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Here's where you'll find all the latest news about technology for children. We love to follow cool new inventions on Kickstarter and we hunt out all the latest announcements about tech toys and gadgets for the coming Christmas holidays. You'll also get our take on children's technology stories in the media.

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Our kids technology product reviews are intended to help you work out whether a toy, gadget or kit is a good fit for your child or family. There's lots of cool stuff available, but is it the right choice for the child or teenager that you are buying for? We'll help you make the right choices and get the best value for money.

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Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends assemble. We create gift lists to help you make good choices for kids technology which helps them develop the right skills for the future. We research the best in Coding Toys and Games, Making / Craft Tools and Kits, STEM/STEAM related gifts, Programmable Robots, Electronics Kits and Gadgets for Tech Age Kids and Teens.

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Get crafty with technology. Here we'll post all our ideas and projects using technology to get creative and making with kids. You'll find anything from making a lemon battery to a glow-in-the-dark Minecraft sword. Our projects are tried and tested on our own kids or at events we run, so we are sure you can have a go at home with your kids. Some of our projects use specific tech gadgets which we provide links for you to purchase.

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STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. In recent years there is an increased focus in these areas of study. We like to include Art and Design too, so we often talk about STEAM (A stands for Art). At Tech Age Kids we believe Coding is a new literacy and children need to understand how technology works, practice making skills and grow in their curiosity to make a better future for us all.

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Coding is increasingly being recognised as an important skill for children to learn. Some will learn to code at school or at a coding club, but it's brilliant if they get support at home too.

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We think it's really important for kids to get hands-on with electronics and learn how to make circuits and write code to control hardware. Younger kids can start with conductive playdough. For kids who like to combine craft and tech, littleBits are fab. And we love SAM Labs wireless electronics components for making it easy for kids to make Internet of Things inventions. Lots of electronics kits for kids have support for the Arduino microprocessor environment. The DuinoKit Jr is one of our favourites. Arduino is a fab skill for older kids and teens to develop.

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We love robots at Tech Age Kids, especially programmable ones. We've got lots of them and write reviews and projects that use them. Our programmable robots for kids buying guide is a good place to start if you're not sure what's available. Roby the mBot Meccano robot dog is one of our popular projects and has been with us to lots of events. Our Ozobot LEGO trailer is fab for kids who love LEGO and robots.

MAKING AND CRAFT$show=/search/label/making

We're advocates of the creative use of technology, but this needs to be balanced with developing physical skills such as papercraft, woodwork, clay modelling, technical drawing and soldering. If children don't develop these skills as they grow up then physical making projects can become frustrating rather than fun. The Maker Community uses the term 'making' as a broad term to include all sorts of artisan skills or craft activities. Being able to make things can lead to life-long hobbies or even careers. It's a great feeling to be able to take a project from an idea in your head to a real object that does something. We're particularly interested to explore products that combine maker skills with tech skills such as electronics but others focus purely on the physical making skills that are still important to modern making.

VTech InnoTab 3 vs InnoTab 3S

VTech InnoTab 3 The Learning App Tablet, PinkVTech have announced two new educational tablets for 2013, the InnoTab 3 and InnoTab 3S. Despite the very similar names these tablets have quite a few key differences.

The InnoTab 3 is the entry level model with a low price point. The InnoTab 3S is the premium model with additional features (but the competing LeapPad Ultra is an even more of a premium model, at a higher price.)

The focus for both the 3 and 3S is value for money while still giving access to a wide range of educational titles and features.

Screen Size

One of the key differences between the two tablets is the size of the screen. The InnoTab 3S retains the 5" screen size of last years InnoTab tablets. Whereas the InnoTab 3 has a smaller 4.3" touch screen leading to a smaller, lighter and less expensive device.

Note that screen sizes are measured across the diagonal. The smaller InnoTab 3 screen is just a little larger than the screen on many smart phones (but lower resolution.)

My preference would be for the 5" screen unless you highly value portability or need to keep the cost down.

Wifi

Wifi will be an important difference for many. The InnoTab 3S allows you to download apps and sync content wirelessly. It also adds text-messaging features that enable kids to communicate with parents on their smart phone or other kids on their InnoTab 3S tablets. And there's even web access for child-safe websites approved by VTech or parents.

The InnoTab 3 does not have Wifi and must be connected to a computer to donwload content and sync. It's still a useful device without internet but children may outgrow it sooner. On the other hand, some may prefer their children to stay focused on the educational content and not have the distraction of wider web access (albeit controlled.)

