Gone are the days when you have to keep your kids occupied by letting them play with (and potentially breaking) your shiny new iPad. Now, you can get your little rug rats their own tablet computer that’s designed just for kids.

LeapFrog has created a nifty tablet called the LeapPad. The device is geared toward 3-5 year olds. It comes pre-loaded with a few games and educational stuff, and parents can even download additional apps from the LeapFrog website. The LeapPad retails for about $100, but for a little more, you can get a “bundle” with additional apps included.

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The news that Apple CEO Steve Jobs has resigned is shaking the tech world. The announcement was made yesterday afternoon. Many were already speculating how long he’d stay on the job, especially considering the health problems he has faced over the past few years. Tim Cook, Apple’s COO, will take over Jobs’ position as CEO.

Apple issued a press release announcing Jobs’ resignation:

CUPERTINO, California—August 24, 2011—Apple’s Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, as the company’s new CEO. Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.

“Steve’s extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world’s most innovative and valuable technology company,” said Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple’s Board. “Steve has made countless contributions to Apple’s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple’s immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”

“The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO,” added Levinson. “Tim’s 13 years of service to Apple have been marked by outstanding performance, and he has demonstrated remarkable talent and sound judgment in everything he does.”

Jobs submitted his resignation to the Board today and strongly recommended that the Board implement its succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO.

As COO, Cook was previously responsible for all of the company’s worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple’s supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apple’s Macintosh division and played a key role in the continued development of strategic reseller and supplier relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced iPad 2 which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

For an investor’s perspective, you can read my article about Apple’s future on my other blog, ‘The Unlikely Investor.’

I wish Steve Jobs the best of luck!

We take the internet for granted today. It’s a part of our daily lives and a lot of people even making a living of the tubes. But it wasn’t always like this. For the younger generation, it might come as a surprise that the internet used to be a novelty.

I remember my dad telling me that only techies had  laptops and cell phones, and that email was pretty much something only businesses used.

How times have changed. Email is out. Social networking and Twitter is in. It seems that people socialize more online than they do in real life.

To show just how much of a novelty the internet was in the 90s, I came across some hilarious videos. The first is from the Today Show, where even the basic concept of the @ sign was a source of great confusion. The second video is from MTV.

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Google is creating huge demand for something that is already out there and readily available: A social network. Since unveiling Google+ last week with a limited number of invitations, demand for access to Google’s newest project has soared.

In fact, invites to Google’s social network are so limited and in such high demand, people are willing to pay for an invitation. Granted, the 99 cent asking price on Ebay is small change. But it still shows still shows how far people will go to be part of the next big thing.

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Back in February Apple made waves in the publishing world by changing their App Store TOS. Basically, the new rules required publishers to remove any links within their apps to purchasing options outside the App Store environment.

This meant that Apple would get a sweet 30% cut on all (ebooks, for example) sold. Apple also said that the price must be the same as, or lower, than an out-of-app purchase. This kills any attempt content providers might make to raise in-app purchase prices to make up for the 30% Apple takes off the top.

What changed?

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I want an Amazon Kindle. Yes, I already own an iPad, iPod, iPhone, Sony Pocket Edition eReader, Blackberry and Macbook. So why in the heck would I want an Amazon Kindle?

Being the ebook junkie that I am, it’s only natural that I’d want the latest and greatest. I also like to try out different devices from different companies – a big reason why I switched from my iPhone to a Blackberry.

I use my Sony Pocket Edition and iPad for reading ebooks. The iPad is great. It beautifully renders ebooks and the Kindle App makes it a breeze to buy all the books I want. Yet the problems with eye strain keep it from being perfect. The Sony eReader has a step up on the iPad in this regard.

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Just as I start taking my blog in a new direction by concentrating exclusively on reading, writing and publishing in a digital age (my new tagline!), I read something that makes me feel a little dejected.

I read a post from the Teleread blog entitled “I’m Losing Interest in Ebook News.” This isn’t one of those ebooks-are-ruining-publishing posts. Far from it.

The main argument is that there are so many changes happening in the ebook world, and happening so fast, it’s impossible to keep up with everything. It’s almost a futile effort.

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The popular Barnes & Noble Nook Color received a major update the other day, adding even more tablet functionality to the eReader.

The update brings cool apps such as Angry Birds (my favorite iPad game), Pandora, Notes and email. Not too shabby, if you ask me. Here’s a full list of updates via the B&N website:

• Popular Apps (such as the ones I mentioned above, and more!)
• Full Featured Email
• Enhanced Web Experience with Video in Adobe Flash Player
• Nook Friends is the new B&N reading social network
• Nook Kids offers an enhanced reading experience that lets kids interact with the stories
• Upgrades that include faster page turns, multimedia and more!

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I follow the Grateful Dead on Facebook. They might be an older band that doesn’t get a whole lot of attention today, but they sure know how to capitalize on the latest social technology trends.

Aside from giving bits of band history, updates on living band members and interesting GD trivia, fans who follow the GD on Facebook get free songs! I think I’ve downloaded three in the past couple of weeks. We’re talking about full tracks here, not just 30-second samples.

Does this take profits away from the band? Not in the least. Does it cheapen their brand? No way. In fact, since downloading those free songs I’ve been inclined to go onto iTunes and buy some more GD music. The key word being buy.

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Barnes & Noble employees aren’t satisfied with the Nook training they are receiving, and feel it is affecting their ability to provide customers with good technical support.

I frequent a lot of forums in the book, technology and gadget areas to see what others are saying. One such forum is called the Barnes & Noble Breakroom. It’s for employees to talk shop about working at the largest book chain in the country.

Here’s an interesting thread that recently caught my eye:

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