Category Archives: Gadgets

Staying Connected with the Nokia Lumia 710 {Review and Giveaway}

March 13, 2012Contests, Electronics, Gadgets, Giveaways, SmartphonesNokia Lumia 710, smartphone, WindowsAlicia

My son is 12 going on 16 and I’m seeing more and more that he is wanting to be connected to his friends outside of school. I am very pleased with his choice in friends so I don’t mind the occasional phone call or text. I recently received a Nokia Lumia 710 to review and I’ve learned that while Moms and their teenagers may be a generation apart, the Nokia Lumia 710 offers something that every age desires – a great phone that makes it simple to connect with friends. Weighing only 4.4 ounces, this phone is not too heavy for a purse or pocket. It is available in black or white, but you can dramatically change its look by changing out the Xpress-On covers. These covers come in many colors and fun styles.

Text messaging is a breeze with the onscreen keyboard. The autocorrect capability of this phone keeps you from worrying about making silly mistakes. Moms like that they can keep in touch with friends and family without endlessly going back to make corrections. Teens like that they can type out messages in a flash!

Nokia Lumia 710 Twitter view — Nokia Lumia 710 Twitter app

The Windows Marketplace has over 55,000 apps to keep you informed, entertained, and productive. Besides Facebook and Twitter, you will also find Foursquare, Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, and just about every other fun game you can imagine. With T-Mobile TV and Netflix available, teens will never be bored again!

Life is full of fun moments; and fun moments were meant to be captured and shared. The 5MP camera, with LED flash, takes excellent pictures and can record stutter-free video. The Twitter and Facebook apps are integrated into the Windows Phone system so posting pictures is a snap. Teens want to go out with their friends, but moms will always worry. With GPS navigation, parents know that their kids won’t get lost while they’re out making those memories.

After all the Facebook updates, Tweets, and text messages, there’s nothing like hearing the voice of someone special on the other end of the call. T-Mobile’s excellent nationwide network ensures that calls come in crystal clear no matter where you are. Whether you’re a teenager, or a teenager’s mom, the Nokia Lumia 710 is the perfect choice for staying connected with the special people in your life.

Want to win a Nokia Lumia 710?

Congratulations to the winner of the Nokia Lumia 710, Melissa T.!

To enter to win tell me what feature of the Nokia Lumia 710 is most exciting to you or why you want to win this phone!

Earn extra entries:

2 entries – Like The Mommy Insider on Facebook
2 entries – Follow Mommy Insider on Twitter
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3 entries each time – Tweet about this giveaway: “I entered to win a Nokia Lumia 710 on TheMommyInsider.com. You can enter this #giveaway here: http://bit.ly/TMINokia @mommyinsider”
3 entries each – Enter any of our other contests and let us know which contests you entered in the comments below
5 entries – Blog about this giveaway on your own blog and leave the URL in the comments below. Do not copy and paste this post into your blog.
Be sure to tell us what you’ve done in the comments below.

Contest Rules:

Winner is responsible for T-Mobile service.
Entries accepted through 11:59PM EST March 31st, 2012.
U.S. Residents only.
Ages 21+.
No P.O. Boxes
Winner must respond to our email within 24 hours to claim their prize.
Read The Mommy Insider’s Contest Rules here. By entering this contest you are agreeing to the rules.

Disclosure: A received a Nokia Lumia 710 for review purposes. All opinions stated are my own.

Chatman – Your Child’s Internet Safety Buddy

January 31, 2012Gadgets, SafetyChatman, Gadgeet, Internet SafetyAlicia

In a world connected by computers it is important to not only teach our kids how to use them, but also about internet safety. Chatman is a fun and innovative tool that will help educate and protect kids online.

