Mom Central Technology

Sign up for a library card this month!

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and I’m here to tell you that if you haven’t signed up for a card at your local library, you’re missing out. Yes, this is a technology blog. It’s also a technology blog with a family focus. And if you’re not utilizing your library, your kids are missing our on great books, services and technology.

In fact, the American Library Association has a list of 52 things you can do with your library card. More than just checking out books, you can do many things. In fact, their list contains a large number of tech-specific activities. Here are a few good ones (with a little extra information).

Pick up a DVD. We don’t rent movies anymore. Why bother? This economy has taught us that pennies are pretty important and saving them is even more important. As such, when we’re jonesing for something other than what’s available on TV, we hit the library. Most libraries have a wide selection of movies for kids and families. If a title you want is not available at your branch, you may be able to request it from another.

Prepare your resume. If you’re looking for a job and you don’t have a computer at home, using the library’s computers is a great option. You may have to pay to print and copy, but don’t forget that many jobs allow you to apply online, so hard copies are not always necessary.

Trace your family tree. The library can be a great place to research your lineage. You can use the library’s technology to access sites like Rootsweb. (Don’t get sucked into paying for too many services! Read this great article about researching your family tree for free.) Beyond that, as described by the New York State Library’s website, you can use things like census records, military records and other resources available at the library to aid in your search.

Those are just three examples of how you can utilize technology at your library. More over, teaching your children to respect and use the library is a vital skill. If your child knows how to use the library, they will never be at a loss when it comes to information, whether that comes in the form of books or technology. That’s a good thing to pass on!

Do you have a library card? Do your children have their own cards? If not, go sign up for one this month!

Jenna Hatfield, aka @FireMom on Twitter, also writes at Stop, Drop & Blog and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land. She works as a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.

Back to school and technology: feeling the pinch

School is starting (or has just started) all over the country. School shopping is mostly done, leaving some parents reeling from the money they just laid down. Unfortunately, the money issue goes beyond new backpacks and jeans. Schools are dealing with the fact that the downward spiral of the economy has left them with less money to help their students.

Money’s tight at home and at school

Parents and students in New Jersey are feeling the pinch. Students in one school district went back to 150 fewer teachers, though parents are paying more for activities. To boot, they have no money to buy new technology as many had budget cuts.

While some schools are using technology to provide innovative ways to help students with disabilities, others are struggling as they realize that not all schools can be accessible for everyone. Money and old school buildings are providing a challenge in areas like Montgomery Public Schools in Alabama.

But, really, it’s not all gloom and doom. A Texas education channel on iTunes has launched to help students - and help parents and teachers help students!

The Texas Education iTunes U channel allows teachers to upload material from their classes to help students understand new concepts or do more research in a specific subject area. Students and parents can access the material through home or school computers, and those with iPods can download the information to the handheld devices.

Technology makes students safer

With school starting, more kids will be out and about in the morning, either walking, driving or riding a bus to school. As such, Bellvue will be employing technology in the form of speed photo cameras in school zones. I think this sounds like a fantastic way to use technology and provide safety for our children. Results were good last year.

The photo enforcement program has monitored school zones for one year in Bellevue. Initial indications show that drivers are modifying their driving behaviors and are slowing down in school zones.

While some schools - and parents - are feeling the pinch this year, I hope that students, teachers and parents alike can find ways to use technology to their advantage. It’s hard to remember that not too long ago, computers weren’t readily available to use as a learning aid nor was technology being used as a safety tool.

Is your school district struggling this year with new funds for anything from books to computers? If you’re a homeschooler, are you feeling a similar pinch?

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Jenna Hatfield, aka @FireMom on Twitter, also writes at Stop, Drop & Blog and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land. She works as a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.

An open love letter to travel-enhancing technology

Dear Technology,

I love you. I do. It’s not a surprise. I’m a tech-loving mama. I’ve written about my love for various technologies on this blog for a few months now. I love computers and apps and gadgets. I keep my eyes on the latest and greatest and newest and best. Sometimes you fail me or frustrate me, like when I got a virus yesterday or when my memory card failed. But, mostly, I love you.

I profess my love you in this way because of how you helped us get to our vacation this year. Without you, technology, the trip would have been impossible. And annoying! Here are a few ways in which you helped us reach our beachy destination from where I write this post.

