by Lori Cunningham

Have you seen those new cameras that have a display on the front of the camera so you can take better self-portraits?  I recently was given the opportunity to review the Samsung TL210 camera, it’s a dual view camera with a 1.5″ LCD screen on the front of the camera as well as a 3″ LCD on the back for viewing.  I liked the camera so much, I placed it on my list of Dads, Grads, & Cool Do-Dads in June.

I haven’t bought a new digital camera in a while (other than my Sanyo Xacti mini camcorder/camera last December).  I was intrigued to learn what new features are available on cameras nowadays.   To my delight, I found a bunch of new features on the Samsung TL210 camera.

Some of the Features Include:

• 12.4 megapixals camera
• 5x optical zoom
• 27 mm wide lens
• Auto red-eye
• MPEG-4 high comparison video – can record up to 20 minutes in length
• Multi-functioning cable – connects to computer via USB and uses same USB to connect to power supply
• Smart Auto for still and movies
• Smart face recognition
• Self-timer – the countdown timer appears on the front LCD
• Couple shot – automatically shoots when heads are close together
• Children mode – engaging funny clown with funny voices to get a baby’s attention
• Automatic shutter when it detects a smiling face while using the Children mode
• You can ad a voice memo to any photo – up to 10 seconds
• The video has a pause button which allows you to record video, pause it, record some more on same video clip
• Smart Scene Auto detection mode to identify and change camera settings according to what’s being recorded – recording of landscapes, sunsets, if it’s cloudy or sunny, etc.

Using the Samsung TL210 Camera

If you’re like me, reading the directions is the last thing I want to do when I get a new gadget.  I want to figure out the gadget as I go.  For the most part, this works well for me.  However, I learned a lot by reading the TL210′s manual, which came packaged as a CD to review on the computer. 

I took a number of pictures of my kids and friends.  The camera is easy to use and fun.  One night, however, I took pictures of my kid’s programs at night and was disappointed because the SAMSUNG camera took pics similarly to my current older camera – the pictures ended up dark and it was hard to identify my kids.  For years I have been frustrated with photos I have taken during my kids performances.  Why do they turn out dark?  Why are they blurry?  Why does it take so long for the shutter to close to take the picture?  My child has moved onto picking his nose by the time my camera finally takes the shot.  Darn!  Another great photo opportunity missed.  Had I read the instructions, I would have learned about the Night mode and adjusting the exposure for a longer shutter time.  Perhaps that would have helped me.

Samsung incorporated some nice features for shots taking in daylight.  Sometimes it is not convenient to move people just  because the sun is shining behind them, which results in a dark picture.  Reading the User Guide I learned about the Backlight and the FlashFill features which help pictures turn out better in these situations.

There’s even a Beauty Shot mode you can use to  hide facial imperfections.  If only all cameras had that feature when pictures are taken of me!

Analysis of the Samsung TL210

Here are my top comments in evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of the camera:

Advantages

• a front LCD – pure brilliance!  Works well not only for self-portraits, but also for kids so they can see the picture you’re taking of them — they’re more likely to smile this way!
• what a convenience to have the self-timer appear on the front screen, so you know exactly how much time you have before the camera takes a shot.
• the pause button is very handy when recording children’s events.  You can shoot video of the beginning of your kids’ class performance, then press the pause button until your kids appears in the show, then pause again until your kid appears again.  This way you have one video of your fave parts of the show instead of a bunch of recorded bits of the show.  I love this feature!
• mini SD card – as much memory as you’d like – I used a 4GB mini SD – slides right into the drive
• the camera’s design incorporates a tilt-body feature so that when placed on the camera, instead of lying flat, it tilts up slightly, making self-portraits easier.

Disadvantages

• the instruction manual on the CD is inconvenient.  It would be easier to have a printed manual to take with the camera so as you’re using the camera you can look up certain features to learn about the camera better.
• 5x zoom is just not enough – a more powerful zoom is needed especially when zooming in on your kids during a recognition assembly or performance.
• even with  adjustments, pictures taken inside at night didn’t come out well – especially when taken from farther away.  I needed to get up from my seat and get close to the stage where my son’s class was performing to get a descent shot.

