Ultimate Holiday Tech Gift: NEW D-Link Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2630L) w/ 2-Way Audio!

Thank you to D-Link for providing a Full HD Ultra-Wide View Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2630L) unit for this holiday tech gift review.  All opinions expressed are our own.

We have been using D-Link wireless cameras for years in our home. We use them to watch the house when we aren't home, watch the kids, and even keep an eye on the dogs to make sure they are behaving. Wireless cameras are not just a convenience in our household at this point, but an important necessity.

We have been using various fixed position cameras as well as a motorized camera we can control remotely. Both kinds have their pros and cons and are used differently in our home. The fixed position cameras are perfect for watching entry ways and where the dogs eat and drink water. The motorized camera is perfect for the livingroom area where we need to pan around to see everything.

Both types have their shortcomings, however. Fixed cameras of course can only see what they are pointed at and the remote camera is slow and noisy. If you needed to track something in a hurry the motorized camera is inadequate. The noise also changes the behavior of the dogs so I can't catch them in the act of shenanigans!

This brings me to a new product by D-Link that solves the shortcomings of both camera types and adds new features we didn't have before. The new D-Link Full HD Ultra-Wide Wi-Fi Camera (DCS-2630L) is a fixed position camera, but features a 180 degree lens. Wide angle or fisheye lenses aren't new, but the 2630L uses D-Link’s new ‘Wide Eye’ technology offering an ultra wide view that's not distorted or curved like others. It’s like a panoramic picture but its live 1080P video.

Like most D-Link cameras, the 2630L can be managed from the mydlink website from any computer or mobile device, making it simple to check in on your home while you're out. Setting up the camera was a little laborious and really shouldn't have been. The camera uses WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Set-up) for easy pairing, like many devices do, but still took me a few attempts to get it to pair. The camera can only be paired wirelessly as it does not have an ethernet port like other D-Link cameras. Although I was ultimately successful, I imagine some will need to call for assistance at some point.

Once paired, configuration was as easy as can be and similar to my other cameras. If you are familiar with the mydlink site you will not have any issues renaming the camera and changing any other settings to your liking. You can also choose to get into the advanced settings page where you can really customize your camera. I caution, however, that these settings are for people who have a better than basic understanding of network protocols and such.

The D-Link 2630L looks great and does not stand out in the room. Many wireless cameras aren't good looking at all and are an eyesore, but not the 2630L. The construction is sturdy and it has a weighted base to make sure it stays put. You can optionally mount the camera if you would like with the provided hardware. The large lens is also glass, not plastic, like so many others, adding to the overall sense of quality.


One feature the 2630L has that none of my previous cameras has is two way audio. Before I could just listen, but with the new camera I can actually talk through the camera and have a conversation! This feature also works through the mobile app so you can view and talk from anywhere. My kids can no longer pretend they can't hear me when its chore time.

The D-link DCS-2630L is fully 1080p in resolution (and can lower to 720p if you choose) and the imagery looks very good. I notice the video is a bit sharper in low light (black and white) than it is in color, but both are bright and sharp. The Wide Eye technology truly works, you can see from the screenshots that there is very little to no distortion at all, even while zoomed in.

The 2630L also includes a microSD slot that adds storage to the camera allowing recording of video. Depending on the size of the card you use, you can store as much video as you please. For example, 7 days of 1080p video only requires 104GB. The camera can take as much as a 128GB microSD card. This is an excellent feature if you're worried about home security, nannies, cleaners, contractors, etc. The camera can also be set to trigger email alerts based on motion or sound.



Overall the D-Link 2630L is a fine camera that’s packed with features. I still prefer a simple fixed camera for a hallway or pointed at some pet food dishes, but the 2630L is far superior to my motorized camera for larger areas. The ability to see the entire room at the same time without panning simply can't be matched. The additional features like the two way audio and the ability to record for days and days are just icing on the cake.

At $199.99 the 2630L is in the same price range as many competing motorized panning cameras, making it a no brainer. It’s great looking, high quality, and the performance is great. The fact that I had to toil a bit to get it set up doesn't change my opinion of this product at all. The performance of the 2630L makes up for the hassle and then some. The D-Link 2360L would make a great gift this holiday for just about any household. Its great for any family that travels, has kids, pets, looks after seniors, or anyone that values an extra bit of security.

The D-Link Full HD 180-Degree Wi-fi Camera is available for purchase at Best Buy and us.dlink.com.

Who would the D-Link 2630L make the perfect gift for?  Tell us in a comment here!

Give the Gift of Music This Holiday with the SOL Republic PUNK Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Thank you to SOL Republic for providing a PUNK wireless speaker sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our giveaway prize.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I have been privileged to have reviewed so many SOL Republic products over the last couple of years. I am always excited to see and test the next one. So far every SOL Republic product I have tested has received an outstanding review from me and I would be lying if I said I was not partial to their products, but frankly they have earned that bias from me. SOL Republic makes great personal audio electronics and their pricing is always better than the competitor for comparable items. However I always try to find at least one imperfection when I do a review for them. I am not always successful….

