Q2 Wi-Fi Radio

Music is a big part of my life and I’ve thought I’d seen it all when it comes to music players but the Q2 just blows my mind!

The Q2 is a wi-fi radio that is just four inches square, comes in five colors, and has no dials, buttons, switches or screen (it’s motion controlled). The Q2 Radio is a totally new way to listen to your favorite local, national or international radio stations or podcasts from wherever you are via a wi-fi connection; it requires no subscriptions or fees.

courtesy of Q2

We received our black Q2 to test out and I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I mean, how can a radio work without buttons & dials? The box came with everything I needed – Q2 Internet Radio, USB cable, charging cable, 3 outlet adapters, and a quick start guide.

Setting it up was easy! I just went onto the Q2 website and downloaded the application. Then I turned the Q2 on and connected it (using the USB) to the computer. I just followed the simple online instructions on how to get my Q2 hooked up to a wi-fi signal and I was ready to go.

You can select up to 4 different radio stations to program onto your Q2. I was so amazed at the world-wide selection! Not only did they have local favorites but there were also stations from areas like Africa, Asia, and Europe. You can also choose various podcasts and weather stations. Everything is organized into categorized lists to make browsing super easy. Once you’re done programming just unplug the Q2 and you can start playing your music.

However, the coolest feature about the Q2 is the way you use it. Each side has red lines (1-4) which corresponds to the programmed “station”. For example, for me I had placed Krater 96 in position I, 181 FM Star 90s (pop genre) in position II, 808 Talk Hawaii (podcast) in position III, and FM Palulun 76.2 (Japanese Jazz) in position IIII.

Now came the fun part! I turned on the Q2 radio, decided which station I wanted to listen to, and placed that position facing up. The Q2 started playing! How cools is that? And it gets better. To make the volume louder just tilt the radio up. To make it softer just tilt the radio down. To mute the volume just place the speaker facing down. FUN!

I couldn’t believe how great the broadcasts sounded. Of course, the local station came in loud and clear but I was surprised that even the Japanese station was super crisp . . . all the way from Japan!

And since the Q2 comes with outlet adapters I can take it along with me wherever I’m flying and still be able to hear music and news from home. Coming from a flight attendant, that’s pretty awesome!

What a great gift this would make for Father’s Day! (Oops, hope my Dad isn’t reading this!) Now your Dad can listen to his favorite music from all over the world!

Purchase your Q2 Wi-Fi Internet Radio at Amazon.com for $119.

Connect with Q2:

• Website
• Facebook

Want to win a Q2 for yourself? Check out their Facebook Giveaway!

This post was written for Q2 who provided the complimentary product in exchange for my honest review.

KidsEmail.org – Safe email for kids

Kacie is at that age where she wants to communicate with her friends via email. I guess I can’t really blame her since she always sees me on my gmail account. However, I would prefer she use a safer more private program for sending and receiving email and I feel I’ve found it in KidsEmail.org.

KidsEmail.org’s mission is to protect children from predators, pornography, and email from strangers. With so much technology at the fingertips of our kids, it can difficult to know be aware of who is communicating with your child. Our goal is to give parents the tools to protect their children in a manner that is simple and effective.

courtesy of KidsEmail.org

Getting started is basically a 3-step process:

1. Register an account
2. Add your child
3. Set Safety Standards

When you register an account, you’ll receive a FREE 30-day trial period. What I like about this is that you can try out the program  and see if it’s something your family will find useful. You do not need to submit any kind of financial information at this point so there really is no obligation. I really prefer to stay away from supposedly free programs which require you to put a credit card down just to sign up.

Next, you’ll set up your child’s account including their display name, password, real name (confidential), and email account. They also have a more “grown-up” interface for older kids so they do not feel like they’re on a kiddie site. There are lots of background choices for every age. Kacie decided on the “ipod” look.

Finally, it’s time to set-up your child’s safety settings. These include setting up a list of people your child can send to and receive email from. You’ll also have the option of being copied on all incoming and outgoing correspondences. However, what makes this service different from most I’ve seen is that you can also choose to remove images, links, and attachments from incoming emails. I’m always worried about viruses so this really gives me peace of mind.

But that’s not all. You can even specify when and how long your child can use their email account. Say for example your child is grounded. You can add the period of time that your child is not allowed to logon. There a place where you can even add in a message that’s displayed whenever your child tries to logon. I would probably  put some thing like, “Uh, aren’t you grounded?”

Or maybe you prefer they not be emailing during school nights. You can easily manage that from the dashboard as well.

However, what I like the best is the mail queue. Here’s where I find a list of all of her incoming emails. I can either choose to have them delivered to her account or delete them without her ever knowing. I can also block senders from sending more emails in the future.