A Mom’s Perspective

Let me tell you, the Samsung TL210 is a fun camera.  I’ll tell you something else, if you have a daughter, watch out!  You may never see it again.  No matter what her age, she will be fascinated with taking self-portraits.  I was talking with a friend of mine who has a regular digital camera and her 9-year old daughter is constantly taking self-portraits.  I remember our 17-year old foreign exchange student we hosted from Germany and she too was always taking pics of herself.  My own 7-year old daughter had a field day with the Samsung TL210.  When I downloaded the pics, most of them were of her!  So my simple calculations on self-portrait cameras equate to:  DAUGHTER + CAMERA = THE PARENT ASKING “WHERE IS THE CAMERA?????”  Be advised, if you buy this camera, lock it up or hide it really well!!!

Overall, I was very impressed with the camera. It has an amazing number of features – more than I’ve seen on any other camera I’ve used.  I loved the smart face recognition feature which can recognize up to 20 faces.  So when you’re taking a picture of the kids from your son’s birthday party, the camera will recognize your son (because you’ve likely already taken endless pics of him before with this camera) and it will focus and adjust the exposure based on his face.

I really liked the children mode too where a clown made funny noises and threw balls so the baby I was taking a picture of would look up.  You can even download new children videos to your camera so your baby/child won’t get bored or used to the cartoon playing while you’re trying to snap their pic.

And how many times have you tried to take a picture of your baby or young child and you take umpteen pics and still never seem to snap a pic when your child or children are smiling?  The auto smile recognition feature is a dream – it will automatically take the picture for you once it detects a smile.  Perfect!  I needed this camera when my kids were younger – I’d have a lot more great pics now if I did!  Even better, the TL210 includes a smart album that can help you sort your pictures by face!  You can even search by face!  What a great ay to show your daughter all the pics with her face in them – it provides endless entertainment!  LOL!

My biggest disappointments were the optical zoom and light exposure at night.  It’s not just the Samsung that has a problem with these issues though.  Any digital camera I’ve owned had these issues.  Perhaps if I knew more about exposures and shutter speed, I would have had better pictures.  But the truth is, I’m a mom – as most of you are -  who has time to learn about such things?  When your kid does something special – you want to take the picture right then and not fuss with adjusting the camera.  That’s why we buy automatic cameras, right?

It’s amazing to think back to the days when we would take pictures and have to wait a while before we developed them to see how they came out (if we even remembered to develop them!).  Today, we definitely have a culture of instant gratification and our digital cameras deliver.  We can’t blame our daughters for all of their self-portraits.  Had we not had to wait so long for our pictures to be developed when we were young, I venture to bet we’d be doing the same thing!

The Samsung TL210 retails for $229.99.  But as always, go to my favorite place, Amazon, to buy it for $209, plus a great accessory kit that includes a 4 GB mini SD card, a camera pouch, a flexible mini tripod, a package of LCD protectors, a deluxe cleaning and care kit, and a coupon for 25 free photos.  Nice!

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by Lori Cunningham   

Father’s Day and Graduation Day are just around the corner – where did this year go?  If you’re looking for some cool unique gifts for Dad or your special Grad, check out the WellConnectedMom’s sure bets:   

Powermat

Photo provided by Flickr

I reviewed this great product earlier in the month.  The Powermat has a sleek base with room for three wireless charging stations for your phone, camera, iPod, etc.  Attach a Powermat receiver to your device (receivers available for most phones), place it on the Powermat and your device(s) will be charged usually within 2 hours.  Dads and Grads will love the convenience of simply placing their devices on the Powermat and charging up to three devices at one time – without having to plug in three separate cords into each device.  It’s clean, simple, and fun.  To read more about the Powermat and see it in action, see the How Many Gadgets Do You Plug In and Unplug post.   

