ATTSeattle Archives

The Amazon Fire Phone for 99 Cents #ATTSeattle

November 12, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I was provided a loaner phone from AT&T to perform this review.

Most users are not fans of the Amazon Fire phone, I mean honestly if I wasn’t a phone reviewer I might have had a problem with it. Switching from one device to another can be tricky. You fall in love with your phone, how it works, how the programs fit together, the direction of swiping and then going to a new phone is hard. To me, I’m finally used to it, but in the beginning I would hate a phone only because I didn’t like learning the new operating system.

I found the Amazon Fire Phone to be easy to learn and I actually liked it. I found it to be quick, the camera was quick, it uploaded quickly and it was easy to use. The phone has a nice feel in my hand and it has some great app options for not being an iPhone or Android.

PHONE FEATURES:

Dynamic Perspective

Experience interactions not possible on other smartphones. Tilt, auto-scroll, swivel, and peek to navigate menus and access shortcuts with one hand. Dive into a new class of immersive apps and games—peek to see detailed views of clothing, shoes, and more in the new Amazon Shopping app for Fire phone, or take on a character’s viewpoint to see around corners and obstacles in games. Learn more

Firefly technology

Quickly identify printed web and email addresses, phone numbers, QR and bar codes, plus over 100 million items, including movies, TV episodes, songs, and products—simply press and hold the dedicated Firefly button to discover useful information and take action in seconds. Learn more

13MP camera

Fire phone features a custom-tuned 13 megapixel camera system, with a fast five-element wide aperture f/2.0 lens for crisp, beautiful images.

Mayday

Get free, live, on-device video support with an Amazon expert, 24×7, 365 days a year at the touch of a button. No appointments necessary. Now available over the AT&T cellular network, in addition to Wi-Fi. Learn more

Immersive apps and games

Peek in maps to show Yelp ratings. In StubHub stadium view, see 90 degrees to the left and right of your seat, as if you were actually there, looking around. In games, like Lili, take on the character’s viewpoint and move your head to look around corners, obstacles, and other objects.

Bold colors

Amazon cases are available in a variety of colors to match your personal style. Choose from Black or Cayenne in premium leather, or Black, Cayenne, Citron, Blue, or Royal in durable polyurethane.

NOW AVAILABLE:

· The Fire Phone is on 99 cents with a two-year service agreement (click here)

· Customers can get the new Amazon Kindle Fire HDX 7” tablet for $49.99 with purchase of Amazon Fire Phone (Requires qual. plans req’d on each device).

Every Fire phone customer receives: A full year of Amazon Prime benefits including: Prime Instant Video – unlimited streaming of thousands of popular movies and TV episodes, Prime Music – listen to over one million songs ad-free, even download them to your phone, Kindle Owners’ Lending Library – choose from over 500,000 books to borrow for free, FREE Two-Day Shipping on millions of items, 1,000 Amazon Coins (a $10 value) to use on apps, games, and in-app purchases, and Unlimited cloud storage for photos taken with Fire phone at no additional cost.

From One To Another The Windows Lumia 2520 #ATTSeattle #WindowsChampions

July 14, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

We received a Windows Lumia 2520 from AT&T. You can purchase yours at the AT&T Store.

From one machine to another Windows has changed the way your computer works. If you have signed up for a Microsoft account, which you probably did years ago and didn’t even realize what you did, you now have the capability of logging onto any computer with your Microsoft account and your settings are carried over to that machine. I was doing a review for AT&T using the Windows Lumia 2520 and I made some changers to my account. I forgot that the changes would then transfer to my regular computer, I was reminded when I logged into my regular computer and all my settings mirrored the Lumia 2520 that I was playing with. So I changed them back.

The Nokia Lumia 2520 was Nokia’s first Windows RT 8. 1 tablet, pulling out all the stops in design, power, and productivity on the go. Featuring a 10. 1-inch, full HD 1080p display with enhanced readability, the Lumia 2520 allows you to take your work where you need to whether in low lighting or direct sunlight so you can see what you’re working on. The tablet features a really great large screen, the device is thin at 8. 9 mm and lightweight with 2 GB of RAM. In addition to its unique display and design, the Nokia Lumia 2520 includes two cameras in its design. A 6. 7 megapixel lens with ZEISS optics and an f/1. 9 aperture rests inside the main camera on the back of the device, superior for capturing low light images. Another 2 megapixel HD camera sits prominently on the front, the biggest of any front-facing camera featured on a tablet and perfect for Skype video calls. It’s perfect for being on the Go and away from home.

