Tag Archives: Android

Gift Guide: 4 Wireless Speakers Great For Families

2013 Holiday Gift Guide, Gadgets, iphone, , , , ,

Chances are, there are at least 4 devices in your home that are used to play music.   My son walks around with earphones in his pocket 24/7.  I guess he doesn’t walk in his sleep, that I know of at least, but he sleeps with his earphones too.  I’m not a big fan of sleeping with earphones or having earphones in ears hour after hour.  That’s where wireless speakers come in handy.

Wireless (aka Bluetooth speakers) speakers are great for households in which there are iOS and Android devices.

Wireless speakers work with nearly all smartphones and tablets.  In my opinion, it would be idea to get the kids a wireless speaker as well as one for yourself.  You never know where the kid’s speaker is going to end up, right?

Most Bluetooth speakers are designed with rechargeable batteries, so they can be moved from room to room with ease.  When the battery charge is low, simply connect it to your computer or other charger.

Some wireless speakers such as the DECK speaker (#1 in the photo below), allow multiple devices to connect giving everyone in your home or at a party, the chance to play DJ for a while.

If you ask me, it’s time to go wireless.

Here are 4 wireless (bluetooth) speakers that will make a great gift this holiday season!

Gift Guide: Wireless Speakers

 

1 – DECK Wireless Speaker  – $199

2 – Sound Spot Compact Speaker – $69

3 – BeatBlock- Premium Bluetooth Wireless Speaker – On sale for $89 from $149 now at Amazon.com

4 – Bose® SoundLink® Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II – $299

 

Is there something that you’d like me to help you find for your holiday wish list?  Let me know in the comments below or email me at alicia @ themommyinsider.com and I’ll do my best to find whatever it is that your child (or you) are asking for holiday season.

I Made The Switch.. From an iPhone 4S to the HTC OneX+!

Electronics, Gadgets, Smartphones, ,

I was standing in the AT&T store Friday, when I very hesitantly handed my iPhone 4S to an AT&T employee and whispered “I need to transfer my phone number to this HTC OneX+ phone”. I literally had tears in my eyes. Call me crazy. Some would call my iPhone, my 3rd hand, but I knew I was ready to take the leap after having using this phone on wifi only for a couple of days.  Even after reviewing several other Android devices, I never felt as ready to switch to an Android phone as I did with the HTC OneX+. Before this week and for the last several years, I was always either holding my iPhone or it was in my pocket, and at night my iPhone was under my pillow. For the last few years I have been connected to the world via my iPhone.

This week, I made the leap from iOS to Android.

Content and/or other value provided by our partner, HTC.

HTC requested that I review the HTC OneX+ smartphone, but did not request or require that I stop using my current phone.  However, in the interest of my readers I felt that I needed to fully immerse myself in the HTC and Android world in order to give you the most accurate and honest review of the HTC OneX+.   This would be a huge step for me as I live and breathe Mac when it comes to technology.  I have two MacBooks, an iPad, and most of my immediate family have an iPhone.

HTC One X+ for AT&T review
My HTC One X+ Homescreen

I have reviewed several Android phones and have enjoyed them all but the HTC OneX+ for AT&T is one that I found very easy to use and found using it for every day tasks like checking email and posting to and reading my social media streams, the first day I had the phone.

Three days later..

This post is the first in a series of three or so about the HTC OneX+ so stay tuned and subscribe to my feed to get updates as I learn more about the phone.

Let me start the review off with a list of my top 5 Smartphone must-have features.

My Top 5 Smartphone Feature Must Have’s:

  • Great graphics
  • Multitasking
  • Incredible photos
  • Sync with my iTunes music library
  • A lot of storage space

My iPhone 4S has all of those features.  The HTC One X+ has these ADDITIONAL features:

  • Quad-core processor vs iPhone 4S’ Dual Core processor
  • Graphics Accelerator
  • 1.6 megapixel front facing camera vs. 0.3 megapixel on the iPhone 4S
  • The Battery capacity is 2,100 mAh vs the 1,432 mAh that the iPhone 4S has
  • The CPU speed is 1.70 GHz vs the iPhone 4S’ 1.00 GHz CPU speed
  • HTC OneX+ has 64GB vs. 16GB in the iPhone 4S
  • While the HTC One X+ is the larger of the two phones, it weighs less than the iPhone 4S by 2 ounces.
  • Screen size.  Are you ready?  The HTC OneX+ sports a 4.7″ screen while the iPhone 4S has a 3.5″ screen.

Am I having any issues transitioning to the HTC OneX+?

I’m glad you asked.  Read on to learn about the transitions I’m facing while switching from the iPhone 4S to the HTC OneX+. Continue reading I Made The Switch.. From an iPhone 4S to the HTC OneX+! →

Pantech Flex Smartphone for AT&T – Review And #Giveaway | @PantechUSA

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Pantech Flex Review
The Pantech Flex is a great new Android smartphone that is available through AT&T Wireless. The device is loaded with a wide variety of great features, boasts a bright touchscreen and sports a wonderfully thin and unique design. It is the ideal smartphone for first time Android users and is perfect for everyone from teens to grandparents and everyone in between. It is well worth looking into the great aspects the Pantech Flex has to offer if you are in the market for a great new phone.
Pantech Flex
Pantech Flex

A wonderful device for moms, the Flex runs on the 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. It offers the individual the option of using Easy Experience mode, which makes operation of the Pantech even simpler or the standard user interface can be used. It is a 4G LTE capable phone that connects to the fastest speeds AT&T has to offer, meaning it is a breeze to stream content, download anything and surf the web. It is a slim device at only 0.31 inches and very light at 132 grams.