PSST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We’re giving away a Powermat + 3 Receivers!  See the end of this post to learn how you can score one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

SAMSUNG TL205 Camera

What a fun camera this is!  The Samsung DualView TL205 is a 12.4 megapixel camera with a 5x zoom lens, still and movie functions, smart face recognition, auto or manual scene displays3″ LCD display AND another 1.5″ front display.  Now it’s easier than ever to take self-portraits with a LCD display right on the front of the camera!  Dad or Grad will have great fun taking tons of great self-portrait shots like never before.  You can even show a clown video with sound that plays on the front LCD to get a child or baby’s attention.  Even if Dad is not much of a self-portrait taker, his kids will teach him really quick as this is a feature they won’t get enough of.   

The SAMSUNG TL205 camera retails for $179.99.  The TL205 camera is available at Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, etc.  For the nearest store to find the TL205, click here and enter your zip code.   Amazon has the best price at $159.00.     

Black & Decker Stud Sensor

The Black & Decker Stud Sensor is the latest must have for any Dad — and Grad — whose life will be full of moving and hanging up pictures.  This all-in-one tool helps you to find studs and stay clear of metal studs and live A/C wires.  In addition, the B&D Stud Sensor employs an auto-leveling sensor which projects a horizontal level laser line so you can ensure your pictures will hand straight and even on the wall.   

The B&D Stud Sensor can be bought at Sears, K-mart, and Amazon.  Amazon is having a great special on the Stud Sensor, listing it  for $38.49 – a large savings from the $90+ usual price.  Plus they’re including Super Saver free Shipping. 

BlackBerry Visor Mount Speakerphone VM-605

Earlier this year I reviewed the BlackBerry Visor Mount Speakerphone VM-605.  As much has I liked the BlackBerry Speakerphone, my husband liked it even more.  So I knew back then that the speakerphone was destined for the WellConnectedMom.com’s Father’s Day gift list.  The Visor Mount Speakerphone is very sleek looking, attaches to your car’s visor, and has great clarity.  The Speakerphone can also act as a speaker for mp3′s on your Bluetooth enabled phone as well as amplify turn-by-turn directions from Bluetooth enabled GPS devices.  It worked well with AT&T Navigator from my HTC Tilt2 phone.   

The best deal I found to purchase the BlackBerry Visor Mount Speakerphone VM-605 with free shipping is at Amazon.com  for $60.45 with free Super Saver Shipping.  This is a great deal, considering the list price is $99.     

Oregon Scientific AW131 Grill Right Wireless Talking Oven/Barbecue Thermometer

Burnt meat and hovering over the grill or oven is a thing of the past thanks to Oregon Scientific’s AW131 Grill Right Wireless Talking Oven/Barbeque thermometer.  We’ve all seen those BBQ long handle forks with a digital thermometer to test doneness.  Those are nice but who wants to hover over a hot grill all day to ensure the perfect doneness for your meat?  The Grill Right Thermometer is inserted in the steak, thick burger, chicken, turkey, pork, etc. and Dad or Grad carries around a wireless LCD screen remote which displays the current temperature of the meat.  Chefs can choose the type of meat they are grilling on the LCD and indicate whether they prefer the meat to be rare, medium rare, medium, or well done.  Now they can enjoy the game, talk with guests, or lounge in the pool until they are alerted that the meat is done.  After the meat reaches the selected temperature, an audio alarm on the remote will alert the chef.  The remote can relay doneness info. up to 330 feet away!   

The Oregon Scientific AW131 Grill Right Wireless Talking Oven/Barbeque Thermometer is now on sale at Amazon.com for $39.99 with free Super Saver Shipping – $20 less than list price.     