Chatman looks like a cute toy and hooks up easily to your computer through a USB cable. Your child can name their new friend, give it its own personality and interact with it. While your child is chatting with friends, playing games or doing homework, this new toy will monitor all of their online activities. Your child is protected and you can now have peace of mind because this device will protect your child by monitoring the sites your child goes to and steering them away from any inappropriate websites that may inadvertently pop up. As a further protective measure, it is programmed to recognize familiar slang terms, so that if your child’s communications with others becomes inappropriate, you will be alerted.

Chatman

Aside from protecting your child, homework and other online activities will now be fun and entertaining for your child. Your child’s new computer buddy can communicate with your child and help them with their homework. Because it can recognize over 15,000 words, your child’s new computer friend, Chatman, can either answer your child’s questions or help steer them to a website that can assist them. Through its huge vocabulary, movements and ability to convey up to 30 emotions, it will also help your child figure out the tone of emails or chats.

Chatman can set reminders for your child, so that they will be able to remember birthdays, homework assignments or whatever else your preteen is prone to forget.

Chatman is an essential tool in creating a safe, fun and entertaining online experience for our kids.

I feel more confident in my children’s online safety since they are using Chatman.

Chatman a great gift for kids 6-12 and sells for $74.99. He is now available for the first time in the US, and is available at toysrus.com, hsn.com, target.com and bestbuy.com. He is also available in-store only at Toys R Us Times Square in New York City.

Connect with Chatman:

Disclosure: I was provided with a Chatman for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own.

The Latest our Gadget Blog, GadgetGoddess.com

January 25, 2012Gadgetsaccessories, app, gadget, ipad, iphone, technologyAlicia

Baby video monitor

3 Must-Have Gadgets for New Moms

Technology can be a wonderful learning tool for your child – Not only can they learn, they can show off their creative abilities, play games, and have fun with the plethora of new games, apps, and accessories made especially for kids. Not only does Griffin put out great kid-friendly products for the iPad, but also includes great accessories for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Here are a few of my favorite Griffin iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch accessories.

3 Griffin iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch Accessories for Kids

5 Gadgets That Will Help Busy Moms

5 Gadgets that will Help Busy Moms

Next to her family, the most precious thing in a busy mom’s life is time. Devices that help moms organize their lives better and help them save time are indispensable. Below are five relatively inexpensive time-saving gadgets that every busy mom will love.

The iPhone 4s, a Great Tool for Mom Bloggers

January 6, 2012Gadgets, iphone, New postsiPhone 4s, technologyAlicia

This is an anonymous guest post but reflects my opinions exactly!

As a busy mom blogger I absolutely love my new iPhone 4s. There is no way that I would be able to run my blog, get my kids to their activities and still have time for myself. Before I got the iPhone 4s, I was running around like a toddler on a sugar high, I was making unnecessary trips to the store as I would get there and realize my list was still on the table, or missed appointments as I wrote them down in different places. Being able to set up reminders has really made a difference in my life. I guess you have to admit to yourself first that you just might not be able to remember everything anymore, and make a quick reminder to yourself. If anything, there is a greater chance you will remember it if you make a reminder as you are subconsciously writing it again into your memory. My husband laughs at how many reminders I have, and my kids joke that I should set a reminder to remember to set up reminders. I let them laugh, but they are the ones who benefit when I don’t forget to pick up their favorite treats at the store, or when they forget their uniform at home, but due to one of my reminders I grabbed off the table for them. Then they love my reminders.

I’m an Organized Mom & Blogger with the iPhone 4s

Since I got my iPhone 4s I have been able to organize not only my life, but my family and my blogging too. I thank Apple’s Siri entirely for this. With Siri, Apple’s voice activated personal assistant, I can change appointment times simply by speaking to Siri. I can also find addresses or even make reservations at my favorite restaurant all with a few simple voice commands. The best part of Siri is that I don’t have to use robotic commands for it to understand me, but rather I can almost carry on conversations with Siri. It is bad when I find myself talking to Siri because my kids no longer want to listen.

