Technology
Stem toys, Steam toys, smart appliances and technology that makes your home work more efficiently. The pace of technology is rapid-fire and ever changing. Here's why it pays to stay on top of what's hot and what's not. This section of Thrifty Mommas Tips is basically the intersection of where technology lives and exists to make your life better. Technology exists everywhere we look right now and it is evolving every second. Apps are always with us and ready to be engaged or downloaded, but which ones are worth the time and real estate on your phone? For that matter, which phone is the one you want to partner with for the next two years? From the computer and camera in your pocket every day to the doorbell, the smart TV and dishwasher that texts you messages when something is wrong, electronics and gadgets can be brilliant tools that enhance our lives. Your home right now has never been more tapped in, or smarter reading your activity and comfort to achieve a better lifestyle for your family. But these same consumer electronics and apps can also be intrusive or frustrating and expensive if they are not what you expect. How is a person to know what to spend time on? I vet things thoroughly here, from cameras to small appliances, smart thermostats, steam dishwashers, and fun toys so that you can buy with confidence. These are my favourite things that exist right now in the technology space.
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Genius Bar #WordlessWednesday
You know when you show up at the Genius Bar with your less than one year old baby (yes, my Macbook is my baby) and they run a check and it says this, that the day is not going well. Bless their talented genius hearts. They got my baby (fried hard drive) all fixed up. And thank you Apple Care and Apple warranty. You are my favourite fruit.
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Social Media Superstars: The Second Award Ever!
Two weeks ago I announced the start of my Social Media Superstars Award. I gave the first ever to TD/Canada Trust and people were pretty happy about the series. It got a good response and frankly TD earned the award for all the reasons I told you here Anyways it is time to dish one out again in honor of a company doing social media well, or at least trying to do it well. This week, the company I am highlighting is also Canadian. So Go Canada! Two awards. Two weeks in a row. Both to Canadians. Wow! Listen, I would love to give this award out all the time…
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One Word New Year’s
Productivity is a goal here every day. Writing can be a solitary activity. It is indeed a craft and vocation that only works if you are super self disciplined. I am actually mostly that person. I can focus hard when necessary and get jobs done. But, it is with renewed intent that I am choosing this as a word to guide the next year. Productivity. Here’s why. People have been asking me repeatedly this week about New Year’s resolutions and really, they aren’t a thing I do. Instead, I choose goals and try to meet them and strive to improve throughout the year. But resolutions, at least to me, are…
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Magic Keyhole World by Glass Puppy – App Review
Magic Keyhole World is an interactive and educational app designed for three to eight-year-olds and intended to nurture curiosity and imagination along with literacy skills. I took a peek at this new app over the Christmas holidays, with the help of my daughter, and was able to explore geography of ten different world habitats, from the Sahara to Egypt and the Arctic. The app is best on IPAD or on a desktop, laptop or notebook computer in Windows or Mac operating systems.It is also available on the Kindle. The pictures are vibrant and a simple click makes animals like jaguars, anacondas and Caribou come to life. The graphic detail and expansive scenery didn’t…
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Utales Children’s EBooks App Review
Click on link below for video and more information about Utales http://player.vimeo.com/video/29233431?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0 UTales is my new favourite multi-purpose, educational site for Moms, Dads and growing readers. There are many fantastic resources here on UTales, described as a world of picture books for kids. Above, you can see just a few of the amazing digital picture books for children, running all the way upto age nine. The greatest concentration of books here is the preschool category. But there are many sweet, colourful and original tales. My youngest daughter, myself and even my oldest at 10, have been loving this app for the past month. My oldest uses the tales to read…
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Worldictionary App Review – Decoding Different Languages for Travellers
Worldictionary is a great new app for travellers and business people. Also excellent for Moms and Dads with a child learning a second language in school. (Me!) So yes, it is virtually a good tool for anyone. I have been playing with this one for a couple of weeks and thought it worth sharing here. But How Much is It? The APP sells for $5.99 and uses the camera feature on your Iphone. It provides instant real-time translation for travellers. A useful feature if you are abroad and wondering what that roadside sign in Mexico means. Worldictionary by Penpower Technology works well with my Iphone 3GS and also runs nicely on the…
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No More Naked Gadgets – Gelaskins Review
I skinned my computer with Gelaskins and I couldn’t be happier with the result. I had been looking for a decent way to make a skin for my laptop that would show off my brand as a blogger attending conferences and other events. I truly could have used this one year ago when I headed to Type A Mom conference for the first time ever. But at that time I searched high and low and couldn’t come up with anything that would work. So my laptop was naked, save for a silver Toshiba emblazoned across the black. So when I got a request for a review of a Gelaskin last month, well…
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Yogi Bear in 3D: A Vanilla Movie Review
Well I have had a run of bad movies here lately and this one sadly is just another silly notch on that list. I was looking for something fun to do with my children the other day on Christmas holidays and well, we decided a movie was in order. We went in hoping to see another show which had been moved and stumbled upon this one, newly released and based kind of, on the cartoon series of my childhood. The story was thin – a scheming bear, named Yogi, a park ranger and the bear’s little buddy Boo-Boo set out to save Jellystone Park. At one point Mommy was so…