Category Archives: Gadgets

Easy Holiday Shopping With My Intel Tablet

December 10, 2014Gadgets, TechnologyHoliday, Intel TabletAlicia

I love shopping for holiday gifts now that I don’t have to sit in traffic, find a parking space, and wait in long lines at the store. I’ve been shopping for my kids Christmas gifts for at least four years and wouldn’t go back to traditional holiday gift shopping for anything. I support local shops the rest of the year , when traffic and lines aren’t a nightmare, so I don’t feel bad about shopping online for Christmas gifts.

Not only am I not going to sit in traffic and wait in long lines to shop for holiday gifts this year, I am not going to shop from my computer which stay in my home office. I am going to shop from the comfort of my favorite sitting chair in the kitchen, using my Asus MeMO Pad™ 7, an Intel Tablet.

Here is the screen I created on my Intel Tablet for my holiday shopping apps

Not only do I have big store apps on my tablet, but I also got wise and installed the RetailMeNot and Ebates app so I can save money and get money back on my holiday shopping this year! I buy everything I can on Amazon and being able to search Amazon on the go and buy things with one-click from my tablet is such a time saver. With the Ebates app, I can see what stores I will get the largest rebate from and click through Ebate’s link to shop and get a 4%+ cash back rebate in turn.

Another way I can use my table to make life a little easier this holiday season is by using it in the kitchen. I’m not much of a cook and I don’t have a plethora of cookbooks in my kitchen. I have a few favorite recipes that I count on but I’ve been trying to break out of my comfort zone lately and cook dishes that require a few more than 3 or 4 ingredients. My go to ingredients are, please don’t laugh, Quinoa, pepper, olive oil, and meat. It doesn’t seem like there’s much you can do with those ingredients but a few minutes on the Cookpad, Allrecipes, or Food Network recipe apps and you’ll see tons of recipes that use quinoa for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The problem is that most of them require the use of vegetables, most of which I despise.

I also have a few smoothie apps on my tablet. I don’t use quinoa in my smoothies but I have been eating (drinking, really) a lot more vegetables since making smoothies. If you’re thinking about having a try at smoothies, download a smoothie app or two onto your device so you have quick access to lots of smoothie recipes.

My Intel Tablet as well as most, if not all of these tablets, have a camera, making them a fun gift for a tween or teen who loves to snap photos and share them or for the budding photographer who enjoys playing with photo editing apps.

Read my other posts about my Asus MeMO Pad™ 7.

#spon: I’m required to disclose a relationship between our site and Intel. This could include the Intel Corporation providing us w/content, product, access or other forms of payment.

Sharp AQUOS® Crystal (Sprint) Review

December 3, 2014Gadgets, Smartphones, Technology#SprintMom, Sharp smartphoneAlicia

When I opened my latest shipment for the #SprintMom program I was surprised to see a small box with the Sharp logo on it. Sharp makes smartphones? Yes, Sharp does and a very unique one at that. The AQUOS name isn’t limited to Sharp’s beautiful AQUOS LCD televisions any longer. The AQUOS Crystal is like a tiny version of their AQUOS televisions.

The Sharp AQUOS Crystal, offered exclusively through Sprint and its prepaid brands Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA, has great specs for the price point of around $200 with no credit check or $0 with a 2-year service agreement. From the start I oohed and ahhed over the 5 inch edgeless screen. A few of my other favorite features of the AQUOS Crystal are the 8MP camera, Harman/Kardon audio technology (great sound!), Wi-fi calling, many camera features and modes, and Clip Now – a feature that allows you to send a screenshot of whatever is on your screen; a photo, contact, email, or web page for example, and send it to a friend. I can’t leave out the Speaktoit Assistant. This fabulous assistant could be my new best friend. Ask him/her anything and your wish is granted. What is the weather? What movies are playing? What is 640-62? You can even customize your assistant to have brown hair and brown eyes if you’d like. With the push of a button you’re on your way to finding out what you need to know right then and there.