• Handheld games - From the Leapster to little Toy Story games to a Simon game, our boys had enough hand-held fun to pass between them for hours. In fact, we were amazed at how quickly our oldest son picked up Simon. The noise wasn’t all that annoying, though we had headphones for the Leapster in case it became intolerable.
• Directions - We saved trees by not printing our directions this year. We used maps on my iPhone. In fact, the apps make it easier than a map. I liked following the little purple dot to our red pin destination!
• DVD player - We actually waited to pull out the portable DVD player until after lunch, a good eight hours after we had been on the road. The boys watched a movie and a half during that last leg of our trip. No arguing. No fussing. It was a glorious descent to sea level!
• Geocaching -- We took some time at each stop to do a little geocaching. It provided us the opportunity to stretch our legs and engage the boys in a little treasure hunting fun. It added that “something special” to our annual roadtrip that we hadn’t previously experienced. Hooray!
• Communicating - Somewhere in North Carolina, we met up with my parents, brother and sister-in-law. While in decades past, we could have used walkie-talkies to communicate between vehicles, we were able to call or text (no driver-to-driver texting, mind you) when we needed to get off at an exit, got separated or simply wanted to say, “OMG! ONLY 16 MILES LEFT!”

And really, technology, you have made the stay at the beach house easy-breezy. While we were unpacking the vehicles, we turned on the TV for the boys. They weren’t underfoot while we were walking up and down the many steps. They weren’t whining for the toys we hadn’t yet unpacked. And while the TV has been off most other times since we arrived, it has also provided a good distraction for meal preparation times or when we’re waiting for everyone to get their act together to get to the beach in the morning.

I admit that I’m paying less attention to you as a whole this week. I really do enjoy relaxing in the sand and soaking up some much needed family fun. I love that you have enhanced our vacation experience though. Thank you for all that you do, technology.

Please ensure a safe trip home and we’ll see you on the flip side.

Sincerely,
Jenna

Jenna Hatfield, aka @FireMom on Twitter, also writes at Stop, Drop & Blog and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land. She works as a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.

Smaller is better with the Pro Pack Mini Controller and giveaway

One size does not fit all. In the past, when playing on a Wii gaming system, you couldn't choose a big or small controller. Players used the only size available and those with smaller hands had to manage, until Power A created the Pro Pack Mini remote.

The Pro Pack Mini for Wii with Mini Remote and MiniChuk is the answer for gamers with a desire for options. It is 35% smaller than the original Wii remote, while maintaining all of the functionality of a full-sized Wii remote. Our youngest M (almost 5) played video games with the regular sized Wii remote ever since we got our system, but the controllers have always been more difficult for him to use. The size of this remote seems much better suited for his hands.

This remote isn't just for the little ones. Many features appealed to everyone who has tried it, not just our youngest son. The main buttons glow on the Pro Pack Mini, making it more visually appealing. Also, the no-slip grip and ergonomic design makes it easier to hold. The smaller size, better grip, and lit buttons make this the most coveted controller in the house. The color choices (black and purple) are more appealing to me than the ordinary white color of other remotes. Also, the strap of this remote won't look dirty after being used for only a few days.

One disadvantage of this remote is it requires batteries without a charging station option. Our family prefers to charge batteries rather than purchase new ones over time. Also, due to its smaller size, it is not compatible with Wii accessory equipment such as Mario Cart wheels and Guitar Hero guitars. It is, however, compatible with the Wii Motion Plus accessory.

Win a purple Pro Pack Mini Remote and MiniChuk

Here’s how you can win a PURPLE Pro Pack Mini Remote for your own little gamer:

- Tell us why you would like to try this remote in our comments section below.

- You must live in the US to enter the giveaway.

- Contest ends Tuesday, August 31st at 11:59pm EST. 

- One winner will be chosen at random.

Good luck!

Eileen is the Chief Mom Connector of Mom Central and used to beat her entire family at Mario Cart. Nowadays she is happy to complete a single lap on Rainbow Road before the others finish the race. Follow her on Twitter as @MomCentralChat and read about her family's adventures on her own blog at calandroclan.com.

