5.15.06 Back from E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) where we had our first experience with the new PS3 and the Nintendo Wii, and witnessed a wild bus accident in downtown LA (nobody was hurt, but the bus ended up in the front of a drug store!)

This is going to be a terrific year for innovation in children's interactive media-- at least on the entertainment world; we're current preparing a fresh look at the trends for our June 1st issue.

The Nintendo DS Lite will be out next month (June 11) but we have had a chance to give it a significant testing. See our review in last weeks New York Times.

5.4.06 Look for our CTR editors Warren Buckleitner and Rick Toone next week at the E3 Expo in LA. We'll be reporting on our findings related to the educational/learning side of the show, in our June issue.

5.1.06 Happy Spring! The May 1 was just sent by email to subscribers at 5:30 EST today and can now be accessed as a PDF file from within the software finder tomorrow. Subscribers, if you have forgotten your password or have not recieved any issues, please contact us at once by email, or call 800-993-9499 from 9 to 3 PM, EST. Not a subscriber? Visit our online subscription form.

4.22.06 In celebration of our new monthly format and Earth Day, here's a list (in PDF format) of tree related links for older children. It is designed to be easily printed on regular sized paper, to make a great handout. Have a look!

3.24.06 Reporting from the Bologna Children's Book Fair, where we found two new dotted media pens, and presented a 1/2 day edition of Dust or Magic, in cooperation with AEP's wonderful Global Learning Initiative (GLI). Thanks to all who attended; hope to see you again next year.

3.12.06 -- Announcing Technology at Toy Fair, the DVD, a one hour preview of 40 selected technology products announced at the recent American International Toy Fair. Visit the order form to learn more.

2.26.06 -- A flood of TV toys and robotics were released at the American International Toy Fair, along with a series of interesting baby and toddler learning products, from VTech and Leapfrog. Learn more in the Spring issue.

2.23.06 -- Subscribers, note that Volume 14, Numbers 1-3 will be combined into one Spring print issue, which will be the last printed in our quarterly format. If your subscription was going to expire with the Winter 2005 issue, it will now be Spring 06, and you will be mailed both the Spring issue and the April issue. Thank you for your patience. All subscriptions will be converted to the new format.

1.26.06 -- Electroplankton (video review, in QuickTime)
Better described as musical scribbling than a game, Electroplankton is a completely different kind of musical creativity "sandbox" for the Nintendo DS. This is actually the second title by Toshio Iwia, Electronplankton's author. The first, SimTunes (Maxis, 1996) ran on Windows, and let you program tiny moving bugs; each with a musical attribute, on a football-field like grid. At the time, the program was seen as amazing and completely different; and was awarded the Bologna New Media Prize for innovation. Now, a decade later, Iwai has returned with ten times more content, and one of the most innovative titles yet for the DS. If you're looking for a game, you may be left wondering "what's the point?" The point, is that you can create visual and musical effects; and the process can be fun and relaxing. It's a bit like stepping inside a painting, with sounds and dynamic art, and you can quickly understand this activity. Some of the activities sample your voice, and incorporate it into a rap-like song. Tiny critters sing, expand, mimic your speech, or explode into colors. You can start plates spinning, and as they spin, the create rings of color. The quality of the sounds and graphics are great; but it helps to plug your DS into an external speaker system. Our preschool-age testers delighted in hearing their own voices; a great informal early language activity. Our testers ages ranged considerably. Jon, age 18 said "Electroplankton is a work of art that should be recognized by anyone who likes to create music. The sounds you hear in this game are like nothing you've ever heard in a video game. It is easy to get addicted to this game. The game is simple and can be played by any one who can poke little things with a stick." Hats off to Nintendo for having the courage to publish something completely different.

1.24.2006 Number Raiders (video review, in QuickTime)
Number Raiders is a simple, well focused math drill cartridge for Leapster for one or two players, who can vary in their math ability. Anyone who's ever played Space Invaders knows how this game works... you blast the answer to a math problem in order to stop an approaching row of asteroids, with numbers on them. Two players can take turns, and the can be a different levels. One player can recognizing numerals (say an older preschooler) while a brother or sister could be practicing simple addition or subtraction, with problems like 2 + 3 = 5. Weakness include the limited format and depth of content. Tester noted that the shooting accuracy is limited. All in all, this is a solid, fun addition to your Leapster Library that does a nice job drilling basic math facts. Leapfrog www.leapfrog.com, $18, for ages 4-6, Runs on Leapster. Teaches: basic math facts, numeral recognition, classifying, adding, subtracting. Rating (1 to 5 stars) = 4.5 stars.

1.23.2006 Riverdeep Announces Destination Reading III and IV For the first time, Riverdeep is expanding its well-known computer managed reading curriculum beyond the early elementary levels. The two new packages, called III and IV, are designed for grades 4-6 and 6-8; a time when readers move beyond reading skill into comprehension and cross curricula types of activities. According to Riverdeep, these new products have relevant, real-world connections, enhanced graphics and modern music For example, the series contains reading exercises and comprehension activities to reinforce other school subjects, including science, social studies, math, language arts, technology and performing arts. The courseware is web-based, so students or teachers can access the lessons anytime, from any computer. Riverdeep, Inc. www.riverdeep.net, for ages 8-12, Runs on Windows XP, Mac OSX. Teaches: reading, comprehension.

Starting April 1, 2006, Children's Technology Review began a monthly print and online format. Current subscribers have been converted to the online subscription format (Option 1, below) for the remaining term of their subscriptions at no additional cost. If you have not recieved any issued, please contact us by email. We're excited about this new format, and how it will let us improve our service.

MORE COVERAGE, FASTER. We can bring you more reviews, on a more timely basis. Because we’re no longer limited by page length, we can go into more depth on the key products, with rating details and screen captures.

MORE VERSATILE. This new PDF format can be sent to you by email, or you can go and get it when you need it, with your subscriber password here. Or if you like, you can have the issue mailed to you, on 3-hole drilled paper, or sent as email as an attachment. The choice is yours. Every issue is designed for unlimited printing and searching capability, and every link is active.

We are pleased to offer three subscription options designed for schools, libraries and homes.

OPTION 1: Online. Online subscribers receive the current issue by email every month as a PDF attachment, plus a password to the review database, containing over 7,000 reviews dating back to 1985. There are no extra pay-per-view charges. All current subscriptions have been converted to this new $96/year format at no extra charge.

OPTION 2: Print and Online. Ideal for libraries and schools who need a paper copy, this subscription option includes all the online access in Option 1 (above) plus a printed 3-hole drilled version, mailed every month. The price, $144/year, includes a year-end alphabetical index. Libraries and schools, please call 908-284-0404 for special site pricing.

OPTION 3: Review Alerts. Designed for parents or grand parents who want the news as it happens, for one particular platform, CTRalerts come in six formats as PDFs, $15/year— Windows, Macintosh, Schools, Sony, Nintendo and Toys. This subscription option does not include access to the database or past print issues.

We thank you for your support of our work over the years, and hope you as are excited about this new format as we are.

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