Category Archives: Gadgets

The VTech VM312: The Whole Family Video Monitor System

January 6, 2016GadgetsHome Safety, VTech Baby MonitorAlicia

Every parent needs a little help watching children on occasion. You may think an audio only baby monitor works perfectly for you, but picture this:

You’re up to your elbows in suds, when you hear an odd sound in your child’s room. You have to take a peek. Naturally, your dishtowel is nowhere to be found. You rush across the house, dripping, wiping your hands on your pants. You find the noise was a pacifier falling out of the crib. It was a false alarm, except when you rushed to your baby’s rescue, you activated a musical hippo toy. It was so cute when Nana dropped it off. It isn’t so cute when it wakes baby up. It would’ve been a whole lot better if you could see inside baby’s room from the kitchen.

Maybe you could use a video baby monitor.

VTech electronics and educational toys are extremely popular. They have a great variety of advanced features and the quality manufacturing to keep them working. My kids both played with VTech toys up to 14 years ago, we used VTech baby monitors when the kids were small and like many households, we had VTech phones for years. The VTech VM312 monitor is no exception to the VTech quality rule. This is all the baby monitor you’ll ever need. The VM312 allows parents to monitor children from up to 1,000 feet away with high resolution color video and crisp audio. The built in intercom feature allows parents to comfort children even before they reach the room.

This video baby monitor isn’t just for watching infants. As your family grows, this video baby monitor can expand to a video monitoring and intercom system to help watch over all of your children.

You will be able to look in on your five-year-old from the laundry room when his dinosaurs attack a block tower instead of running to the rescue. You can also see if the ruckus disturbed his baby sister. The VTech VM312 will monitor up to four different cameras. Parents can choose to switch from one to another manually or set the receiver to “patrol” mode which will cycle from one camera to the next at seven second intervals.

At bedtime, or to conserve battery power, you can turn the monitor to sound only and the screen will wake when noise is detected. VM312 cameras feature automatic night vision for clear picture without leaving all the lights on. You can easily check on your seven-year-old after a bad dream and decide if you need to get up. You won’t stumble down the hall needlessly to find her asleep. . Know your children are safe. The VM312 baby monitor eliminates the need for nighttime ninja skills.

Change the Mood in your Home Instantly with Philips Hue Wireless Lighting

October 15, 2015Gadgets, TechnologyBest Buy, Philips Hue, Wireless LightingAlicia

We’ve had a blast using our new Philips Hue wireless light bulbs and Hue Go portable light for the past week. I’ve heard about Philips Hue wireless light bulbs but didn’t understand how much a light bulb can change your life until using them. I can change the mood, decor, and ambiance of myself, the kids, and my home instantly by adjusting the color of a light bulb from my iPhone or iPad!

The Philips Hue family of wire-free bulbs breaks free from traditional illumination by infusing domestic lighting with the added dimension that is the Hue ecosystem. The innovative Philips home lighting solution is an evolved form of illumination, one capable of altering the brightness and color of specially designed light bulbs. New possibilities suddenly appear on the smart home horizon thanks to the WiFi connectivity built into Hue products. Potent automation features combine with iOS and Android Apps to deliver exciting ways of playing with lighting. My kids love adjusting the color of light bulbs from their iPhones. For example, Philips Hue enables a user to pair light fixtures with smartphone notifications, meaning you can program a light to blink, dim, or change color when a Tweet or an email pops up on your smart device. Pretty exciting, right? Third party Apps extend this functionality, letting the kids bridge the gap between a music collection and lighting. In short, the wireless lighting will dim and dance in response to the rhythm and tempo of music, all thanks to a growing collection of user-friendly Apps.

The problem with past smart lighting solutions is that separation existed between the technology and the user, an issue the Philip’s solves by employing a starter kit. It’s this grounded approach to blending state-of-the-art mobile tech and familiar home electronics that makes the difference, easing the frustration of configuring complex components by turning the experience into a user-friendly experience.

Experience a new world for home lighting and transform the way you use light by adjusting colors, timers, alerts and more from your phone or mobile device.

The starter kit packs three WiFi enabled bulbs into the box and includes the Hue bridge, and a number of accessories, including cables and a power supply. On the smartphone side of things, iOS and Android devices play host to an expanding selection of Apps. These include the feature-loaded Philip’s App and a number of fun third-party applications.