I received the SOL Republic PUNK Bluetooth speaker in black for review. And as always, I was excited to get it as I love my DECK and wanted to see how a smaller speaker compares. The basic rule of thumb with speakers is that bigger is almost always better. Could the PUNK sound as nice as my larger DECK?

I wont keep you in suspense: The DECK has a bigger and richer sound, but wowee the PUNK wireless speaker sounds extremely good for a 3-1/2" speaker and I was impressed. It boggles my mind how much sound SOL Republic can jam into a speaker that can fit into your palm.

The bass is better than I would expect from such a small form factor (SOL Republic signature bass) and the rest of the range was pleasantly complete. At max volume there was no cracking or static. This is no quickie-mart-as-seen-on-TV speaker that I see everywhere. I tested a few different genre’s of music to hear a variety of sounds as well as some video to really test the PUNK. It all sounded fantastic.

The PUNK is also water and dust resistant, something that even my DECK can't do! The exterior is rubbery and soft offering some light shock resistance and toughness. The PUNK is so tough, it doesn't come with a case like its peer does. Just grab and go.

You can plug the PUNK into analog and USB ports for wired audio and charging. Not that you need to plug it in for audio, the Bluetooth connection was as easy to set up as can be and the range is superb. Although I have yet to prove if the PUNK can go for 8 hours on a charge, I hardly doubt it as my DECK can play all day long. SOL Republic knows how to do wireless batteries!

Are there better sounding Bluetooth speakers out there? Sure. But not one as small as the PUNK and certainly not as inexpensive. I also bet none are as tough as the PUNK or can get wet and keep playing.  The PUNK is truly designed to just grab, throw in a bag or big pocket, and go. With the punk you can have quality music anywhere you go.

And guess what? I don't have a single negative thing to say about the PUNK. I failed to find my obligatory imperfection. At $69.99 you simply cannot go wrong with this speaker. It's tough and easy to use, perfect for teenagers, college students, and anybody who needs great sound that's easy to take with you.

The SOL Republic PUNK wireless speaker comes in 7 colors.  To see them all or to learn more about this compact Bluetooth speaker, visit www.SOLRepbulic.com.

CYBER WEEKEND SPECIAL:  Order a PUNK speaker and get a pair of JAX in-ear headphones for FREE. (Valid thru December 1st, 2014 @ 11:59p Pacific Time.)  Also, $1 from every order over $50 from the SOL Republic website will be donated to the Children's Cancer Association.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn. Although every effort will be made for the winner to receive the prize by December 24th, 2014, delivery in time for Christmas is not guaranteed. The color of the prize to be sent will be based on availability.

Disney 'Big Hero 6' is Genius! {plus a DIY Hiro Costume}

Our family was invited to attend a press screening of Big Hero 6 prior to the Disney movie opening in theaters.  All opinions expressed are my own.

My family and I had the opportunity to see Disney Big Hero 6 in 3D last week during an advanced screening. I can tell you I have been bursting at the seams waiting to tell the world about this movie. I’m not going to beat around the bush: Big Hero 6 is spectacular and is destined to become a mega blockbuster. Everybody should see this movie, young or old, . . . everybody. As a matter of fact, it should be mandatory!

I first heard about Big Hero 6 on YouTube where I saw the trailer months and months ago. I could not wait to show my kids as I knew they were going to be as excited as I was to see it. To be honest, whenever Disney announces a new animated movie we are giddy in anticipation (who isn't?), but something about this one really appealed to us and we were especially excited for the release.


One of the reasons we were so excited to see the movie, was that one of the main characters, Hiro, looks exactly like my oldest son Jake. Dead ringer. It didn't take us long to realize that Jake had to dress up as Hiro at some point (see the how-to below). I think we nailed the costume and Jake was able to wear it to the screening! However, Jake is not the only person excited enough about Big Hero 6 to dress up….. I will be attending a comic convention event later this month dressed at the villain, Yokai! As you can probably tell, we really loved this movie.

Big Hero 6 takes place in San Fransokyo (how awesome is that?), a hybrid city made up from San Francisco and Tokyo. I was absolutely mesmerized by the scenery of San Fransokyo. The visuals were breathtaking. I would love to be able to navigate around that city and really take it all in, but the movie is so fast paced and exciting, you hardly get a chance.

Hiro Hamada is a young boy genius with an older brother who is also gifted. Both are into robotics and have developed some amazing technology. I don't want to say too much more, but as you can guess, the other main character of the movie, Baymax, was one of their creations.

There is no doubt Baymax is going to become one of Disney's most loved and cherished personalities. The entire theatre was in love within seconds of his entrance. His sole purpose is to heal and protect people, even to use humor as the best medicine for the job and he does it so endearingly you can't help but to love him.

In addition to Hiro, his brother, and Baymax, there is a team of other cool and interesting characters that keep the story moving right along. I can honestly say that some of them could star in their own movie, but Hiro and Baymax clearly own Big Hero 6.

