Safer driving with new Navman GPS devices

We've all seen the TV and newspaper adverts about not using your phone while driving – a second of distraction can so easily lead to disaster.  But I think there’s something else that is almost as distracting – for me anyway – a GPS device.  

How much concentration does it take to follow a map on your GPS?  If you drive a larger vehicle or you normally wear glasses it’s even more difficult to see what’s on that small screen.  Thankfully, GPS screens are getting bigger.

Navman have just launched 5 inch and 7 inch models in their EZY range – with a simple layout that anyone can use easily.  

Both devices feature free lifetime map updates, including safety alerts, warnings about traffic congestion, speed limits, speed or safety cameras, school zones and accident blackspots.  They can even help you find the closes service station that serves your particular fuel type.

Both models are available now - the 5 inch model EZY255LMT is $169 and the 7 inch EZY270LMT is $279.

D-Link Wi-Fi Baby Camera - not just for babies

Those of you who know me know that my boys are no longer babies, so you might be wondering why I'm reviewing a baby monitor.  I do know that a lot of my readers DO have babies, so when I was offered the D-Link Wi-Fi Baby Camera to trial and review, I thought it might be something of interest, and I had some ideas for other uses for it too.  Don’t run away if you don’t have a baby – read to the end and you’ll see how this camera is a lot more than a baby monitor! 

D-Link Wi-Fi Baby Camera DCS-825L

When you first unpack it, the D-Link Wi-Fi Baby Camera looks like a large webcam.  Just plug it in to the power, download the app to your phone or tablet (it’s available for iOS and Android) and you’re guided through the Setup Wizard.  The camera has its own Wi-Fi code, which you enter into the app to link it to your phone or tablet, then you link the camera to your home Wi-Fi network.  The whole set up took less than 10 minutes.  The last step is to create an account with D-Link which means you can monitor the camera from anywhere in the world just by visiting the D-Link website and logging in.

What’s so special about this baby camera?

• Rather than just hearing your baby you can see your baby.

• Distance isn't a problem - you can be in the living room, in the garden, or at your neighbours home. 

• High definition vision quality means that even in a dark room you can still see up to 5 metres.

• 4 x digital zoom from your phone or tablet.

• There’s two way audio, which means that as well as listening to your baby, you can also talk to your baby.  There’s even a lullaby player built in with five different tunes.

• Set it to alert you when motion or noise is detected, or when there’s a temperature change in the room.

• Insert a microSD card and record video or images.

• Both the blue and pink coloured rings come with the camera, so you can colour coordinate with your baby’s décor.

This camera would be perfect for a parent who has to travel for work, or worse, who works/lives apart from their family for any length of time.  I know for me, being away from my family is hardest at night, and luckily that didn’t happen when my boys were babies, but to have been able to see them tucked into their beds and sleeping would have at least assured me that everything was OK.  Just log in to your camera via the D-link website and you view the camera images live, even from the other side of the world!

Apart from being a brilliant baby monitor/camera, there are plenty of non-baby uses I came up with

• Pet owners – do you have a pet who frets when you’re not there?  You can talk to it via the camera, as well as checking that it’s not doing something it shouldn’t!

• A sick child at home and you have to work, or go to the shops?  You can make sure they’re ok while you’re out.

• If your house is for sale you can be a ‘fly on the wall’ during an open for inspection

• An older parent living alone – you could check occasionally to make sure they’re ok

• Recently my father spent his first night out of hospital with us.  I wish I’d had the D-Link then, because if he needed something in the middle of the night, all he would have had to do was speak into the monitor.

• My parents still live in their own home and my father is the carer for my mother who has dementia.  They live in a two storey house and twice so far my mother has fallen over while my father has been downstairs.  With the D-Link camera set up he could have seen what was going on upstairs and heard my mother when she called for help.

Luckily it’s a few years since I've had to worry about this, but lately there have been a few posts on other forums, so I know it’s an issue a few face.  I once had a friend whose child delighted in tormenting one of my sons whenever they visited, but it was never when their mother was around, so she never saw what happened.  If I’d had the D-Link baby camera then I would have had my iPad in our view wherever we were so we could both see exactly what he little ‘angel’ got up to out of her sight!