Power


Another key difference is how the devices are powered. The InnoTab 3 uses 4 AA batteries. (We have successfully used rechargeable batteries with our InnoTab 2 and not found it very inconvenient to change them.) You will be able to buy a separate rechargeable battery pack for the InnoTab 3 but that brings its price close to that of the 3S.

The InnoTab 3S comes with a rechargeable battery pack and an AC adapter that can be used to charge the battery pack while it's inside the device. This makes charging similar to a regular tablet or smart phone and many parents find this more convenient. It's certainly cheaper than using disposable AA batteries too.

On-Device Memory

The InnoTab 3 has 2GB of on-device storage whereas the InnoTab 3S has 4GB so twice the amount. This storage is used for downloaded apps, games and eBooks as well as photos and videos.

Both tablets support the use of a micro SD card for additional storage so the on device memory is less critical. If you want to load lots of videos for your child to watch on either device then the SD card is the way to go.

Neither device comes with an SD card so this is an additional cost.

Controls

Both tablets have a touch screen, microphone, tilt sensor and a new D-Pad. The design of the D-Pad is different on the two tablets but they both introduce physical arrow controls which are useful for some games and navigation functions.

Included Apps

The InnoTab 3 comes with 16 apps (some must be downloaded once you have the device) whereas the InnoTab 3S comes with 20 apps.

I haven't found a clear statement of the apps included for each tablet so I've done my best to pull to info together here, but note that these could change, and I'm interpreting the product descriptions as best I can. Please confirm if there's a specific app you really want. 

Both tablets include Wondercam with photo special effects, Art Studio, Magical Bean Stalk Game, Utility suite with Calculator, Clock, Calendar, Notes and Friends. And both also have apps for working with video, photos, and eBooks. There's also an included music player app for both.

There's a new H2O Go! science-themed game which makes use of the D-pad. This is included with the InnoTab 3S and also listed as included on the InnoTab 3 product page (though not mentioned elsewhere.)

The InnoTab 3S specifically mentions that it comes with a Learn, Create and Play cartridge which includes H2O Go!, the What's that Noise? ebook and the Color and Pop activity. 

The Read, Play and Create cartridge is also mentioned for the InnoTab 3.

The InnoTab 3 also comes with one free download from the Learning Lodge. (Free downloads have not yet been specified for the 3S.)


The InnoTab 3S includes additional apps related to its Wifi capability.

One of the additional apps for the 3S is Kid Connect which makes use of the Wifi capability to provide messaging.

There's also the Wish List maker which also uses wireless to allow kids to browse the download center and request content that they would like parents to purchase.

I think the web browser makes up one more of the additional apps on the 3S.

Ongoing Costs

Both tablets will have ongoing costs in terms of any additional apps and cartridges that you choose to purchase. Note that you can reduce this cost by purchasing a VTech Learning Application Download Card which is often available at a discount. I've found that our kids also got a lot of mileage out of the apps that came with their InnoTab.

The InnoTab 3 has ongoing costs in terms of batteries unless you upgrade to the rechargeable battery pack. (We use regular rechargeables with our InnoTab 2 though.) The InnoTab 3S has a rechargeable battery pack so you just need to consider electricity costs.

The InnoTab 3S comes with a one year Kid Connect (messaging app) Basic subscription. It looks like you will need to pay to get access to Kid Connect once your one year subscription runs out. There will also be a premium subscription with additional features which will be included in a Deluxe add-on pack available in the Fall.

Age Recommendation


VTech recommends both devices for the 3-9 age range. I think that the web browser on the 3S will give it more appeal and longevity with the older end of this age range.

Price

The InnoTab 3 has a MSRP of $69.99 and the InnoTab 3S has a MSRP of $99.99 in the US.

Value for Money

I think the InnoTab 3S offers better value for money overall with its Wifi features, larger screen, more storage and rechargeable battery. You and get quite a lot extra for your additional $30.

But, if you can't afford the InnoTab 3S or you can't justify spending so much money, the InnoTab 3 still offers a lots of capability and a light and portable device. You still get a lot of included software with the InnoTab 3 so kids will have lots to do before you need to by additional content.


Buy: InnoTab 3 (blue or pink) @ Amazon
Pre-Order: InnoTab 3S (blue or pink) @ VTechKids.com



24 days of Scratch coding book cover and cute penguin
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Tech Age Kids | Technology for Children: VTech InnoTab 3 vs InnoTab 3S
VTech InnoTab 3 vs InnoTab 3S
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Tech Age Kids | Technology for Children
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