It's tough to say much more about the story without spoiling the movie, but you can expect things to get action packed and exciting. Nobody in the world manages emotions like Disney does. We were laughing, jumping in our seats, and crying at very comfortable intervals throughout the entire movie. The kids were truly moved throughout with just the right levels of emotional stimulation.

The scary parts were enough to give the kids (ages 7, 7, and 10) a jump (and net me a hand squeeze) but not too much to make them upset. The sad parts were enough to shed a light tear, but they were followed by humor and warm feelings to bring them right back. I am not ashamed to say I was just as emotionally moved as the kids were. In fact, the entire theatre was. We all laughed out loud, gasped in unison, and cheered regularly.

Although this is a Disney movie, the story is Marvel. So make sure you look for all the little treats and Easter eggs you’d expect in a Marvel movie. They are there and you are going to love them.

Big Hero 6 officially opens in theaters today, November 7th!  I can’t wait for everybody else to see this movie so I can talk about everything without spoiling it! If you haven't guessed, I wholeheartedly recommend this movie. I cannot think of one type of person who would not enjoy it.

TIP:  Don't be late for the movie because the animated short that preceded Big Hero 6, Feast, was awesome!


DIY Big Hero 6 Hiro Costume How-To . . .

• Navy blue zip-front hoodie (lined inside in white with white contrast stitiching, if you can find one)
• Red Transformers Optimus Prime (or another similar robot-like character) t-shirt
• For accuracy, layer a white t-shirt under the red one
• Long pair of khaki-colored cargo pocket shorts (or cut a pair of long cargo pants to hit halfway between the knee and ankle)
• Black canvas high tops with the tongue folded down
• Golden yellow shoelaces
• Lots of hair gel (and some hair spray) to create a full head of tousled hair

Aside from accidentally forgetting the white t-shirt to layer underneath (due to our attempt to not be late for the screening), we were pretty pleased with our DIY Hiro costume!

I hope I can take the family to see Big Hero 6 again soon…. or sneak out and see it again alone!

To learn more about this movie, visit Big Hero 6 on Disney.com, Facebook, and Disney Animation on Twitter.

"Music Made Me Do It" . . . Share Your Story with SOL Republic!

Thank you to SOL Republic for providing the Music Made Me Do It prize pack for our #MMMDI giveaway.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Music is a time machine.

Almost every memory I have ever had has a soundtrack to it, the good times and the bad. How many times has a song on the radio teleported you back to a time in your life? How many people have you known that you think of whenever a certain song comes on the radio? Many for me.

When I hear Journey, Zeppelin, and Hall & Oates, I am sent back to the 70’s riding on the school bus (with the coolest driver ever!) and hanging out with my brothers in Tennessee.. Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, U2, and Run DMC send me back to high school and all the lifelong friends I made there. As I got older I realized how much music I had missed before my time and started listening to CCR, The Beatles, Elvis, Cream, Hendrix, and on and on.

I am convinced every phase of my life is represented by the music I was listening to at the time. I think back to all of the things I used to do when listening to music. Drawing, studying Karate, driving, spending time with friends at the beach, and bicycling. Oh boy, the hours and hours I spent on my bike when I was younger listening to music that shaped my attitude and spirit.

I would ride up and down the Charles River all day long listening to the entire albums by U2, Pearl Jam, and anything else I could get my hands on. Of course, back then I listened on my portable CD player….. but that's another story. There is nothing like blasting Pearl Jam’s Even Flow while speeding 30 miles an hour down a steep rocky hill or catching a little air to Van Halen’s Jump.

Today I listen to everything, whether it's through my SOL Republic Relays on my bike or with my Master Tracks at the office. As I age, I start to appreciate skill and talent over genre. I appreciate the quality of the sound. If its good music by a talented artist then I like it, whether its opera, rap, country, death metal, or ska it doesn't matter. And with thousands (millions?) of songs just a touch away, I can teleport back into any time of my life in an instant.

This year, music made me get back on my bike. Something I haven't done in years and years. I have a thousand reasons to get up and do something, but only music can do it every time.


Does the video above make you think of the amazing things you've done in your lifetime?  Find more Music Made Me Do It stories on www.solrepublic.com.  3G2S readers are invited to share your stories for a chance to win ALL the SOL Republic products listed below (colors may vary) . . .

Our 'Music Made Me Do It' SOL Republic Prize Pack (ARV $700+) includes:

• 1 SOL REPUBLIC Deck speaker (ARV $129.99)
• 1 SOL REPUBLIC Punk speaker (ARV $69.99)
• 1 SOL REPUBLIC Tracks Air wireless headphone (ARV $199.99)
• 1 SOL REPUBLIC Tracks on-ear headphone (ARV $99.99)
• 1 SOL REPUBLIC Relays in- ear headphone (ARV $79.99)
• 1 SOL REPUBLIC Master Tracks over-ear headphone (ARV $199.99)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

TERMS & CONDITIONS:  This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn. Although every effort will be made for the winner to receive the prize pack by December 24th, 2014, delivery in time for Christmas is not guaranteed. The prize pack image found in the contest post is only an example. The products in the prize pack may vary from the colors shown in the image and will be sent based on availability.

