We bring you a special bonus episode featuring the latest toys from the American International Toy Fair. More tech news and a ninja interview in a few days--shouldn't be a week before the next one, and sorry about the delay on this one.

Featured Toy Stories

• Build-A-Bear Workshop is coming to the Nintendo DS
• Fisher-Price 'Smart Cycle'-ride a bike while playing video games
• Also from Fisher-Price: A parachute fabric fort, Easy-Link Internet Launchpad (Think 'USB Elmo'), baby monkeys, a growing plush dog, and a Singing Pizza-making Elmo
• Tech toys for girls...and their dads!
• Barbie Chat Diva (Barbie with an iPod and mobile phone), Barbie as remote control, Fairyoke Wings: Karaoke Barbie, Pom-Pom Divas Fly Girls (Cheerleader Barbies), and Barbie Girls for Tweens
• Lots of plug-in USB online games from VTech and Hasbro, but safe to use online like the Whiz Kid Learning System
• LeapFrog has new Fly Pen: The Fly Fusion Pentop Computer
• ClickStart My First Computer on the TV from LeapFrog
• New Leapster titles including Clifford the Big Red Dog, Sonic X, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Go Diego Go!, Ratatouille, and Pixar's Cars
• Brightlings: Leapfrog for Babies & Toddlers
• Bandai adds Girlz Connect(TM) Tech Toys: LocketPal and Destiny
• Bratz Super Heroes Babies and Movie Stars
• Transformers: The Movie clips shown at fair
• Hasbro signs 12-brand apparel licensing deal with Steve and Barry's stores

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This week kicks off the American International Toy Fair in New York City. We give you a preview, along with the usual blend of technology news and video game information.

Recalls and Safety Information:

• Kyocera Camera CCD problems: Faulty Sony gear strikes again?

Tech News:

• Kodak offers an alternative to expensive photo printers
• The Ultimate Light Bulb
• Distractions: Sun Visor Theater and iPod Oblivion
• International Toy Fair
  • Mattel has lots of goodies
  • So does VTech

Interview

Did you ever wonder who decides what rating a video game gets? This week, Eliot Mizrachi from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) joins us for a discussion on video game ratings, how they are determined, and how they affect your family.

Video Game News and Reviews:

• Virtual Life:
  • Less kid-friendly: Sims Life Stories (Rated T)
  • More kid-friendly: Tamagotchi Connection V4
  • Nintendogs for Cat Lovers: Purr Pals
• Action Games help eyesight
• Dance Dance Revolution for Wii

Family Games to be Released This Week:

• Wii Play with Wii Remote
• Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PSP) (Rated E10+)
• Gurumin: A Monstrous Adventure (PSP)
• Disney's Kim Possible: Global Gemini (DS)
• F24 Stealth Fighter (DS)
• Monopoly Here & Now (PC)
• College Hoops 2K7 (PS3)
• Backyard Basketball 2007 (PS2)

Review

Uno for Nintendo DS

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Tech Talk for Families provides a weekly podcast featuring Dale and Teresa, a dad and mom of three children who also served as licensed foster parents. Dale uses his training in teaching, speaking, and writing to bring you the information you need, and Teresa holds a degree in elementary education and over a decade as a full-time mom. They combine their training, experience, and lifelong interest in technology (and a houseful of electronics, computers, and video game consoles!) to bring you weekly technology news that actually matters to your family.While news and reviews from the the major tech media are useful, who knows more about what your child will like to play or how to deck out your minivan, a childless pundit or a full-time mom?Each podcast includes news about recalls, upcoming products, reviews of the latest gadgets and video games, and interviews with those in the tech industry.  read more »

Welcome to our opening show. This week has been all about Windows Vista, but more happened than just an OS update.

Recalls and Safety Information:

• TomTom has a VirusVirus
• Nikon Camera Malfunction

Tech News:

• MySpace protecting kids
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30 camera: The "world's slimmest digital camera"
• Vista:
  • Voice vulnerability
  • Software Compatibility list
• Web Tagging
• Midomi can name that tune
• HP TouchSmart IQ770 PC
• iPod Shuffle New Colors
• Norton Identity Client
• Zink: The New Polaroid
• Zoho Notebook
• D.A.V.E.: Wireless Hard Drive for your phone

Interview

Interview with Donald Marshall from Legacy Interactive & Legacy Games discussing Pet Pals: Animal Doctor and how games get ESRB ratings

Video Game News and Reviews:

• GoPets for DS announced
• New York Times Crosswords for DS announced
• Dance Dance Revolution in Schools

Family Games to be Released This Week:

Diddy Kong Racing (DS)

Review

Mario Superstar Baseball for GameCube

Thanks, and send us your feedback!  read more »