Technology for Mommies - Technology Smart Enough for a Mom

Palm Pre Plus WINNER!

Sarah Kimmel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:06:51 +0000

While I wish that everyone could win, because it’s really just such a GREAT phone, I was only given one phone to give away… The lucky winner is Deanna! who posted..

“Wow, I am so excited! I am already following you on twitter and am now a fan on facebook!

Here’s my tweet: http://twitter.com/deegibbons/status/9831543491

What I am really excited about with the Palm Pre Plus is Everything! Okay, if I had to pick just one, I would say email. I really love the idea of having all my email (4 addresses) integrated so that I can get all of it on my phone!”

Congrats and check your inbox for more details.

Deleting Facebook Friends

Sarah Kimmel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:04:19 +0000

My personal Facebook page is just that. A place where I post personal information about my friends, family and life in general. My cell phone number is listed there, among several other personal items. I only accept friend requests from people who I have actually met, and know personally. Sometimes, however, it comes time to purge some of these friends. Maybe they post too much, or play too many games, or maybe I really didn’t know them that well to begin with. Whatever the reason it’s time to delete some friends.

My word of advice on this is DON’T FEEL BAD abut deleting a friend from Facebook. I would bet that the person won’t even notice that they have been deleted. Along with this line of thinking… don’t feel bad about rejecting friend requests either. I know SO MANY people who will just accept requests from people they barely know, just because they don’t want them to feel bad. Trust me, it’s not a popularity contest. The amount of friends you have does not equal self worth. It’s YOUR page, and YOUR information, protect it!

So my husband (who is actually cleaner/more organized than I am) came to me the other day and asked how in the world you are supposed to delete Facebook friends. I hopped onto my Facebook account and was truly baffled. It used to be so simple. You go to your list of friends and then you had the option next to each name to delete. Well, they’ve gone and made it difficult now! Now you have to go to your friend’s profile page, scroll to the bottom and then click “remove from friends”. So go ahead, and delete that person you spoke to once in high school, who plays every single Facebook game and updates their status 100 times a day!

Palm Pre WebOS 1.4 = Video Capture!

Sarah Kimmel — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:30:16 +0000

Here is one of the things that I enjoy so much about my Palm Pre… You don’t have to buy a brand new device in order to get some really great upgrades! This last weekend Palm released an update to it’s operating system. One of the great new features is video capture! This device is quickly becoming the only piece of hardware you need to carry with you wherever you go. Some other great new features are the ability to have flash (still waiting on an app in the catalog from adobe for it to work though.), and a brand spanking new Facebook app that offers so much more than the previous app did. One thing I was hoping would come in 1.4 was windows live messenger incorporated into the messaging app, but alas I guess I’ll still have to wait for that.

Another feature that has been improved is the phone. Now when you go into the call log there are several options for you to choose from such as a call history for that specific number and the ability to text, call, add to contacts, or view their contact card. It is so much more useful than it used to be.

The last feature that I was super excited for is the ability to dial a phone number from a text message! That was really starting to bug me. Also you can email a text!

All in all I’m very happy with the new updates. It does seem slightly slower than it used to be, but I’m sure they’ll fix that soon. They have been churning out the updates like champs!!

If you have any questions about the Palm Pre (or any tech for that matter) just send me a tweet about it twitter.com/tech4mommies or you can comment right here on the post and I’ll answer them as soon as I can!

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for your very own Palm Pre Plus! (also I just wrote this post entirely on my Pre while my daughter is at gymnastics! Go mobile!)

Palm Pre Plus Road Warrior Mom

Sarah Kimmel — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:11:11 +0000

Here’s a fun little video of the Palm Pre Plus in action during a typically busy day for a Mom! Enjoy!

Microsoft Flavored Searching – Bing

Sarah Kimmel — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:49:47 +0000

As most of you know, or have at least by now realized, I love Microsoft. I love Windows 7, I loved Vista, I love Internet Explorer, I’m just a fan of Microsoft, and I’m not going to hide it or apologize for it! So when I heard there was a brand spanking new search engine created by my favorite people over in Redmond I had to give it a shot! Here is why you should too…

LOVE the home page! Yes Google turns their logo into cute and funny things from time to time, but Bing offers you a full page beautiful picture that you can hover over certain parts and get results relevant to the picture!

For example hovering the mouse over this flag bearer’s elbow give an interesting fact about him and allows you to click for more information!

The second thing I super duper love about this search engine is the “Visual Search”. Let’s face it. This is Web 2.0! We are visual! On the right you can see the top 5 most searched for “topics” like Movies in Theaters, 2010 Olympic Athletes, etc. Then when you click, you are presented with a page of clickable images. This is so helpful for those times when you see something on TV (like an olympic athlete) you don’t know their name, but you want more information. Can you type in Google “That guy I saw on TV the other day” and have it get you to the right spot? With Bing it can sure get you closer!

The last thing I thought it kinda ruled over Google was the Twitter addtion. I LOVE twitter, and this is an AWESOME way to search through trending topics! Click on one of the trending topics and it will take you to a page that has all the recent tweets (that is constantly scrolling with new tweets) AND it will have larger links to the links that are shared in the tweets with that topic! The links are full size complete with titles (so Bing translates the tiny url and brings it up for you to click and enjoy just the right article about that topic!

Now I know it’s hard to break the Google habit, but REALLY Bing is worth it. Just go change your default homepage now… go on! Happy Searching!

WIN A Palm Pre Plus!