SOL Republic Relays In-ear Headphones for Students, Athletes, or Anyone Constantly On-the-Move

Thank you to SOL Republic for providing sample Relays in-ear headphones for us to base this review upon and for providing a second product for our giveaway prize. All opinions expressed are our own.

I received a pair of SOL Republic Relays to test and review. If you have read any of my previous reviews, you will know that I am a SOL Republic fanboy and I rave about their products. Most of the time, I can hardly even find a single flaw (partially why I am such a nut for them!). This time, however, in between my raving, I will point out the biggest flaw I have found in a SOL Republic product, then tell you why you should buy them anyways.

I was sent the Relays in Horizon Blue and as always, they look amazing. Unlike other earbuds I have ever used (ever seen?), the Relays have a soft-ish plastic ring around the Sound Engines to keep the buds securely in your ear. In fact, that is the primary difference between the Relays and other SOL Republic earbuds. The Relays are designed to stay put, no matter how you are using them. They will stay in your ear as you run, bike, or work out at the gym. Although I did not try them doing any of those activities, it is clear that the Relays stay securely in my ear. They fit very snugly even if you tug on them. The Relays would be a great choice for the adult or student athletes in your home as they stay in and are quite durable.

Like most SOL Republic products, the Relays come with a 3 button control on the cord allowing you to adjust your volume and answer calls if using them with your phone, although a single-button version is also available. Another SOL Republic signature feature, the cord has a thick rubber coating that resists tangles. The Relays come in 5 vibrant colors to match your style. Also included in the box is a small ripstop case and a variety of different sized ear pieces to perfect the fit.

But how do they sound? Amazing. Like all the other SOL Republic products I have reviewed, they sound terrific. The sound does not compare to my Master Tracks, but for an earbud I was pleasantly surprised. That is getting increasingly hard to do, as I have been blown away with every SOL Republic device I have tried and my expectations are high. I will say, if the Relays are not properly seated in your ear, the sound may be tinny. And this is the segway to my problem with the Relays….

I have very sensitive, slightly narrow ears and earbuds tend to be uncomfortable for me, even the best ones will start to hurt after prolonged usage and the Relays were no different. The very feature that keeps the Relays snug in my ear is what was triggering my sensitive reaction and leading to discomfort. But I am a unique example, nobody else in my family suffers from my ear sensitivity. I also need to mention that after some time fine tuning the placement, my discomfort is improving. I feel my ears will adjust eventually as I use them. After reading other reviews, this issue seems unique to me so this may not be a factor for most.

Aside from my unique issue, the SOL Republic Relays are every bit as nice as I thought they would be, and frankly expect from SOL Republic. Each time I review a SOL Republic product I am more impressed, but my expectations are also increased. The Relays met my increased expectations and I fully recommend them. They look fantastic, sound amazing, and they have the quality I have come to expect. And for $79.99, they are very competitively priced for a high end in-ear headset. With back to school upon us, the Relays would make an excellent gift for the students (or the teachers) in our lives.

To learn more about the Relays and other SOL Republic products, visit www.solrepublic.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Indoor and Outdoor Fun with the Playmobil (5238) Wireless RC Pirates Ship with Underwater Motor!

Thank you to Playmobil for sending us a sample remote control pirate ship for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are our own.

We receive toys to review several times throughout the year. You would think that when we review the toy, we just watch the kids play and interact with the toy and take notes for the review, but we don't. The truth is that my kids aren't allowed to get anywhere near the toys until I have played with them first! Any excuse I can have to play with toys is welcome. “Sure I will review that toy….”

Playmobil sent us the Pirates Ship with RC Underwater Motor to try out and review. I will admit I was excited to get my grubby hands on this one, likely more than any other toy we have reviewed. And we have reviewed some amazing toys.

The Pirates ship comes in a giant box and all of the parts are separated and bagged nicely. I love how Playmobil boxes are large enough to assemble your toys in, reducing the chance of lost parts.

At first, the assembly seemed a little bit intimidating (some kits are complex), but the ship came together fairly easily.  My 10 year old son was able to help with just about everything.

One aspect of the build was a bit hard and would have kept a child from assembling the ship alone. The rigging definitely requires an adult. To rig the ship you must carefully measure and cut string and then tie the pieces in a very particular way. Honestly, there may be some adults who would find it not so easy, but the detail of the rigging is wonderful when done and really adds to the impressiveness of the ship. The total build time with rigging was under 45 minutes, half of which was the rigging.

Like with all Playmobil sets, this RC Pirates Ship was designed with many fun details.  For example, the anchor has a perch and can be lowered down into the water with a crank.  There's also a hideaway for a treasure chest that is can be filled with golden doubloons, chalices, and other treasure.  The three included figures, came with a whole slew of swords, pistols, and more.