Sony Dash Personal Internet Viewer and Clock

While at CES 2010, Sony introduced me to their new Wi-Fi Sony Dash, Sony’s solution to today’s modern clock.  The Sony Dash is an Internet enabled smart clock with more than 1000+ free apps including weather, traffic, movies, music, e-mail, social networking, recipes, fun screen savers, and more.  Now there’s no need to go into your office to check traffic before you leave to work.  Check your Dash next to your bed or in the family room, or in the kitchen.  You can keep up with Twitter, Facebook, stream pictures and mp3′s, watch full length TV shows & movies, catch up on the news, wake up to your favorite music and keep track of the time straight from the 7″ Sony Dash screen.   To see the Sony Dash in action, watch the video found on YouTube.com:

The Sony Personal Internet Viewer and Clock retails for $199 at Amazon.com. 

All of these are great unique gifts your Grad or Dad will love.  I actually could use each of these items on the list.  You know what they say – give a gift you’d like yourself!  

WIN IT!!!

You may recall I when I wrote up my review on the Powermat, How Many Gadgets Do You Plug In and Unplug, I indicated that I would be giving one away during my Father’s Day post.  Well, now’s your chance to win one Powermat and 3 receivers to fit your gadgets. 

TO ENTER: 

Leave A Comment  Please leave a separate comment for each activity you do below:

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES:

• Like WellConnectedMom on Facebook
• Like Powermat on Facebook
• Subscribe to the WellConnectedMom via e-mail or reader
• Follow WellConnectedMom.com on Twitter – @wellconnectdmom (notice an e is missing) and tweet about the giveaway
• Add the WellConnectedMOM.com button to your blog or website
• Blog about the Powermat with a link back to WellConnectedMom.com

Contest ends on June 16th @ 10pm PST.  The Winner will be notified before Father’s Day.  Contest open to all US residents.  Good luck and thanks for spreading the word!   

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by Lori Cunningham      

Laurie Penix, Creator of ZOMM and Lori Cunningham, CES 2010

You may recall from my CES 2010:  Great Technology Products  for Moms article in January, that the ZOMM, was my #1 favorite product from CES (Consumer Electronics Show).  The Zomm was created by a mom, Laurie Penix, whose three children were constantly losing their cellphones.   ZOMM stands for Zac, Olivia and Madison’s Mom.  The ZOMM is a keychain you attach to your keys that connects wirelessly, through Bluetooth, to your cell phone.  Should you leave your house, a taxi cab, a restaurant, the gym, etc. without your phone, the ZOMM, will set off an alarm to alert you that you are leaving your phone behind.  I had the opportunity to talk with Laurie at CES  as a member of  the press.  To see Laurie’s personal explanation of the ZOMM (courtesy of my expert video filming skills) take a look:      

When the ZOMM was ready for production, they sent me a sample unit.  The ZOMM  came to my doorstep a month ago and I still remember my anticipation for it’s arrival.  The packaging is very impressive.  The ZOMM sits enclosed in a hard plastic protected case.  Believe it or not, the ZOMM  actually sits up on a pedestal within the case.  Wow, it was like I was holding royalty.    I took it out of it’s case and plugged it in using the enclosed mini-USB cable supplied.  After charging it two hours, I was ready to put the ZOMM to the test.     

Why I’m a Part of the Loser Club

Now, you may be asking yourself, “why is she so obsessed with this ZOMM thing.”  Let me tell you.  I have “laid to rest” two of my cellphones in the past.  I literally laid them down somewhere and never found them again.  One time we were on vacation in Florida – I lost it somewhere between the car and the fast food restaurant we ate at.  The other lost phone I’ve already forgotten the details – I just remember losing it.  Both times I remember calling my cellphone regularly hoping whoever found it would answer it.  But my phone bill soon proved to me that my phone had found a new owner.  Bummer, another phone lost.  But you know?  I’m not alone.  When I wrote my review of the Motorola Cliq, I called Disneyland to find out how many phones they find a day at the park.  During their busiest times, they said they recover 30-50 phones a day!  So if you’re a cell phone loser too, don’t despair, the Loser Club is pretty big and growing everyday!       

