Technology | The Angel Forever

Category Archives Technology

Videos on the Go with the Nokia Lumia 928

Posted on August 26, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

I hate to admit the number of times that I have forgotten to bring our small video camera with us to events. I am not good at remembering it. In a pinch, I usually have my point and shoot camera that will also record video. While it does a decent job outside in natural lighting, inside will typically look yellow and the audio is not very good. This can be frustrating, though it is better than having nothing. Of course, there have been times when I just attempt to use my smartphone to capture the moment in a longer video than Vine or Instagram. Enter my testing of the Nokia Lumia that I recently received as a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers.

While the boys and I were out the other day, we stopped by the Museum of Innovation and Science in Schenectady, NY. As members, we have been there a lot and I have documented our visits with my phone, Instagram video, and other resources. While the boys were reading some new items, I decided to record video of two of the dinosaur displays. I never told the kids what I was doing, so you will actually hear me whispering to them during the filming. My face was not near the phone, but it picked it up very clear. In addition to this, the museum lighting is very low. Even with this going against it, the Lumia 928 proved why people are always talking about the camera and video capabilities. I used Windows Live Movie Maker to put two pictures and two videos together into this for YouTube.

For a comparison, I thought I would use Patrick the cockatiel as a test subject. Patrick is now living with my parents after my aunt and uncle moved to Israel. I thought it would be nice to send a quick video to them to see how well he is adjusting. What you will notice is the clarity of the video and audio. Not only can you hear Patrick chatting to himself in the mirror (he’s in love with mirrors), you can hear the big mouth cockatoo in another room letting everyone know that she is jealous.

Once again, I did nothing with the video, I simply put it onto YouTube. Knowing the quality of the video from these examples and a few others, I know that if I was caught at school, or an event without something else that I could capture moments on the go.

Do you use your smartphones for longer video or stick to the shorter versions with apps to share on social media?

It's Me

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I receive different devices to check out in my life. There is no other compensation. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own.

Categories:
family Technology video

Photo Fun with the Nokia Lumia 928

Posted on August 19, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

My smartphone camera plays a big role in my world. As a blogger, social media influencer, and parent, I use my phone for on the go photos. Of course, I rarely post them as is. Most of the time I crop them, edit a bit, make a collage, and always watermark them. When I moved over to using the Nokia Lumia 928 as part of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I worried about finding the right apps for what I need. Being a realist, I knew that many of the apps I was used to on the Android platform are not currently available for the Windows OS. Thanks to blogging friends like Robyn at Robyn’s Online World and Amy at Selfish Mom, I knew work around solutions could be found. This is the current view of tiles when I open my phone.

During a great webinar with the folks at Nokia, I learned about some great features in my phone. I will share some of those along the way. Most of the #VZWBuzz people were very curious about apps. There was some talk about Instance which is a work around app for Instagram (that should be Windows OS by the end of the year). It can not do Vine at this point, but it allows me to post to Instagram and share on Twitter and Facebook at the same time.

When looking at the Windows Store for apps, I immediately recognized PhotoGrid. It is a great tool to make collages across platforms, but that is all that it will allow me to do. If I want to add text to the collage or a watermark, I needed something else. Since I was in a pinch, I quickly located Picture Perfect.

Picture Perfect had more photo editing capabilities, many that I have not explored completely. In addition to this, I could add text that would allow me to write TheAngelForever.com. While the combination worked out nicely together, it still was not quite what I was looking for, especially with the watermarking.

Just as I was settling into these options, SelfishMom came to the rescue. She asked me if I had tried Phototastic. I had not tried it and immediately checked it out. Color me impressed. Not only were there amazing collage options, but I could use many different fun fonts and change the color and opacity for watermarking on the fly. Yes, this one app pretty much had everything that I was looking for all in one. Although it was already really late, I had to try one out. Once it was finished, I shared it as a thank you to Amy.

I have to admit that I am in love with this app and am curious about the full version of Phototastic. Just look at some of the items that I made for fun while sharing on Instagram.

While I am still learning the quirks to the Lumia 928’s camera (every phone has them), I now know more ways to creatively share them when I am out and about. Plus, I can even use them here on my blog if/when I need to.

It's Me

Categories:
Phone Apps Technology

Future Sonic Screwdriver Geek

Posted on August 12, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

This weekend was a rough one for my little guy. You see he just finished his week at camp and was upset about not going back. In addition to this, he was focused on his desire to purchase something. What is that you ask? Well, JSL has been a bit obsessed with sonic screwdrivers since TechyDad’s birthday. Real tears were shed when we told him he had to wait and it was not something that he had to have right now.

Of course, in an attempt to focus JSL into a calm state I decided to record a video of him talking about the sonic screwdriver. Rather than run to get the video camera, I figured it was the perfect chance to test out the video on the Nokia Lumia 928 that I just received as a member of the Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Bloggers. To keep him involved, I let him use TechyDad’s Eleventh Doctor’s sonic screwdriver for the video. JSL is a new Whovian in the making. He is still watching the first season of the revamped series and is excited to learn more about the new Doctors to come. Here is my little guy sharing why he wants his own sonic screwdriver.

Oh and for the record, JSL is already quite upset that he only has a few more episodes to watch with the Ninth Doctor. No doubt he will quickly learn to love the Tenth and eventually the Eleventh Doctor down the road. Ah, I love my little geek.

It's Me

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I receive different devices to check out in my life. There is no other compensation. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own. I used the Nokia Lumia 928 that was recently sent to me for all of the photos and the video within this blog post. In addition to this, I used SkyDrive to magically transport the items to my computer for use.

Categories:
Technology television video

Verizon LG Optimus Zone Smartphone Giveaway

Posted on August 5, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

As a Verizon Lifestyle Blogger, I have had the chance to learn a lot about Verizon Wireless, products that they sell, and services that they provide. TechyDad and I have been customers of Verizon Wireless longer than the eleven years we have been married. One of the latest items that I am learning more about are the prepaid phones and plans that are available. My oldest son is in his last year of elementary school. Thanks to this, we have to think about getting him a phone for security reasons for the start of middle school.

Why a Prepaid Smartphone?

Prepaid smartphone allow individuals and families to have a flexible way to utilize a phone with a data plan. The phone does not cost as much as some of the higher end options and there is no annual contract required, so there is no long term commitment. The phones comes with unlimited talk and text and then you select one of two data plans. For $60 a month, you get 2 GB of data and $70 allots you 4GB on Verizon’s 3G network. For young cell phone users, it keeps them safely in a plan where you will not have to worry about extra data charges. Replacement phones are will not cost you hundreds of dollars if lost, stolen, or broken. As a parent, I am intrigued in these options for my son once he gets a phone of his own.

Verizon Wireless currently offers several Prepaid Devices that you can purchase from them. One of the smartphones is the LG Optimus Zone pictured above. That is the same phone that Verizon sent me to giveaway to one of my readers. Some of the features of the phone include:

Android 2.3.6
3.2” QVGA Display
3.2MP Camera
3G – WiFi Capable
Take Notes with QuickMemo™ (I had this feature on my Lucid 2 by LG and adored it)

Giveaway Information:

Verizon Wireless would like one lucky winner to have a chance to win their own LG Optimus Zone prepaid smartphone. The package above includes the phone, battery, travel adapter & USB Cable, and information from Verizon on the prepaid plans and how to set it up. It is important to note that NO service from Verizon is included with this giveaway. Please be sure to see the rules listed within the Rafflecopter widget and below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To enter, please follow the rules above within the comment section and Rafflecopter. Giveaway begins August 5, 2013 and ends August 26, 2013. You do not have to be a blogger to enter, but must leave a valid e-mail address for me to contact you for mailing address once the giveaway is over. You will have 48 hours to claim the prize. If there is no response, another winner will be selected. Open to US residents only.

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I often receive devices to test out and share ways that I use my cell phone to make life easier. Verizon is providing the LG Optimus Zone to my winner, no other compensation was received. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own.

Categories:
giveaway Technology

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 for Children

Posted on August 2, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Recently, TechyDad and I realized that both of the boys had a lot of gift card money that they had never used from birthdays and Chanukah. While our oldest quickly declared that he wanted a Nintendo 3DS, our little guy did not. Rather than get more toys that he did not need to clutter the house, we started to investigate tablets. We quickly came to the conclusion that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 would be perfect.

While we were doing our research about the device, Verizon Wireless reached out to me about sharing our experience with the device. As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, we were sent a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 that has 4G capabilities on the Verizon network.

So you may be asking why a tablet and more specifically why the Galaxy Tab 2? Well, for starters, JSL likes to use the apps on my phone more than he likes traditional gaming devices. The tablet also offers him the ability to use items from our family of mostly Android devices. As an Android user, I already know a lot of educational apps that are good for my little guy. In addition to this, we can load the tablet with the Kindle app for book reading and OverDrive Media app for book listening. When TechyDad and I started to do research on Android tablets, the reviews for the Galaxy Tab 2 were amazing. When we went to visit with them in stores, the beautiful screen clarity and easy motions made us know that it would be kid friendly. Another big factor is the price point of the Samsung. It is available in two different sizes (7 and 10 inch) and you can also purchase a non-4G version with Wi-Fi only.

When the Galaxy Tab 2 arrived, TechyDad spent a lot of time getting it ready for JSL. More about that process coming soon. Once it was ready and charged, JSL quickly learned to show us how everything should be used. (He also named it: Stupendous.) He loves the time he is allowed to use it and because of the size it packs up easily for long car rides (see the photo below)

In the upcoming weeks, I plan to share more of the ways we use the Galaxy Tab 2 for educational purposes and more. Oh and in case you were wondering, NHL no longer wants the Nintendo 3DS. With his birthday coming up later this month, he wants to get another Galaxy Tab 2. I believe we have a family of tech geeks in training.

So my question to you this week:

Do your children use a Tablet and what do they typically use it for? If you happen to have an Android tablet, I would love more suggestions on apps that we may want to add to our device.

It's Me

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I received a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 to test out and share ways that I use this in my life. There was no other compensation. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own.

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this Friday fun. These days, Pamela at A Renaissance Woman is reviving the fun Friday Meme. Head over there to link up and join in the fun.

Aloha Friday by Kailani at An Island Life