Pantech Flex Easy vs. Standard Experience User Interface
Pantech Flex Easy vs. Standard Experience - User Interface

The display of the Flex is a Super AMOLED 4.3 inch screen that boasts a resolution of 960 by 540 pixels and 256 pixels per inch. Internal storage clocks in at 8GB, and the phone has a slot for additional storage, supporting microSD cards of up to 32GB.  My son is one who never thinks a device comes with enough interval storage.  He prefers devices that allow for additional storage via a microSD card.   1GB of RAM and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor allow it to pack a powerful punch. The Flex also provides the user with access to plenty of useful quality apps courtesy of Google Play. Facebook is one of the top free apps, and checking email is straight forward. Key Ring, an NFC enabling app, is pre-loaded in the Flex and makes shopping far easier as coupons, loyalty cards and other items can be stored within and scanned at various places.

Pantech Flex review
Click to enlarge

There are plenty of wonderful features that any mom would appreciate, such as an 8 megapixel rear-facing camera that is perfect for shooting photos of the kids. For all of the videos you’ll shoot with the Pantech Flex, you’ll be happy to know that it is capable of capturing 1080p video at 30fps. The secondary front-facing camera is a 2 megapixel shooter that is ideal for engaging in video chats with family and friends. Whenever I’m away on a business trip, I chat with the kids via video on my phone.  I can’t imagine going on a trip and not being able to see them!  The built in calendar allows the user to set up reminders for important events in life.

Overall, the Flex by Pantech is a great device for people of any age. It serves as a phone, organizer, camera and so much more. It also received the 2012 Red Dot Design Award, and with good reason.

Learn more about the Pantech Flex:

Would you like to win a Pantech Flex for AT&T?

This is a subscriber only contest.  This means that you must subscribe to our email in order for your entry to be valid.

Use the form below to enter.

This contest is open to U.S. residents ages 18 and over only.  No P.O. Boxes.  Entries accepted through 11:59 December 31st, 2012.  The winner will be contacted by email and must respond to our email by January 3rd, 2013.  If the winner does not respond, another winner will be chosen.  The winner is responsible for all services related to the phone.  Service is not included in the prize.  The unit used for this review is the unit the winner will receive.  A SIM card is not included in the box.

Win Pantech Flex Android Smartphone for AT&T

5 Fabulous To-Do and Goal Tracking Applications

Blogger Resources, Business, Organization, , , ,

remember the milk applicationDuring a fast-paced day, it is easy to forget the countless items on a growing mental to do list much less looming life goals that still cause sleepless nights. Therefore, task manager websites with mobile applications serve as both personal assistants and motivational life coaches. Think of the following sites as anxious applicants vying for the chance to become your favorite organization guru!

 

42goals.com
42Goals sets itself apart via the icons that you can utilize to plot your accomplishments. The icons serve as a visual record of your progress through smaller goals that lead to a bigger objective. Switch between goal tracking on the site via your Mac or PC, over to their mobile web version at your convenience.
Cost: Free, with upgrades from $5-$30 monthly.

Toodledo.com
There is a reason Toodledo landed on Apple’s list of Top Paid Apps last year. Users love the sleek interface that seamlessly syncs from Windows and OS X to any smartphone or iOS device without hassles. This to-do app is a lifesaver for parents with active kids as it serves to remind them of their family’s daily agenda.
Cost: Free, with Pro and Pro Plus annual memberships ranging from $14.95 and $29.95 respectively.

43things.com
Ideal for sharing the overarching goals in your life, 43Things connects your goals to a network of other people’s goals. Do you want to lose weight? Have you had a life-long desire to conquer Mt. Everest? This site’s uncluttered format links you to other like-minded folks. It is available on RSS feed and the iPhone.
Cost: Free.

Rememberthemilk.com
This straightforward daily reminder site provides cross browser capabilities. Sync from web to iPhone, smartphone, or Android supported device. Bloggers can manage blog posts or meetings and will benefit from the myriad of options for sharing lists and appointments across platforms. Parents can also send reminder lists about groceries, upcoming PTA meetings, etc., via email or text.
Cost: Free, with Pro membership for $25 annually.

Producteev.com
A little competition goes a long way with Producteev. Perfect for business teams, Producteev provides incentives for completing tasks. You can prioritize tasks in order of importance and award badges for different levels of completion. It is ideal for business owners trying to get and keep their teams motivated. Use Producteev on PC, Mac or mobile devices.
Cost: Free for a two-member team, $20 per month for larger teams.

 

Do you have a favorite to-do or goal tracking app?  Share in the comments below!