Sharp AQUOS Crystal Highlights

• Android 4.4.2 KitKat

• 5″ frameless LCD display

• 5.16 x 2.6 x 0.40 inches

• 8MP camera

• Speaktoit Assistant

• App Pass

• Harman Kardon audio

• 2,040mAh lithium-ion pack

• Available at Sprint

The Sharp AQUOS Crystal runs on Android™ 4.4.2, KitKat and comes equipped with Google Mobile services including Google Search, Google Maps, Google Navigation, Google Talk, Google Calendar, Google+ and YouTube! I use Gmail, Google+ for photo storage and editing and YouTube everyday, all of which work a smartphone to the bone. Another app I use everyday that put the AQUOS Crystal to the test is TwitPro, an app that broadcasts live and recorded tech podcasts. I watch a video podcast while waiting in the carpool line which requires the device I’m using to have a good processor, great graphics, and reliable connection, all of which Sprint and the AQUOS Crystal offer. Streaming video podcasts is seamless on this phone. Madelyn watches videos on Amazon Prime Instant Video when we’re on road trips and this smartphone is the perfect size for just that.

I found something new to do while waiting in the carpool line..I watched one of my favorite podcasts on my new Sharp Aquos! #relaxing #momtime #SprintMom #MC #Sponsored

A photo posted by Alicia Hagan (@mommyinsider) on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:21am PST

The Sharp AQUOS Crystal has a bezel-free display giving it an edge in the smartphone design space. No bezel means you have more screen real-estate for your favorite apps. The frame is sturdy and strong and the curved design makes it easy to hold even for tiny toddler hands. Speaking of toddler hands, kids get bored of apps and games quickly. Sprint has a solution for that with their new App Pass program which allows customers to download apps from the App Pass catalog for just $4.99 a month! How many times have you purchased an app for your child and she’s over it within 3 days. The App Pass program nixes that by allowing access to an entire catalog of premium, hand-selected apps for just $4.99 a month! App Pass offers unlimited access to these apps and games across two devices, and additionally, customers are given a $5 credit each month to spend on in-app purchases. There’s an app for everyone in the family with App Pass. The apps are sorted into the following categories: Games, Free to Play, Lifestyle, Media, Utilities, Kids, Productivity, Books & Reference.

A snapshot of a few of the kids apps in the App Pass catalog

Camera & Audio

Take pictures like a pro with the 8MP camera and it’s plethora of features and modes. Framing advisor improves photos by doing the thinking for you, helping with the composition and framing of your shot. The advisor has options including food, portrait and outdoor scenes. Never take a dark nighttime photo again with the Night Catch feature which brightens both subject and background for tricky nighttime shots. Action shots are made easy with Sequential Shots. The Sequential Shots feature catches rapid movements by using one simple button hold. One of my favorite camera features is Shutter Detect automatically takes a photo when it detects a smile. I was amazed the first time I tried this feature. It really does work, even capturing a photo of my husband smiling.. it’s a miracle! 😉 I found that the AQUOS’ color temperature is truer than some smartphones I’ve reviewed. Many times, photos taken on a smartphone will lean toward the cyan side making the photo look cold and not natural. The AQUOS Crystal camera is best used in bright light situations and when held very still. Capturing unforgettable moments is easy and fun with the Sharp AQUOS® Crystal.

I’ve heard of wifi calling but never really thought about what it is exactly. Wi-Fi Calling allows users to use their voice and messaging services over existing home, office and public Wi-Fi networks, not using their valuable minutes.

The Sharp AQUOS Crystal has and a solid list of specs for an affordable price. The 2,040mAh lithium-ion pack will easily get you through a full 14 hour day.

When you’re looking for your next phone, check out the AQUOS Crystal at your local Sprint store. It is also available through Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA.

