by: Emi Light
There was a time that many parents balked at the idea of buying their child a cell phone. Fortunately, many now see that cell phones are the best way for your busy kids to contact you and for you to keep tabs on them. How do you choose which cell phone to buy them with all of the great options out there?
It is important that you do your research and think about the needs of your child as well as what you want out of the phone. All of the companies claim to have a superior product, but you should do a little digging in order to see beyond the hype. There are several brands to choose from. Some of the most popular include:
Firefly Phones
Kajeet Phones
LG Migo
Leapfrog’s Tic Talk phone.
Firefly Phones
The Firefly cell phone is a great option. It is very simple to use because it actually doesn’t have a camera, MP3 player, or video. This phone doesn’t weigh very much as a direct result of losing those features. This will be a relief for many kids and parents as we are used to having to carry quite a bit for our busy lives.
The Firefly kid’s cell phone has a neat display screen that will show how much battery power is left as well as the signal strength that is available. For those parents who are worried about their children answering from unknown callers, phone number ID is displayed for incoming calls.
Your kids may not care so much about the actually functionality of the phone, but they’ll all want their Firefly mobile phone to look cool. There are some neat color skins that you can purchase for your kids to instantly change the look of their cell phone.
The Firefly kids cell phone is a wonderful option for you if you want to have a lot of control over the phone calls your children make and receive. There is no need to worry that your child will spend hours and hours talking on their phone. Parents can control who can call in. This function offers a great piece of mind.
Despite those great features, there are many people who will not be happy with the Firefly prepaid phone. It is missing many of the “cool” features your children have come to appreciate and enjoy. There is no way to organize the phone or send text messages.
Kajeet Phones
Another phone you may want to consider is from Kajeet phones. This phone is unique in that it was designed by parents and beta tested by kids.
Many parents who’ve tested this phone have been very impressed with all that it offers. It can be very dangerous to just give your child a regular cell phone. With regular phones they can call anyone and receive calls from anyone. Kajeet phones really helps to eliminate this problem.
With this phone you can set whom your kids can call. This is important if you don’t want them wasting away their minutes on calling friends for hours on end. Another neat feature is the ability to set the hours when your children can make phone calls.
There are some children who will try and sneak in calls here and there at school. With Kajeet phones you can allow them to call home and 911, but block all other calls during the school day.
Another great feature is that you can give your children a phone allowance. They may miss the ability to buy ringtones and other “fun” things. With Kajeet phone’s cell phone allowance they will have the ability to buy these things if you want them to. Once they’ve spent their allotment, they cannot spend any more money until you’re ready for them to.
Kajeet phones are neat because they’ve really listened to their target audience and their parents. Even a quick visit to their website show that they really do pay attention to what kids in this day and age need and want.
LG Migo Phone
The LG Migo phone is another option in the world of cell phones for kids. It is a bright green color that will immediately attract children who want a cool looking phone to impress their friends. This phone is geared towards a slightly younger audience, which is something to keep in mind.
The phone has five speed dial buttons that you can program. This is a great option for younger children who are unable to remember phone numbers.
LG Migo also has a Chaperone service that is ideal for parents. The system acts as a kind of GPS device. You set the boundaries that are ok for your child to be in. If they leave that area your phone will be notified with a text message. This is something to keep in mind for safe use of cell phones for children
Leapfrog’s TicTalk Phone
Another entry into the world of cell phones for children is Leapfrog’s Tic Talk phone. The TicTalk phone is probably one of the most unique looking cell phones out there. It looks a bit like a stopwatch and is very durable. This is a good model for parents who are worried that their children will immediately break the phone. Leapfrog’s TicTalk phone should stand up to even the most active of children.
The TicTalk works by scrolling through numbers in a phonebook. There is no dialing involved for the child. This may or may not be easy to get used to, but can actually be quite convenient once they learn the ropes.
Parents set the actual phone up online. This is a great way to add convenience for those who prefer the simplicity of typing online.
Kids will want to scoop Leapfrog’s TicTalk phone up because it has games on it that are pre-installed by Leapfrog. The phone is overall more full featured than some other cell phones for kids that are available today.
How Should I Choose?
