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Back to School TI-Nspire Touchpad Calculator Giveaway-CLOSED

August 27, 2010 by

I remember when I was in high school (which was a very long time ago, LOL) and needing a scientific calculator. If I remember correctly it was a Texas Instrument; expensive and did everything but not like the new TI-Nspire with Touchpad from Texas Instrument.

We recently received the TI-Nspire with Touchpad from Texas Instrument for review and just in the nick of time because on the 30th of this month Sabreena will be starting high school and this calculator will be getting used often. The TI-Nspire with Touchpad has a ton of really cool features like Touch it and Graph it. The Touch it is an easy glide touchpad which allows it to operate like a computer with a mouse. You can install software onto your home computer which allows you to easily create, edit and transfer TI-Nspire documents between computer and handheld. With this software you can save your documents, print out documents and share TI-Nspire documents between calculator and computer – and with your teacher.

The TI-Nspire with Touchpad from Texas Instrument also has a nice selection of accessories like a rechargeable battery and in interchangeable keypads. The TI-Nspire comes with four AAA batteries but the rechargeable battery allows you to easily charge it via the wall adapter or USB to charge it through the computer. Interchange it –When you snap on the TI-84 Plus Keypad, you get all the features of the TI-84Plus – a great added value. Need one? Get it by mail at no added cost – just look on your package.

This is a really hi-tech calculator that your student should not be without. I am glad that Sabreena will be starting off high school on the right foot with the TI-Nspire with Touchpad from Texas Instrument. Win a Math Makeover Kit which includes a TI-Nspire calculator, 60 minutes Tutor.com, and other fun prizes for a student in your life. Tell me who would benefit from this “Math Makeover”

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment, attached to you blogger dashboard or easily seen on your website/blog. I will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Review, Family Story or Article; let me know where to find your comment.
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Follow Mom and Dad and Texas Instruments on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway up to 3 times per day, please leave your twitter link each time, tweet a form of this message: Win hi-tech TI-Nspire Touchpad Calculator @lkwhtmomfound @and_dad_too http://bit.ly/a8VGiM            
  • Like LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! on Facebook AND post about this giveaway on your wall. (include link to giveaway)
  • Blog about this giveaway, including links to this post and the sponsor as well as a complete description the the contest and prize
  • Follow LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via Google Friend Connect (bottom of page)

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Friday,  September 17, 2010. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Your experiences and reactions may differ from ours.



VTech V.Reader Recap and Giveaway – CLOSED

June 25, 2010 by

Learning to read is one of a child’s greatest milestones. VTech knows this and has just introduced the V.Reader. Think Kindle but for kids. The V.Reader is the coolest gadget around with a fun, exciting and educational twist. A quick rundown of the features:

 

  • Animated Storyteller: Stories come to life through vivid animation, narration, character voices, graphics, sounds and music. Young children engage with stories by watching, reading and learning. They follow their favorite character’s voice, play reading games and use the story dictionary.
  • Downloadable Fun: (coming soon) With a rich download library, more than 100 additional stories will be available via a download library located on the VTech Web site (www.vtechkids.com), including some free titles, more themes and avatars to customize their e-readers. V.Reader is compatible with a PC or Mac computer.
  • Track Progress: Parents can join in on the fun and learning process with the features that include progress reports and reading certificates.
  • Lovable Characters: Children’s favorite licensed characters come to life and help them learn with 11 software options (with more titles to be added in the near future).
  • Touch and Read System: Kids have two play options – listen and follow along to the story as read by animated characters; or touch the screen and play reading games to learn each word or sentence.
  • Reading Skills: Your child learns the necessary building blocks to grow into a fluent reader. V.Reader teaches reading comprehension, vocabulary, phonics and word building, along with a story dictionary that describes word definitions in a manner that’s easy for them to comprehend.

Shae and Shaun have been playing with the V.Reader for the past week with fun results. Shae likes the games that came with The Little Engine That Could. Shaun likes the dictionary; he likes to get his own explanation out before the V.Reader then see how they compare. So far the V.Reader is a great addition to the kids educational toys/tools and I look forward to seeing how Shae grows into it and Shaun teaches his little sister.

V.Reader will be available exclusively at Target June 20 and nationwide in August at all key retailers and online at www.vtechkids.com.