Then there’s a whole lot of other uses once the kids got hold of it during the holidays

• Hide and seek/44 Homes changes completely when the camera is set up to monitor a strategic location, with the iPad left on a table where those ‘in the know’ could casually take a look.

• My boys love Prank Patrol on ABC3, so Aaron’s first thought was how to use the camera to prank his little brother!  The two way audio was perfect for making his little brother and his friend think the house was haunted!  He just hid the camera in Danny’s bedroom and spoke into my phone (and watched the results) from the other end of the house.

• I really don't suggest this one unless you want World War III - set up the camera behind your opponent while playing a card game and you can glance at your phone occasionally to see their hand!

The D-Link Wi-Fi Baby Camera 825 costs between $180 and $250, depending on where you buy, and you can read more about it here 

What would you use the D-Link Wi-Fi Baby Camera for?

Disclosure:  Whilst I was given the D-Link Wi-Fi Baby Camera to review, all opinions are my own

Phone review: Samsung Galaxy S5

As one of the Virgin Mobile Handset Tester Team I've been trying out the Samsung Galaxy S5 for the last two weeks. 

I love this phone, and if your phone contract is up for renewal or you just want to replace your phone the Samsung Galaxy S5 is definitely worth considering.   Take a look at my review video below...

If you're interested in the apps I talk about in my review, my next post will be all about them and the other apps I use to manage my business and my life.




Disclosure:  Virgin Mobile Australia gave me a Samsung Galaxy S5 to review but all views expressed are my own.

InDepth - the toughest iPhone case

I've got a very special iPhone case for you all today - the InDepth iPhone 5/5S waterproof and weatherproof case. 

This isn't a pretty case to be left in your handbag – although they do look very smart - these are the toughest cases on the market – especially designed in Australia for the tradesmen, the adventurers and the active people who need a case that can take some hard knocks.  This case can take being driven over, taken on a swim, buried in dirt and survive the inevitable drops. 

The InDepth case makes your iPhone resistant to water, dirt, impact and snow. 

There are also some great accessories that you can attach to the case – a floating lanyard, adhesive mount, bike and bar mount, and a bottle opener belt clip.

You can buy an InDepth case here for $99.95 including free Express Post within Australia.  There is also an iPhone 4/4S case available for $89.95.

Would you like an InDepth case?

It’s all very well me telling you about this case, but unfortunately I can’t give it a really good trial – I just don’t think I could be tough enough on it.  So, I’d like one of my readers to take on the job of giving it a really good test run – and you get to keep the case too! 

If you or your partner think you could give an InDepth case a good workout just leave me a comment below telling me what you think makes you (or your partner) the perfect ‘tester’.

 

I'm going to ask the winner to let us all know how the case performed by answering some questions that I’ll provide.  I’ll then publish the review (and some pictures, I hope) on the blog. 

Competition Conditions:

• This competition is a game of skill.
• The prize is an orange InDepth iPhone 5/5S case with belt clip
• Submit your entry in a comment at the bottom of this post.  
• Follow Techie Mum on Facebook here – if you don’t already.
• This competition is open to Australian Residents only.  
• The competition is open for one week – from 30 April to 7 May 2014
• You must own or have access to an iPhone 5 or 5s to trial the case
• You agree to trial and review this case by answering the questions I will provide – within two weeks of receiving your InDepth case.
• No responsibility taken for damage to your iPhone while using this case
• The winner will be announced on Thursday 8 May 2014 on the Techie Mum blog, Facebook page, and Twitter. 
• The winner will be contacted via the blog or by email address where one has been provided.  The winner has four days to reply, otherwise the prize will go to the next best entry.

This giveaway has now ended - the winner is Karen Edwards.  I will be featuring Karen's review of the InDepth case in the next few weeks.

Logitech case+ review

Every now and then a new variation on something we use every day comes out and you wonder – why didn't they think of that earlier?  This is one of those cases! 

Logitech has just released some brilliant new iPhone 5/5S cases that do a lot more than just protect your phone.  Case+ is a smart slim case that will give your iPhone moderate protection from drops and side impacts.  It has soft-touch polycarbonate ends and sides and a metal back shield, with cut outs for all the buttons, switches and ports.  But it’s not just the case that you’ll want, it’s what you can add-on to the case, because the case is just the base for some very useful gadgets….

