Disney Appmates for iPad 2

Let your kids drive a car on your iPad? Really? That's the basic idea behind Disney's new Appmates: iPad-friendly toys that basically turn your tablet into a virtual play mat. You buy a twin pack of mini toy cars, each representing a character from the movie "Cars 2" with sensors on the base of the cars. Download the free app and you're ready to hit the road. Each car is recognized by the app, so the game knows who is playing and where it is on the screen. Kids guide the car and explore the area around Radiator Springs while performing tasks, and picking up objects along the way, like Lightning's Horn or a metal detector. You never know when they might come in handy.They can also compete in races and earn coins, which let them outfit the vehicle with virtual special tires, or add fuel. Once you get the hang of it, the cars are easy to maneuver, and as we found in the newsroom, much easier for a 5-year-old than it is for an adult. We can see a lot of back-seat driving happening with these cars.