How A 15-Year-Old Uses The Asus MeMO Pad™ 7 Intel Tablet For High School

November 14, 2014Gadgets, TechnologyIntel Tablets, technologyAlicia

The post below was, in most part, written by my 15 year old son Sebastian. He is a Freshman in high school and relies on gadgets to get his through the day starting with his iPhone alarm waking him at 6am, to taking notes in class on his Asus MeMO Pad™ 7 Intel Tablet, to checking and updating his Google calendar throughout the day, on the same tablet and his iPhone. Why don’t I let you read how he uses the Asus MeMO Pad™ 7 Intel Tablet to get him through his school day? Meanwhile, stay tuned for a post, from me, about how I am using this Intel Tablet to prepare for Thanksgiving just like I did for Halloween!

I have had the ASUS MeMO Pad 7 ME176CX-A1-BK 7-Inch Tablet (Black)
for a month and I couldn’t be happier with it. I’m a freshman in high school and am in the Magnet program so I constantly have to write anything from a short essay to even 20 page research papers. Most of the time I can’t just sit down at a computer and type for more than a hour at most which can pose a issue when I need to write a research paper. Now that I have the Asus MeMO Pad 7 I am able to write any kind of paper whenever and wherever I am. My school issues every Magnet student a Gmail account to use for communicating with the teachers and other students so I take advantage of that on my MeMO Pad. One of the first apps I opened on the tablet is the Google Drive application which allows me to write anywhere on WiFi or not then share it with a friend or teacher later, when I have wifi access. I have written a 6-7 page paper on the tablet and I am writing this review on it. 😉

Along with using Google Drive I also use Google Hangouts when I need to ask a friend for help, help a friend, or work on a group project. Video calling a classmate from the Asus MeMO Pad 7 is easy since the tablet has a forward and rear facing camera. The almost nonexistent weight makes the MeMo pad easy to hold during our long calls. The tablet weighs only 10 ounces it is no problem to carry it with you anywhere. It will even fit in the pocket of cargo pants!

Since I have some problems with staying organized I have a page on my Asus MeMo Pad™ 7 devoted to school and organization. On that page I have a few applications including SuperNote, SuperNote memos, Google calendar, Edmodo, EasyBib, Quizlet, and Google Hangouts. These apps have helped me stay organized, study, and write papers. On this page I am also able to put bookmark icons for specific websites that I need quick access to such as my school’s website. So, icons on a page on your Asus MeMO Pad 7, are not limited to app icons!

The Asus MeMO Pad 7 comes in a variety of colors including red, yellow, and black. You can also buy a variety of cases as well as Bluetooth keyboards, the latter of which helps tremendously when you have to write a 5-page essay; speaking from experience. 🙂

The Asus MeMO Pad 7 is 7 inches and weighs 10.4 ounces. This can eliminate the need for big computers and having to sit at a desk for hours to write a paper or do homework. I recommend this tablet to anyone from 8th grade all the way to the present of a huge company.

– Sebastian Hagan

I hope you enjoyed this review written by my son. He is a gadget geek, like myself, and wanted to share with my readers how he, a high school student, actually uses the Asus MeMO Pad 7 every day!

Capture Your Family’s Adventures With A New GoPro Camera Available Now At Best Buy!

October 14, 2014Gadgets, GiftsBest Buy, gift guide, GoProAlicia

My son loves long boarding. If you’re not familiar with what long boarding is, it’s like skateboarding but on a long board. There aren’t many tricks involved with long boarding as with skateboarding but the speed a long board achieves is incredible and pretty scary, to me at least, sometimes. Sebastian even made his own longboard that sports bright green wheels and a snazzy grip tape design. When my Dad offered to let him use his new GoPro to film himself on his longboard during a visit to his house, his excitement was too much to contain! He hooked the GoPro to the board and took off like a… pro!

Here’s the first video he shot on my Dad’s GoPro, the one that inspired him to add a GoPro to every wish list he’ll create until he gets one. 🙂

With the holidays coming up, a GoPro is on the top of the list for many teens and adults and Best Buy is the place to go to check them out and buy a GoPro.

Best Buy has three new GoPro’s for you to check out; the GoPro HERO4 Black, GoPro HERO4 Silver, and GoPro HERO.

The GoPro HERO4 Black is the most advanced GoPro ever. It features improved image quality and a 2x more powerful processor with 2x faster video frame rates1, HERO4 Black takes award‐winning GoPro performance to a whole new level.