Case+tilt

The Case+ tilt is a thin panel that attaches to the back of your Case+ and lets you attach your smartphone magnetically to any metal surface – why haven’t I seen anything like this before?  I used it in the kitchen to watch cooking videos with it mounted to my fridge. I've also found a great way of not losing my phone under the papers on my desk – I now stick it to my magnetic whiteboard or the metal filing cabinet next to my desk. 

If you've ever propped your phone up against something to stand it up you’ll love what else you can do with the +tilt panel.  The edges of the panel can click together to form a little kickstand that allows you to stand your iPhone up.  

This was very handy at my father-in-law’s birthday dinner on Saturday night – rather than having to pass the phone around the table to look at the latest family pics we could stand it up in front of a few at a time and they could view a slideshow of the photos.   It would also be perfect for a group Skype call; for positioning your phone if you are recording sound, and watching videos.  It’s meant to form a stand with your phone horizontal, but you can pop the kickstand off and if you position it about half way up your phone it will support it vertically as well.   The stand also makes a handy earphone holder!

Case+drive

Now that it is illegal to hold your phone while driving; and our phones often now replace a separate GPS – a hands free mount in the car is essential.  The Case+drive magnetically mounts your phone to your car’s dashboard or windshield.  There are no clips to hold your phone – with the Case+ on your phone you just place it against the +drive mount and it is securely magnetically attached – in whatever position you prefer.  No clips also means that getting your phone off the mount is just a matter of pulling it straight off.  The +drive mount separates to allow it to be positioned at whatever angle you need.

That yellow lever you can just see in the picture above is used to attach the +drive to your dashboard or windscreen – twist it until it clicks to lock, and untwist to unlock.  Which means it is really easy to change the position of your Case+drive mount.  Transfer it from the dashboard to the windscreen – or back again – great for suiting different driver preferences.   If you want to make your +drive even more secure and you've got just the one spot where you always use it on your dashboard, you can first attach the included ‘dashboard mounting adaptor’ (adhesive on one side) which you can then attach the +drive to.  You don’t need to use the adaptor if you attach to your windscreen.

Whilst you want the convenience of being able to use your phone in your car if you have to, you don’t want it obstructing your vision.  The Case+drive is so much smaller and neater than any other car mount I've seen – it's about a third of the size of my old phone mount.

The clever Logitech people also include a metallic universal phone adaptor, which means any smartphone can be used with the Case+drive – not just an iPhone.  The thin plate is placed either inside a slim phone case or directly onto the back of a phone. 

With Case+ you can buy exactly what you need - just the case or with the accessories you want:

You can find out more about the case+ products, including the case+energy, a battery pack, that I haven’t reviewed here.

These products are available online from the Logitech site, and at retailers around Australia, including JB Hi-Fi and Dick Smith.

Guess what lovely readers... I have a case+tilt to give away!  All you have to do to have a chance of winning is to make sure you have liked Techie Mum on Facebook, and leave me a comment below telling me where you'd most likely stick your case+tilt and why.  The most creative entry will win.  You've got until Sunday 23 March to enter.  Entry is only open to Australian residents.

Disclosure:  I was given the Case+tilt and Case+drive to trial and review.  All opinions are my own.

Giveaway Terms & Conditions

• This competition is a game of skill.
• Submit your entry in a comment at the bottom of this post.  
• Follow Techie Mum on Facebook here – if you don’t already.
• This competition is open to Australian Residents only.  
• The competition is open for one week – from 17 March to 23 March 2014
• The winner will be announced on Monday 24 March 2014 on the Techie Mum blog, Facebook page, and Twitter. 
• The winner will be contacted via the blog or by email address where one has been provided.  The winner has four days to reply, otherwise the prize will be redrawn.

This competition has now closed

The winning entry from Jennifer B creatively added some poetry too....

That Logitech case on my filing cabinet in plain field of view. No office handbag scrambles when calls come through.  And watching never-ending You-tube makeup how-to's... on the frame of my mirror! I'd stick it there too!!!

