We are vacationing in Florida this week and we always go to Park Avenue, a hip outdoor shopping area in Winter Park to browse the shops and play in the park. Today we went in a cute little shop on Park Avenue called Lighten Up! (here is their Facebook page) where Sebastian got a Hexbug Nano, a tiny robotic creature that looks and acts like a bug.. really. Sebastian has had a few regular size Hexbugs in the past and loved them so I figured spending $9.99 for a Hexbug Nano at Lighten Up! (can be found for the same price or less at Amazon.com here) would be a pretty good investment especially since I didn’t bring any toys for the kids on this trip. Oops!
Blue Hexbug Nano - picture from website
After the toy store we went to lunch where we had lots of fun watching Sebastian’s new Hexbug Nano try to find its way out of various paper napkin, silverware, and menu mazes. The Nano made music for us when it kept bumping into the silverware. It was really funny. I don’t think the other restaurant patrons found it as funny as we did though.
You can watch a video of Hexbug Nano’s in action on the Hexbug website here.
Here is a video of Sebastian playing with his Hexbug Nano. It moves so fast that I had a hard time getting a good video, but you’ll get the point.
Did you know that your cell phone can be used as a GPS device?
TeleNav GPS Navigator (also called AT&T Navigator and Sprint Navigation) is a GPS navigation application that I’ve been using on my iPhone for a few weeks. It’s just like having a GPS device but it runs on your mobile phone. It provides GPS-enabled turn-by-turn directions, more than 12 million business listings, traffic rerouting, restaurant reviews, speech recognition, online route pre-planning and more. As we head into the summer travel season and the kids’ school year wraps up, TeleNav GPS Navigator is great for finding locations and providing directions to soccer fields, parks, restaurants and summer road-trip destinations.
The application works on more than 500 GPS-enabled phones like the iPhone, BlackBerrys and many Android phones and is free. You just pay your cell phone carrier a monthly fee for the service and you’re ready to trave far and wide with TeleNav!
What I love about TeleNav GPS Navigator:
I don’t have to keep up with a GPS unit.. as long as I know where my iPhone is 😉
I’m not nervous about going to new places anymore
The directions have been PERFECT so far. I used AT&T Navigator to get me to several places in and around metro Atlanta that I’ve never been before and was directed to each location without a problem. I love when the voice tells me “your destination is on the right”. Like I can’t see the big sign for where I’m going but that’s what’s great about TeleNav GPS Navigator is the attention to detail. If a take a wrong turn TeleNav will reroute me automatically and quickly.
It gives me traffic updates! Wether I’m starting a new route or inroute TeleNav GPS Navigator / AT&T Navigator will give me a verbal and icon alert if there is traffic coming up. It even tells me which lanes are closed. If only it would make my Nissan Quest hover over the traffic.. wouldn’t that be great? When I’m given a traffic alert, I can push the traffic alert icon to get a new route if one is available.
TeleNav iPod controls
Keep listening!
There is an iPod icon on the GPS Navigator screen that when clicked brings up my iPod music controls so I can listen to music while getting turn by turn instructions.
I won’t get busted by the police for going too fast.. if I listen! The speed limit alerts are sure to let me know verbally and with an icon on the iPhone screen, when I’m going a little too fast. I am not a big speeder but I have been ‘busted’ as my 10 year old calls it, twice on the highway, by TeleNav. Ooops.. sorry!
Finding places is EASY!
If I am in an unfamiliar area, I can find the closest ATM, Wi-Fi hotspot, gas station, miniature golf, specific restaurant and more with the click of a button. What’s really funny is that I learned about a few parks and roller skating rinks that I didn’t know existed near me, just by clicking on the Amusement Parks button in the Search! Thanks TeleNav!
I can shake it to get home!
All I need to do to get home from somewhere is shake my iPhone and directions back to my ‘Home’ location come up.
One thing that I would like to see change about TeleNav GPS Navigator is the way the turn-by-turn voice prompts are heard over the iPod music. The music fades down in volume when the voice prompts come on but I think it would be nice if the music paused and then start back up where it left off when the voice prompt is done. Most of the voice prompts are just a few seconds long so it’s not a big deal, but if I’m not familiar with where I’m going then I would like for the music to stop while the GPS is telling me what to do.
TeleNav GPS Navigator is a must have for summer road trips. Gosh, it’s on your phone, it’s affordable, it’s simple to use, TeleNav is extremely comprehensive (jam packed with information), and gives parents much needed peace of mind while travelling.
Here is a 5 minute demo video I shot explaining how I use TeleNav GPS Navigator on my iPhone.
Sorry about the shaky video and the darkness. I think I need some new video equipment!
Disclosure: The Mommy Insider was given a free trial for TeleNav GPS Navigator subscription to use for purposes of this review. The opinions featured here are our own and were not influenced by free product or service.
TeleNav GPS Navigator Giveaway
We are giving two lucky readers a free one-year TeleNav GPS Navigator subscription!
To enter to win:
1. Mandatory – follow @telenav on Twitter
2. Mandatory – Leave a comment below telling us why you want to win OR fill out the form below.
Entries accepted through August 24th, 2010. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be contacted by TeleNav’s PR via email, with details on how to set up the free one-year TeleNav subscription. Winners must already own and have carrier service for a supported device. Click here to see TeleNav supported devices. The TeleNav contest is open to U.S. residents 18 and older only.
Fill out this form to enter to win if you do not want to leave a comment
The DROID ERIS by HTC understands what moms need. Moms and teens can make this phone their own, personalizing almost everything about it from custom scenes to apps, and more.