Setting Up the ZOMM 

So you see, the idea of having a “wireless” leash on my phone is just what I needed.  To set up the ZOMM, you need to go to settings on your cell phone and enable Bluetooth.   Next, turn on the ZOMM and set up a Bluetooth relationship between your cellphone and the ZOMM.  After the devices have been paired, put the ZOMM on your keychain and you’re ready to go.  It’s very easy to set up.      

How the ZOMM Works    

The ZOMM sets off an alarm after you get within a certain distance away from your phone:     

20 feet - The ZOMM alarm will ring when you get beyond 20 feet away from your phone.  So if you leave your keys (with your ZOMM keychain) by your purse and take your phone to another area of your house, the ZOMM won’t ring until you get more than 20 feet away.   So you don’t always need to have your keys right next to your ZOMM.      

up to 30 feet – if you and your keys go beyond 20 feet away from your phone, the ZOMM will vibrate, flash it’s lights, and a fast beeping alarm will alert you.  This happened to me often as I left my phone in the car and walked my little girl to her classroom.  To turn off the alarm, I just pressed the Z  button on the ZOMM once. 

more than 30 feet- once you move beyond 30 feet a very noticeable fast paced alarm comes on to alert you.  Again, you can press the Z button on the ZOMM to turn off the alarm and run and get your phone if you forgot it!     

More Features 

Wireless Leash Speakerphone Personal Safety Device Courtesy of Zomm.com

You can tell a mom came up with the ZOMM because it is a multi-tasker.  Not only does it act as a wireless leash to keep your phone in check but it also offers these features:       

1. Speakerphone – the speakerphone feature is great in helping you to answer calls if your keys are easier to find in your purse than your phone
2. Panic button – pressing the Z button a long time acts as a panic alarm – with a loud siren.  If you’re in a crowded area, people will notice you
3. Calls Emergency- press the Z button long enough to hear the panic alarm then hold it even longer until the panic alarm stops, then let go.  This will call your local emergency services and play a pre-recorded emergency message asking them to send assistance to your mobile phone’s GPS location if you do not speak soon.  Pretty amazing, huh? And, there is no extra cost for this potentially life saving feature.  Companies for other devices (like GPS devices that locate children or the elderly) charge a monthly fee.

So you’re probably wondering, it’s been a month, did I lose my phone or at least have the “Out of Range” alarm come on?  The answer is no – except for when I was testing the range of the ZOMM.  Since I’m using HTC’s new Tilt2 phone for the next three months for AT&T and blogging about my experiences on their LosetheLaptop.com site, I wanted to ensure that I didn’t lose the phone.  The  ZOMM has helped keep the phone safe –although I did misplace my keys at Knott’s Berry Farm!  To read about that adventure, see my Losethelaptop post.  Ughh!        

ZOMM PROS        

• works just  like it says it does - the  ZOMM will not let you leave your cell phone behind without alerting you
• gives you peace of mind – you won’t forget your cell phone somewhere
• helps you answer your phone easily with the speakerphone feature
• gets you noticed in a panic situation with the panic button
• gives you an immediate way to call Emergency for help — without having to dial 911.  This is a fantastic feature and provides for increased peace of mind that help is only a button away
• There is NO EXTRA COST for the speakerphone, panic, or emergency rescue call! 
• has versatility – you can use the ZOMM with items other than a phone.  Use it to keep track of your laptop, netbook, iPad, iPod Touch, etc. — anything Bluetooth enabled     

ZOMM CONS       

•  you have to ensure the ZOMM is turned on everytime you leave the house or it won’t help you
• you need to remember to charge the ZOMM.  If you have a plug outlet near where you keep your keys, I recommend you keep your keys in your purse charge your ZOMM there.
• the alarm may go off frequently if you walk with your keys away from your phone often.  But again, you just need to press the Z button to silence it.

A Mom’s Perspective     

As moms, we have busy lives, over-stuffed schedules, and a taxi cab transporting service that would even make a New Yorker taxi driver shake his head.  With all the multi-tasking we do in our lives, it helps to have “someone” or something else watch over our phone for us.  The ZOMM gives me a lot of relief.       

