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Fisher-Price Easy Link controls kids' access to online thrills
Limiting your kids' access to the treacherous internet isn't exactly a terrible idea, and while we highly doubt your three-year old would put itself in the path of a MySpace stalker, the Easy Link makes absolutely sure. This kid-friendly gaming platform aims to provide "a safe internet experience that locks kids into age-appropriate sites and won't let them click into files on the computer," and enables the youngster to launch select web portals depending on the character key they place into the "launch pad." Of note, you will need a Windows-based computer with a spare USB port, a connection to the 'net, and Internet Explorer 6.0+ in order to get things running properly, and while this will probably just teach your kid how to circumvent adult-instituted boundaries sooner than usual, it doesn't look like a bad option for just $30.[Via USAToday, thanks Aaron]
Mattel drops new details on I Can Play educational guitar
While the most of us get our shred on via one version of Guitar Hero or another, Mattel is trying to preserve our offsprings' minds a little while longer with a more educationally-inclined toy axe. Originally mentioned at the International Toy Fair, the I Can Play instrument is slated to land this August for $99.99 and will boast the Allegro Multimedia Guitar Wizard Method for learning licks. Furthermore, the guitar will come bundled with a cartridge featuring "six popular songs" to play along with (additional ones will be $14.99 apiece), and rather than just single buttons being placed on the fretboard, the more complex sensor layout is said to be more akin to a real-world six-string. Notably, Mattel and Allegro both assert that this device can be used by kiddos as young as six years old, but we see no reason why those struggling through a mid-life crisis can't relive their own rock fantasies once the children head off to bed.[Via Electronista]
Annoyed, hospitalized teen unplugs neighbor's life support
It should probably go without saying that anything connected to a power source within the confines of a hospital has a fair shot at being pertinent to the livelihood of at least one individual, but obviously a 17-year old teenager in Germany needed the memo. After the perpetual noise of what would prove to be his neighbor's life support machine "got on his nerves," he proceeded to simply unplug the device without precaution in order to ensure that "he got his peace and quiet." Of course, we can only assume that the sirens and squeals that were emitted due to his misreckoning were immensely louder than the prior hum, but some folks just love to learn the hard way. Thankfully, medical personnel stepped in and saved the man from perishing, but the teen at fault lost a lot more sleep after that whilst being questioned by police.[Via El Reg, image courtesy of NAIAD]
Britax unveils speaker-packed car seat to rock baby asleep
Let's face it, it's not exactly feasible (or safe) to rock the kid to sleep whilst manning the wheel down I-5, which is why you should seriously look Britax's way for your next baby-related purchase. This luxurious car seat reportedly sports a "Reflection Sound System" that cranks out tunes around the infant's head, and while we all know it's just a ploy to keep the youngster from wailing any longer, the manufacturer is boasting about the mental benefits of piping Bach into your kiddo's brain at an early age. Portable sounds aren't the only thing it's got going for it, however, as the safety factor is also pretty high considering the well-padded surroundings, height adjustable head guard, automatic shoulder belt adjusting device, and a soft mat on the bottom to protect your whip's interior. Click on through for another snapshot while you mull over the ???710,000 ($767) pricetag -- hey, there's only 364 days 'til Mother's Day, right?[Via AVing]
AMBER Alert comes to Kingston's Child ID USB flash drive
Similar to just about every other USB flash drive manufacturer out there, Kingston's renditions aren't any stranger to somewhat superfluous security layers, but the firm's latest thumb drive looks to keep your child safe by teaming up with AMBER Alert. While the kid-protecting service has already been available via SMS, the Child ID Kit allows users to upload a smorgasbord of information about a single child including photos, birthdate, hair / eye color, contact information, nicknames, and even fields for parents to explain gaudy tattoos and embarrassing piercings that should only be divulged when searching for a missing youngster. Sporting 512MB of internal storage, password protection, and obligatory encryption, paranoid guardians can snap up one (or more) now for $29.95 apiece. Still, we're not entirely convinced this ultra-modern edition of the milk carton splash will actually help you find missing kiddos any faster, but at least you won't be forced to go searching for their blood type at inopportune times.[Via Gadgets-Weblog]
Italy intros sensor-laden foundling wheels to care for abandoned babies
While dealing with a widespread problem of abandoned children is an issue we have no interest in tackling, Italy's Family Affairs Minister Rosy Bindi apparently feels that hooking up hospitals with "modern-day foundling wheels" is the best solution. Based on an idea that dates back hundreds of years, the sensor-laden hatches that are now being installed in Italian hospitals are accessible only from the outside, and feature a specially designed window in which an unwanted child can be deposited into a warm, cushioned bed. In a recent incident, the sensors alerted the staff at Casilino Hospital, which arrived in a mere 40 seconds to care for the infant and find him a proper home. In an effort to get the message out, flyers in six languages have been posted around hospitals that encourage troubled parents to bring their child to one of the newfangled incubators. Still, we're not experts on foreign policy nor on taking care of rejected youngsters, but going from the cold, ruthless streets to a heated cubicle doesn't seem like such a raw deal for the kiddos.[Via MedGadget]