With the Droid ERIS, Moms have 24/7 access to friends, family, and teachers, using ERIS’ Facebook® friends, Google Talk™, and Flickr® apps and you will never miss a Tweet again, with HTC Peep™. Moms can keep up with conversations they’ve had with a particular friend via that friend’s contact card in Contacts. No more searching your email, text messages, or Facebook.. you can just go to that person’s contact card and see all of your conversations right there in one place. – A great feature for busy moms!
HTC Droid ERIS features:
Choose from thousands of apps on the Android Market™.
Know the time and weather, no matter where you travel. When your plane lands, your phone updates automatically.
Seven page home screen provides ample space to place the information that means the most to you at your fingertips
Wi-Fi & 3G compatible
USB Syncing cable included
5.0 Megapixel Camera with Autofocus
3.2” Display
Full HTML Browser w/ Wi-Fi
Removable Micro SD Memory – up to 16GB
Bluetooth v2.0 compatible
Operating on Android 1.5 with HTC’s breakthrough new User Interface, SenseTM
Currently available to Verizon Wireless customers, the DROID ERIS is an affordable smartphone for busy moms and dads that need to stay in touch.
The HTC Droid ERIS is a great smartphone for beginner smartphone users. My mother who is with Verizon, has the HTC Droid ERIS loves it. She transitioned from a Palm to the ERIS and is very happy. She appreciates the touch screen, multiple home screens, the camera quality, easy calling features, email, and has actually downloaded a few game apps! Like with any smartphone the HTC Droid ERIS requires that you add a data package to your Verizon account which costs $29.99 or more.
Learn more about the HTC Droid ERIS on HTC’s website here.
Enter to win an HTC Droid ERIS! – this contest is closed
We are giving a lucky reader (who already has Verizon service) an HTC Droid ERIS!
Verizon service, activation, and contract not included.
All types of entries accepted through June 15th, 2010.
How to enter:
Mandatory: Fill out the form below Extra entries: Leave a relevant comment (why you want this phone, what you love about it, etc..) for 3 extra entries. One relevant comment per day per person allowed to count for 3 entries per comment.
Follow @mommyinsider on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway – Sample Tweet: Enter to win an HTC Droid ERIS on The Mommy Insider! http://wp.me/plszx-1c3
After days of dreaming about the iPad, reading about it, and listening to podcasts devoted to the iPad, I finally got to try it out. Yes, it’s about the coolest device ever. Not what I would call a gadget, but a utility, the 1.5lb iPad serves many purposes including photo viewing, it’s an ebook reader, a music player, and you can even watch full TV episodes right from the iPad.
I have an iPhone, an iPod, a MacBook White, and a MacBook Pro and still feel that the iPad is a necessity and will own a wi-fi + 3G 32 or 64GB iPad soon.. I hope.
I’m not going to get too detailed here as this isn’t a review of the iPad.. you’ll find lots of iPad reviews via Google, so I’ll just tell you what I think in a nutshell. The iPad is PERFECT for moms like myself who are on the go, need to check and respond to email quickly and at odd times, want to share photographs of their beautiful kids while at the soccer park, want to entertain their kids via a tv episode, movie, or game during long road trips, and you want to get and stay organized.
Here is what the iPad can be used for/as:
an eBook reader
a photo viewer/ digital frame
a video viewer
a TV viewer (limitations)
a web surfer
an email device
a game device
a calendar
an organizer
a note taker
a digital recipe book
For a price tag starting at just $499, you get all of that!? Yes!
Go to apple.com to learn more about the iPad or to buy one.
My 10 year old told me a few months ago that I really shouldn’t talk on the phone while driving. He’s right. We all know it but a huge majority of people still do it. I have a feeling that a lot of moms still talk on their cell phone while driving even though we know better.
Even thought we shouldn’t talk on the phone while driving a lot of people still do. That’s why a headset is important. Most cell phones are bluetooth compatible now which means that you can use a bluetooth headset. I’m sure you know how a headset works but for those of you who don’t, a bluetooth headset ‘connects’ wirelessly to your cell phone, you put it on your ear and you can answer and make phone calls safely while driving if needed. In most cases have to actually dial the phone number.
I’ve been using a Sound ID 400 bluetooth headset and love it. It fits snug in my ear which has been a problem with one other headset I’ve used. The part that goes in the ear can be adjusted to fit the left or right ear just to my liking.
The Sound ID 400 complements the natural hearing process, resulting in a lightweight, comfortable Bluetooth device that is scientifically designed to feel good, look good and sound even better.
Enhancing the natural hearing experience, the Sound ID 400 successfully delivers exceptional wire-free Bluetooth connectivity, including comfort, acoustic clarity and customized sound settings.
Multiple Charging Options: Standard Micro USB charging connector. Charge from the included AC Charger (100-240V) or from a powered USB port on your PC.
I work from home and am on the phone quite a bit so I use my Sound ID 400 bluetooth headset while at home with my home phone. I hardly ever hold a phone anymore. I can talk while cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, etc. Your phone must be within about 30 feet of you but most home phones can be attached to you and your cell phone can be in your pocket and you’re just fine.
The Sound ID 400 bluetooth headset is a well worth it $129 and can be purchased on the Sound ID website here.
Read more of my review of the Sound ID 400 bluetooth headset here.
After days of dreaming about the iPad, reading about it, and listening to podcasts devoted to the iPad, I finally got to try it out. Yes, it’s about the coolest device ever. Not what I would call a gadget, but a utility, the 1.5lb iPad serves many purposes including photo viewing, it’s an ebook reader, a music player, and you can even watch full TV episodes right from the iPad.
Even thought we shouldn’t talk on the phone while driving a lot of people still do. That’s why a 