The ship looks fantastic, but how well does it work? . . . A great deal better than I was expecting. The ship moves faster than I expected and can turn in a much tighter radius than I would have guessed. Reverse is lethargic, but that didn't bother me at all. Masted pirate ships don't go in reverse in real life at all!  The motor was also surprisingly quiet.

The kids had a blast playing with the ship in water (after it was pried from my hands). Our 4 year old nephew had no problem controlling the ship. The wireless controls are intuitive and responsive.

I don't think I have ever met a Playmobil toy I didn't like,  but I certainly like the Pirates Ship with RC Underwater Remote the most so far. The kit is well designed, very high quality, and the play value is through the roof. The issue I had was not unexpected: The ship does not like rough or choppy water. It can handle a little bit, but this toy would not do well at the beach or a large lake, it really is for very small bodies of water like a pool or small fish pond.  That being said, the kids had a blast making waves in the pool so that the members of the ship's crew would lose their balance and fall down, just as they imagined pirates would do on the rough seas.

This Playmobil RC Pirate Ship has tremendous play value.  It can be played with outdoors in the water during the warmer months, but can also stand alone without the motor for indoor play.  This would be the perfect toy to keep in mind for upcoming Holiday gifts.  You can find out more about this and the other Playmobil pirate-themed toys at www.playmobil.us.

An Android Learning Tablet That's Powerful Enough to Hold Our Son's Interest with Reading & Visual Tracking Apps

Thank you to ClickN KIDS for providing a sample children's tablet for us to base this review upon.  All opinions expressed are our own.

If it is not painfully obvious by now, we are a family that embraces technology. Sometimes I feel we even take our technology use too far (impossible!). One aspect of new technology that will never be unwelcome in my home is any tech that helps my children learn.

We own, have owned, or at least tried, about every tablet type device made specifically for children. Most were merely OK, some weren't good at all, and a few were surprisingly good. We even reviewed a few here on this site. But mostly tablets made for kids are just that: Made for kids. I dont know about your kids, but my kids are very tech-savvy and a device that is too “toy-like” just doesn't cut it for very long, even if done very well, especially when they see mom and dad using tablets that can do everything a computer can do.

My amazing son Luke, the future DNA scientist, astrophysicist, or restaurant owner (depending on what day you ask him), who hates to read, has a visual tracking problem that bottlenecks information before it gets to his brain. His eyes skip around and jumbles the information as he scans the page. It has been quite a challenge and can be extremely frustrating for him. The issue is compounded as his thirst for knowledge is so high. You can imagine that any tool we can use to help him improve his tracking is very welcome. There are a host of applications available designed specifically to improve visual tracking and coordination and a tablet is the perfect delivery device. Luke is just smitten with tablets anyways, so getting him to spend time using one is easy.

The problem, before now, is that most tablets made for kids do not provide the ability to install special or custom apps on them. The kid tablets we own, even the good ones, almost all have proprietary apps you can only download from their sites. Many of the apps are superb and fun and all offer various learning levels, but none of the tablets can be pointed to any site on the web and download an app outside of the proprietary app service. For this you normally need a real full featured adult tablet. But at $300 and up, I hesitate to buy one for a 7 year old and frankly my personal tablet is too important to lend out to a child.

Fortunately, there is a solution to our problem: The ClickN Kids Family Tablet.

The ClickN Kids Family Tablet is a real full featured tablet with an Android operating system that can do anything you would expect from an adult level tablet, but it is very much a kids tablet with an interface and loads of content designed just for kids. I can hand the ClickN Kids tablet to Luke and know that 100% of his experience is designed for him and controlled by me. But I can grab it back, log out of the kids interface and have regular adult oriented experience. The best part? It costs just $99. I can install custom apps designed to help Luke with his tracking without limitations and present it to him in a kid friendly interface. To my knowledge there isn't another kids tablet on the market that has such flexibility, as well as preloaded educational apps. And, amazingly, it costs under $100!

The ClickN Kids tablet is full of great apps right out of the box, including the award winning Looney Tunes Phonics (an amazing value by itself). One of my kids favorite apps is Talking Tom 2, a funny cat you can pet, feed, tickle, and make do silly things. But the apps that are most important to me are the custom apps I installed from outside of the ClickN Kids tablet pre installed apps designed to help Luke with his visual tracking issues. One of those apps is called Falldown, an addictive game where you guide a ball down a series of lines with holes in them by moving the tablet from side to side, if you go too slow the ball gets stuck and you lose. This game is deceptively simple yet entertaining, but most importantly, Luke likes to play and as a result improves his visual tracking without even knowing he is learning.

This tablet offers everything you would expect in a full featured tablet. In the kids interface there is a kids safe browser and a camera in addition to the plethora of installed apps. Switch over to the adult interface and you see a home screen that is very familiar to anyone who uses an Android based device. You can install any app you can find on the web designed for Android operating systems.