There are many different cell phones for children that are on the market today. It is up to you and your child to decide which features are the most valuable to you. Your first priority should be the safe use of cell phones for children. Then, pick the best option for your family.
Sunday 30 December 2007
Cell Phones for Children- 4 Options
Samsung's Largest Plasma TV Is Stunning
by: John Lloyd
The largest plasma TV that Samsung manufactures is 63 inches, model PPM63H3. Once you see it you'll want one because it provides a stunning visual experience. The Samsung 63 inch plasma display offers a superior resolution at 1366x768 pixels. The aspect ratio is 16:9.
You'll be able to view this Samsung plasma monitor from anywhere in your room because it has a 160-degree viewing angel without distortions. It has a classy picture-frame style design which goes beautifully with any room decor. You can mount the Samsung 63 inch on a stand or a wall, or you can even hang it from the ceiling.
The Samsung 63 inch plasma has a perfectly flat plasma display screen. There is no curvature or edge distortion. This also gives the picture display that ultra-smooth look. If your looking for a movie-like experience at home, take a serious look at the Samsung 63 inch plasma PPM63H3.
Nokia 6500 Classic-A Complete Blend Of Multimedia Technology
by: Austin David
Want a silver screen to watch movie on your palm! The Nokia 6500 Classic can offer fun imaging feature, allowing users to record, playback and stream video on the phone. Born with the best; the Nokia 6500 Classic Phone receives praises from the users because of its compact casing, 3G technology and a 2 inches QVGA LCD screen to provide sophistication while phoning, high speed broadband connection along with fast data transfer, multitasking capabilities and video streaming, and to provide excellent visual presentation respectively.
Order Nokia 6500 Classic from the retailing sites to get the excellent phoning, imaging, and web browsing at an affordable price. The Nokia 6500 Classic Phone encompassed with 2-mega pixel camera and music player provides users with the ultimate imaging and music experiences. The camera can steal the show by offering beautiful images and portraying videos on the screen. The music player can soothe the minds through its tuneful sound and melodious music. As far as messaging is considered; the Nokia 6500 Classic Phone has put much emphasis on text messaging, multimedia messaging and email to assess non-verbal communication. The clarity of communication is determined with wireless connectivity and networking. Order Nokia 6500 Classic online as it does not rely on cables t download games and applications, transmit data and files, send multimedia messages and email and browse internet on the move. In fact, the Nokia 6500 Classic Phone supports Bluetooth, USB, EDGE, Quad Band technology, HSCSD, WAP and XHTML to render wire free communication in the form of multimedia and mobile computing.
When multimedia communication is at its offing; the introduction of the Nokia 6500 Classic Phone has set a new trend of communication to develop computer-generated performance on the mobile phone. In short, the Nokia N6500 Classic is regarded as a sophisticated device designed with all the latest technology you could need.
Friday 14 December 2007
NewEgg Christmas Coupon Codes and Special Deals
Vivitar ViviCam 5355 Digital Camera - $49.99 (after promo code dc10 + Free Gifts) at Newegg.com, Exp 12/24Canon PowerShot S5 IS Digital Camera - $335.99 (after promo code dc10 + Free Gifts) at Newegg.com, Exp 12/31Canon PowerShot SD870 IS Digital Camera - $294.99 (after promo code dc10 + Free Gifts) at Newegg.com, Exp 12/31Canon ZR850 Digital Camcorder - $239.99 (after promo code dc10 + Free Gifts) at Newegg.com, Exp 12/31Canon TX1 Digital Camera - $409.99 (after promo code dc30 + Free Gifts) at Newegg.com, Exp 12/31OLYMPUS Stylus 790SW Silver Digital Camera - $223.99 (after promo code dc20 + Free Gifts) at Newegg.com, Exp 12/31OLYMPUS Stylus 820 Red Digital Camera - $190.99 (after promo code dc20 + Free Gifts) at Newegg.com, Exp 12/31OLYMPUS Stylus 830 Green Digital Camera - $244.99 (after promo code dc15 + Free Gifts) at Newegg.com, Exp 12/31OLYMPUS Stylus 830 Silver Digital Camera - $244.99 (after promo code dc15 + Free Gifts) at Newegg.com, Exp 12/31EVEREX XT5300T NoteBook - $819.99 (after promo code laptop30) at Newegg.com, Exp 12/16SONY VAIO FZ Series VGN-FZ220U/B NoteBook - $1,199.99 (after promo code laptop30) at Newegg.com, Exp 12/16
Hot Deal on White Western Digital 250GB Passport
Pink 8GB Zune Player only $157.74
Sunday 2 December 2007
Nintendo Wii more expensive than last Holidays
About one year ago our I4U Shop got several Wii consoles in stock. The price in December 2006 was $476.11. Today we got again stock of Nintendo Wii consoles from wholesale channels. The best price we can make this year is $538.80, that is a $60 price increase. This is crazy. Products are supposed to get cheaper with time. Xbox 360 and Sony PS3 actually did get cheaper this year.
