HiTechMommy

Jack Draws Anything

 

I received a very touching email this morning from a dad.  Take a look and ask the kid to draw something!

 

Hi Cat

Thanks for getting in touch. What can I say. Hopefully you have had alook at Jack's website - http://jackdrawsanything.com/. In his words -"Welcome to my website. I am drawing *anything* to raise funds for the Sick Kids, just ask me. My brother goes in a lot. My name is JACK and I am 6 years old."

Jack (6) is my oldest kid and we have a sick brother Noah (1),
breathing problems, oxygen, you name it, always in and out of hospital (11th time last week). Jack gets an idea to raise money for the hospital by drawing *anything* in exchange for donations.

We also have a middle brother Toby (3). Daddy builds website, target of £100(family & friends) is smashed in hours as the site goes viral and we are currently sitting at £12,800 with 500 drawings to do (122 done). Requests from all round the world in only 5 weeks. Website had over
100,000 visits.

We are keen to spread the word and keep those donations coming in, as Jack is still drawing. Anything you could do to help would be awesome,share, spread the word, donate, request a picture, anything!

 

Update:  Here's a picture of Jack!

The Latest In The Tech Space

Here's a look at what's going on in the  tech world via my home girl, @alannacmccarthy. 

South by Southwest Interactive Analytics- Austin, TX

http://mashable.com/2011/03/17/sxsw-battles-infographic/

Whereas last year's most closely followed social media battle at the popular music festival was which application was most popular to use for "checking-in" at locations (i.e. Foursquare), this infographic also details which devices were most used by festival goers (Apple IOS by a huge margin) and which group messaging applications were most utilized (GroupMe was the winner here). Celebrities promoted special appearances and concerts to increase buzz, for example, by partnering with check-in applications. Big Boi of Outkast fame handed out 2,000 "golden tickets" to followers on Foursquare to attend his exclusive concert: http://www.switched.com/2011/03/09/big-boi-foursquare-golden-tickets-sxsw-concert/. The Austin-based Gowalla, a Foursquare competitor, partnered with Mashable and saw a growth in users throughout the festival. As long as users feel they can control their privacy, I believe that geolocation technology will see a great deal of growth as it allows fans to personally attend celebrity-driven events, i.e. as controlled physical access to live content.

 

 

Social Media and Crisis

There has been an overwhelming response to the needs of those affected in Japan by social media in the past week--Mashable (http://mashable.com/) notes that a Twitter account for nuclear plant updates has been created by a Japanese power company, and a YouTube channel has been created to help victims communicate with one another in the absence of phone lines. As with Haiti, the Red Cross has set up a text-to-donate campaign, being promoted by celebrities and influential Twitter accounts worldwide. Although this is not a platform for any sort of self-promotion, it is of note that social media has become the primary vehicle for breaking news of a crisis; television has become secondary. There is an inherent growing responsibility of those with the greatest reach and influence to become channels for breaking news in a crisis. As fans devour celebrity news and content around-the-clock, I see an opportunity for some of the largest Twitter and Facebook accounts to be automatically setup for breaking news feeds, and I would like to see this as an option someday on the available social media platforms.

Ustream

http://www.ustream.tv/

I am seeing an increasing but sporadic presence of celebrity-driven live streaming content, accessible to fans in real time. Fans watch live celebrity product launches, listening parties, sporting events, concerts and more from URLs sent out by the celeb's Twitter account or to fans who follow "crowds" directly from the Ustream site. Today, for example, their featured events are Chris Brown's F.A.M.E. album listening event, a Playboy All-Star event, and a sponsored SXSW event. I don't recall discussing if WhoSay has this capability or plans to in the future, but the instant reach of this technique is something I see as powerful. The Ustream brand, however, doesn't seem to capitalize on the concept as it could--the website has several categories in the menu bar (sports, world news), with the exception of "celebrities."

