get them ready for a snooze.

Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies from the Film Curious George

The "Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies from the Film Curious George" soundtrack - with fresh numbers performed by Jack Johnson - are not only easy on the ears, but also pack important messages in the tunes.

The songs communicate concepts including recycling and sharing without being obvious or forced.

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Dan Zanes and Friends

Offbeat Dan Zanes is on the cusp of mainstream success, thanks to interstitials on Nick Jr., but his music stays true to its roots.

The newest CD, "Catch That Train!", brings well-known collaborators to the mix -- including Natalie Merchant and Nick Cave -- for a rockin' good time that any hipster family is sure to love.

So, now that you're armed with a list of good kids music - load up the CD player or iPod and spread the word. There is music designed for kids out there that parents can not only tolerate, but enjoy!

Here’s To a Tech Savvy New Year

Now that the holiday rush is behind us, we can stop and take a breath. This is the time to enjoy all the tech toys we wished for and actually received! Some of this season's hottest gadgets were laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, and LCD TVs. The cool thing about all these products is that they have the capability to sync up with other products. With all this technology, where do you start?

Even as a father of two, husband and full-time Geek Squad Agent, I know what it's like to have the coolest and newest gadgets but feel lost and overwhelmed. Whether you just received a new gadget or haven't learned to use an old one, it's helpful to understand the number of not-so-obvious uses that technology offers. With today's technological advances, many products can be used together to enhance the overall user experience. For example, did you know you can plug your mp3 player or USB thumb drive into that new Xbox 360 or PS3 and create your own video game soundtracks? Now, when my wife and I begin to use our new tech "toys," I always check to see if there is something more we can do with the product than what is printed on the box.

Below are some suggestions from the Geek Squad to help you get tech savvy for the New Year. I've picked some of the most popular gifts this season, as well as "toys" I tend to see a lot of as I make my post-holiday house calls.

Laptops:

• Data migration: Moving from one computer to a new one is not a simple matter of hooking up a cable from one machine to the next and pressing "GO" on your keyboard. With proper instruction, you can move e-mails, digital media, Internet Favorites, documents and more from that old desktop to a shiny new laptop.
• Data Backup: Backup tools are on the rise (both subscription-based and free). The good ones will back everything up automatically (in real-time), so you don't have to remember a thing.
• Wireless connectivity: Computer makers are making networking easier, with laptops that come wireless-ready out of the box (most laptops sold these days have WiFi built in, so you don't have to worry about plugging anything in), but integrating a new device into an existing wireless network may be a challenge.

Video game consoles:

• Streaming media from your PC to video game console: TiVos, XBOX 360s and many more are now accepting media streams from PCs! By setting up one of these devices you can stream all of your digital media -- including pictures, music and even video -- from the bedroom computer to the living room flat screen television.
• • Streaming media to a video game console or a media center extender can make it much easier to get the most from digital content. However, it's not always easy to do. Many people don't know how to make it work -- or even that such an option exists!

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MP3 players:

• MP3 rookies: Believe it or not, there are still a number of people out there who don't own MP3 players! If you don't have one by now, chances are you may not know how to make the most of it -- or even use it at all. Tutorials can teach you how to get up to speed in no time.
• Moving from one MP3 player to another: Many of you may be receiving their second and even third generation MP3 player this holiday season. Moving music from one generation to the next, or even an iPod to a Zune, is easy with proper instructions.
• Getting video on MP3 players: Sure, for those who bought the fall finale of Lost on iTunes, it's automatically added to their video iPod when they first connect it to their computers. Getting your own digital content, such as home movies, onto video-enabled MP3 players, however, is a bit trickier. Video enthusiasts can learn how to encode their videos correctly so they can show off junior's first steps to everyone on the bus to work.

HDTVs:

• Stream media from Media Center PCs: I mentioned this earlier, but I thought I'd reiterate the option as it is one of my favorites. With the help of a gaming console or media center extender, you'll be able to stream all of your digitally-recorded programs to that beautiful new flat screen.
• Double duty: Many high-resolution flat-screen TVs work well as huge computer monitors, so checking stats during the big game or reading a recipe from Google may mean a push of the "input" button. Using these specialized televisions as computer monitors as well calls for the right cables, as well as a basic understanding of resolution settings.

Understanding Today’s Back-To-School Gadgets

It's that time again. Parents everywhere are getting ready for the new school year and our children's growing interest in technology - for study time or fun time - is rapidly increasing. The latest gadgets are infiltrating children's backpacks everywhere. With 97 percent of America's public schools now connected to the Internet, teachers at the elementary and high school levels are even finding ways to incorporate technology into the educational experience.

As the father of a five-year old, I know that it's just a matter of time until she'll replace her crayons with a laptop and start using an MP3 player to take notes. I've already begun working to ensure that she embraces technology by exposing her to age-appropriate games and educational programs. Technology is enhancing her enthusiasm towards learning and is undoubtedly having an impact on your children as well.

As parents, we need to educate ourselves on the benefits that these latest tech gadgets bring to the classroom, so when our tech-savvy kids start writing them down on their back to school wish lists, we'll be in the know. Despite her young age, it's amazing how much she knows about technology, and I fully expect her to catch up to me very soon.

Read on for some tips to help understand today's newest back-to-school gadgets and technology.

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Gadgets

• Take Notes: Traditional note taking is being replaced with voice recorders or MP3 recorder adapters in some classrooms. What used to be a thumb-numbing session of note-taking is now as simple as pressing the "record" button. By playing back the information on an MP3 player, your son or daughter can make sure that even the most minor detail is heard.
• Snap Pictures: Documenting science projects or prized finger-painting works of art, is much more simple when you go digital. There is no such thing as a waste of film when images can be re-shot or edited on a computer photo program.
• Stay Connected: New kid-friendly cell phones have parental controls for younger children, so you'll be able to store only those numbers programmed by you (and 911), keeping bills in check and you and your children connected.
• Keep Organized: For your high-school-aged children, help them stay organized with personal digital assistants or PDAs. Many schools now allow PDAs in classrooms when used for academic purposes such as taking notes, outlining projects and keeping track of project due dates.
• Save and Protect: Another tip for your older children is USB flash drives a small device for data storage. Flash drives can hold far more than the floppy disks we grew up with and they're small and durable enough to attach to a key ring or toss in a backpack.
• To Carry and Store: Not every item is out of date. The traditional backpack is always in style and with more options than ever.

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Software

• Understand and Help with Homework: Software like "Inspiration 8" is an essential tool to help students plan, research and complete projects successfully. Live homework help is also available with a simple software download from Tutor.com.
• Write and Edit: Students will always need a dictionary, but "Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary and Thesaurus" offers more features than its hard copy companion.
• Create and Revise: Map making software, such as "Mapmakers Toolkit," allows students to select, customize and print state, country and continent maps.
• Make Charts and Tables: Graphing software such as "Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007," is fun and generates flawless documents to help your student score an "A" in math or other classes.

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Trent Kannenberg is a Double Agent with Geek Squad, a 24-Hour Computer Support Task Force. He is based in Minneapolis, MN.

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