Parents have complete control over their kids experience with the ClickN Kids tablet. Time and content can be controlled easily through the adult interface as well as available apps.

So, the big question: Has the ClickN Kids Family Tablet improved Luke's visual tracking? It is hard to say as the problem is dynamic and hard to measure.  However, I can answer the question another way: The ClickN Kids tablet is the only kids tablet that we own Luke asks me to use. Additionally, when Luke uses the ClickN Kids tablet he spends time using the custom apps designed to help his tracking . . . on his own. So, although I cannot measure the results easily, Luke is using a tool that improves his tracking in lieu of all the other available tools we own. I would say that is a big win.

For $99 the ClickN Kids tablet gets a no brainer recommendation from me. It is powerful for the price, offers the flexibility I need for Luke, and comes in fun colors with a protective gel case, and all for a fraction of the price of an adult tablet. Honestly? This tablet would be good for anybody, even an adult, that doesn't want to spend a ton of money. Being a technology snob, that is an enormous endorsement from me!

NOTE:  I have read on retail site reviews that some people have had problems with their tablet freezing, so I wanted to share that we have been using ours for over 5 months and have not had any issues with freezing so far.

To learn more about the ClickN Kids 7" tablet, visit www.clicknkids.com.  You can purchase this android learning tablet at Walmart.com and Amazon.com.

Looking for a New iOS or Android Game App? How About 'Fairway Solitaire Blast' by #BigFishGames?

This Fairway Solitaire Blast game post was written as part of a compensated campaign for Big Fish Games.  All opinions expressed are my own.

I love playing games on my smartphone during my precious few minutes of downtime here and there. I think it is amazing how much diversion can be packed into a device we carry with us everywhere. Whether I am waiting in a lobby or in line at a bank, I am moments away from some reality-escaping fun.

I installed Big Fish Games' Fairway Solitaire Blast recently and have been fighting addiction to the game app ever since. Fairway Solitaire Blast is the followup to Fairway Solitaire, but with some added power ups to help you clear levels fast and in a thrilling way.

Fairway Solitaire Blast is a cross between solitaire and golf . . . sort of. The game is essentially a streamlined solitaire that progresses through a golf-like structure of advancement, gophers and all!

The game is fast paced and easy to understand, I hate games with a high learning curve, especially on my mobile device. I want fast and simple fun on my phone and Fairway Solitaire Blast delivers nicely.


Like many current games for your mobile device, Fairway Solitaire Blast offers social connections through Facebook and Google+ with rewards for sharing with your friends. There is a host of power-ups available as well to keep the game moving along.

If you like Solitaire but want something faster and a little different, you will love Fairway Solitaire Blast by Big Fish Games. The game is available free to try for Android, iOS, and Kindle Fire devices.

Visit www.BigFishGames.com to view the vast selection of games currently available for PC, Mac, mobile devices, and online gaming.

Protect Your Phone, Tablet, or Other Mobile Device with Gumdrop and HardCandy Cases

Thank you to Gumdrop Cases for providing a Drop Tech Series Sleeve sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize. All opinions expressed are my own.

We recently protected our Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 with a ShockDrop Rugged Case by HardCandy Cases. The ShockDrop was just what the doctor ordered for that tablet, but the Galaxy Tab is not the only tablet in the house. I, myself, use a Microsoft Surface that travels with me everywhere I go. My Surface easily needs as much protection as the Galaxy Tab does, possibly even more. The challenge with the Surface is that it uses an attached keyboard and a collapsible kickstand, two features that don't work very well with a traditional tablet case.

Although a traditional case was out, that did not mean I was out of luck. Fortunately, Gumdrop Cases also makes protection for my Surface in the form of a semi-rigid sleeve. The Gumdrop Cases Drop Tech Series Sleeve was the perfect choice for my Microsoft Surface tablet. The Drop Tech Sleeve is made specifically for my Surface, but any thin similarly sized tablet would fit just fine.

The Drop Tech tablet sleeve is just a sleeve and does not permanently surround my Surface, but it protects it when I need it the very most . . . when I am carrying it around. Like other HardCandy cases, the sleeve is made from a thick rubbery material that looks like a truck tire. The corrugated tire pattern helps provide a good grip, keeping your tablet firmly in your hands when inside the sleeve.

The Velcro fastener, which keeps the flap closed, is very industrial and requires a good pull to open. There is no way the flap will open by itself. Inside the Drop Tech sleeve is a micro fiber-like lining that keeps your tablet scratch-free.

The corners and edges of the sleeve have a bit of extra material for additional shock protection should you ever drop it. I suspect a drop from armpit height would be very survivable for your tablet, although I am fortunate enough to not have needed to test out this theory. I also would feel comfortable throwing the sleeve in another pack with keys and other hard objects without any worry for my tablet, as the sleeve is semi rigid and offers plenty of protection.

I can’t find anything negative about my Gumdrop Cases Drop Tech Sleeve to report. The sleeve does exactly what it should do and it does it very well. Whether I am carrying it by itself or throwing it into another bag I know my device is safe in case of a mishap.