The battery can last up to 10 hours, and when you do need to plug in can charge up to 80% in under an hour another great feature for travel. Its best accessory, the Nokia Power Keyboard, provides not only an additional feature of a full PC in a tablet, but gives you 50% more battery power, a touchpad, and two additional USB ports. It features the mobility of a tablet and the best of a PC with fast charge, battery longevity, and the ability to stay connected.

The power of multitasking is available thanks to the ability to use two apps simultaneously in split-screen mode, the ultimate way to stay productive. I use the multi-screen all the time. I do a lot of copy and paste from one screen to the other. The Lumia 2520 also has full-featured web browsing to access content on the go, and over 112,000 entertainment and productivity apps for download in the Windows Store. Personalize your Lumia 2520 to you with options for four tile sizes on the home screen, and more backgrounds, colors, and personalized lock screen options with a picture password.

Exclusive Nokia Apps

HERE: HERE Maps helps you discover all the best places in any neighborhood and find the smartest ways to get there, wherever you are.
Nokia Video Director: Unleash your creative side to take photos, record video clips, and use them to create your own customized videos.
Nokia StoryTeller: Taking you back to your captured moments to bring your memories alive.

In The Palm Of Your Hands: LG G Flex #ATTSeattle

July 13, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I received the LG G Flex on loan from AT&T You can purchase yours at the AT&T Store.

The LG G Flex is a large phone, it’s like a phablet because the screen is so big, but what’s so very special about the LG G Flex is the curved body, it fits in the palm of your hands quite well. When held horizontally, the innovative curved display is engineered to provide an immersive viewing experience at optimal angles, which helps minimize glare from light reflections. Videos will come alive on-screen with bright imagery and less distortion. It’s really a great feature.

Not only does it enhance video quality but it is just easy to hold and is ideal for two-handed typing and one-handed scrolling. The LG G Flex™ follows the contour of your face – offering the ultimate comfort while improving call clarity by reducing the gap between the mic and your mouth.

The camera is crisp. The 13 MP rear-facing camera captures all of life’s moments beautifully, including crisp night time photos and precise action shots. Plus, the 2.1 MP front-facing camera is great for video chats or self-portraits. You can also capture a 360 degree view and rapid bursts of photos to find the best single shot. It has a long battery life too so you won’t be disappointed at all.

A few other great features:

DUAL WINDOW^TM

Divide the expansive 6" screen into separate windows, giving a comprehensive view of two apps for more effective multitasking

QUICKTHEATER^TM

Get access to a world of entertainment from the swipe lock screen. Just hold the LG G Flex™ horizontally and use two fingers to pull the screen open, bringing photo, video, and YouTube® icons into focus.

Knock Code^TM

Knock to unlock. For secure, one-step to wake up the device and access your home screen, tap a personalized 2-8 point pattern anywhere on the display.

KNOCK ON^TM

Wake the display with two simple taps. Put it to sleep by double tapping on an empty area of the Home screen or the task bar.

Spy Adventures with the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 Smartwatch #ATTSeattle

July 12, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Yesterday I took a walk in downtown Seattle and walked pretty much the distance of the monorail. I walked from Macy’s to the Seattle Space needle and while I was doing it I was playing with my Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 (on loan to me from the AT&T Store,). I reviewed the first version of this product and I have to say that I’m so impressed with the improvements they made in the Galaxy Gear 2. This watch is so much more user friendly and is just so much better all around.

I can put whatever picture I want on the home screen. I chose a picture of Zoe that was on my Google Plus account. The photo was on my Samsung Galaxy S5 making it so easy to transfer the photo. The photo quality is really quite good for a watch, the Gear 2 takes photos on voice command or at the press of a button and then I have it set to automatically save all my photos to my Google plus account. Simple!