From your child’s side . . . it has the look and feel like a real grown up email program. She can send and receive messages, set up folders, and change her look any time she wants.

She’s been having so much fun with her new KidsEmail.org account and feels like such a “grown up” now. And since I’m usually away for half the week, she likes being able to communicate with me even when she can’t always pick up the phone to call.

Again, KidsEmail.org is FREE for the first 30 days, however, once you see how useful and safe this program is you’ll want to continue your membership. They’re currently hosting a great offer where you can receive a 13-month subscription for only $38.95. That’s only $2.99 a month! What a deal for ensuring that your child is emailing safely!

Connect with KidsEmail.org

• Website
• Facebook

This post was written for KidsEmail.org who provided the free extended membership and monetary compensation in exchange for my honest opinion.

VTech LS6475-3 Handset Cordless Answering System

Even though a lot of my friends are moving away from landlines, my family refuses to give it up. I just like the idea of having a stationary phone system in my home that stays in one place. Plus, with my kids always on my iPhone playing games and watching videos I’ve been known to miss a call or two. However, I do like the freedom that a cell phone has where I can use a bluetooth device and stay on the move.

Well, with the new VTech Handset Cordless Answering System ($99.95) I just got the best of both worlds!

Refined style and innovative features define the VTech LS6475-3 cordless phone system. With two handsets and a DECT 6.0 cordless headset, you can have a private hands-free conversation anywhere at home.

courtesy of VTech

We received a unit to try out for ourselves which came at a perfect time since our current phone seemed to be on it’s last leg. The box came with the following items:

• (2)  Handsets
• Telephone Base
• Handset Charger and Charger Adapter
• (2) Handset Battery
• (2) Handset Battery Compartment Cover
• Telephone Base Power Adapter
• Cordless Headset with Earbud attached
• (3) Ear Hooks
• (3) Additional Earbuds
• Telephone Line Cord
• Head Band
• User Manual
• Quick Start Guide

I liked that it came with absolutely everything I needed to get started . . . including the telephone line cord. Instead of grabbing the User Manual I decided to take a look at the Quick Start Guide first. It gave me an overall view of how to get started and I had my phone hooked and charging in about 5 minutes.

First, I just telephone base power adapter and telephone line cord into the appropriate ports on the bottom of the telephone base. Then I plugged the power adapter into a wall outlet and the telephone line cord into the telephone wall jack.

Next, install the battery into the handset by plugging in the batter connector into the socket inside the handset battery compartment. Place the battery inside the handset and slide the battery compartment cover on. Make sure that it locks in place.

Finally, place the handset and cordless headset into the appropriate slots on the telephone base. It is recommended that you completely charge both items before the first time you use them.

TELEPHONE BASE

Our previous phone was also a VTech so we were already pretty familiar with the handset and telephone base. Basically, when you receive a message the number of unheard messages will flash on the display. Once you listen to them the total number of messages that are being stored will now be on the display. You can press delete at any time while listening to the message. I really like that I don’t have to listen to the entire message before deleting it. Plus, this phone lets me delete all my stored messages at once rather than one by one like my previous system.

I also like that there’s a “Find Handset” button to locate a missing handset or headset. With 3 kids who love to play around with the phone I’m always on the hunt for misplaced handsets.

HANDSET

The handset is packed with handy features that make communicating so much easier:

• Charge light – illuminates when the phone is charnging
• Volume to increase or decrease the sound
• Directory – store up to 50 names/numbers for easy retreival
• Mute button
• Flash button to answer a call waiting call
• Speakerphone button
• Redial/Pause button
• CID – Review the caller ID list. You’re also able to make a call using the CID list.
• Push to Talk (PTT) – one-to-one or one-to-group broadcast
• EQ – adjust the audio quality depending on your surroundings

One of my favorite features from the above list is the Directory. This allows me to make quick calls without having to consult my personal phone book. All I had to do was look up the name and hit send. That’s it! I also liked the Push To Talk option since we live in a 2-story home and the kids are always upstairs or in different rooms. It was so easy to call everyone to dinner with the one-to-group broadcast. I just pushed on the button located on the side of the handset and talked to everyone at once. The reception was very clear and they were all downstairs at the dinner table in seconds. Finally, the CID log was very helpful for those times when the phone would ring but the person wouldn’t leave a message. This happens a lot when Kacie’s friends call. This way we could still see whose calls we missed.

We found the handset to be very lightweight and comfortable to hold. It was also user friendly with everything labeled and easy to use. We probably could have figured out how to use it even without the Quick Guide.

CORDLESS HEADSET

For the headset you have 2 options – ear hooks or head band. Hubby preferred the ear hooks because it was so unintrusive that he almost forget he was wearing it. The ear hooks come with 3 different sizes of earbuds so you’ll be able to find the perfect fit. To use it, just attached the desired earbud onto the ear hook then snap the ear hook onto the cordless headset.