In addition, I can see how the ZOMM might benefit teenagers as well.  I’m sure their loss ratio of cell phones is even higher than adults.  Attach the ZOMM to their keys or backpack.  This way you can help them keep track of their phone and provide a panic button for them to use too — just in case.  The more I think about it, the more I can see the benefits of using a ZOMM along with your child’s cell phone or even their iPod Touch.  If they leave it somewhere and their ZOMM alarm rings, they’ll be saved from losing their prized possession.  You will also be saved from worry and will not need to lecture them about losing their iPod Touch or cellphone.  It’s a win-win.        

The ZOMM is available right now on the ZOMM website.  The retail price is $79.99 and the ZOMM can be purchased in either black or white.   The ZOMM received the CES Innovation Award at the Consumer Electronics Show in January and is sure to be a big seller.  Announcements will be made soon about other locations to purchase the ZOMM. 

* Loser Club is a phrase I found on the ZOMM website.

WIN IT!!!

To celebrate the launch of the new ZOMM, we are giving away a ZOMM to one of our lucky readers!!!!

TO ENTER:

Follow These 3 Steps:

1. Become a fan of the ZOMM by clicking on “Like” on the ZOMM Facebook page.
2. Become a fan of the WellConnectedMom.com by clicking on “Like” on the Well Connected Mom Facebook page.
3. Leave a comment below to tell us that you now “Like” both Facebook pages.  If you are already a member of WellConnectedMom, thank you!  Just state it in your comment.  Feel free to share with us your lost cellphone story!

Contest ends on June 28th @ 10pm PST.  Contest open to all US residents.  Good luck and thanks for spreading the word!  

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Photo provided by Powermat

 by Lori Cunningham     

Congratulations to Marilyn Schwartz for winning a free FujiFilm’s SeeHere.com Photobook for Mother’s Day!  

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of plugging in and unplugging all the chargers for my devices.  I HAVE to plug in my phone each night so I can be sure to receive my calls and surf the web the next day.  But I also have other devices that need to be charged occasionally.   For example, my GPS, iPod, Sony digital video camera, portable DVD player, BlackBerry Speakerphone, Sanyo hand cam, etc.      

Since these devices do not get charged frequently, finding the right cord to charge them can be a hassle!  While at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 

photo provided by Flickr

 in January, I heard a lot of buzz about a wireless charging system for handheld devices called the Powermat  system.  I was intrigued, so I investigated it further.  Powermat generously sent me a Powermat and some receivers to try it out for myself.  I found out that the Powermat is not entirely wireless, after all, how would you get power to the devices?  The Powermat itself needs to be plugged into a wall outlet, but that is where the wires stop.      

The Powermat has the capability of charging most cellphones, Bluetooth headsets, mp3 players, GPS systems, eReaders, kids’ portable game systems, and more.      

How it Works 

 In order for the Powermat to work, you need to purchase a Powermat and some receivers, which will be attached to your devices.      

 1.)  Powermat for Home & Office Mat or Travel – Portable Mat     

 The Home & Office Powermat is meant to lie on your desk and the Portable PowerMat can be nicely folded up in a custom case and taken with you while you travel.   Both cost the same, $99, and can charge up to three devices.  

2.) Receivers  

To charge your handheld devices, you need to purchase a Powermat receiver to attach to each device.  In most cases, you replace the battery cover of your phone with the Powermat battery cover.  For iPods, you’ll need a Powermat cradle to charge.  Each receiver costs anywhere from $29.99-$39.99.  If you have an older handheld device that Powermat does not make a receiver for, no worries.  Packaged with the Powermat you will receive a Powercube.  The Powercube rests on the Powermat to charge and plugs into your older device using a small 3 inch cord.  The Powercube comes with 8 different tips which more than likely fits into your device.  