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Disclosure: All links to Amazon are affiliate links. A commission may be earned from a referred sale to their website. Mom Central was given a Pro Pack Mini Remote for this review as well as one to give away to one of our readers.

Big Fork Little Fork, a Kraft Foods app for the iPad

Next time the kids ask what’s for dinner, just hand them your iPad and tell them it’s their turn to decide. Thanks to Kraft Food’s new iPad app, Big Fork Little Fork, you can do just that.

This week, Kraft sent me a loaner iPad to test out their new app. Not only can Big Fork Little Fork help you search for recipes, it’s a great way to get your kids involved. Just ask mine.

Yes, I turned the iPad over to my children, Nathan, 10 and Lucie, 7 and had them give the app a whirl. No surprise they immediately found the games Space Picnic and Berwyn’s Deli. Since the games are limited in scope (they’re repetitive not progressive) they quickly lost interest and started playing with other features of the app like being able to crack eggs or draw in the spilled flour on the main page.

Kid friendly recipes

Then they got down to the nitty gritty and started perusing the recipes. Lucie came to me with requests like Bacon Dog Mac and Cheese from their Picky Eater section. (You can also find the app recipes online on the Kraft website.) Frankly, I’m not convinced that this app helps parents or kids find healthy recipes, since this dish has 31 g of fat and 1290 mg of sodium. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have healthy living kitchen tips like the website does for making substitutions.

Still the Big Fork Little Fork app is a fun way to get kids to try new things. After picking a few recipes where we didn’t have all the ingredients on hand, Nathan and Lucie told me they’d like to try the Tuna Twister Melt. (Nathan hates fish with a passion, but for some reason likes the tuna melts his dad makes for him. I think it’s the cheese and the sweet relish.) I quickly prepared the dish with a few substitutions and awaited a verdict. Both kids told me they loved it.

Full of features

Besides dozens of recipes, the app also features in depth articles on cooking and healthy nutrition, safety tips for parents and kids, and videos. (I wasn’t able to watch any since my loaner iPad was not connected to the Internet.)

Many of the recipes come with kid friendly directions, and are categorized by meal or for picky or adventurous eaters. The app has a search function so you can find recipes by ingredient or name. You can even login to your KraftFoods.com account via the app to create a shopping list.

Big Fork Little Fork is available for download at the Apple app store for $1.99. You can learn more about Big Fork Little Fork at the Kraft website.

Anne-Marie Nichols is the Managing Editor of Mom Central Technology.

Technology in the evening: Will it affect your kids' sleep?

My mother-in-law watched the boys one evening last week. I came home a bit earlier than expected and found my oldest son in bed with his Leapster. Nana sat beside him, telling him he had two minutes left. I laughed and groaned inwardly, knowing how it would go. When his time was up, I was right: meltdown city.

Our family has rules about video games and television before bed. The rule is, generally, no. We learned rather quickly that the stimulation provided by television and video gaming devices leave our kids somewhat jazzed up and thus not interested in sleep. We’re also kind of strict about bedtimes, though we’re reworking it for our older son and make exceptions for travel, special events and sometimes just a “stay up late” treat.

It turns out our rules, however mean they make our kids think we are, might be benefiting our children.

An article from Natural News about some research presented at SLEEP 2010 tells us that technology before bed can interfere with kids’ sleep schedules and how well they do (or don’t do) in school.

The research team evaluated 8,000 students based on their reading, language and math skills, and found that children with parents who regulate bedtimes and enforce routine sleeping patterns score better on tests than children without these restrictions.

The article goes on to say that regular bedtimes, even on the weekend, are important. It also says that five-year-old kids need 11 hours of sleep per night, nine-year-olds need 10 and at age 14, teens can survive well on nine. Our oldest son is getting his recommended sleep per night... most nights. If we have a special event and he gets to bed later than usual, he still wakes up at the same time.

We have some routines that separate any evening television or gaming -- sometimes we play a racing game after supper if it’s raining -- from bedtime. Snack time, bath and reading a book put a significant amount of time between screen time and back-of-eyelid time. I’m hoping that as they grow, we can continue to limit their evening gaming time.

Do you limit screen time in the evening? Do you have sleep battles in your house? Tell us about your issues.