At $59.95 the Drop Tech sleeve is not inexpensive, but neither is my tablet, so I feel it is well worth the cost. What price do you put on your data? I easily recommend this product.  You can find Drop Tech Series cases for the iPhone, iPad, as well as Samsung, Kindle Fire, Google Nexus, Asus tablets, and more on www.gumdropcases.com.

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Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Our Samsung Galaxy Tablet is Now Child-Friendly Thanks to This Heavy Duty ShockDrop Rugged Case

Thank you to HardCandy Cases for providing a complimentary tablet case sample for us to base this review upon. All opinions expressed are my own.

We are an electronic and mobile family. We have pretty much every type of mobile device represented in our household….. multiple times over. Our kids are increasingly interested in mobile devices but very much handle our devices like they are toys . . . certainly an issue for a small and fragile device that may cost a few hundred dollars.  Coming to our rescue is the ShockDrop Rugged Case by HardCandy Cases for our Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10”. The Galaxy Tab is in high demand by the kids and really needs good protection.

The ShockDrop Rugged Case looks and feels like a big black offroad tire. Big thick silicon rubber “treads” all over with lots of grip. Not only does the ShockDrop offer significant drop protection, it is really easy to hold and helps prevent dropping in the first place, which is the ultimate protection. The kids have a sure grip on the tablet when it’s in the ShockDrop case.

The case has 10mm of padding on the corners for maximum shock absorption if dropped. The material composition is mixed to provide varying densities for a complete range of shock protection.

The ShockDrop case comes in multiple pieces and needs to be assembled around your tablet. Although there weren’t any instructions for assembly, it really was obvious and easy to put together. There are holes and cutouts for cameras and everything that needs it. The case has thick flaps to cover the ports to keep debris out.

The case even has a cover for the screen that does not inhibit touch sensitivity one bit. I must admit I was very concerned about this feature and it ultimately was not an issue. The ShockDrop case covers 100% of your device, everything is protected.

I have no complaints about the ShockDrop Rugged Case at all.  HardCandy Cases did an excellent job with this case. It is a great deal easier to hand my kids an expensive device to play with now. The only “warning” I will issue is to invest in a good microfiber cloth and clean your screen very well before putting your device in the case. Debris sandwiched between the screen and cover will drive you nuts!

I highly recommend the ShockDrop Rugged Case, it really is a no-brainer for any device your kids want to handle. It would also make a great case for mobile devices used in tough environments like camping or travelling. This ShockDrop Case retails for $49.95 from HardCandy Cases, easily worth it to keep your expensive device safe.  This case is available for a variety of smartphones and other tablets, including the iPad, Kindle Fire, Google Nexus, and more.  Visit www.HardCandyCases.com to learn more.

Start off the New Year with the High Quality Sound of SOL Republic's Deck Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

Thank you to SOL Republic for providing a complimentary Deck Speaker sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sometimes we fall in love with a brand and our opinions about it are always biased. For me, one of those brands is SOL Republic, I just love their products. This year SOL Republic sent me two more items to try out and review, and as always I was very excited to do so. As biased as I am towards SOL Republic, I still do my best to point out the flaws as I see them, even for products I otherwise love and recommend.

One of the products I was sent this year was the Deck Wireless Bluetooth Speaker. I was dying to get my hands on one the moment they were announced. With the prior SOL Republic products I have reviewed, I always found one or two things that were less than perfect to mention in my otherwise glowing reviews . I can tell you I have yet to find a single negative thing to say about my Deck. Sort of.

The Deck is handsome and has an asymmetric pattern of lines across its surface. As always with SOL Republic products, the Deck is offered in an assortment of fun colors . . . Electro Blue, Gunmetal, Lemon Lime, and Vivid Red. The unit feels heavy and solid when held, an important feature for a speaker with a subwoofer. The heft of the unit combined with a rubbery base keeps the unit from vibrating when reproducing SOL Republic's signature deep bass. The Deck is about the size of a small paperback novel. The unit could easily fit into a jacket pocket, but not comfortably in a pants pocket unless they are cargo pants. Mine sits perfectly next to my tablet in my bag inside the included soft case.

I feel like a broken record talking about SOL Republic's sound quality, but consistency is consistency: The Deck sounds wonderful. It generates decent bass from its subwoofer, a real treat for such a small speaker. And as always with SOL Republic, the range is not sacrificed for the bass. My tastes in music include everything from opera to death metal and the Deck keeps pace nicely.

The Deck manages to broadcast its sound 360 degrees from the unit, an excellent feature allowing you to place the unit anywhere and still hear the quality sound. Another feature that really stood out to me was the volume, the Deck is LOUD. Trust me when I tell you my office co workers have been enjoying the Deck as well…… whether they liked it or not (When it’s time to rock out, it’s time to rock out!). The Deck is an excellent choice for listening to music outdoors where a bit of volume is required.

