Tech Tips: MSN is Now Optimized for Your Android 2.3 or Later Phone and Tablet (#MSNKnowNow)

This post was created in partnership with MSN. Find out more about the all new MSN experience at allnew.msn.com or see it in action on Windows 8, Android, or on iOS at msn.com.

How many applications and websites do you visit to get all the media and information you need every day? I think I personally use a dozen or more to get my daily dose of news, memes, comedy, and viral cat videos. I do most of this in the morning on my Android phone.

Anything I do on my phone needs to be lean and fast, as anything that is not can be a tedious experience. My phone is pretty nice, but the content I seek can be taxing, as much of it is streaming video or graphics-intensive. I also like to keep my phone lean. I don't want too many applications cluttering up my homepage and using up all my memory.

One resource is the solution to all of this: MSN.com. Really. MSN has been recently updated and optimized for your Android 2.3 or later device. Just type “msn.com” into your browser on your phone and that's it. It looks fantastic. If you like the new Metro styling in Windows 8, then you will LOVE the way the new MSN looks and navigates. It is also very lean . . . you do not need a separate app for it as you use your existing browser.

All of your favorite social sites are linked on the home page so you are just a touch away from all of your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Links to your mail, maps, and even Skype are all there by default. And, of course, all the news you can handle is there, easily navigated to using left to right and up and down touch scrolling.

The new MSN experience is tuned for touch navigation and optimized for your mobile phone or tablet. As a result, it is also lean and fast, which is music to my ears. There is nothing worse than bloated resources on your mobile device.

Streamline your web consumption and navigate to MSN.com on your phone right now.  You will love the new experience!  

Check out the new, faster MSN here!

Change How Your Kids Play Games in 2013 with the MG Portable Android Wi-Fi Game System

A little while ago we received the Play MG Android based pocket gaming system to try out. At the time I was very excited to have a device I could hand off to my kids instead of my smartphone. After spending some time with the Play MG I can say it performs as advertised and has not disappointed.

The Play MG comes in a clever yet simple drawer-style box with just a few items inside. The most notable item in the box is a debit card. The SpendSmart Mastercard creates a “digital wallet” that your kids can use to buy apps without pestering you when they want a new app that is not free. Once the SpendSmart card is loaded with money you can see your balance prominently displayed on the units main home page. Your kids will always know how much they have left to spend.

The next “surprise” in the box was the very noticeable lack of a charger. I spent a few moments looking about to make sure I didn't drop it someplace. After reading every word on the box I noticed it is in fact not supplied. The instructions state to use any standard mini USB adapter. Before I got outraged over the situation, I realized I had a half dozen such chargers about the house.  Anybody progressive enough to be considering a device like the Play MG probably does too and it stopped being an issue.

The Play MG looks great and feels good in your hands, just as a portable gaming device should. Although substantially smaller than traditional handheld gaming devices, the buttons and shape feel right. Although the screen is smaller than most dedicated gaming devices, it is in tune with screen sizes of similar sized Android phones (which is the point).

The screen is bright and the pixel density is superb making for a great looking experience. The performance of the unit is at least as good as any late model smartphone and keeps up with the screens quality. There is nothing worse than a great screen coupled with a slow processor, no such problem with the Play MG.

The device feels and looks like any Android smartphone using a late edition of the OS. If you have an Android phone you already know how to use the Play MG. I was up and running in minutes as a result. Downloading apps is as easy as it is on your phone, in fact its the exact same process, and I like that.

Setting up the Play MG for my kids could not have been any easier. My unit came with a plethora of pre-installed apps to get us started. In fact, my kids have yet to request anything new as they aren't through with the included apps yet! Combine the loaded apps with my existing familiarity with the Android OS and it was a total snap. I will warn you against linking any of the apps with any accounts you use on your smartphone however. My Play MG attempted to set itself up as my smartphone was, not something I want for a device primarily for my children's use, but I suppose a nice feature if I was the sole user of the Play MG.

The only issue we had was the initial version of the OS that shipped with the unit had some stability issues. I should say for full disclosure that our unit was a pre-retail demo unit and these things are to be expected. After the update was available (and easily applied) we have yet to have any issues.

Overall the Play MG is an excellent idea and a well executed product. My kids love to play it as much as my phone leaving us all much happier. This aspect alone is worth the price. In a way, the Play MG is as much of a gift for mom and dad as it is for the kids. You can currently buy the Play MG directly from PlayMG or from Amazon for $149.99. It is a bargain compared to a top tier smartphone.


Thank you to the PlayMG Corporation for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

Pre-order the MG Android Gaming Device for $99 (Retail $169) by September 27th

I could not be more excited about the new MG from PlayMG!!!! My kids ask me every 2 minutes for my mobile phone when they have nothing else to do. Finally I can keep it to myself while the kids occupy themselves with their own device that plays everything my phone can.

Have you checked out the MG yet? You MUST see it. The moment Karen shared this with me I was ecstatic about the whole thing. Go to Kickstarter and check it out. Show your kids, they will go bananas. Heck, I went bananas! My kids aren't ready for a smartphone and can't be trusted with a tablet, the MG is the PERFECT solution.

The MG is a portable gaming device a lot like a mobile phone, but without actually being a phone. It plays the same 60,000+ games available to any phone, both free and paid apps. It is small and designed to be portable but also ergonomic like a game controller. You can preload your account with money so your kids can buy apps without hassling you. The MG can also be set up for parental monitoring.


If you pre-order the MG by September 27th you can save $70!!! This thing is a no brainer for the holidays! Can you tell I am excited about this? Kickstarter is a site that startups can use to help fund their product or service. By making an investment in the product (like the MG) you can earn perks like a fantastic discount or a free MG!

Look for our upcoming review of the MG gaming device coming up this fall!