1. Aug
    27

    Samsung Captivate Giveaway – Guest Blogger (Closed)

    Admit it: Since you had kids, your purse has only gotten bigger and heavier. And not just because of all the bottles, blankies and transformers you’re lugging around. The REAL headache (or should I say backache) is all the DEVICES a mom needs to carry just to get through her day: Phone. MP3 Player. Camera. Video Camera. eReader. The kids’ video games.

    I’ve been excited to see a number of “all in one” smartphone devices come to market over the last few years that can help simplify the lives (and handbags) of busy moms. So when I had the opportunity to test-drive the new Samsung Captivate, I jumped at the chance to put it to the test.

    The highlights:

    -      The design is clean and thoughtful. There are almost no buttons on the device, and the USB “trap door” closes to keep it from clogging with the crumbs at the bottom of my bag

    -      With the biggest touch-screen of any AT&T device on the market, it uses tap and swipe technology, which I preferred to an external keyboard (impossible to keep clean).

    -      It’s like five different devices in one: Phone. Text messaging. Camera. Video. Internet Browser. Music. Email. Social Networking. Apps and games. The only thing it doesn’t do is the laundry.

    -      The 5 megapixel camera was high quality and easy to use, complete with instant cropping/rotating features that made my images picture-perfect for mobile uploads. (I just wish it had a flash option.)

    -      It comes loaded with a number of standard Android apps, and they’re easy to download and organize.

    -      I had the phone on for 24 hours and never needed to charge it.

    -      For everything it can do, it’s surprising light and slim.

    -      When I unboxed it, it was covered with a powerful “It Can Wait” film…a poignant reminder from AT&T’s campaign against texting and driving. We all need the reminder, especially when we’re shuttling precious cargo (like our kids).

    Overall, the Captivate really does it all (and does it all well). And it may just be the device that finally gets you out of a diaper bag…and into a fabulous clutch!

    Are you “captivated” yet? Well I have good news! We have one Samsung Captivate to give away to one lucky reader

    Here’s how to enter:

    Leave a comment here and tell us how the Samsung Captivate will help keep you calm, cool and connected. Your e-mail address and phone number must be accurate in your comment so we’re able to contact you. Make sure you double check. (Your contact information won’t be published.)

    No purchase necessary to enter or win. Void where prohibited. This sweepstakes runs from 12:01am ET Thursday, August 26 to Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 11:59 pm ET. It is open only to individuals who, at the time of entry deadline, are legal residents of the United States and are 18 years or older; one entry per person. Wireless service is not included with the phone. The winner will be notified via phone on or about Friday, September 17, 2010. For complete contest rules, including eligibility, click here.

    About Lisa

    Social/Digital communicator at Fleishman Hillard. Trend watcher. Gadget geek. Textbook Gemini. Olympic caffeinator. Shoe shopper. Crazy-busy married mom of two gorgeous boys and one miniature dachshund. Opinions my own.

    Posted by Calm, Cool & Connected in Contests, Guest Blogger, Reviews Tags: ,
    Comments (30)

  2. Aug
    19

    HTC Aria by Effie

    I’ve been playing with the new HTC Aria and wanted to tell you guys about some of the cool things that this new Android phone can do.  

    The first thing that caught my eye about the HTC Aria is the security it uses to protect your information on the phone.  The screen locks and you set up a pattern on the phone to unlock it instead of using a password with numbers –although you can do that too. 

    This phone comes with custom scenes that let you create a different look and feel  for every activity.  It is like I have one phone for my work week and one phone for my weekends.   

    One of my favorite past times while I’m at a doctor’s appointment or waiting in line is to catch up on my social networking sites.  With the HTC Aria, I can easily go to Facebook and Flickr in the browser or use the HTC FriendStream widget to see your friend’s latest posts at a glance.  The Aria also has HTC Peep so I can stay on top of Twitter. 

    I really like the way the Aria lets me choose how to set up my email, calls and texts.  I can organize these in a logical way for me, which isn’t always the most logical for others.  So I get to keep my individuality and organize at the same time. 

    As you all know I am a big fan of applications and how they can simplify your life.  With the HTC Aria I can go to an app store and get all the applications I need.     I can basically get an application for almost anything that a working Mom would need.  I can organize my notes, track my gas mileage and even find recipes for dinner all from my phone.  I can also listen to music anytime since the Aria is an MP3 player.  And of course the greatest benefit I see is that the phone has GPS and I can track my workouts as well as use it for treasure hunts. 

    Lastly, the feature that really has me excited is the text to talk feature.  I can turn my voice into a text message I can talk and return a quick message.I am very impressed with it and I am actually making the switch from my old smart phone to this one.   Until next time, thanks for letting me share!

    effie.forehand  effie.forehand

    Posted by Effie in Effie, Reviews, SmartPhone Tags: ,
    Comments (1)

  3. Aug
    9

    Parents Can Be Taught to Text

    Over the previous year I have written several blogs about teenagers and texting.  Recently I have started to use texting as a way to communicate with my friends instead of calling them.  However, my text messaging abilities are not at the level of an average teenager –  they are still much better at this than I am or will ever be.

    Recently I worked backstage at my daughters dance recital with six other dads.  Our job backstage was to set the props on the stage during the shows for the dancers and actors between routines.  Additionally, we had to communicate with each other across the stage and in the dark without being heard.  This year we decided to use SMS text messaging on our cell phones as our way to communicate across the stage.  The use of text messaging worked out well and was much more effective than what we had done in the prior years, which was to walk behind stage to the other side.  We could communicate and respond to each other in a matter of seconds with our cell phones through text messaging

    Now that I have started to use text messaging as another way to communicate, I may start looking for other applications that I can use on my mobile phone.  Who knows? This old dog may be able to learn some new tricks.

    michael.fields  michael.fields

    Posted by Michael in Michael Tags: ,
    Comments (1)

  4. Aug
    4

    Welcome Our New Blogger Joey

    Hello, Calm, Cool & Connected readers! My name is Joey and I’m a self professed tech-geek Dad of two who spends way too much time reading about gadgets and surfing the hyper web. I’m a 12 year veteran of AT&T and have a beautiful wife, Amy, and two awesome kids, Mary and Henry.

    Everyday is an adventure in our family! Trying to manage the hectic schedules of life and work is a challenge, and my wife and I rely heavily on technology to make sure we stay aware of the day’s activities. I’ve been known to carry more than one mobile device and to try new technologies purely out of curiosity, much to my families dismay at times. Texting, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, etc., it’s all a part of our lives.

    Posted by Digital Admin in Uncategorized
    Comments (0)