SOL Republic claims the Deck has a 300 foot range with its Superpower Wireless feature. Although I was not able to prove or disprove that, it did start to get choppy about 60 feet away in my office. But I hardly take issue with that, Bluetooth is only advertised to work up to 30 feet and my office is made of concrete and steel, the bane of wireless devices.

Pairing to the Deck was as easy as can be, just point your device to the Deck and pair, no password required. Another unique feature is Heist Mode that allows up to 5 devices to send music to the speaker. What a great idea for parties, anybody can be a DJ with the Deck! As cool as Heist mode is, I can see it being equally annoying and fortunately you can turn it off.

The Deck comes with all the accessories required to charge its 10 hour battery (tested and verified by the way) and hook directly up to your device when wireless isn't an option.

The closest thing to a fault I can come up with for the Deck really isn't a fault. As amazing as the Deck sounds, it is still a compact speaker. Big speakers will almost always sound better than little ones. Now of course technology and quality play a big part in this, but assuming those are equal, bigger is always better. Having said that, the Deck sounds every bit as good as a speaker of its size should, MUCH better in fact. If you compare its sound to a larger and equally quality speaker you will be disappointed. But for me, if its too big I won’t bring it with me unless I know I need it. The Deck goes with me everywhere, even if I don't plan on using it. I LOVE that. Can you buy a better sounding speaker? Yes, but it’s going to be much larger and certainly more expensive.

If you want to bring high quality sound with you, in my opinion, there is no better option than the SOL Republic Deck. There are lots of great wireless speakers out there, but SOL Republic gets it right... Again. Great sound, fantastic quality, compact, and at $199.99 priced similarly or better than its competition. Yet again SOL Republic wins my heart through my ears.

If you haven't guessed by now, I recommend the Deck wholeheartedly. The Deck would make an excellent gift for yourself or any travelling audiofile.  Visit www.solrepublic.com to learn more.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. A random drawing will be held shortly after the contest closing. The winner will be announced here and will be contacted via email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be drawn.

Tech Tip: Mobile Security for Your Tablets & Smartphones Is As Important As on Your Laptop #SmartSecurity #shop #cbias

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This mobile security shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its client Norton.

Mobile computing is the future. Sometimes I feel like we are already there, our tablets and phones have replaced our computers for so much of our online needs, including online shopping, online banking, and much more. I can say that 80% of my online consumption is done through a phone or a tablet. One aspect that that has been covered at length is protection for our computers, but how much has mobile security been considered? And for that matter, how about Wifi security while surfing on a public or shared hotspot? I would be willing to bet that very few people are considering how their mobile devices and connections are being protected. When you connect to the Wifi at your favorite coffee shop, are you asking yourself if you are safe? The fact of the matter is that a third of mobile devices have been subjected to some form of mobile cybercrime, making tablet and smartphone security and laptop security a prevalent topic.

Norton has been protecting home and business computers for years and is one of the most well-known malware protection companies in the world. It was no surprise to me when I learned about their suite of mobile protection products. I recently installed Norton Mobile Security on my Android tablet and phone as well as Norton Hotspot Privacy on my Windows laptop. I was relieved to finally install some protection on my most used devices.

The Norton Mobile Security installed much like any other app and required very little configuration. I found the default settings to be pretty much what I would have selected on my own. I have always been a stickler for my devices running as lean as possible and I simply hate applications that affect everything on your device and slow things down. Norton installed clean and seems to run silently in the background.

Norton Mobile Security is on by default, you really only need to open the app to change configuration settings or to run an extra manual scan of your device. When you open the application, the default page shows you the security status of your device and allows you to run a manual scan if desired. There are 4 more tabs including Anti-Theft, Backup, Web Protection, and a tab where you can buy and download additional apps to protect your devices. All the services are on by default and each tab houses settings for configuration settings. I ended up changing nothing, the default settings were just fine for my needs.

The last tab is a direct link to a host of other Norton products you can install directly to your device Including a Parental Control app and an Identity Theft app. You can really fine tune your protection right from your device.

I installed the Norton Hotspot Privacy app on my Windows laptop as I use shared Wifi the most on that device. The Hotspot app is incredibly simple to use. In fact, all you really need to do is install it, the application works in the background and loads when you start your device. It is nice to know you do not need to remember to turn it on as it is always on. Norton Hotspot Privacy creates a secure tunnel through the connection out to the web without any work on your part.

I am glad that my mobile devices are protected as well as my desktop computers are now. I really have been ignoring that part of my electronic security and it feels good to address it. The Norton Mobile Security app is available for Android and Apple devices and the Norton Hotspot Privacy is available for Apple or Windows (desktop OS) operating systems. I was not able to install either on my Windows phone or my Windows Surface RT tablet, but it should work for a Surface Pro or a similar desktop OS tablet.

To help bring awareness to mobile security and promote its line of mobile security products, Norton embarked on a truck tour visiting all over the country. The tour will next visit the CES Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 7th through the 10th.