Sarah Kimmel — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:36:22 +0000

The time has finally come where I can give away a brand new, shiny happy Palm Pre Plus!! Now you can be just like me and have your very own Pre! A few things to mention about the giveaway… It is for the phone only, it does NOT come with a calling plan. You will need to activate the phone on Verizon Wireless with a data plan in order to use it. You do not have to sign up for a 2 year contract though! Good luck!

There are several ways you can enter the giveaway…

1. Leave a comment on this post telling me the thing you are most excited to use on the Pre (I’ve given you LOTS of options this month, so just pick one!)

2. Become a fan of Technology For Mommies on Facebook (come back here and leave a comment that you are now a fan, or if you are already a fan, just comment that)

3. Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following phrase (don’t forget to comment with a link to the tweet)

“I just entered to win a #VerizonPalmPrePlus from @Tech4Mommies check it out! http://bit.ly/dexU2w“

The maximum number of entries per person is 3. Entries will close at 8 PM Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, March 7th. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

You can also check out my friends who are also giving away the Pre for more chances to win!

Musings of a Housewife

Palm Pre Core Functions: Contacts

Sarah Kimmel — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:07:14 +0000

Contacts is another area where Palm’s Synergy really comes together for some useful features! Again, I have contacts in several different locations, Facebook, Gmail, Outlook, Exchange, etc. Some contacts are duplicated (I’m friends with my bosses on Facebook, and they are also listed in Exchange). In this case the Pre figures that out and combines the information into one contact! This also works out when you have some information in one place and more in another. Like my friends who don’t post their phone number on their Facebook account, I can store their phone number in Outlook and the Pre will combine the information from Facebook and Outlook into one contact!

Now there are some complaints about this system. First is that if you have several contacts in Facebook (most of which you don’t call on a regular basis) they will all download to your phone essentially cluttering up your contacts list. This really doesn’t bother me though since the navigation within the contacts application is very easy to use. I just start typing someones name and it pops up, so I never even have to scroll through all of my contacts.

Gmail BUG – There is one bug within Gmail that itwill not sync all of your contacts if you have any special characters in the name of the contact. Get rid of the character and the rest of your contacts should sync right up.

Dialing, texting, emailing, or navigating to someone’s house is as easy as a click from their contact card. Lots of fun fields for birthday, spouse, children’s names, etc etc to make sure you know everything you want to know about that contact.

The last thing I love about how the contacts sync works is the photos! I’m a very visual person, and I LOVE being able to scroll through the list and see all the pictures. Also when someone calls in I can see from across the room who is calling me (as long as they’ve uploaded their picture to Facebook, or you have set a picture for them.) Lets face it though… when is my phone ever more than 6 feet from my body…

Have you entered to win the Verizon Gift Card yet?

*I wrote this review while working on a Verizon Palm Pre Plus campaign by TheMotherhood.com on behalf of Verizon Wireless and have been given a Palm Pre Plus (and prizes for giveaways) to facilitate my review.

Twitter Phishing attacks

Sarah Kimmel — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:14:29 +0000

Is this you?? http://ReallyScaryLinkThatYouShouldNeverEverClickOnBecauseYouWillGetYourTwitterAccountHacked.com this is the Direct Message that has been tearing around the Twitterverse this week. From what I hear (since I would never ever click the link) is that it will take you to a login page where you end up putting in your Twitter username and pass and then now they have it, and they use it to send DM’s to all of YOUR followers.

So there it is… someone telling you that you are in a video or picture or something in your Direct Messages… you are tempted. Really? Who could have a video of me out there on the web? Did they get it from my facebook page? YouTube? So you click. Rule of thumb #1 – Never click any link that you aren’t sure what it is. This works for Twitter as well as Facebook, MySpace, Email, Instant Messenger… etc etc etc. I’ve even been known to confirm with my own sister that sent me a link having to do with our current conversation if she really sent me a link. You can’t be too paranoid about this kind of thing. Even if it isn’t a phishing attack that is only trying to get information, it could be something much much worse. Like a link to an actual virus. Best advice is to just confirm with the person who sent you the link if it’s legit or not.

So now that you’ve clicked it is asking you for your username and password. You think in your head… Hmmm that’s weird. (FIRST STOP RIGHT THERE! If you think it’s odd, then don’t continue!). The brief fleeting odd feeling goes away as you think, “oh I must have gotten logged out somehow”. So you enter you username and password. Rule of Thumb #2 - NEVER EVER enter your information from ANYTHNG from a link that you have clicked on. Open a new browser and go to the main website yourself. ie if the link send you to a Twitter login screen, open a NEW browser and navigate to twitter.com yourself. Then you know it’s safe to enter your username and password.

So now that you’ve given the phishers the information they wanted to gather from you and your account is compromised… it’s time for you to fix it. Rule of Thumb #3 – Change your info ASAP. If you gave them your password change it! And change it quick, because they will use it! If you gave them information that is far more damaging like your Social Security number or your bank account, notify the appropriate people BEFORE anything happens. Then monitor your credit score like a hawk.

So be smart and safe out there… and stop sending me phising DM’s please… Thank you!

$25 Verizon Wireless Gift Card!

Sarah Kimmel — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:40:38 +0000

This is the last week to get your hands on a shiny new $25 gift card from Verizon Wireless! Simply leave a comment on this post to be entered! And stay tuned, cause next week is the grand daddy! I will be giving away a Verizon Palm Pre Plus! ($600 value!) Winning any of the gift cards will not exclude you from winning the phone. Good Luck!

Week 2 Verizon Gift Card Winner!

Sarah Kimmel — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 23:34:41 +0000

Congrats to McKell who said… “I want to win the gift card!! I Love tech for Mommies!!!:)”

Thanks McKell, I love you too! Check your inbox for a message from me.