For me, I prefer the head band because I can’t wear things that hook over my ear . . . it’s just the way my ears were made. To use the head band I just had to snap on the cordless headset and I was ready to go. The head band is lightweight,  adjustable and fits very comfortably. I like that it doesn’t have a tight fit because I tend to get headaches that way.

The cordless headset itself has an on/off button, volume control, rotating clip, mute/flash button, earpiece, and microphone. The first time I tried it out I had my husband call me on his way home from work. I already had the headset attached to the headband and was waiting for the call. When the phone rang I just pushed the on/off button briefly and we were connected. I was surprised at how good the reception was. Hubby couldn’t tell if I was on the headset or the handset . . . which is a good sign. I could also hear him very clearly.

Another feature of this phone that I appreciated was the Voice Announce Caller ID which audibly announces the name and number of the caller on all of the handsets and base unit. Yes, I’m a screener and we do have the service where the name and number is shown on our television set when a call comes in. But what if we’re watching a video or the television is not on, or I’m in another room? Now I don’t have to run to the handset only to see it’s some telemarketing person. Love it!

I could go on and on about the VTech Handset Cordless Answering System but I think you get the gist of it. It’s so packed full of features that I can’t think of anything else I’d add on . . . except maybe someone to talk for me while I telepathically send my message. Maybe one day . . .

Until then, stop by VTech and check out this and other equally cool phones in their product lineup. There’s sure to be one to fit your needs.

Connect with VTech:

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter

This post was written for VTech who provided the complimentary product in exchange for my honest review.

Disney Publishing’s Peter Pan for iPad

Here’s another great story app from Disney Publishing . . . Peter Pan ($3.99).

To Neverland! Relive the magical story of the classic film Peter Pan in this book app featuring beautiful illustrations, word-for-word narration, music, and interactive surprises.

With hope and trust and a pinch of pixie dust, readers will join Wendy, John, and Michael on their adventures with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook and his swashbuckling crew of pirates. Includes coloring pages, puzzles, music and memory games, and so much more!

courtesy of Disney Publishing

We received a complimentary code to test out this app for ourselves and Kiana loved it! She has always enjoyed the story of Peter Pan and Tinker Bell as they take Wendy and the gang on some really cool adventures.

In this story book app, Wendy, John and Michael fly off with Peter Pan and Tinker Bell to Never Land to find The Lost Boys. While there, they are discovered by Captain Hook who persuades Tinker Bell to help him capture the children. She agrees since she’s a little jealous of Wendy and all the attention she gets from Peter Pan. However, when they’re all captured . . . including The Lost Boys . . . Wendy feels bad and goes off to warn Peter. And together the rescue the kids and return them home.

One of the cool features of this ebook are the Reading Modes.

• Read to Me – This is where the narrator reads the book to your child. You can also choose where to have your child press the next arrow to turn the page or have the page turn automatically.
• Use My Recording -  You can use your mic to record your’s or your child’s voice to read the story. I really like this feature since I’m usually away a few days a week. This way the kids can still hear my voice while reading a bedtime story.
• Read by Myself – This is great for those kids who have evolved into independent readers.

In addition to the Reading Modes are the various activities.

• Coloring – There are 4 different coloring pages taken directly from the story. You can use either a paint brush or colored pencil (4 different widths each) as well as a wide variety of colors to make your masterpiece. Once you’re done just save your picture or you email it to a loved one. What I like is that you can zoom into the picture to make it easier to get the colors inside the lines.

• Puzzle – There are also 4 colored puzzles to choose from each one having 3 different difficulty levels (easy – 4 pieces, medium – 6 pieces, and hard – 12 pieces). There’s an image of the picture on the board to help your child find the right placement. Just drag and drop!

• Matching – This is Kiana’s favorite game. Just touch on the gold coins – 2 at a time – to turn them over. Just find all the pairs to clear the board. It has 3 difficulty levels (easy – 6 coins, medium – 12 coins, and hard – 16 coins).

• Flute – This is not really a game but more of a musical activity. You can either listen to the flute being played, learn how to play by following along as the individual bamboo pieces light up, or just play your own musical creation.

However, what makes this book truly engaging are the way the images on the pages react when your child touches them. Pirates fall overboard, lanterns dangle, animals move, and people appear out of nowhere. The kids loved touching the screen to see what would happen next.

Peter Pan has become one of my kids’ favorite storybook apps which is saying a lot considering how many I have downloaded on my iPad. It’s the one they keep coming back to again and again.

This post was written for Disney Publishing who provided the complimentary download in exchange for my honest review.

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