T-Mobile to offer free cell phones
This Saturday, T-Mobile is trying a pre-emptive strike at AT&T before the latest iPhones go on sale June 24. The company is offering free phones to customers who sign up for group calling plans at its retail stores on Saturday June 19 beginning at 8 a.m..
The “family plan” is for a calling plan that has at least 2 users. Current customers can upgrade their plans to “family plans” to take advantage of the offer.
The offer includes smartphones running Google’s Android such as myTouch 3G Slide, the HTC HD2, and the Garminfone.
Togetherville–social network for kids and parents
Togetherville is a social site for kids under 10 to play games, create art, and learn new things alongside their parents and people you know and trust to supervise.
Parents create their kid’s “neighborhood” using friends and family through Facebook.
On the site, kids can play ad-free games, create artwork, watch pre-screened videos and connect with approved friends.
The site says that parents can use the site to help teach their kids to be good members of the digital community.
As we know from other reports, kids are going to need all the help they can get.
Only parents can create a child’s account and parents are encouraged to use a child’s real name and photo to build real-world relationships. Togetherville builds a neighborhood for your child by drawing from the parent’s own Facebook network and linking with friends and children who are using Togetherville.
“Togetherville is social-networking training wheels for families,” said Anne Collier, co-director of ConnectSafely.org and co-chair of the Obama administration’s Online Safety & Technology Working Group.
My children are still a little young for this, but it could be a nice option as they age and start asking for their own Facebook pages.
TextArrest App makes driving safer
Texting and driving are a bad combination no matter who you are. Teens are especially susceptible given the sheer volume of their texting.
TextArrest is a clever new app that disables your phone’ when the device is in motion (over 5 mph). TextArrest Free™ and TextArrest Family™ launched today at CTIA WIRELESS expo. It keeps users safe while driving by disabling texting, instant messaging, calling, Web browing and other phone-based distractions.
Parents can add to their ability to manage their teens phones through Text Arrest’s subscription based service that offers more control.
The TextArrest Family version also includes these features:
- A Web-based management portal that lets parents take note of all phone use activity.
- A geofencing feature that lets parents draw boundaries on a map, such as around a school, and alerts parents when a phone travels beyond geofenced boundaries.
- Customizable alerts to notify parents in real-time when phones are traveling beyond speed limits, including a report of what speed at which the phone was clocked.
- Customizable alerts to notify parents in real-time when TextArrest settings are tampered with or overridden.
You might wonder, what if you are just a passenger, can you still use your phone? The program includes a “passenger” override option. Also, the app does not prevent you from calling emergency services regardless of conditions.
All versions of TextArrest require only a simple application download and no hardware changes to disable text messaging and calling functions. There are no set-up or activation charges, and TextArrest Family subscriptions start at $4.99/month to cover up to five family members, a price well below competing services that have fewer capabilities. At launch TextArrest supports Android and BlackBerry smartphones with additional platforms coming soon.
Magical Timing
So anyone who’s anyone knows Harry Potter. And anyone who knows Harry Potter knows about Harry’s best friend Ron. And if you know Ron then you know his family, including his mom. And if you know Mrs. Molly Weasley you know she has that really cool clock that points out the relative location and state (ex: mortal peril) of all the family members. Well it seems that’s magic no more.
Over at hackedgadgets.com there is now a way to create a magic clock using Twitter and other electronics. The full technological details can be found at the site. How cool is it that magic keeps getting closer to the realm of actual possibility?
Young kids top internet searches–#4 porn
Yep, you read that right. The word “porn” is the fourth most frequent search for children under 7 according to Symantec’s latest top 100 search term list via OnlineFamily.Norton.Com. Interestingly, that was higher than searches by older age groups who were more likely to search for “sex.” What are kids under 7 doing knowing what porn is, much less being free to look it up online frequently enough that it has soared into the top 5.