Now, you’re ready to charge!  After attaching receivers to your devices, you just place the handheld device right on the Powermat.  Instantly you’ll hear a confirmation audio clip that tells you the device has connected correctly with the Powermat.  You will also feel a magnetic tug to help you find the right charge spot on the Powermat.  It took only a couple of hours to receive a full charge on my phone.  Once your device is fully charged, power will be cut off and your device will not be overcharged.  To see the Powermat in action, watch this quick one minute video: 

A Mom’s Perspective 

It is so easy to place my cellphone on the Powermat at the end of the day.  I love the fact that there are no wires and the charge automatically stops once the battery is full.  I even like the cute little alien-like sound I hear when my device correctly connects with the Powermat.  Because of the Powermat’s size, you can easily charge your cellphone, your husband’s cellphone, and a child’s cellphone, PSP2, or other device.  Your daughter will never worry again where she put her power charge cord!   Placing the Powermat near your main exit door makes it convenient for grabing your phone and being on your way. 

Overall, I loved the Powermat and highly recommend it.  It’s great for the house or when you’re traveling.  It looks cool, unclutters your charging area, and is convenient.  There are two downsides however.  One, it is very pricey to buy three (or more) receivers AND the Powermat.  Two, the receiver for the iPhone is not a battery cover, like for the other phones, but a complete black case that covers (and protects) the iPhone.  This presents a problem because 1.) it’s black!  That means you can’t use your jewel studded iPhone case or my bright pink Otterbox case.  2.) the Powermat case covers up the dock connection located on the bottom of the iPhone.  So you would no longer be able to doc your iPhone into your alarm clock or stereo system, unless you pryed it out of the Powermat case (which isn’t easy to do!).  

Good news on both of these downsides. 

I  discovered a workaround.  Instead of buying the iPhone receiver, buy the iPod cradle receiver.  You can easily plug your iPhone or your iPod into the cradle and keep your jewel studded case!  With regards to the expense of the receivers, I learned from an article in the New York Times that Powermat is working with handheld device manufacturers to embed their receivers right into the device!  This means, in the future, your phone will already have the receiver built-in and all you’ll need is the Powermat.  Now that’s just smart!  

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by Lori Cunningham

This week is known as “National Sleep Awareness Week,” which is the last full week of slumber before we go into daylight savings time this Saturday night.  I’m sure many of you are dreading “springing ahead” and losing an hour of sleep.  I much prefer “falling back” and gaining an hour of sleep myself.

The 2002 National Sleep Foundation (NSF) Sleep in America poll found that 74 percent of American adults are experiencing a sleeping problem a few nights a week or more, 39% get less than seven hours of sleep each weeknight, and more than one in three (37%) are so sleepy during the day that it interferes with daily activities. 1

Are you getting enough hours of sleep each night?  Are you having trouble getting to sleep?  I tend to stay up late, then get up early to prepare my 1st grade daughter for school.  I’m tired when I wake up and practically fall asleep in the afternoon if I dare stop for a minute.  So I don’t.  I just keep  going.  At the end of the night I stop so I can watch our favorite reality shows with my husband  – only to fall asleep soon after in my chair – a tradition in my family.  Needless to say, we have a large backlog of shows in our DVR (but I’m all caught up on The Bachelor!)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends that all adults get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, regardless of age.  Hmmm.  that’s not my norm.  On average I get between 5 - 6 1/2 hours of sleep a day.  Okay, so I’m sleepy, but I still am  getting everything done, right?

Wrong.  I have been learning about the importance of sleep.   I learned that “sleep requires both the right mix and amount to be restorative.  Deep sleep and REM sleep are the foundation of restorative, healthful sleep.  Deep sleep naturally occurs more in the early parts of the night.  REM sleep naturally occurs more in the morning.  So if you’re going to bed too late, or getting up too early, you may be compromising sleep quality.” 2  Yikes!

Ahaa!  That explains my wrinkles!  I haven’t been sleeping enough.  Now I know why people say they need their beauty sleep.  It also explains why I always seem to have a cold longer  than anyone else in my household.  It is time to pay more attention to my sleep patterns.