Siri on iPhone 4S lets you use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls, and more. Ask Siri to do things just by talking the way you talk. Siri understands what you say, knows what you mean, and even talks back. Siri is so easy to use and does so much, you’ll keep finding more and more ways to use it.

I’m a Multitasking Mom & Blogger with the iPhone 4s

I love the fact that I am back in control of my life and able to manage my blog and my family at the same time. I am no longer ignoring one or the other. Perhaps more important than any of these is the fact that I am able to be flexible and take my blogging along on the road with me. I don’t mind sitting outside my daughter’s school waiting for her to get done with practice as I am able to do my research or reviews while sitting in the van. Do to the fact that the new iPhone 4s increased speed, I now can get a lot more done in a short time. It is sad how I no longer have the patience to “waste” 30 seconds while waiting for my kids to climb in the van, as now this is time to quick edit a blog I had just submitted. Life flies by at top speeds, I really needed a phone that could work as fast as I do. As a busy mom multitasking is a necessity and my iPhone 4s allows me the freedom and flexibility to do just that.

I’m a Photo Taking Pro with the iPhone 4s

One of my favorite features is the new camera as it makes my blog come to life. I am able to snap pictures of new products that I want to add to my blog, with a few simple swipes of my finger I can have it uploaded to my blog ready for my viewers in no time at all. I always have my iPhone 4s along so I can capture the memories as they are happening and don’t miss an opportunity to share my family’s adventures with my blogging family.

This is an anonymous guest post but reflects my opinions exactly!

Submit a guest post for consideration by emailing alicia @ themommyinsider.com. Byline must be included in your email exactly as you would like for it to appear in your guest post.

Do you own an iPhone 4s? Are you a blogger? How has the iPhone 4s helped you or has it? Please share your thoughts with us on the iPhone 4s and it’s contribution to your mom/blogging life in the comments below. Thank you!

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I was not compensated in any way for this post.

Review: Acoustic Research App-Enhanced Docking Station for iPad – On My Things I Use Everyday List

August 31, 2011Electronics, Gadgets, iPad, iphone, New postsAcoustic Research, Docking Station, ipad, iphone, ipodAlicia

I work from home and it can get really quiet around here when the kids are in school. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I do get lonely though and I feel a little disconnected when there’s no sound around me so I like to have music or a TV show on in the background while I’m working. I don’t watch TV but hearing it makes me feel less alone. The TV is actually in another room. I can’t even see it.

I was when I received an App-Enhanced Docking Station from Acoustic Research to review. I ripped the box open, set it up, and was listening to music within minutes of getting the delivery from FedEx.

When I plugged my iPad in to the docking station for the first time, I was prompted to download the free Dock Plus app from the app store. Dock Plus brings the ultimate in functionality to the docking station. The app allows me to listen to local FM stations, set my favorite stations, and play and control my iPod/iPhone/iPad music library. It’s also an alarm clock and has a snooze function.

My 5 year old daughter loves to dance and so she’s always asking me to play songs that are on my iPhone. I love that I can plug my iPhone into this docking station and blast the music super loud so she can dance all over the house and still hear the music!

The Acoustic Research iPad Docking Station:

Charges your iPod, iPhone or iPad
5 adapters included for iPod, iPhone and iPad
Rotates 90 degrees for two portrait and landscape viewing options – I love this!
Comes with a remote control
Emits high performance sound
Will enable you to view iPod/iPad video content on your TV
Comes with an iPad, iPod, iPhone, and iPhone 4 adapter

To connect to an external device such as a TV, you’ll need a VIDEO cable (not supplied). AUX connection requires a 3.5mm audio cable (not supplied) to connect your external audio source to the AUX input on the back of the main unit.

Here is a very brief (20 second) video demonstrating two features: rotating and song switching.

You can buy the App-Enhanced Docking Station on Amazon.com or on the Acoustic Research website.

Disclosure: I was provided a unit for review purposes, free of charge. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by compensation.