The extensible Hue series begins with the starter kit, with features that include out of home light control, Apple Homekit compatibility, scheduled security lighting, and advanced dimming settings, but this is only the beginning. The hue Go, for example, cuts the cord and personalizes your lighting. Place it on a table and simulate warm candlelight during a romantic evening or use a brighter color to energize the kids while they’re doing homework. Pack the hue Go in a backpack and use it for mood lighting on a dark night during a camping trip. Below is a photo of Madelyn sleeping with her hue Go. Yes, she sleeps on top of her comforter.

Philips Hue Go - portable wireless lighting

Furthermore, conditional statement versatility is insured within the Philips Hue domain, its wandering cousin, the hue Go, and other Philips smart bulbs due to IFTTT services. The IF/THEN commands bring time and social media interactivity into the wireless lighting equation. Of course, if all you want is to sit down and watch a DVD, position your new lights around the television and let Hue illumination immerse you within the movie.

We love our Philips Hue wireless lighting and Hue Go portable light. Madelyn enjoys sneaking in a color change while I’m cooking dinner or reading. It’s pretty entertaining. I use the ‘concentrate’ setting in my office lamp and the ‘relax’ setting in my nightstand lamp, most of the time. When I really miss the beach, I turn on the ‘beach’ setting to imitate the beautiful hues of beach scenery.

You may be questioning if your router can handle all this activity. Your family likely already has 4+ devices on your WiFi connection at at time, will adding wireless light bulbs slow down your network? Not with the new Netgear® Nighthawk™ DST Router and DST Adapter (with Geek Squad included). This router provides consumers with an easy, all-in-one solution to support your home’s connected devices. As the number of Wi-Fi dependent products increase in a home – the average US household has 7 “connected devices” – from smart phones (often several in a home), to tablets, to laptops, to computers, and Wi-Fi printers, this puts a strain on your home’s network, especially your router. Streaming shows from Netflix or hulu places even more demands on your network. Your home may experience slow Wi-Fi, dropped calls, or experience “dead zones” – which could be improved upon with an “AC” router, Wi-Fi extenders and expert help.

The Netgear® Nighthawk™ DST Router AC1900 comes with one DST, or “Dead Spot Terminator,” adapter – to eliminate the Wi-Fi dead zones in your home. Place it in an area where you get little/no reception to improve Wi-Fi access. Best Buy makes it easy to set your new router up with the included Geek Squad Set Up and Support via phone & web, for one full year. See how easy it is to manage Philips Hue wireless lighting!

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

See how easy it is to sell your old iPhone for cash on Gazelle!

October 12, 2015Gadgets, New posts, TechnologyGazelle, iphone, smartphone, Tablet, Trade-inAlicia

This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

I’ve owned iPhones since the first model was introduced. Not because I was a fan of Apple products – I had never touched one before – but because it was the first phone that I knew of, that would allow me to check email, text without hitting a number three times to product the correct letter, etc.. Being aware of and wanting new technology and gadgets is in my DNA. I naturally want the newest technology in my home, car, office, and hand. When Gazelle launched several years ago, I jumped on the opportunity to sell my old iPhone in order to upgrade to the new iPhone without having to pay $200+ out of pocket at the AT&T or Apple store. I quickly learned that the process of selling your iPhone, or other device, on Gazelle is fast and easy. Simply select your device model, carrier, capacity, and the condition the iPhone or other device is in (be honest) and you’ll have a quote within a matter of seconds!

Below is a Gazelle quote for my current iPhone.

Surprisingly, I am not itching to upgrade to the iPhone 6S Plus – even though I could get $325 for it from Gazelle. I am very happy with my iPhone 6 Plus. I love the size.. I haven’t once regretted getting the 5.5″ smartphone even though I’m a petite-ish girl and it barely fits in my hand. I appreciate that I can read the screen without squinting and I can type without hitting the wrong letters.

If you want to sell your used iPhone, iPad, iPod, MacBook, AppleTV or other device and get a fair, cash price for it, consider trading it in at Gazelle. All you need to do is select your gadget from a list of options on Gazelle’s “Trade-In” page, answer a few questions, and then Gazelle provides you with an offer for your device.