Jenna Hatfield, aka @FireMom on Twitter, also writes at Stop, Drop & Blog and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land. She works as a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.

Send text messages for free with PingChat! 2

My husband doesn’t have a texting package on his cell phone due to work restrictions on his account. He does, however, own an iPod touch. I own (and love) iPhones. Thanks to an app (and others like it), I can actually text my husband for free. And send photos. Really.

We were early users of the PingChat! app, now called PingChat! 2, because “free” works with our budget. Previously a paid app, it is now available for free in the iTunes store. Using your data package when you are in 3G or EDGE areas or via wifi when you’re sitting in Starbucks, the app sends your “text message” without using your cell phone’s texting plan. You can use this app even if you don’t have a text messaging package on your line.

I found this to be extremely useful this past weekend when I was away for BlogHer ‘10 in New York City. My husband would occasionally send messages and photos from his iPod touch to me. It helped with how much I was missing the both of them. (Side note: he would take pictures with his own camera, as the iPod touch doesn’t have a camera and then send via the app.) Similarly, I sent some photos to my husband and the boys while I was out and about in NYC!

There are other great iPhone-to-iPhone (or iPod Touch if you’re utilizing wifi) texting apps. Here are a few reviews:

• Textfree by Pinger
• textPlus from GOGII
• Another review of PingChat 2

Using an iPhone-to-iPhone texting app might not remove all of your texting needs as you can’t text other service provider users for free, but it could end up saving you from unnecessary overages.

Do you use an app like this? Do you think it could save your family some money?

Jenna Hatfield, aka @FireMom on Twitter, also writes at Stop, Drop & Blog and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land. She works as a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.

Using technology to manage your schedule

My family has a pretty hectic schedule. With my husband, a professional firefighter, working 24 hours on and 48 hours off, keeping track of his days and meetings can be a challenge. Add in my work, the boys various play dates and sports activities, school and time for friends, family and dates, and it gets slightly difficult to keep track of the ins and outs of our lives. That’s why my husband and I rely on technology to keep us in the know.

There are various things we use to keep us both up-to-date regarding what is (or is not) going on at any given time. Some we have used for awhile and others we are just beginning to employ thanks to both of us having access to various apps. We still make mistakes and miss meeting (or show up late), but we’re getting pretty good at keeping up on things.

Here are some technology tricks we use to keep up with one another.

• Google Calendar - My husband and I have used this online calendar tool the longest out of all of our scheduling options. I find it most useful, because we can share it between our two email accounts and update it as our schedules change. We have his schedule programmed in for the entire year, as well as the boys’ school days (and days off) and other important dates (birthdays, our anniversary). I also update our menu plan so my husband and I both know what we’re having, what needs to be set out the night before and anything we might need to pick up at the last minute.
• Fire/EMS ShiftGenerator for iPhone - This is a fire family specific app, but it’s a life saver. I can scroll through the months and figure out what day my husband is working, thus finding out that he works on my birthday in 2013. Life saver.
• YadaHome Grocery Lists (and more) - This particular app also has a calendar, but as I said above, we utilize Google Calendar for our actual calendar needs. We use this app to share grocery lists with one another. The best thing is that I can update the list after my husband leaves for his grocery shopping trip. (Why yes, my husband does the grocery shopping. Aren’t I the luckiest?)
• Google App - This is probably a given, but we also utilize the official Google app for the iPhone so that our calendar is available wherever we happen to be. Like at the playground trying to figure out if we’re free for a play date with our friends that we run into while pushing the boys on the swings.

There are lots of great ways to keep track of your schedules while utilizing technology. What tech tools do you use to stay on top of your hectic life?

Jenna Hatfield, aka @FireMom on Twitter, also writes at Stop, Drop & Blog and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land. She works as a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.

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Photo Credit: Dibau Naum h.

ZipShot tripods for photography on the go

Since I decided to get serious with my photography and use my DSLR more, I’ve been interested in getting a new tripod. But which one to choose? It seems like there’s a tripod for every type of photography from table top to lightweight to professional.

Well if you travel or hike with your camera, you should look into a ZipShot from Tamrac. The ZipShot is an ultra-light weight, compact tripod that weighs only 11 ounces and measures 15” when folded. It’s made out of high-quality aluminum with a heavy-duty, metal ball-head.