The lowest price on the Amazon 3rd party Wii offers is $548.00. We at least are able to beat that price and our shipping fee is also lower.
I really would rather be able to offer the Wii console for the $249.99 price Nintendo has set for it. Our shop is though dependent on the prices wholesalers make.
On eBay the Wii console prices are a bit better. It looks like it is worth to follow some auctions and you might be able to score a Wii for around $400.
The best way to find a Wii for the actual MSRP, is still in stores. You can use The Yahoo! Wii Finder or the iTrackr service to locate stores near you that have Wii in stock.
Nintendo has announced record sales already this holiday season. Demand is by far still outstripping supply. Nintendo said that they ramped up production to 1.8 million units, but it is just not enough, as the Wii is not just a hot selling item in the U.S.
Saturday 17 November 2007
80GB Zune not shipping yet?
Two days ago on November 13th Microsoft said the new Zune players are available. Now reports come in that the 80GB Zune is not shipping.
I have seen that many pre-ordered the 80GB Zune on Amazon.com already weeks ago. Apparently the orders have not been filled.
Zune Scene quotes an inside Microsoft contact saying that the Zune 80GB is 6 weeks behind production schedule. There are supposed to be 80GB Zune players coming in the next weeks.
More details on Zune Scene.
Engadget quotes a Best Buy tipster stating a December 12th shipping date for the Zune 80GB. More details on Engadget.
Black Asus Eee PC now also from NewEgg
The black Asus Eee PC is now also selling from NewEgg. We reported yesterday that J&R will ship the black Asus Eee 4G on November 16th.
The Galaxy black sells for $399.99 just like the white Eee.
It would be good to know when Asus is actually launching the 8G. Asus said that Windows Asus Eee PCs are still coming this year. Will those be 8G? Who knows.
Thursday 25 October 2007
Xbox 360 Arcade ships Today
Microsoft finally got around to officially announcing the Xbox 360 Arcade. The Xbox 360 Arcade already showed up in some retail stores a week ago.
The Xbox 360 Arcade is now shipping from major online retailers. Wal-mart offers the Xbox 360 Arcade for $279.92.
Gamestop sells the cheapest Xbox 360 console for $279.99.
The Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade console includes five family-friendly games (PAC-MAN Championship Edition" (NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.), "Uno" (Carbonated Games), "Luxor 2" (MumboJumbo), "Boom Boom Rocket" (Electronic Arts Inc.) and "Feeding Frenzy" (Sprout Games)), a wireless controller, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) connection to enable high-definition output if desired and 256 MB of memory.
As said in my earlier coverage of the Xbox 360 Arcade, Microsoft should have set the price to $249.99 to compete heads-on with the Nintendo Wii. Nintendo can just lean back and can keep their pricing while Sony and Microsoft cut pricing of their consoles for the holiday shopping season.
On the other hand Nintendo seems to still struggle to get enough Wii consoles into the U.S. marketplace. It is still not in stock on Amazon.com every time I check.
Sunday 7 October 2007
40GB Sony PS3 is official
Sony officially announces the rumored 40GB Sony PS3 console for Europe launching next week on October 10th at the new low price of €399. (Price would be $399 if it launches in U.S.)
There are few differences between the 40GB PS3 and the 60GB PS3. One big difference is that the new PS3 is no longer backwards compatible with PS2 games.