For items worth $1 or more, it’s free to ship your device to Gazelle. Once your trade-in is received, the device is inspected to make sure its condition matches your evaluation. If the device matches your description, Gazelle will pay you in the form of a check, an Amazon.com gift card, or via PayPal. Payment takes about a week once Gazelle receives your device.

Once you’ve received your payment, you should definitely peruse Gazelle’s extensive selection of certified pre-owned devices, including iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones, iPads, and accessories. You’ll be able to get an upgraded device without paying a head-spinning price.

You should also check out Gazelle’s sale section. Gazelle has dozens of items on sale for a great price! For example, the iPad Mini 3 16GB WiFi is currently selling for $279 on Gazelle. The best price I could find for the same model on retailer websites is $349 (with a $50 discount) at BestBuy.com and $399 from Target.com. You may find refurbished iPads on retailer websites but used devices is what Gazelle specializes in they even have a 30-day risk-free return policy.

It’s important to note that Gazelle performs a 30+-point inspection on all their devices, so you can be confident that every feature of the device is tested and of the highest quality before you buy it. They also back up the quality of their Gazelle Certified device with a 30-day return policy. You can also keep your carrier or switch to a knew one because Gazelle Certified also means no contracts or strings attached.

Now that the new iPhone is here, you should consider trading-in your old iPhone to offset the cost of a new one. Or, buy a certified pre-owned iPhone 6 at a lower cost than the new!

Send Your Teen To School With SanDisk Memory From Best Buy

August 14, 2015Gadgets, TechnologyBest Buy, gadget, SanDisk, Students, technologyAlicia

Best Buy is our go-to store when for electronics, gadgets, and peripherals which are about the only type of product I don’t prefer to shop online for. I’m like a kid in a candy store at Best Buy. Not too long ago Madelyn noticed I was stressed asked if I’d like to go to a fun place like Best Buy. Whether it was because she wanted something from the store or she was really trying to help me didn’t come up because I said yes and we took off.

While we were there, among other fun and shiny gadgets, we saw a section of SanDisk products surrounded by parents with their school-age children. SD Cards, or some type of digital media storage device, are mandatory for most students these days. My son uses an SD card to store and transfer research papers he writes on a school computer to an iPad to work on at home.

I use SanDisk’s iXpand, to store and move photos from my iPhone to my computer or iPad as well as to anyone else’s computer who might want the photos I’ve taken on my phone. No more having to text or email 25+ photos! The SanDisk iXpand is a long overdue, must-have storage and transfer device for iPhone and iPad enthusiasts!

For iPhone, iPad, PC, and Mac: iXpand

SanDisk iXpand iPhone & iPad Storage Device

SanDisk products deliver industry-leading performance and reliability. Whether you need memory for your professional-grade camera or a point-and-shoot SD card or microSD cards, you’ll find a SanDisk SD card or memory device that meets your needs. SanDisk SD cards are also designed to meet the security, capacity, performance, and environmental requirements of next generation devices—because your stories span generations and your memory solutions should too. Capture more fast action, record more 4K Ultra HD and Full HD video, AND Transfer speeds up to 60MB/s for smartphones, tablets and action cameras.

There is a difference in the way SD cards work. Characteristics of an SD card include security of data on the card, photo quality, and transfer speed, off of which are things to consider when buying an SD card.

Best Buy helps customers find the right SanDisk memory storage with their SanDisk Brand Store. Once you arrive at the Best Buy SanDisk Brand Store page, choose the type of device you need memory storage for on the left side of the screen. Compatible memory storage devices for your device will load on the page. When I chose ‘for mobile phones’ I was presented with microSD card options.

For Android Smartphones and Tablets: SanDisk microSD Card

Thin and light computing devices, tablets, and smartphones demand the compact form factors of SanDisk microSD cards. My son started using a SanDisk microSD card when his tablet began running sluggishly. He moved all his music and photos off his tablet onto a SanDisk microSD™ after learning that if he offloaded some of the music and photos to a storage device, his tablet would perform better. His tablet starting running smoother instantly. SanDisk microSD™ cards give your smartphone or tablet a more responsive camera function and smoother media playback.

Whether you want more storage for your phone or a card that makes it easy to shoot high-resolution video on the go, you can choose the way you want to add fast, reliable data storage with capacity options from 4GB to 200GB.