With the built-in camera, Gear 2 equips you to easily capture and record day to day moments as they happen with its FHD stillshot and 720p video recording. This photo I took of my husband and it includes the signature.

My assumption is that I can change the signature but I haven’t figured out how to do that yet.

You can experience the latest technology with Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 Titan Silver Smart Watch. This smart watch operates a wide variety of functions without reaching for your Samsung Galaxy S5. It gives instant notification of texts, calls, emails and even social media. All my alarms were sent to the watch. It features voice control, a built-in camera for pictures and video, a pedometer and heart rate monitor, and WatchON Remote for control of your TV and set top box. The smart watch comes with a standalone music player, allowing you to enjoy music on the go with the least amount of hassle due to cables or additional gadgets.

I used the pedometer and counted my steps and from Macy’s to the Space Needle and back I took over 5,000 steps. I love that you can stream music from it over bluetooth and actually I just love all the amazing features. I think it would be really cool to be able to share the photos to social media directly from the smart watch.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 Titan Silver Smart Watch at the AT&T Store,.

Need Inspiration to Meet that Exercise Goal? Try Jawbone UP24 Giveaway #ATTSeattle

July 2, 2014 by Momstart 43 Comments

My friend just reminded me that I’ve been using the Jawbone UP24 for a month now and I love it. Even though I’ve had it for a month I just explored the scanning food option. Yes you can keep track of food and scan the bar code to do it.

Ok ok, let me start at the beginning just in case you don’t even know what a Jawbone UP24 is. UP24 is a wristband and app that work together to help you understand how you sleep, move, eat and feel, and how those activities affect one another so you can make choices to live better. And it’s helping me a great deal. I purchased my sister one so that we can compare our exercise routines, we’re kind of competitive and it helps us push ourselves harder to make sure we took more steps than the other one. Yesterday she beat me.

I had a Jawbone UP before the UP24 came out and it died. It also had to be plugged in. The UP24 is always connected wirelessly to the UP app for real-time updates of your activity day and night and fitness progress to help you reach your sleep, activity, and nutrition goals. The new UP App is still the best way to know more about how you sleep, move and eat. It displays movement and sleep details from your UP24 or UP band and delivers insights, celebrates milestones, and challenges you to make each day better.

And what’s really cool about how the Jawbone UP24 measures sleep is that you don’t have to push the sleep button it knows when you were asleep the UP only measured my sleep if I remembered to push it before falling asleep. I love being able to add exercise routines too. I don’t remember being able to do that before. I think it’s an improvement in the app. The UP app continues to make daily goals based on my unique patterns. Go farther, stay hydrated and sleep better for a sense of accomplishment each and every day. I love the tips it includes as well. Like reasons to sleep or what to eat. The UP system integrates with apps you already love to help you get more out of your UP experience. Whether you’re biking with Strava, working out with Wello or jogging with RunKeeper, track it all with UP for the most complete picture of your day and night.

I received the Jawbone UP24 from AT&T (When it comes to wearable fitness technologies, check out AT&T. AT&T retail stores offer activity/sleep trackers, smart watches, pulse monitors, arm bands, and much more for a healthy lifestyle.) where you can purchase one as well. They gave it to me at an event with the David Barton Gym.

About David Barton Gym:

· David Barton Gyms create an exciting energy that affects one’s emotions and awareness

· DavidBartonGym has world-class trainers with unrivaled success in changing bodies, state of the art equipment, exhilarating energy, and award-winning design.

· DavidBartonGym is devoted to its members and to helping them “LookBetterNaked.”

More than just phones these days, AT&T stores offer a variety of wearable technologies for consumers interested in health and fitness, such as the UP24 from Jawbone for $149.99

Enter to Win:

Jawbone UP24

To Enter:

Tell me what your exercise goals are

Extra Entries:

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beats Pill with Bluetooth by Dr. Dre #ATTSeattle

June 28, 2014 by Carrie McKenzie Leave a Comment

MOMSTART received a sample from AT&T, you can also purchase a Beats Pill at AT&T Store on-line or at one near you.