What can you do with an old smart phone?

From what I’ve been reading on Facebook lately there seems to be an epidemic of unwanted smartphones at the moment.  Everyone seems to be upgrading – maybe it’s just the time of year when contracts expire, or the new models that are appearing are just too attractive; but whatever it is, there are a lot of old smartphones going into drawers and forgotten about.  But there are so many uses for old phones, and you don’t need a SIM card for your phone to work:

A first phone for your child

Does your child need a phone yet?  Your child’s first phone will probably be a basic one – just for emergency calls – or when they start getting the bus home from school on their own?  Could your old phone do the trick? 

Even if it’s a smartphone, you can dumb it down a bit:

·       only sign up for a phone plan that does not have data – so it can only be used for phone calls and SMS

·       uninstall all the unnecessary apps and remove any personal accounts and data

·       turn off Wi-Fi so that the battery isn’t being drained constantly looking for a signal.  Try not to show your child how to access Wi-Fi because you don’t want them to be able to connect to Wi-Fi at their friend’s homes.  If you have Wi-Fi at home the phone will still be able to connect for updates, just make sure you do it.

Game player

Load the phone up with your child’s favourite games.  I’ve written before about how I gave my boys their Android ‘iPods’ – you can read it here.

A camera

The camera in some smartphones rivals, and in some cases is better than, a basic digital camera – and a lot smaller too.  You can download any photos by connecting the phone to your computer, or wirelessly with an appropriate app – like Dropbox.

A music player

You can load it up with your favourite songs and videos and you’ll have an FM radio as well.  How do you get the music onto the phone? Either by connecting the phone to your computer if you've got your music on it, or download them when the phone is connected to your home Wi-Fi.

A dedicated alarm clock 

You could just use the basic alarm function of the phone, or download something really fun

For reviews of some for your iPhone - click here

For Android - click here

Make sure you turn off all other notifications if you’re still using your phone for other things – you don’t want to be constantly woken by other sounds.

 

Keep it in the kitchen

Load the phone up with your favourite recipes and foodie apps.  You could even attach it with double-sided tape to a convenient spot (make sure you can charge it) so that you can see it while you’re cooking.  You can get cheap phone holders for cars that could easily be ‘adapted’ to hold the phone in the kitchen.

Use it as a phone – sort of

Download the Skype app or WhatsApp and use your phone for video calls and messaging when you’re connected to Wi-Fi at home.

A security camera at home

Download the AtHome Video Streamer app from Google Play or the App Store and set up your phone to keep an eye on your baby, the pets, the nanny – anything – while you’re away.  The instructions you need are here  

These are just some ideas of what you could do with your unwanted smartphone.  You can probably think of some more, and I’d love to hear your ideas, so please leave me a comment below.

Choosing a new mobile phone

I've been trying to figure out which mobile phone to buy now that my old one is starting to fail.  Luckily there have been some great articles written lately which are helping with my decision.  I thought you might be interested in them too…..

Choosing a new phone

How to pick your next Android phone from Lifehacker Australia

Mobile Phones Product Finder – a Good Gear Guide by PC World Australia

US readers:  How to buy a cell phone from PC Mag

Buying a mobile from ASIC

Smart phone reviews

Best 4G phones 2013 from TechRadar

20 best mobile phones in the world today from TechRadar

Mobile phone reviews from Product Review

Mobile phone reviews from WhistleOut

Compare prepaid and contract plans

Whistle Out – comparison site

Australia

UK  

The Best No-contract phone deal for each Australian Mobile Phone Network from Lifehacker Australia

Kidproofing shiny new tablets this Christmas

Today I have a guest at Techie Mum – Pia Argiratos from Powered Life.  Pia has important tips for you on looking after your valuable techie gadgets, some brilliant Christmas gift ideas, and some very special offers for Techie Mum readers……

Santa, in the form of Apple, Samsung and Google, is set to deliver loads of shiny new tablets and mobiles to people big and small this Christmas. It seems that the toughest decisions are whether to jump the shark and leave the iOS platform for Android, or whether to go for the mini tablet size versus the maxi, not whether to buy tech at all.

