Entertainment

Get cool for school

It used to be that showing up to class in a new killer outfit was enough to get in with the cool crowd — but times have changed, and these days it’s more about the apps you use and the laptop you carry. If your kids are worried about making the grade this year, tell them not to fret. We’ve done your homework for you — and your family. Here are the best back-to-school gadgets for 2011.

FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

* Vtech InnoTab Learning App Tablet

Because your tiny tyke doesn’t really need his own iPad, does he? Instead, get him the latest InnoTab Learning App Tablet by Vtech. This multifunctional tablet combines interactive, animated e-books, tilt-sensor learning games, creative activities and a collection of kid-friendly applications into a sleek and durable toy that kids will want to play with. Cartridges with your child’s favorite licensed characters are sold separately. $79.99 at gifts.com

* Momo Clock

The morning routine isn’t easy for anyone, let alone a tyke heading off to

preschool. Maintain your sanity and keep your kids in bed until it’s time to rise and shine with this adorable little monkey, who keeps his eyes closed when your child’s should be. His eyes open when it’s time to get up. $39.99 at gifts.com

* Fooz Kids

This new children’s application allows them to explore and discover technology in a parent-controlled and kid-appropriate online environment. Like Facebook for toddlers. Yes, now you and your kids can keep up with Caitlin and Riley between preschool classes through social media, e-mail and video. $11.99 at foozkids.com

FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL

Hoodie-buddie with HB3 Technology

Who says fashion and function don’t mix? The Hoodie-Buddie, a collection of comfy high-tech hooded sweatshirts, comes with built-in headphones (which connect through the sweatshirt strings) and a hidden pocket for an iPod, phone or MP3 player. Perfect for tuning out that boring substitute teacher (just kidding). Machine washable. $26.99 at JCPenney through September; typically $50

* The Prizm

Not your father’s calculator. Casio’s latest incarnation comes with a high-resolution color LCD screen (making it easier to decipher between data sets) and the ability to input mathematical equations which transform into graphs and pie charts over pictures of real-life scenes. Makes solving for X a lot more interesting. Perfect for beginning algebra or higher. $99 at gifts.com

* Kindle

A 1/3-inch, 8½-ounce wireless reading device that holds more than 3,000 books, blogs and newspapers, including all of your textbooks (at 80 percent off textbook list prices), thanks to the recent launch of Kindle Textbook Rental. The Kindle allows you to take notes in the margin, highlight relevant passages and conduct extensive word searches in a matter of seconds. Now $114 on amazon.com

* Livescribe Echo Smartpen

The Smartpen, released in May, allows students to upload and file more than 800 hours of class notes and audio lectures to computers, including diagrams (or doodles). With the touch of a button on any page of a Livescribe notepad, kids can access any part of a lecture for clarification and send “pen-casts” (think electronic study groups), interactive digital copies of notes and audio recordings to share on e-mail, Facebook, Google Docs, Evernote and Microsoft OneNote, among others — all from paper. $99, plus a free year of Evernote Premium service if purchased before January at livescribe.com

FOR HIGH SCHOOL

* Tony Hawk Skate Drive Royale USB Flash Drive

Now you can store your homework and still feel like a bit of a badass thanks to Tony Hawk, the pro skateboarder who launched his new line of USB flash drives (complete with workable wheels). The tiny skateboards come in 18 designs and hold up to 32 gigabytes of music, videos and of course, class notes, school papers and homework. $14.99 at gifts.com

* iClooly Phone Handset

Because even high-tech high school kids deserve to gossip on a landline, iClooly has created the sleek handset for any iPhone, 3GS or 3G to sit and charge, using your own cable, while you talk old-school style and even use the touchpad to surf the Web. Go ahead, slam down that phone in an adolescent fit! It’s so much more rewarding than pressing END. $39.99 at amazon.com

* Quad Mountain Ultimate One

Who needs a fancy watch when you can sport a different colored wristband for every day of the week? The Ultimate One, a

silicone strap that holds your Nano like a wrist watch, comes in seven colors, has an extra-smooth, soft feel, holes for ventilation (to keep your wrist from getting sweaty) and a design that keeps the Nano and all of its controls and connectors away from your skin. Perfect for listening to podcasts of your classes or music while you study. $19.95 each at quadmountain.com

* Therma Pak

The most advanced laptop cooler absorbs heat and diverts it to cooler areas in minutes, prolonging your battery life and reducing the carbon footprint. Not to mention, it comes in hot pink! $27.99 to $34.99 at amazon.com

FOR COLLEGE

* Pivot Power

Made by a student for students, this six-outlet surge protector is large enough for each outlet to hold a full-size power adapter. It rotates, making the entire strip flexible enough to wrap around desk legs or fit in corners as needed. It doesn’t hurt that the Pivot Power’s own power cord stretches 6 feet, making it even more certain that you will find a place to put it. $29.99 at quirky.com

* The Central Sport Backpack

Gone are the days of hauling plastic pencil holders and heavy textbooks. Now, backpacks are made with laptops and Kindles in mind. Our favorite of the bunch comes in black, gray, red and brown, holds a laptop in a protective padded compartment and has a separate waterproof, zipper-protected Grid-It organizer with special elastic-strap compartments to hold everything from iPods to power cords. $79.99 from cocooninnovations.com

* iPad 2

Lighter, faster and now with a built-in two-sided camera, this is perfect for study groups. More study-aid apps such as iStudiez — to help organize your class schedule and assignments — are being created every day. Starting at $499 at apple.com

* iPad Smart Cover

This magnetic iPad cover doubles as a movie-watching, game-playing, Web-surfing stand, energy saver and electronic-notecard memorization tool. Close the cover and your iPad goes to sleep. Open it and the iPad wakes up — no need to press any buttons. Comes in 10 colors. $39 each at apple.com

* Evernote Peek

The first Smart Cover iPad app turns class notes into electronic flash cards to help you study, learn and memorize. Close the Smart Cover and peek under to see a question, then raise the cover farther to reveal the answer. There is even a way to keep score. Whenever you get a question wrong, tap the checkbox labeled “Incorrect.” You’ll be able to retest those questions later. Free download at evernote.com