For Android Smartphones & Tablets: SanDisk Dual USB MicroUSB Flash Drive

If you own an iPhone and iPad you’ll want to buy the SanDisk iXpand and if you own Android devices you’ll want a SanDisk Micro USB/USB 3.0 Flash Drive. On one end of each of these devices is a lightning adapter or micro USB respectively. The other end is where the standard USB is which you can insert into any standard USB port resulting in the transfer of photos and other files from device-to-device.

Visit the Best Buy website to learn which SanDisk memory card is right for you!

Wirelessly Stream Music and Audiobooks from your Phone with Insignia Bluetooth Speakers

August 10, 2015GadgetsBest Buy, Insignia Bluetooth Speaker, SponsoredAlicia

My daily routine starts with reading news on my iPhone before I get out of bed, then the kids and I listen to The Bert Show on iHeartRadio while they get ready for school – again, on my iPhone after which I drive the kids to school. During the drive we usually listen to the radio but on the way home I listen to a podcast or audiobook, through my iPhone. Once I’m finished exercising, showering and eating breakfast, I head upstairs to my home office where I get comfy and usually turn on music to start my work day. Once I’ve gotten into the work day and am not trying to concentrate on responding to the initial emails I play whatever audiobook I’m listening to. My iPhone is like a third hand I suppose.

While I love being able to listen to music and audiobooks from my iPhone, I’m not crazy about the shallow, often tinny sound it produces when what I want to hear is the depth of the music or emotion in the audiobook reader’s voice. The iPhone 6 Plus does produce good sound quality, but since the option is out there to have higher quality, deeper sound, I’ll take it over listening directly from the phone any day. Insignia makes portable Bluetooth speakers that will satisfy most any casual music and audiobook listener. Not only because of the portability of the Bluetooth speakers but because of the sound quality which is very impressive coming from such small devices.

To put the listening range of the Insignia speakers I received to review from Best Buy to the test, I placed the (teardrop shaped) Insignia Bluetooth Speaker on a shelf in my office then took my phone with me as I walked through the upper level of my house. It played my music up to 25 feet away and with three walls separating my phone and the speaker. The Plug-In Wall Speaker played music wirelessly approximately 40 feet away, down a flight of stairs, and through two walls. Impressive! While I prefer the sound produced from the Plug-In Wall Speaker, I like that I can hang the Insignia Bluetooth Speaker from anything like the bar on my bookshelf or rowing machine. It’s small enough to slip into the cup holder on my treadmill and I can hook it to a belt loop! I can’t tell you how many times my iPhone has fallen out of my back pocket right into a bunch of garden soil.. yuck.

Once both speakers were connected to my iPhone via Bluetooth, when I was out of range of one speaker, the other speaker would kick in. That was an unexpected surprise.

The Insignia™ Bluetooth Speakers silicone strap, light weight, splash-proof, and compact design make it easy to take with you anywhere, including by the pool. After up to 6 hours of playback you can charge the speaker using the built-in USB charging port.

Insignia’s Plug-In Wall Speaker has a built-in power adapter and rechargeable battery so you can listen to your favorite tunes for up to 2 hours when the speaker isn’t plugged. Designed as a wireless audio solution for your home, it plugs directly into your wall outlets – no wires, shelf space or expensive receiver needed. I love having this speaker in our kitchen where the outlets at higher on the wall than in a bedroom. It’s sleek, white design blends in to your home and its portability makes it perfect for taking it with you while you’re on the go. If you’re into vintage MP3 devices ;), the auxiliary audio input jack connects your non-Bluetooth devices for more listening options. The fact that this speaker has a built-in power adapter alone makes it a winner to me. Between the four of us we’re always asking who has what device because they don’t have ‘homes’. A plug-in wall speaker can have a forever home in one outlet or be moved from room to room and won’t get lost in the shuffle of clearing off the counters or shelves.

As I’m writing this, a weather alert came through my phone and it played through the speaker on my bookshelf, not my phone. That was kind of crazy but made the message clear and easy to hear!

Through September 5, 2015 Best Buy customers will get 30% off any Insignia Portable Bluetooth Speaker purchased at Best Buy! To redeem this offer online, use code 4331899 at check out.