So much time is spent analysing and assessing, imagining and debating devices. Yet when the unboxing moment arrives, its sleek, seemingly perfect surfaces are, well, a bit daunting. “I don’t dare use it in case I break it” paralysis can be a surprise.

The value of a truly protective case or cover for your device can’t be overstated. Finding a case that genuinely protects your new mobile best friend from the trials of everyday life – drops, spills, kids – can be a challenge. So here are seven tips on what to look for.

Drop proof protection

Repairs for a tablet or mobile phone begin at $100 so investing in a case that gives you real protection from shock and impact is crucial when the device will be used by children. Hidden air chambers within silicon cases, and tough ABS plastic are just some of the solutions used by quality cases to give your device real life protection.

Screen cover

The screen is your access to the wonders of your device, so protect it and keep it free from scratches.  Inbuilt screen protectors are thick plastic screen covers so you will need to adjust to a slightly firmer touch, however the benefit in not worrying about sand grit under Junior’s fingers cannot be overstated.

Functional options

Consider your needs for using your device.  Will you be typing on it, so need a stand to keep a comfortable and safe posture? Need to mount your device on a wall to protect it, say in the kitchen? Different cases either include such options as standard, or can be added as accessories.

Waterproof Certification

When you are looking for a waterproof case, look for the industry leading certifications.  Military Standard 810G is a United States Military Standard used for drop and shock protection, while IP68 is a rating of Ingress Protection that categorises the degree of environmental protection against the invasion of solid foreign objects and water.

Brand name, brand quality

There is a reason why the big brands are well known.  Their cases are well designed, made with a quality approach from reliable materials.  They have warranty and information on how to use them that the rip-off or cheap versions don’t.  And most importantly they work.

Power it

Power hungry games can sap your phone of juice faster than Rory the Racing Car.  So having back up power on hand can save the day.  A small palm sized rechargeable power pack in your bag can give you the reassurance that you can recharge your full phone anywhere – never be caught with a flat battery again.  Another choice is a case with an extended battery built in, so one flick of a switch can see you recharge mid call, text or email.

Clean it

Cleaning your phone regularly to rid it of hand jam will help to ensure a longer life for any mobile phone or tablet.  Check the recommendations for your device or consider careful use of cleaning vinegar, rubbing alcohol or a good antibacterial cleanser.  Don’t douse your device, just dampen a soft cloth and give it a good wipe.  Check the ports for grit, clean them out carefully, making sure not to leave threads behind. Let it dry, give it another wipe. Let it dry and carry on.

Powered Life has kid-friendly iPad and tablet cases to help parents and schools extend the life of their investment in mobile technology. Powered Life partners with the best brands from around the world, including Otterbox, Lifeproof, Gumdrop, Trident, Incipio, Mophie and more. They offer a wide range of protective cases for tablets and mobile phones, plus portable power solutions – and more. All in one place, online at www.poweredlife.com.au.

Powered Life has an exclusive offer for Techie Mum readers on three of their most popular products.  These products can all be shipped immediately and you can be sure that they will arrive by Christmas.  (Move to the bottom of this article to see the exclusive offer)

iGuy Tough Case for iPad     $45

·       Fits all iPads

·       Kid-tested. With its flexible foam construction the lightweight iGuy is the perfect iPad partner for families with young children.

·       Free-standing. For cartoon hour the iGuy stands at attention—while it holds your iPad—offering a convenient viewing angle for short people.

·       Plays nice with all iPads. iPad 2, 3 or 4? Original iPad? 

      No problem. The iGuy holds ‘em all.

·       Squeezeable. The iGuy’s little arms and soft foam make it easy—and even fun—to hold.

·       Available in Chilli Pepper (red), Grape, Lime and Mango

Also available for iPad Mini

Trident Kraken AMS for iPad 2/3/4     $75

·       Shock-absorbing silicone.

·       Hardened polycarbonate plastic shell.

·       Built-in screen protector.

·       Dust covers over microphone and speaker bays.

·       Silicone plugs over port openings.

·       Accessorise with A.M.S. attachments including AMS Media Stand (optional extra $19).

Available with trim colours of: Black, Blue, Pink, Green, Red. Also available for iPad Mini.