 

The accessibility and entertainment value in this type of platform for content makes it valuable, but its application needs fine-tuning. To pull Paris Hilton as an example again, she live-streamed her launch of a new fragrance, and the Ustream crew actually asks her to predict her view count, in a short clip recorded before the event. She explains that she has over 3 million Twitter followers and the crew asks her to ballpark how many fans she thinks will tune in...they are hoping for 100k, but the page views as of today are at just under 3,000. On the flipside, Charlie Sheen recently pulled in 16,500 views to his live Ustream interview by a TMZ reporter--the spontaneity added value to his live recording

The V iPhone Is Coming: What To Do With Old Phones

So you’re thinking of getting a new phone? You might have your eye on Verizon’s iPhone, or are you fancying a BlackBerry or Android phone?  Our options to upgrade seem endless, but it’s important to know what to do with the used gadgets we’re replacing.  In 2009 alone Americans retired around 130 million cell phones to upgrade. I've been working with e-cyclers and I’m here to tell you about getting cash for your used phones with Secure TradeIn. 

Get Cash for Your Electronic Trash!  

• Mint is best:  Keep your old phone in good condition.  It needs to be able to power up, make a call, and have a working LCD screen.  
• Save on Shipping:  Most e-cyclers offer free shipping.  With Secure TradeIn, it’s as easy as printing  out a FedEx shipping label and dropping it off at your nearest FedEx store or dropbox

Keep Your Data Private. When you’re looking for an e-cycler, security should be a top priority.

• Trust your e-Cycler:   Look for an e-cycler that guarantees 100% data removal from your phone
• Remove the Data Yourself:  As an added precaution, remove the data from the phone yourself before sending it in. Secure TradeIn’s Cell Phone Data Eraser outlines all the required steps to remove personal information like contact information, photos and call history
• Bye Bye SIM Card: At a minimum, remove yourSIM card; it doesn’t add or take away from the value of your phone

And finally, while you’re making green, you’re also living green.

• Give your phone a second life: Your used phone is likely an upgrade for someone else. Most phones traded in are refurbished and resold.
• Recycling made easy: If you know your cell phone no longer holds value, it can still be recycled and disposed of properly. Secure TradeIn has a zero landfill policy, so you know your phone will be handled responsibly.

Get all the details and check out how much your phone is worth at securetradein.com.

 

CES 2011

I'm so excited to finally be here! The show begins tomorrow but I already have my eye on a few cool gadgets that I hope to see in my home this year. 

Here's a video about Kenmore Connect

I'm a lady who likes her laundry machines and this Kenmore Elite washer with Kenmore Connect is awesome! Not only is it a fantastic high efficiency washer, but it has the ability to communicate  directly with the service technicians to diagnose any problems or answer my questions via a technology called Kenmore Connect.  This technology is breakthrough for home appliances and won a CES Innovation Award.  Moreover, it’s available now for FREE with your Kenmore or Kenmore Elite laundry washer or dryer. Simply call and let your machine do the talking!  How cool is that? 

Smartphones are all over the showroom floor this year and this one stands out. The  Motorola CLIQ 2 with MOTOBLUR helps me make the most of my day by managing both my work and home life. With three sets of home screens for home, work and weekend, I can access the apps, shortcuts and widgets I need, whenever I need them.  Powered by a 1 GHz processor and enhanced speeds on T-Mobile's 4G network, CLIQ 2 can keep up, no matter where my busy life takes me. Love it!

And as a mom with a smart phone and a 4 year old- I know kids LOVE to play with them as much as they can and they often get them dirty!   I ran into these new 3M Natural View Screen Protectors and fell in love! They’re easy to apply because work like a sticker and are easy to put on and if needed, take off. They protect your smartphone against scratches and smudges from dirty little fingers! They come for a variety of smartphones and they even have one for the iPad! They start at $14.95.

As a mom I  know all too well  how important it is to capture those precious memories and I've found an awesome way to do it! This  is the new Samsung HMX-Q10 and it's the featured camcorder at CES! It makes it so easy for me to capture moments with its “one button” operation.  And here's something unusual, is has this awesome “switch grip”  I can switch from left to right and the LCD screen auto-adjusts itself. Plus it’s completely full-HD.