A lightweight, portable speaker that brings the party with you. The Beats Pill is wireless and Bluetooth enabled available at the AT&T Store, so that you can play music from your device or take calls. Small enough to fit in your hand, the Beats Pill surprises with its signature sound; however, it is best used with devices that have Beats software. When I was testing, I did get some bass feedback in non-Beats enabled devices like my Apple iPod. The Beats Pill produces great sound for it’s size and it is truly portable. My daughter, Emily, loves to watch the animal videos on National Geographic but is always wanting the sound louder. Now she can watch her videos without waiting on me to hook her up to the stereo system. Battery life lasted about 5.5 hours, which is really nice.

The Pill is Beats’ smallest wireless speaker and completely cord-free. You are able to change tracks from your phone, laptop, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device from up to 30 feet away and pair with up to 8 Bluetooth enabled devices. The carry case even comes with a handy carry case so you can attach it to your backpack. Dimensions include: Weight (kg): 0.31, Height (mm): 45.72, Length (mm): 190.50.

The Beats Pills Bluetooth capability and internal microphone make talking on the phone easier and better sounding than ever before. I tested it out as a speaker phone and was ecstatic over crystal clear quality and how well you could transfer in and out of the call. You are even able to decide to answer the call or ignore using the Beats Pill. When the call is over, the song that was play automatically unfreezes and then has the volume slowly rise back up to the previous level. Sounds like a DJ mixed it that way. Overall, this is an amazing way to have true portability, great sound and functional features like taking phone calls.

Check out Beats Pill at the AT&T Store

April Is Distracted Driving Awareness Month #ItCanWait

April 14, 2014 by Momstart 3 Comments

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. According to Distraction.gov, a quarter of teens respond to a text message once or more every time they drive. AT&T’s DriveMode app helps curb the urge to text and drive, and now, new Parental Alerts help parents ensure their teens are safe on the road. It’s a big deal for adults and teens, maybe adults more than kids.

In Washington, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (click here), and law enforcement officers in Washington State will be cracking down on distracted drivers as part of a new national distracted driving enforcement campaign this month. Now through April 15, the high visibility enforcement efforts will target motorists who are observed driving distracted — talking on hand-held cell phones, sending text messages, and otherwise not paying attention to the road while driving.

In Oregon, the Oregon Department of Transportation is supporting a new national distracted driving enforcement campaign (click here). ODOT, Oregon State Police and law enforcement from around the state, along with NHTSA, consider distracted driving to be an emerging highway safety issue that must be addressed. With the month-long designation and a special week of enforcement, April 10-15, it’s a good time for all users of the transportation system to put away the distractions and focus on getting where you want to go safely.

DriveMode automatically starts when it registers that the vehicle has reached 25 MPH and turns off when the vehicle has stopped. If someone texts or calls your son or daughter while the app is on, an auto reply message is sent letting them know their friend is driving, allowing teens to focus on the road. With the new alerts, the app also tells parents when the app is turned off while the car is moving.

For more information online, please see our story page with video, att.com/drivemode and ItCanWait.com.

Organize And File Your Taxes On The Go: They Have an App For That #ATTSeattle

April 11, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Next Tuesday, April 15 is the IRS Tax filing deadline for 2014. Not surprisingly, the most dreaded time of the year for many of us is tax time. There aren’t many tasks in life more confusing, stressful, annoying and overwhelming than tax season. But thanks to technology, there are apps that can simplify the tax filing process and make it a little less daunting.

AT&T has compiled a list of these apps to help you organize and file your taxes on the go:

1. H&R Block Tax Preparation (Free, iOS) – This iPad app provides free tax preparation, printing and e-filing of your federal return. It also promises free-of-charge unlimited advice from a tax expert through live chat, in-person audit support and guarantees 100 percent accuracy and a maximum refund.

2. IRS2GO (Free, Android, iOS) – With this IRS-developed app, you can check the status of your federal income tax refund, request tax records, access tax tips, search for an IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site near you, and interact with the IRS by following its Twitter feed, watching helpful videos on YouTube and signing up for email updates. Available in Spanish.

3. Shoeboxed (Free, Android, iOS) – Maximize your reimbursements and tax deductions in seconds with the free Shoeboxed Receipt and Mileage Tracker app. With this app you can instantly archive receipts on-the-go, transform receipt images into accurate, human verified data, access an archive of your categorized IRS-accepted receipts, generate email expense reports, track your mileage, and export expenses to QuickBooks, Wave Accounting, Excel, Outright, Xero, and dozens of other tools.