Mophie Juice Pack Helium for iPhone 5    $95

·       Ultra-thin, 1500mAh protective battery case made for iPhone 5.

·       Helium is engineered with edge-to-edge protection and outfitted with 80% more battery life to keep your iPhone 5 safe and charged.

·       Talk Time - up to additional 6 hours on 3G

·       Internet Use - up to additional 6 hours on 3G, Up to additional 6 hours on LTE, Up to additional 7 hours on WiFi

·       Audio Playback - up to 30 hours

     Video Playback - up to 7 hours

Here’s the special deal: 

• Buy 2 iGuys OR Trident cases (iPad or iPad Mini), get 1 free! 

          (when ordering, in the comments box note what the free one is, iPad or iPad

            Mini and preferred colour)

• Buy Mophie Juice Pack Helium, get a free iGuy Case for iPad

Just mention Techie Mum in the comments box at Checkout to get these great deals.

An Android 'iPod'

I first posted this in December 2012, but it is still such a great idea that it deserves a second run..... with a little updating.  





My youngest son has asked for an iPod Touch for Christmas.  I know quite a few of his friends have them and I don’t really have a problem with him having one, except for the price.  Close to $300 is a bit much when he won't be happy if that’s the only present he gets, and I don’t want Santa getting the credit for giving him his favourite present!

So, I came up with a solution which will make us both happy.  I bought a new Android smart phone with a prepaid account on the same network that I use.  I didn't activate the phone and I didn't need to use the SIM card that came with it.  I just inserted the SIM from my phone, which worked immediately, to set up the phone and link to my Google Play account.  Once that was set up I removed the SIM.  With the phone connected to our home Wi-Fi I downloaded the games my son wants (Angry Birds Star Wars, Bad Piggies etc) from Google Play.  New games can be added whenever we like, but I still have control over what is downloaded because I have to enter my Google password as authorisation.

I had already downloaded the music my son wanted to my computer (I use Bandit.fm for music), so I connected the phone via USB to my computer and transferred the music to his new phone. 

Now my son will get what he wants for Christmas at a fraction of the cost of an iPod.  I paid $79 ($50 off the normal price) for a new Android 4.0 smart phone with a 3.5 inch screen, FM radio, MP3 player and as many games as he wants.  Without the SIM card it cannot be used as a phone and the only internet connection is at home when it can connect to our Wi-Fi (although I'm not going to let him know that).  Of course, when my son needs a phone in the next year or two I just need a new prepaid SIM card – he already has the phone.

If you’re upgrading your phone, your old phone can be a great boredom buster for your child – just download their favourite games and music - no SIM card required.  However, depending on the phone brand, if you don’t have access to Wi-Fi you’ll need to leave the SIM in the phone while you download the games so you can use Bluetooth to connect to Google Play.  Once the games are downloaded you can remove the SIM card. 

Unlike iPhones, you can buy Android phones with older versions of the Android operating system.  Make sure you buy one with Android 4.0 and higher, otherwise you'll find that a lot of games won't be able to run on the phone.  

Also, buy the highest capacity micro-SD card you can get, that way you can move the games over to the SD card and off the phone - Android phones are notorious for their lack of internal storage.

The perfect 'first' keyboard

Here’s the perfect first keyboard for young children. 

The Jenkins Junior Early Learning keyboard is a standard QWERTY keyboard but with some added features to help young children become familiar with a keyboard. 

The keys are grouped by colour to differentiate the different parts of the keyboard and get them used to where the keys are located.  For example, all the numbers, both along the top of the keyboard and on the numeric keypad are red.

The vowels and consonants are different colours to help them find the letter they’re after.

The keyboard also features nine smaller hot keys along the top of the keyboard to enable multimedia controls and internet navigation. 

It is compatible with Windows XP, Vista and 7, and Mac OS X 10.5 or later, connecting via a USB port.

THE PRICE?

All Officeworks stores in Australia are currently selling this keyboard for $7   

There is only limited stock and you’ll find it in the clearance boxes near the registers.  It isn’t available through Officeworks online, only in store.  My local Officeworks – Mona Vale NSW - had about 20 yesterday morning.

If you'd like your child to learn how to type, I recommend BBC Dance Mat Typing - you can read my review here.