It’s easy to attach the ZipShot to the handle of a camera bag using the cords. Or you can just stick it in your backpack or luggage.

To use it, you simply release the two red cords and the tripod springs open. To close it, you just fold it back up and wrap the cords around to hold it in place. I liked how the red cords were attached to the tripod instead of having a band or two that you could lose.

Too light for heavy cameras?

But what if you have a DSLR camera with a heavy lens? The ZipShot is fine for cameras weighing under three pounds. Frankly, with my DSLR it was a bit of a stretch. I had to make sure that the tripod was super steady and balanced before I let go of my camera. The tripod could handle it, but I never felt like it was very safe or steady.

Also, while you can adjust the ball-head with a single release lever, since my camera was on the heavy side, I found that doing so could tip the tripod over if I wasn’t careful.

All in all, I think using the ZipShot with a lighter point and shoot is a better deal. After all, if you’re in the market for an ultra-lightweight tripod for hiking or travel, you’re probably don’t want to get bogged down with a big camera either.

ZipShot is available for purchase at Amazon.com, Sears, Ritz Camera, B&H and independent photo shops and retails at an MSRP of $59.99.

Camera bags from Tamrac and Jo Totes

I recently bought a Tamrac Explorer 1 photo bag and love it. It has just enough room for my DSLR and extra lens, plus cords, lens cleaners, and even my instruction booklet. For the more equipment laden photographer, Tamrac carries an impressive selection of photography bags, cases and backpacks including dual access photography and laptop backpacks.

While I’m impressed by Tamrac’s variety, I’m in love with the “camera bags for ladies” at Jo Totes. Not only are they cute, but they’re functional. They’re currently out of stock, but should be getting a big shipment in at the beginning of August. The tough part will be deciding on the Missy or the Rose.

Do you throw your camera in your purse or backpack? Or do you have a special bag for it?

Anne-Marie Nichols is the Managing Editor of Mom Central Technology. She received a ZipShot tripod to review. All opinions are her own.

Voice-to-text apps: Are they safe for driving?

I don’t text and drive. I also don’t tweet, update my Facebook status or email while I’m driving. I signed the pledge at Moms Send the MSG, and I meant it. I do not want to put my own children in danger while I am driving. I also don’t want to put anyone else in danger because of a technology-based distraction. It’s distracting enough to drive with kids!

I’ve been seeing a lot of talk about voice-based texting/messaging apps for various phones. I did a little research and found some mixed reviews. Dragon Dictation is getting a lot of talk-time on the web right now as they just released an update.

I went ahead and downloaded Dragon Dictation, a free app for the iPhone (and iPad). It allows you to record your message via voice for the purpose of sending via text, email, twitter and Facebook. As a tip, click on settings first and set up your social networking accounts so you don’t need to fumble with them when you need to be hands free.

I would also suggest turning on the name recognition that is based off of your contact list. Of course, as my youngest son isn’t on my contact list (no, my almost three-year-old doesn’t have a cell phone), it really didn’t recognize his name. It came out as everything from okay to taipei to hi dad. However, my older son’s name was easily recognized as was my husband’s. My name came out as Jana, which is close enough, I suppose.

As far as “hands free” goes, it’s not perfect, which is the general consensus about these voice-to-text apps. To record, you have to tap the record button. To finish it up, however, there is a setting (not default) that detects end-of-speech. To send to email, twitter, Facebook or text, you then have to tap the corresponding button and follow through with any steps through that function. Lots of tapping.

When it comes down to it, I find this to be a useful app for various reasons. It would be great to catch an idea when you’re away from your laptop. Or to tweet when you don’t feel like typing. Or just for fun. But I don’t want any parents (or anyone) to assume that this app is good or safe for use while driving. Keep your hands on the wheel and your mind on the road.

Other bloggers have some great reviews.

• Gear Diary has a well-written, detailed review, complete with video. They are big fans.
• MOMeo Magazine lists it as one of their Top 10 iPhone Apps. Some great apps make the list!

Jenna Hatfield, aka @FireMom on Twitter, also writes at Stop, Drop & Blog and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land. She works as a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.