4. TaxCaster by Turbo Tax (Free, Android, iOS) – Using the same tax calculator found in TurboTax, this free app will provide you a quick estimate of your tax refund. The app forecasts your tax information so there are no surprises when you sit down to file. With an estimate of your refund, you can make last-minute changes to make sure you’re getting the maximum refund. Also, use an estimate from TaxCaster to adjust your paycheck withholdings so you take home more money or plan ahead so you pay less tax. TaxCaster doesn’t prepare your taxes, but based on the information you enter into the app, it will recommend the best Turbo Tax product to suit your particular tax situation.

5. SnapTax: (Free, Android, iOS) – This app from Turbo Tax is idea for the person who has a simple tax return and a complicated schedule. It allows you to e-file your return on the go in about 10 minutes. You just snap a photo of your W-2, answer some questions and e-file securely from your mobile device. You can prepare and e-file your federal tax return in the app for free, but preparing and e-filing a state return in the app will cost $14.99. A maximum refund is guaranteed. Available in Spanish.

6. iDonatedIt ($2.99, iOS) / Donation Assistant (Free, Android, iOS) – Have you ever dropped off a bag of clothes at a charity and wondered what that bag of clothes was really worth? The iDonatedIt app for $2.99 tracks and values your non-cash donations. The app tracks the date you donated your non-cash items, the name of the receiving charity and the fair market value of the donated items. It also builds lists of your donated items, allows you to keep a permanent record of your donated items that meet the compliance requirements of the IRS and you can attach a photo to your donation list to further document your donation. Similarly, the Donation Assistant app from TaxACT tracks your charitable donations so you can maximize your tax deduction for cash, non-cash and recurring donations. The app can be downloaded for free to iOS and Android devices.

7. Quick Tax Reference (Free, iOS) – Bloomberg BNA’s handy Quick Tax Reference app gives you access to tax rates and schedules with just a few clicks. This free iPhone app includes current tax rates and retroactive ones back to 2011. It also provides standard mileage rates, corporate tax rate schedules, individual tax rate schedules, standard deductions/personal exemptions, capital gains and dividends taxed as net capital gain, income tax rates for estates, trusts/estate and gift taxes, tax code pension, retirement plan limits, and more. In addition, the app calculates taxable income for different filing statuses.

8. MyTaxRefund by Turbo Tax (Free, Android, iOS) – If you’re counting the days until your tax return arrives, you may find this app handy. Just enter your information into the app and it will quickly provide you with the e-file status of your tax return after you’ve filed it and provide an immediate estimate of your federal and state tax refund delivery date.

Traveling With The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 With Keyboard #ATTSeattle

March 21, 2014 by Momstart 3 Comments

You know I travel a whole lot. I love to travel and lately I’ve been in and out of the airport like crazy. I even had a day trip where I was down to Portland and back in one day. Well, when I travel like that I want to travel light and the Samsung Galaxy Note was perfect for my trip down and back. I had all the computing power I needed for my little day trip. I can easily enter data into my spreadsheets while on the go with Polaris Office. This productivity app lets you view and edit Word, Excel, PDF documents and more–wherever you are. And I have to say the Galaxy Note series is one of my favorite devices out there.

Quick Deets:

1.6GHz Quad Core Processor
8-inch Display
16 GB Memory, 2 GB RAM
microSD Card Slot (Up to 64 GB)
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS

One of the things that was really helpful was the stylus. I was able to write down notes as I was touring my top secret location on Monday. I still can’t give out details and I wasn’t allowed to take photos even though the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 has a fantastic camera on it. With the Awesome Note app, you can manage your schedule and to-do lists in one convenient place. Awesome Note allows you to combine notes with To-do priorities, so you’ll always be on top of your life and schedule. You can customize Awesome Note’s appearance with different themes, icons, colors, and fonts. The 5-megapixel rear camera lets you take high-quality photos and videos, and a 1.3-megapixel front camera lets you video chat with your friends. After you’ve taken photos, you can edit them directly on the Note, and you can easily create and send a handwritten postcard. It’s so awesome!