This is going to be a very cool year in technology!  

Last Minute Tech Ideas

I'll admit it, I haven't done any holiday shopping yet.  If you're like me then take a look at some of my ideas to jumpstart your spending spree. 

 

Smart phones are definitely on the rise.  Metro PCS has just come out with their android LG Optimus M phone that features unlimited talk, text and web access.  I love the fact that with their phones there's NO contract and service starts at just $50 a month  The phone has a really nice, sleek design and because it's an Android you can access more than 100,000 apps at your fingertips like never before. Range $40-$60 plus purchase of phone .  

Another cool tech gift is the Echo Smartpen by Livescribe. This futuristic pen captures everything you hear, write, or speak with just a tap!  Better yet, you can actually upload notes and share them through email as well as search for words in the notes.  This year they have deals starting at less than $100 .  New features include language dictionaries and transcribers and a new pen coming out can even act as your computer mouse .  I heart Livescribe.

I've said it once and I'll say it again, a domain name is a really cool gift idea for everyone and if you don't already own your name, your kids name and family name yet, you should! .CO is the new revolution of domain names and there are tons of names still available, unlike when you try and get a .com name.  Plus this is a gift you can print out in two seconds! I'm so last minute that this works best for me.  Giving a certificate for a name lets anyone get a personalized and unique gift  that could literally change their life.  Head to www.GiveA.co (no m needed) to get one!

One more I know oh so well (because I use it every morning) is the  Tassimo T20 by Bosch: It's a beverage brew system that is super convenient in both brewing ease and counter space.  This version has  7 different beverage options and all you need to do is simply insert a T disc into the machine, it scans the bar code and brews with exact pressure and temperature for that particular drink with the push of a button  Range $129.99 and available at all major retailers, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohls, Macy’s. 

 

A good tech gift for kids that the family can enjoy together is a video game my family loves:  SEGA: Sonic Colors  I like that it's rated E for everyone so it’s ideal for all age groups, it's cool to look at and is considered one of the best graphics games for Nintendo  and it has new features like color powers, new moves, and access to hidden areas like never before ! Range $49.99 for Wii and $29.99 for Nintendo DS

Holiday Video Games

Parents, I keep telling ya, video games are a GREAT way to bond with your kids! Here are a few you should check out! 

Virtual worlds and creating avatars are more popular than ever! I'm sure you know of the
best selling PC game of 2009, The Sims, which is now available on all consoles for 2010. It’s called
The Sims 3 and although you still create your own character and virtual world,  this year there is
a new feature called “Karma Powers” that allows you to instantly do things like "Get "Lucky" and everything that day is perfect - you get the job, the girl and the new car!
-Range $30-$60, Rated T-Teen

If you’re into online gaming then you should check out Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Galactic
Passport. Join millions of players in this Star Wars virtual world, where the retail
package gives you a 90-day JEDI membership and access to exclusive in-game
content including additional minigames and the Togruta player character
species. It even comes with a  Yoda Bobblehead  which makes a great stocking
stuffer.



Yes, dance/fitness games are really taking off, especially for moms who want to stay in great shap and have fun at the same time!  Mom's I know are loving Zumba Fitness from Majesco
Entertainment  and it's going to be hot this season. It’s a true dance fitness party for Wii,
Kinect for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move. It features 9 real dance styles and 30
different routines – so it’s super fun way to stay in shape this season.
-Range $39.99 for Wii and PlayStation Move, $49.99 for Kinect for Xbox 360, Rated E
for Everyone




There HAVE been some face-lifts to the games we grew up with! The first is the
new video game Monopoly Streets for Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It’s a new take
on the board game we love where the board comes to life in full 3D! What I love is that
you can still play as a family – or online and connect and play with other fans around the
world.
-Range from $35, Rated E-For Everyone

Another cool game is Pac Man Party which comes to life in 3 dimensions for the first
time this year on Wii. It has more than 50 mini-games, tons of challenges and features
the original arcade versions of Pac Man, Galaga, and Dig Dug. The game has three
different play modes – all set to the theme of a birthday party, so it’s a great spin on an
old favorite and something the whole family can enjoy.