Of course, one has to question the data but when you look at the complete list it does ring rather true. So is big brother logging in with junior’s account so he gets blamed if mom and dad find out? Who knows. . .
By the way, YouTube, Google and Facebook were the top three. Other popular terms had to do with music (such as Michael Jackson and Taylor Swift), celebrities, online games or social networking.
Apparently parents are using the Symantec software to prevent their children from finding things online they don’t want them, too, but as they say the software is no substitute for parental supervision. Just a fresh reminder that parenting doesn’t stop in the virtual world, if anything it is more important since there are fewer restrictions.
Ripple connects loved ones with kids through books
Ripple is an online service that connects kids with loved ones such as parents on the battlefield or grandparents in another town through the magic of reading.
Users record themselves reading books in Ripple’s online library that the child can access to hear their own story with their copy of the book in hand. Designed for kids 4-8, the service has kids listening to stories again and again.
Users can buy a single recording session for $9.95 or a package that brings the per-recording price as low as $4.58. Ripple is also supporting schools and libraries. To find out how your local school or library can take part, see www.RippleReader.com.
Another way to connect with kids this way is through recordable hardcover books available from Hallmark.
Guardians of Their Smiles
The NY Times article Guardians of Their Smiles looks into the debate of the pros and cons of posting photos of your children online. It begins with the story of a mom whose daughter’s picture was taken from Flickr and used on a Brazilian chat site.
It serves as a stark reminder to make sure that you are using privacy settings on social sites and blogs (just like you tell your kids too!) I go back and forth on using my kids names on sites like Facebook. I generally don’t on my personal blog. I don’t want some employer years from now looking them up and seeing their baby pics.
A grayer area is what about when someone else is posting a photograph of you or your child. What is the etiquette for this new social taboo?
Read the article. It is definitely worth thinking about.
Is your family ignoring each other?
A new report suggests that families are spending less time interacting and technology may be to blame.
The study by the Annenberg Center for the Digital Future at the University of Southern California polled 2,030 people ages 12 and up, found that
“28 percent of Americans it interviewed last year said they have been spending less time with members of their households. That’s nearly triple the 11 percent who said that in 2006.”
The study didn’t blame Internet social networking sites but the change has coincided with the rise of sites like Twitter and Facebook.
Of course, I know families who feel better connected because of technology and many parents who find texting with their children a great way to stay in touch with their day-to-day life.
What do you think? Has technology made your family spend less time together or more?
Feeling adventurous?
OK so maybe you can’t afford to travel around the world, but you can eat around the world from home with Destination Dinners.
This innovative company will send you a package with the authentic spices and sauces needed to cook up to four servings of international dishes such as
In addition each kit includes a shopping list for fresh ingredients, cooking instructions and cultural information about the place the recipe is from.
Current destinations include:
New Orleans, USA Creole Style Jambalaya
Boston Beach, Jamaica — Jerk Chicken & Shrimp Barbecue
Beirut, Lebanon — Kibbeh bil-Saneeyeh, Baked Spiced Lamb
Haifa, Israel — Falafel with Hellfire Harissa Sauce and Chickpea Croquets with Hot Sauce
Kyoto, Japan — Saikyo Miso, Black Cod in Miso Marinade
Tokyo, Japan — Katsudon, Pork Cutlet and Egg Rice Bowl
Dhaka, Bangladesh — Chicken Garam Masala, Chicken with Warming Spices
Bangkok, Thailand — Khao Ob Sapparod, Baked Pineapple Rice with Chicken and Cashews
Ayutthaya, Thailand — Kaeng Khiaw-Waan Kai and Kanom Tuay Foo, Green Chicken Curry with Puffy Cups
Seoul, South Korea — Bulgogi, Marinated Fire Meat
Destination Dinners recipe kits are $25 and are currently only sold online.
Cozi adds new features
In September I highlighted Cozi–an online planner for families on the go. They have recently added a few new features.
With the new year just around the bend, now might be a good time to start using it to keep everyone’s schedules in sync and more.