The S Pen also opens up new ways of interacting with your tablet, thanks to built-in gestures. For example, by pressing and holding the S Pen button and drawing a less-than arrow, you’ll go back to the previous page you were on. Drawing different gestures will allow you to take screenshots, open a menu, launch a Popup Note, select text to cut and copy, and more.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 includes the latest S Note with Web Viewer app, which is a great companion for the S Pen. Take notes on the fly, and then access these notes and edit them from your desktop or another Galaxy device. S Note makes it easy and intuitive for you to digitally publish your experiences. It includes different templates for journals, photos, text, and more, so you can find the perfect template for your needs. By using the S Pen, you can freely handwrite into your tablet, and S Note will automatically convert it to text. You can also draw shapes and formulas, and they’ll be matched and converted by the software as well. S Note is compatible with Evernote and Dropbox, automatically saving and syncing your documents once you’ve finished.

Another thing I really loved was the use of the keyboard. The keyboard acts as a screen protector when it’s not in use and then as I’m sitting at a round table interviewing talent or taking notes it gives me the speed that I have. I’m a very very fast typer so when I’m not standing I prefer to use a keyboard. It came in quite handy. Plus I just get a cool factor by setting myself up at the table in front of everyone!

Quick deets:

Compatible Model: SamSung Galaxy Note 8.0 inch Tablet
Rechargeable, wireless, bluetooth keyboard is sleek, professional, easy to use, and easy to carry. Comes with USB charger cable
Versatile design allows you to prop up your tablet into comfortable typing and viewing position
Rubberized back provides extra grip to make sure your device stays put in your hands

Nokia Lumia 1020: A Reason To LOVE Windows Phones #ATTSeattle

February 28, 2014 by Momstart Leave a Comment

I have been on the Android for about nine months now and I’m pretty used to using it. If it wasn’t for my addiction to Candy Crush I would move on right over to WIndows Phone, the Nokia Lumia 1020. My friend over at AT&T let me play with the Nokia Lumia 1020 for a few months and I loved it. It reminded me of how much I love playing with the Windows Phone software. The Nokia Lumia 1020 combines the image quality, video quality and performance of a DSLR camera with the simplicity and convenience of a smartphone that’s always with you. You Can purchase the Nokia Lumia 1020 for AT&T at the AT&T Store

It’s built with a 41MP sensor, optical image stabilization, ZEISS optics with a 6-lens design, and a whole array of other impressive tech specs to ensure you always capture high-quality photos with the least amount of effort. It also comes with and point-and-shoot-like leather wrist strap that attaches to your Nokia Lumia Lumia 1020, so the camera that’s always with you is always out and ready to capture anything. In addition to capturing incredible images, you can record HD video with smooth and steady zoom that gets you up to 6x closer to the action without any pixelation. Which means, you capture the photo with your phone and you can print it out and blow it up and it will be AMAZING. The Nokia Lumia 1020 comes in a few different colors depending on your network provider. If you’re AT&T I know it comes in white and yellow.

Using Nokia Pro Camera, you can manually adjust focus, ISO, shutter speed, white balance and exposure, and at the same time learn to become a better photographer with visual cues that train you along the way. Enjoy the variety of pre-installed tutorials that give lessons on low light photography, getting creative with white balance or shutter speed, working with focus and experimenting with exposure. As a Nokia Lumia 1020 owner you also have exclusive access to Nokia Camera Course, an online master-class on photography that includes device how-tos, tips & tricks, and practical projects that you can practice on.

Need a place to save and share all of the great photos you have taken with the Nokia Lumia 1020? AT&T Locker is the perfect way to store your photos and all of your other files. It will not only upload your 5 MP High Resolution photos, but AT&T Locker will also upload1 all of your Full Resolution originals from Nokia Pro Camera so you can easily share them, transfer them to your computer, or back them up to the cloud for safe keeping.

Is it too big? It depends on what you prefer. It’s not that much bigger than other phones, it just seems weird because of the way the camera sticks out a little bit. But just get the case and you won’t notice the camera sticking out anymore. The case makes the camera flat!