Win your own V.Reader from VTech right here at LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Visit VTech and tell me what V.Reader game you would be a great match for your kids.
EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment, attached to you blogger dashboard or easily seen on your website/blog. I will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Sign up for VTech email newsletter
  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Family Story or Article; let me know where to find your comment.
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Follow Mom and Dad and VTech on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway 3 times per day, please leave your twitter link each time, tweet a form of this message: Win a @VTechToys V.Reader @lkwhtmomfound @and_dad_too http://bit.ly/bqYI1u
  • Like LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! and VTech on Facebook AND post about this giveaway on your wall. (include link to this post)
  • Blog about this giveaway, including links to this post and the sponsor as well as a complete description the the contest and prize
  • Follow LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via Google Friend Connect (bottom of page)

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Friday,  July 16, 2010. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

 




iFrogz CS40’s Headphones Comfy for Kids, Perfect for Dad Gift

June 10, 2010 by

As a family we like technology. On car rides the kids or during downtime the kids can be found playing games or listening to music. Even in the car the DVD is a best friend. I hate listening to 3 or 4 different toys/games/devices going at the same time. The IFrogz CS40’s headphones that were sent for Shaun and Shae are awesome.

Since they are younger/littler earbuds don’t usually work for them. The CS40’s are full sized headphones with a cushy, comfortable, ear-cupping fit; the CS stands for comfort series, they got that right. The headband is adjustable too so they can be easily worn by anyone in the family. The ear pieces fold into themselves for easy storage too; helpful when the geek drawer is filled to capacity.

I like that the kids can play and listen and I don’t have to listen to it. The standard jack fits into all of their gadgets plus the DVD player in the van; perfect for when the wireless headphone’s batteries decide to die in the middle of a long car ride. I’ve even plugged them into my laptop to watch old episode of Family Guy on Hulu.

Here is the tech breakdown of the CS40’s from IFrogz (I don’t know what any of this mean, but it might be important to someone)

  • Driver Unit: 40 mm
  • Impedance: 32 ohms
  • Sensitivity: 120 dB +/- 3 dB
  • Frequency Response: 30 Hz to 20 kHz
  • Cord Length: 1.2 m
  • Plug: 3.5 mm

All in all I’m impressed with the durability of the CS40’s. Between Shae who leaves her stuff on the floor to be stepped on and Shaun who is a rough 7 year old these have held up perfectly. The sound quality is great and best of all they are comfortable on my kid’s heads and ears.

IFrogz does more than earphones. iFrogz brings you the absolute most original and customizable iPod™, MP3 player, smart phone and digital media accessories around.

Win your own pair of iFrogz CS40’s (value $39.99) for you or a kiddo in your life. Visit iFrogz and let me know what else catches your eye.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment, attached to you blogger dashboard or easily seen on your website/blog. I will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Join iFrogz mailing list, includes emails of special offers, coupons, sales notices and more.
  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway  Family Story or Article; let me know where to find your comment.
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Follow Mom and Dad and iFrogz on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway up to 3 times per day, please leave your twitter link each time, tweet a form of this message: Win pair of @ifrogz CS40’s headphones @lkwhtmomfound @and_dad_too http://bit.ly/d91na5 
  • Like LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! and iFrogz on Facebook AND post about this giveaway on your wall.
  • Blog about this giveaway, including links to this post and the sponsor as well as a complete description the the contest and prize
  • Follow LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via Google Friend Connect (bottom of page)

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Thrusday,  July 1, 2010. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Your experiences and reactions may differ from ours.




Droid and Palm Pixi Plus from Verizon

April 29, 2010 by

We were given the opportunity to review 2 Verizon Wireless smartphones we had been eyeing for some time.

Palm Pixi Plus analysed by Melinda
I love my Blackberry, you all know that but I was very interested in the Palm Pixi Plus. You see I used to have a Palm Pilot(well actually still have it in a drawer) and loved it. It was a great organization tool, keeper of notes, meal planner and calendar wizard. I figured the Palm Pixi Plus would be just as good with the added bonuses of a phone and computer rolled into one.
I first fell in love with its sleek compact design. It was super skinny, I could slide it into any pocket. I kinda liked the touch screen but found it to be a little finicky at times; the response time was at times sluggish or just non-existant. Apps aren’t really of interest to me except for Facebook and Twitter so I don’t have an opinion on them. I did like the ability to keep multiple windows open at the same time just sliding them over like a stack of papers and tossing them away when done. The picture quality was really good too, better than what I have. I also love YouTube but definitely didn’t use it enough to really appreciate that it was at my fingertips at any moment.
The keyboard wasn’t my favorite, too tight and with any length of nails that just made it harder to type. Also the auto-close USB flap was enough to make me throw it; I needed 3 hands to plug it in. Probably more of a learning curve I wasn’t entirely digging the messaging system, it felt cluttered to me. I also found myself handing up on phone calls, my face was pressing the touch screen, I have fat cheeks I guess.
Here is a rundown of key features:

  • Full QWERTY touchscreen
  • Display: 2.63-inch 320×400
  • Battery: 5 hours talk time | 350 hours stand-by
  • 8G Flash/256 RAM
  • 2 Megapixel Camera with Flash
  • Music: MP3, WAV, AAC/AAC+
  • Video: MPEG4, H.263, H.264
  • 3G Mobile Hot Spot
  • Bluetooth capable
  • Gesture Area-enable simple intuitive gestures for navigation
  • Weight 3.26oz

All in all if I had the Palm Pixi Pre as my first smartphone I would be entirely pleased.

Droid analysed by Rob
I got the chance to review the Droid by Motorola which was great because this is the phone I have been wanting to replace my Blackberry every since the Droid came out. The first thing you have to do to setup the Driod is sign up for a Google Email Account (Gmail) if you do not have one already. This was a pretty simple step then you need to set up your email accounts and that is pretty much all of the setup that is needed.

Now is where the fun begins on what apps you are going to download first via the Android Market. I enjoyed using the Android Market because it was broken down into a Top Free and Top Paid category which is nice so you can see what is available. I tend to be a little on the cheap side when it comes to apps so I used the Top Free section quite often. I only downloaded a few apps like The Weather Channel, Four Square and Twitter Droid because to me Twitter is a necessity on my cell phone. Downloading and installation were simple and pretty efficient. The Droid also is WiFi capable which would make downloading apps way faster then using the 3G network but after countless hours I was unable to get the WiFi feature to work. Not sure if it was me or the phone but WiFi is pretty simple to setup so I have to assume it wasn’t me. Texting and using Twitter were a big challenge for me over my Blackberry due to the fact that the Driod’s keyboard is wider then the Blackberries. After a few days I did get use to the keyboard but prefer the keyboard setup on the Blackberry much better. The Droid’s battery life was pretty standard and would last a full day even with my playing with it for a lot of the day. All in all the Droid is a great phone and has a ton of great features that I think many people would find useful and beneficial to their daily lives. I must admit that I didn’t test every single feature and ability of the phone but below are listed some additional details and features of the Droid:

Design

  • World’s Thinnest QWERTY Slider
  • 3.7″ Touch Screen 480×854 WVGA display — supports up to 16M colors
  • Slide–Out QWERTY Keyboard
  • Bluetooth® v2.1 + EDR Supported Profiles: Headset (HSP), Hands–free (HFP), Stereo Audio, Phonebook Access
  • 5 Megapixel camera with auto–focus, dual LED Flash and Image Stabilization
  • DVD Quality Video Capture with quick and easy uploading to YouTube
  • Dedicated Camera/Video Key

Music

  • Download MP3s from Amazon Music Store
  • Create and manage playlists
  • Headset: 3.5mm Audio Jack

General

  • Upgradeable to Android 2.1 OS; Google Experience Device
  • Integrated Google, Exchange and Facebook contacts
  • Push Email Support: Gmail and Exchange
  • Google Calendar and Corporate Calendar
  • Cortex A8 processor with dedicated HW Acceleration
  • Pre–installed 16GB microSD
  • WiFi capable
  • aGPS capable for e911 emergency location/s GPS
  • Speakerphone
  • Advanced Speech Recognition
  • Polyphonic and MP3 Ringtones
  • Embedded ringtones, vibrating alerts and silent

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Your experiences and reactions may differ from ours.




Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System

January 17, 2010 by

Being as anal as I am I always worry about the house when we are away for any length of time. Thank goodness for Logitech because my fears are now calmed with the Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System.

Logitech was nice enough to send me the Indoor Video Security Master System for analysis. I am grateful they did because I received it before Christmas and was able to set the camera up in the living room. The camera was setup so it would capture any activity in the living room which is where our Christmas tree and presents were.
Setup was simple and in less than 15 minutes my camera was up and running. All I had to do was run the setup wizard to install the software on my computer, plug in the USB receiver module and then setup and plug in the camera and that was about it. The Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System uses Homeplug connectivity which means you’ll be up and running in no time—no new wires to run, no network configuration. It transmits encrypted video over your existing electrical wires straight to your PC. It’s really that easy.