CBS Interview On iPad Lust/Use.

I was on CBS's Up To The Minute recently talking about iPad and its apps for kids.  I let the audience in on what I think is great about the device and its apps as well as a possible flaw in my parenting.  What do you think about what I've revealed?  Let me know... 

Cat

 

 

Holiday Is Coming!

Holiday shopping is just around the corner and moms and dads all across the country are starting to ask - what's going to be hot this holiday? Don't worry guys, I've got ya covered with this first round of holiday tech 2010!

Motion controlled gaming is continuing to make waves this holiday and Sony's kicking things up a notch by offering HD! Using the PlayStation Eye Toy in conjunction with their new, cool PlayStation Move controller, gamers get the latest in precision motion control on a wide variety of games that the whole family will love! My family loved the PlayStation Move Start Bundle's game , Sports Champions but also enjoyed the singing games, and Eye Pet. PlayStation move is going to be the hottest thing this holiday in the gaming space so get 'em while ya can!

If your family is anything like mne then I'm sure someone is going to be asking for a new laptop! This one's easy - the HPEnvy14 Beast Edition is THE coolest laptop to drop in a while thanks to the collaboration between HP, Dr.Dre, Interscope Records and Jimmy Iovine. They made this baby not only look super cool with it's black housing and red light up keys, but the screen is amazing, the size is slim and the sound quality is not to be believed allowing you to listen to your music the way the artist intended you to.

Next up is something I was totally blown away by, a 3D still camera! This thing is so cool I could hardly believe it! This is the perfect gift for the person who has everything and who has a love for tech From FujiFilm this is the FinePix Real 3D W3 and it's the FIRST camera that lets you take 2D and 3D photos as well as record HD video~ It actually has two lenses build into it and two processors that create these unbelievable images! You can view the coolness right on the screen or hook it into your 3D TV or laptop. If you want to print out the images you simple upload them to Fuji's site, SeeHere.com and can order prints that look fantastic!

Looking for a gift for a practical person, someone who loves to travel or a student? Magic Jack is one of the coolest inventions I've seen come around in a while! It's a device that you plug your standard phone into on one end, then on the other , your computer. Now your ready to make and receive phone calls, from the same number, anywhere in the world! This device eliminates the need for monthly phone bills and for $40 for the first year and $20 each year after that, you're making calls with no monthly fees! Need voicemail, caller ID, call waiting and so on? No problem, Magic Jack does it all!

This next gift could is a really cool and unique idea for anyone and could be a life altering moment for the recipient. It's a brand new web address that's called .co and it's sweeping the web as THE next big domain name extension to have. All of the .com names are taken and the web truly is headed towards this new era so you've gotta get on it, mom! What you do is head to their website, www.givea.co, no "m" needed, and there you'll buy a gift certificate that you can print out and stick into a card. With this gift someone can then snag their kid's names (which EVERY parent should own), the name for a business , a blog or website. Think about it - Google, Yahoo, Facebook - these all started as domain names and have changed our lives. Remember, for now on, .co is the way to go!

I want my mommy. (comments welcome)

My mom has been in my home for the last 3 weeks and I don't want her to leave. She has been the most incredible help to me, so much so that the thought of her heading back to NorCal has me feel ill. As a single mom who works 9-6, 5 days a week at a career that is supporting my son, how do I replace her? When she's here I can't rest assured that his tummy is filled with great food, his face is nice and clean when he walks into school, his heart is filled with the kisses of two women who love him more than anything. Most importantly, if I can't be the one to pick him up from school there's only one person, besides his daddy, that I want hire for that job - Grandma. I want her to move here. I want her to live with me. Has anyone felt this way? Has anyone done this? What do ya think?

 

*I guess I should enable comments, huh?

TODAY Show Panel

I was recently on the TODAY Show talking about "When Is It Too Early..." where I talked about when you should begin to introduce tech into your child's life.  Enjoy! 

Cat