“The introduction of the new PS3 has been the result of extensive research into the entertainment needs and preferences of the next generation of PS3 owners,” said David Reeves, President of SCEE. “It has allowed us to deliver an extremely advanced, yet incredibly affordable High Definition gaming and entertainment system, configured to the needs of the next generation of European PS3 owners. PS3 has always been the device of choice for the discerning gamer and entertainment seeker, and the new PS3 is more than ever the perfect High Definition entertainment system."
The 60GB PS3 will now be selling for 499 Euro as long there is stock available. See Amazon UK. (*In the UK and Ireland, the Starter Pack will be replaced by a separate in-store promotion on the 60GB PS3.)
Besides in Europe the 40GB Sony PS3 also will launch in Middle East, Africa and Australasia.
Friday 5 October 2007
Digital SLR Camera Buyers Guide
If you are shopping for a digital camera to be given as a gift for a birthday, graduation, or Christmas you may have lots of questions about which camera type to buy. At the most basic level you need to decide what the camera will be used for and what the skill level of the person using the camera is. If your camera is just for shooting the occasional picture of friends and events a simple point-and-shoot camera may do the trick.
If the person using the camera wants to make artistic shots with complete control over aperture, ISO and shutter speed, you need a DSLR camera. DSLR cameras seem complex, but for the most part learning how to use them is a simple job that anyone can do. In fact, when in doubt many DSLR cameras feature auto modes that turn them into point-and-shoot cameras. However, when lighting conditions are challenging the DSLR will allow you to get a properly exposed image when a point-and-shoot camera simply can’t do it.
Let me give you an example of when a DSLR camera comes in handy. My daughter loves gymnastics and I tried, in vain, with a point-and-shoot camera to take a decent shot during class. The problem was that the flash on the point-and-shoot wasn’t bright enough expose the image properly. The point-and-shoot also wasn’t adjustable enough for me to change aperture, shutter speed and the ISO speed to get a good shot. Of all the pictures I took I did not end up with one correctly exposed image, they were all too dark and grainy. Not to mention the fact that the shutter speed and focus time were too slow to get fast moving targets in the shot.
I decided I had enough of missing pictures of my kids because the point-and-shoot I used was too slow and I bought a DSLR camera. Now I can get perfectly exposed images in most any condition using manual settings on the DSLR camera. One nice feature is that the shutter speed is fast enough to freeze fast action like soccer games and running kids. If you are having the same problems I did with poorly exposed images and you normally end up with nothing but your kids elbow in the image because your current digital camera is just too slow, this DSLR camera buyers guide is for you.
If you shop around and don’t need all the bells and whistles on a DSLR, you can find one for not much more than a high-end point-and-shoot camera. The cameras below are arranged in no particular order. Also keep in mind that DSLR cameras typically come in kit versions that include a lens and body only versions which do not.
Thursday 27 September 2007
Gateway One PC officially revealed
Gateway just officially revealed the Gateway One All-In-One-PC that leaked already yesterday.
The Gateway One features a clean design and eliminates unsightly wires, requiring only one cable, providing a clutter-free, clean workspace. Gateway One resembles a high-end flat panel TV with a wireless keyboard. Despite its compact design, it is a fully-featured PC featuring a widescreen LCD. When configured with an optional TV tuner.
The Gateway One will be initially available exclusively at Best Buy and Gateway direct.
Available Gateway One configurations:
The $1,299.99 configuration includes an Intel® Core 2™ Duo T5250 dual-core processor; Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100; 320GB SATA II hard drive(2) and a 1.3 megapixel webcam.
The $1,799.99 configuration includes an Intel® Core 2™ Duo T7250 dual-core processor; ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 2600 XT graphics; 500GB SATA II hard drive(2) and a 1.3 megapixel webcam and an analog/digital TV tuner.
The Gateway One model available direct from Gateway includes an Intel® Core 2™ Duo T5250 dual-core processor; ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 2600 XT graphics; 400GB Serial ATA II hard drive(2); and a 1.3 megapixel webcam for $1,499.99.
Via the Gateway One site.
Gateway did a good job on this All-in-One-PC. The new Apple iMacs are still hotter and the new Sony VAIO LT with Blu-ray is a bit cooler.