Once I was done with these steps the next thing I did was go to the WiLife Command Center and got myself familiar with how the command center works. The WiLife Command Center is where you can playback recorded video or watch live video.

What I think is really cool about the Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System is that when the camera detects motion WiLife automatically records video and saves them as .wmv files on your pc’s hard drive. Once recorded on your hard drive you can go back and watch the video segments via the playback screen.

The Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System also allows you to receive email and cell phone alerts when a camera detects motion. You have the option to receive one of three message types: simple text only, text and one frame of video or a video clip. You also have the ability to remotely watch video while away from home via a computer or Windows Mobile enabled wireless PDAs or cell phones. Log into WiLife Online at online.wilife.com and you can access live video from your cameras anywhere in the world, at any time.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

The Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System supports up to six cameras so if you need to add additional cameras you have the option to. Logitech also has an outdoor camera you can add in addition to the indoor cameras if you need to record what is going on outside of the home. If you need additional features other then what I have listed or system requirements click HERE.

I have been using the Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System for about two months and am really impressed with how easy the system was to setup and use. I am also impressed with the cameras video quality. If you need piece of mind while away from the home I would recommend picking up the Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System.

Want to win your own Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System ? Visit Logitech and tell me what you like most about the indoor or outdoor security system.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment, attached to you blogger dashboard or easily seen on your website/blog. I will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Family Story or Article; let me know where to find your comment
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Follow Mom and Dad and Logitech on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway DAILY for an additional entry each day, copy and paste this message, Leave your Twitter Link: Looking for piece of mind? Enter to win an indoor security system from @logitech and @lkwhtmomfound @and_dad_too http://bit.ly/4ytLOv
  • Become a fan of LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! on Facebook
  • Join our Chat with Mom and Dad group on Savvy Source
  • Follow LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via Google Friend Connect

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Monday, February 8, 2010. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too!




The ALBUM keeps your digital pictures in view

December 4, 2009 by

 
I can’t begin to tell you how many digital images we have. Even before we had a digital camera I used to have my film developed AND put on a disk so that I would always have a copy. How many do you think you have? How do you view and share these pictures? My answer is we don’t share as much as we should. I’ve always wanted a better way to share these memories with friends and family.

The ALBUM™ has made this possible. What’s the ALBUM™? To put it simply, it’s a portable digital photogallery that acts like a digital frame. That means not only can you store a ton of photos you can also view them on an end table, at lunch with friends or at a family reunion. The size of the ALBUM™ is key too, small enough to fit in a handbag but with a screen large enough to completely enjoy the image being shown.
Time to get technical:
Size 0.55″
7.7″ x 4.45″
Display Size 7″ (800 x 480 pixels)  
Weight 0.9 lbs  
Capacity 4 GB (up to 40,000 images) Internal Memory Can be increased to 20GB by inserting an SD memory card  
Compatibility USB Device, USB Master, SD Cards  
Battery Life 3 hours  
Accessories Genuine leather case, Universal Charger with Replaceable Plugs, USB Cable  
     


We recently had the chance to chat with one of the creators Dominika Applova. Being a busy mom she knew she needed a better method of sharing pictures. The idea of the ALBUM™ came from necessity, it had to be simple and FAST and most of all useable. More than just portable storage, the screen allows for an interactive experience; sharing laughs, smiles and tears while scanning photos with family and friends. Dominika really pressed the issue of its simplicity. The ability to plug in almost any gadget and move files is a fantastic draw. The simple 3 button navigation is all that is needed; no complicated menus or permissions to approve. The ALBUM™ is meant to be USED for sharing not storage, it needed to be easy to use.

My favorite feature is you never need a computer to view your shots. Slide out that memory card from the in-laws camera, pop it into the ALBUM™ and take all those xmas pics moments after they were snapped. No more waiting for that email saying they’ve been uploaded to a photo sharing site. Did you give an ALBUM™ as a gift? Hook up your Albums together with a USB cable to share pics NOW not later.

The future is looking promising for The ALBUM™.  Future editions may have the ability of storing and viewing video! I immediately knew Dominika and her team had touched on a unique and original idea that everyone never knew they needed but will soon not be able to leave the house without. No more “Let me see pics of the kids” and coming up empty handed.

What is the point of taking pictures if they won’t be seen? Become a fan of the ALBUMteam Ltd. to keep updated on all the progress and changes on the horizon. Purchase the ALBUM™ for yourself or as that perfect gift for someone else (already loaded with pics of course) directly from Album-Life.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too!




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