GoPro HERO4 Silver is the first-ever GoPro to feature a built-in touch display. Controlling The camera, playing back footage and adjusting settings is ultra-convenient—just view, tap and swipe the screen. With 1080p60 and 720p120 video, and 12MP photos at a staggering 30 frames per second, HERO4 Silver combines powerful, pro-quality capture with the convenience of a touch display.

The GoPro HERO featuring high‐quality 1080p30 and 720p60 video, and 5MP photos up to 5 fps, HERO captures the same immersive footage that’s made GoPro one of the best-selling cameras in the world.

Best Buy is the home of the latest cameras and camcorders, including the full line of new GoPro cameras, plus a broad assortment of accessories. GoPro cameras make perfect holiday gifts for everyone, from kids and teens, to gadget gurus. GoPro’s new line of cameras allow you to beautifully and authentically capture and share the experiences that bring purpose, adventure, and joy to your life.

Can you imagine how cute it would have been to capture a video of your toddler riding his or her first tricycle with a GoPro? As you can see in the video below of my daughter riding her bike, the faces, emotions and angles the GoPro captures are one-of-a-kind! I crack up every time I watch this video and am so glad to add it to my library of funny videos of Madelyn’s childhood.

If these fabulous videos of my kids aren’t enough to convince you of how great the GoPro is, check out the GoPro videos featured on Best Buy!

Sebastian has all sorts of plans for his future GoPro including ocean, lake, and river kayaking, roller coasters, more long boarding, lacrosse.. you name it, it’s GoPro-able! My daughter is thinking more along the lines of strapping the GoPro to her head while she shoots a rainbow loom bracelet tutorial for YouTube. 🙂 I think it would be fun to capture video of her on the bars or mat at gymnastics though.. don’t you?

Learn more at www.bestbuy.com/GoPro or visit your local Best Buy to check out the latest cameras in person.

Data Sharing For Families: Sprint’s Family Share Pack Explained

September 18, 2014Brand Ambassador, Gadgets, Technology#SprintMom, smartphone, SprintAlicia

More #SprintMom posts:

As busy parents often realize the hard way, their teenage children are often never found without a phone in their hand. Since cell phones are becoming more and more popular as the days go by, teens are using more and more data each and every month. Data is used in many functions on a cell phone such as text messages that include pictures, streaming video, downloading music, and generally browsing the web. Sometimes it can be hard to find a cell phone provider that has enough data allowance per month to support these features. A great way to incorporate lines for each member of the family and get enough data to go around is the Sprint Family Share Pack.

The Sprint Family Share Pack is customizable to each family not only with how many lines are on the plan, but also how much data is on the plan. To compare, a family pack with 4 lines and 4 GB of data the cost would be $100 a month with Sprint. The number of lines of the plan can vary from 2 to 10 lines and amounts of data available are 1 GB, 1.5 GB, 2 GB, 2.5 GB, 3 GB, 4 GB, 5 GB, and 6 GB.

Teens are known for wanting the latest and greatest technology. On the Sprint network, the latest and best smartphones available include the Samsung Galaxy S5, iPhone 6, HTC One M8, and the Moto X. So no matter what type of smart phone is desired, whether it be for streaming video, text messaging, downloading music, generally browsing the web, the best phone for the task is available.

Another great feature of switching to the Family Share Pack is that Sprint will buy out your current contract up to $350 for your family to switch. Many cell phone carriers enforce a 2 year contract with the purchase of each phone, and to leave that contract will result in financial penalties. Sprint is willing to cover those costs up to $350 for your family to be able to make the switch.

Sprint makes it easy for busy parents to shop for a new Family Share Pack by making an appointment to come into the store, or by shopping for the pack online. Either way, Sprint makes it easy to compare your current plan to the Family Share Pack and make the switch. So whether you or your teen is wanting a new iPhone 6, a Samsung Galaxy S5, an HTC One M8 or a Moto X, it is now attainable through the Sprint Family Share Pack.

More #SprintMom posts:

Some great reasons to switch to Sprint include: