Tech — MomStart

Evolution of TV and Entertainment & Xbox 360 Kinect Infographic

December 7, 2011 By Momstart 4 Comments

Xbox 360 records the biggest week in Xbox history

Entering the seventh year of its lifecycle, Xbox 360 just closed the biggest sales week in the history of Xbox, selling more than 960,000 consoles in the U.S. during the week of Black Friday.

Microsoft’s retail partners are equally excited about our sales performance this holiday.

“We have seen tremendous excitement from customers for our hot holiday gaming offers,” said Chris Homeister, senior vice president and general manager of Home Entertainment at Best Buy. “Xbox 360 was among the best-sellers at Best Buy this Black Friday, and is a testament to the continued popularity of the gaming category this holiday.”

Sales highlights in the U.S. during the week of Black Friday include:

· Xbox 360 sold more than 960,000 consoles in the U.S. alone, of which more than 800,000 were sold within a period of 24 hours – the biggest week of sales in Xbox history. (Source: Internal data)

· More than 750,000 Kinect for Xbox 360 sensors were sold in the U.S. – standalone and bundled. (Source: Internal data)

Xbox 360 has something for everyone this holiday season including a growing Kinect portfolio of more than 75 new Kinect for Xbox 360 titles – four times more than last holiday. New titles include sequels to best sellers such as “Kinect Sports: Season Two” and “Dance Central 2.” Xbox 360 also released some of the biggest excusive blockbuster games this holiday with titles like “Gears of War 3,” “Forza Motorsport 4” and “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.”

What do you watch in your house?

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: entertainment infographic, Evolution of TV infographic, Kinect infographic, Xbox 360 infographic, Xbox 360 record sales

Love Traveling with the Samsung 9

December 4, 2011 By Momstart 5 Comments

Before I talk about how much I love traveling with the Samsung 9. Packaging seems to be important to some companies, Samsung is one of those that paid attention to details in making their box.

The computer is in a sleeve, inside the box and the cables (Series 9 laptop with 13.3-inch screen (model NP900X3A-A03US), 40 watt AC adapter, rechargeable battery, operating instructions) are underneath it.

I took the Samsung 9 on one of my blogging trips with me. It responded well the whole time, it was so easy to keep in my purse, I have a big purse, but it’s so lightweight. Plus using it on the airplane was wonderful because the battery lasted a long time, the screen was bright and easy to see and it came back to life so easily.

Why I loved traveling with the Samsung 9:

It’s lightweight. The Samsung 9 is the thinnest computer I’ve ever used. The Series 9 laptop features the dramatic duralumin enclosure complete with arching curves and remarkable durability. Its material usually found in aircrafts with twice the strength of aluminum keeping it under 3 lbs. This is the laptop to carry.

It’s fast. I was impressed with how fast it would boot up and come out of hibernation. I didn’t realize this at first but you no longer have to shut down your Samsung computer, just close its lid and it goes into a special powerless sleep mode. When you open the lid your computer comes back to life in 3 seconds and you are exactly at the same place as when you shut the lid. Fast Start saves your data and system configurations to your hard drive and PC memory. So, when you power it back on it is just like you left it. LOVE IT!
It’s thin. It’s so easy to slip in and out of my bag.
It’s Entertaining. The Samsung 9 comes with Windows Media Center and has enough processing power for 3D gaming capabilities and it has a long battery life. Up to 7 hours!
It’s Windows. Windows 7 Home Premium is pre-installed.

Technical Specs:

LED display with HD resolution, 128 GB Solid State Drive (SSD), and 4 GB of system memory and a second-generation, low voltage Intel Core i5 dual-core processor.

Series 9 also includes backlit keyboard, a brilliant LCD display screen and a large multi-touch SuperButton clickpad.

Next-generation Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity

Thank you to the Windows Champion program for loaning the Samsung 9 to me for review.

Filed Under: review, Tech Tagged With: computer review, Samsung, Samsung 9, technology

Setting Real and Virtual Boundaries for Children Windows 7 & Windows Live

October 7, 2011 By Momstart 26 Comments

My husband and I were just talking about our kids and how they are getting close to that age where we need to let them have some time on the computer. Yes, kids are getting on the computer younger and younger, my three and four year old have computer class once a week in preschool. So where does that leave parents and how do we protect our children?

One you have to know what they are doing. Be sure to put the computer in a common area in the house. The kitchen, the study, somewhere where you all hang out together. For us, we haven’t picked a spot yet. We might have to put it in the living room where all the toys are currently stacked.

Two, limit what they can search on the internet. You have the ability to preview what they are looking at or checking on what they did look at after the face. Me, I’m more about being proactive and setting up limits first. Windows 7 and Windows Live already have some safety features already built into them.

SafeSearch is locked for Bing, Google, Yahoo! and other popular search engines to prevent your child from seeing adult content in search results.

Contact management, this provides parents control to monitor or restrict the contact list for their child in Windows Live Hotmail, Messenger and Spaces.

Taking advantage of Family Safety, parents can download the latest Windows Live Essentials and set up Family Safety in order to customize how they want to set various protections and safeguards to get their student safe while online.

Filtering images, which is helpful if your child visits websites that allow other users to upload images. This feature works best on Windows 7 machines with faster processing power.

Restricts ads, which means children’s Live IDs that are added through Family Safety and logged into the Windows Live network, will not see advertisements when using Windows Live services.

For even more great information on family safety check out my friend Kristina’s blog post on the Windows Experience blogand as always let me know if you have any questions. I can ask the experts for you!!!

I am not being compensated for this post but I am a Microsoft Windows 7 Champion and have been asked to share things with you throughout the year.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: on-line safety, SafeSearch, winchamp, Windows 7, windows champion, Windows Live Essentials

How To Create a PDF

September 2, 2011 By Momstart 21 Comments

I’m going to be exposed to more technology and how to do different things with technology and software so I’ll try to share as much of that information with you as I can. You may not know this about me but my background is in computer science so technology is something I love. Now, not everyone has a really good pdf converter but more of you have the ability to print to pdf and create pdf documents than you may realize. Why would you want to create a pdf? I’ve had people tell me that they can’t open certain types of files and I used to be the Newsletter Editor for my MOMS Club and after creating it, with all the photos in it it was way to big to send over e-mail so I would often have to save it or convert it to a pdf. It really wasn’t difficult at all. However, if you want to convert a pdf to a word document you’re going to have to go check out adobe and their line of products.

From Word: How to convert a doc to a PDF

Go file, then to save and send

Then go to Create a PDF/XPS Document

Then you give it a name and hit publish.

From Publisher: How to convert a .pub to a pdf

It’s basically the same thing. Except you might have to download the ability to do it. I can’t remember, I think Publisher actually comes with this ability now. If not all you have to do is a search on how to convert a publisher file to a pdf.

Go to File Save & Send

Then go to Create a PDF/XPS Document

Then you give it a name and hit publish.

Filed Under: Tech Tagged With: acrobat, adobe, create a pdf, how to, Microsoft, publisher, tech, word

Back To School Computers With Microsoft Windows 7 & Free Xbox 360

July 28, 2011 By Momstart 4 Comments

Feels like summer just started for us and is halfway over for everyone else so of course it’s time to start thinking about back to school shopping. Stores everywhere have already started putting out fall clothes and advertising is running rampant for back to school sales and Microsoft Windows 7 is right there with everyone else which is great for families in need of a new computer in time for school.

To help make finding the right computer easier, Microsoft is showcasing some great Windows 7 PCs and accessories for families on any budget. A Windows PC is the perfect tool to help kids manage class work, stay in touch with family and friends and simply have fun in a way that is unique as they are, and at a price point that won’t break the bank.

The Toshiba Satellite E305 is a thin light and affordable Blue Label laptop, a Best Buy exclusive PC that retails for $1089. It’s a great choice for students looking for a PC that’s portable enough to carry with them all day, powerful enough to work and play, and stylish enough to impress their friends. Equipped with Intel Wireless Display technology that turns any TV into a wireless monitor, a backlit keyboard and a huge 640 GB hard drive, this laptop makes it easy to stay productive and connected.

The Sony Vaio SB is great if you’re in the market for a premium PC that looks great, and won’t empty your bank account. This laptop retails for $999. It’s crafted in black or white aluminum and has premium features like USB 3., a backlit keyboard, and switchable graphics. And, with the optional super-slim “sheet” battery, the VAIO SB can stay powered for over 15 hours. WOW that’s amazing.

The Gateway ID47 is a great value without sacrifice. In Gateway you’ll find style and the latest technology with two beautiful finishes, brushed platinum and ice blue for under $700. And with new technology that packs a 14” screen into a 13” inch body, you get the advantages of a big laptop in a small, portable package.

And finally, the HP TouchSmart 610 is an all-in-one that takes touch fun to a whole new level. The HP TouchSmart retails for $1099 with the ability to be sued upright like a normal PC, or “recline” it to use the touch. You can browse the web and play games with ease.

Microsoft is offering even more bang for your buck with a limited offer: Purchasing any new Windows PC priced at $699 or more at participating retailers and get a free Xbox 360 console! An Xbox 360 is more than just game console; it’s a one-stop entertainment hub that’s perfect for any living room – or dorm room – and it makes an excellent companion to a new Windows PC. For more information check out www.windows.com/freexbox!

I’m a member of the Windows Champions program with Microsoft. I was not compensated to post this information.

Filed Under: Announcement, Tech Tagged With: Back to School, free xbox, Gateway ID47, HP TouchSmart 610, Microsoft, Sony Vaio SB, tech, Toshiba, Toshiba Satelite E305, Windows 7

Save 100.00 on The Litl

June 10, 2010 By Momstart 3 Comments

Haven’t herd of the Litl, read my Litl Review if you want more information about the litl, visit litl. It’s fun piece of technology and a great net book. If all you do is use the internet this is the machine for you.

litlwebook

$100 discount on the litl webbook, simply visit www.litl.com/momdeal. This $100 promotion is available until the end of June. The total cost will be 299.00. Seems like a great price!

Filed Under: savings, Tech Tagged With: discount, litl, webbook

Epson PictureMate Show Review and Giveaway

June 8, 2010 By Momstart 856 Comments

Epson makes a lot of great Techie Products, projectors, scanners and printers to name a few. They even bring a new definition to portable printers.

Meet the PictureMate Shows.

Epson sent me a PictureMate Show to review, it retails for 299. It is different from most printers in that it only prints 4 by 6 photos or smaller, you can divide the photo into 4 and print 4 2 by 3 photos.

It is unique because it has the screen, it’s not a touch screen, it comes with a remote that you can use to navigate the menus. The screen can read all the photos on any digital card and show them as a photo show. The best part is that after you print a photo it is stored on the hard drive so after you print and take out your cards then you can watch all of the photos you printed. My daughter was so excited the other day to see a photo of her puzzle she took. We were doing an organizational project and she was helping. You can choose from 12 different slideshow formats, there is a calendar, a clock, and a museum tour just to name a few.

You can print in 37 seconds, it’s quiet, ink is easy to load, you just push it in with your finger like you can see in the photo above. The screen is 16:9 tilt digital photo display with WVGA resolution (800 x 480) to easily view and edit photos. It has a handle for easy portability and you can get a case for it to protect it for travel.

Additional Compatibility for Added Convenience

Prints from PDAs and digital camera cell phones with optional Bluetooth^® adapter⁴

Supports PictBridge^®

Enter To Win:

Epson PictureMate Show

To Enter:

Tell me what your favorite Epson product is.

Extra Entries:

Tweet or hit the RT button up top:

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The contest will run until June 28th 11:59 pm Pacific. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: giveaway, Tech Tagged With: epson, picture mate, PictureMate Show, Printer Review

Barnes and Noble Nook News

April 24, 2010 By Momstart 2 Comments

The NOOK has a v1.3 software update now avaliable:

· Breakthrough Read In Store experience (in beta) to browse complete eBooks in Barnes & Noble stores for free

· Connect to Wi-Fi in more places like coffee shops and hotels

· Sudoku and Chess – the first apps on the device

· A basic web browser (in beta)

· An enhanced reading experience with faster page turns and accessing previously opened eBooks

· Updated home screen with direct access to Wi-Fi settings and Audio

Download it at www.nook.com/update where you can find additional information and easy-to-follow directions. NOOKs connected to Wi-Fi will receive an automatic NOOK v1.3 update over the next week. (If connected to Wi-Fi, you can initiate an update by tapping My Library, Check for new B&N content. Try again later if it doesn’t work immediately, or do a manual download.)

The update is getting great reviews from well-respected outlets such as Consumer Reports and CNET.

Then, head over to your local Barnes & Noble store, grab a latte and experience the new Read in Store feature! Make sure your Wi-Fi is on, so you automatically connect to the fast and free Wi-Fi when you walk in.

Go to Shop and you should see a Read In Store promo on your NOOK noting a bunch of great titles that are available to browse for an hour (in their complete form, even if the physical book is not in stock in the store). Here are a few of the many eBooks from more than 200 publishers included on that list:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Caught
The Help
A Reliable Wife
Oprah: A Biography
The Lost Symbol
The Last Song
Eclipse
The Partner
The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1 (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)
The Titan’s Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

· Nora Roberts’ Bride Quartet Series

While you’re in store, don’t forget to check out all of the great exclusive More In Store content from leading authors, as well as special promotions. Download the content in store and read them anywhere. Learn more about the current offering here.

And as always, if you run into any problems or have any questions please let them know as they’re happy to help. While you’re in store, the bookseller at the NOOK counter should be able to give you a demo of the new features.

Filed Under: Announcement, Tech Tagged With: Barnes & Noble, Nook, Nook v1.3 update