Zeo Personal Sleep Coach

As many of you know, I have been testing out the Zeo Personal Sleep Coach, a gadget I fell in love with at The Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas a couple of months ago. You can check out my first night with the Zeo – Trouble Sleeping?  The Zeo Personal Sleep Coach Can Help.  I have been using the Zeo now for nearly one month.  It seemed fitting to give you my review of the Zeo during this all important Sleep Awareness Week. 

Zeo describes itself as a” new kind of educational tool and motivational program that helps you understand how you are sleeping, reveals habits and behaviors that my be helping or hindering your sleep, and teaches new ways that my help you get a better night’s rest.”  Zeo’s tag line is, ”the more you know, the better you sleep.”

As we sleep, we go through three stages of sleep that are important  for our bodies and state of mind3:

1. Light Sleep -  Light sleep accounts for about half of the night and bridges the gap between the other sleep phases
2. REM – REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is a mentally active phase of sleep when our most vivid dreams occur.  This phase of sleep is essential for memory formation and storage, as well as for emotional processing.
3. Deep Sleep – This sleep phase is important for physical and emotional restoration. During deep sleep, the body releases growth hormones for healing and growth, while the immune system strengthens and renews itself.

How the Zeo Works

When you open up the package you get the nice bedside clock, shown above, a black headband (shown on top of the clock above), and a SD card which plugs into the side of the clock.

To begin is simple:

1. set the clock to the correct time
2. ensure the SD card is plugged into the clock
3. charge the headband – the charging station is on top of the Zeo clock
4. after the headband is charged, put it around your forehead using the adjustable bands
5. sleep
6. in the morning, put the headband in the charging station and look at your sleep stats
7. take the SD card and put it into your computer to upload your stats to myzeo.com.  You don’t need to do this everyday, the SD card can hold up to 7 days data
8. On myzeo.com you can evaluate  your sleep history and enter in data about what you did the evening before which may have affected your sleep
9. put the SD card back into the clock and start the process again

Each morning you use the Zeo, you will receive your ZQ score – similar to an IQ.  Your ZQ is  derived from the total amount of sleep you had, the time spent in REM, light, and deep sleep.  Your score decreases dependent upon a lessor amount of sleep, how long you were awake and how many times you woke up during the night.

 Here are my results from the first night of using Zeo compared to March 7th:

As you can see, I have dramatically cut down the time I am awake during the night.  I am also getting more deep sleep.  Of course, each night varies – there are still some nights where I don’t sleep like I should.

The left chart comes from myzeo.com after I uploaded my sleep data.  It depicts my sleep patterns on March 7th.  The red shows you awake time, the green is REM, the gray is light sleep, and the dark green is deep sleep.

The chart on the right also comes from myzeo.com and shows my trend over the past 7 nights.  There is a lot of good useful data you can track online if you’re vigilant about uploading your data.

What I learned using the Zeo Personal Sleep Coach:

o  I get just about all of my deep sleep in the first hour of sleep.  So now I do all I can to protect that hour.  I make sure that I go to bed one hour earlier than my husband so my sleep isn’t disrupted by snoring or his coming to sleep soon after and waking me up.

o  I am not getting enough deep sleep due to the fact that I’m not getting enough sleep at night.  I need to get closer to the 7-9 hours of sleep a night goal.

o  I am a very active REM sleeper – which means I dream a lot throughout the night.  I often remember my dreams in the morning, so I’m not surprised by this.  Compared to others my age though, I spend more time in REM then they do.

o  I used to have trouble falling asleep and waking up at night.  Since starting with Zeo, I have cut this time in half.  Zeo has a personal coach e-mail program for an extra fee, that sends you personalized reports of how to cut down awake time.   The e-mail’s made me aware of how exercise and drinking alcohol close to bed can mess up your sleep patterns.  They also sent me a mp3 of ways to relax before bedtime.  I no longer look at the clock throughout the night when I’m awake.  I used to do that a lot and it would stress me out since I could see that I was missing sleep.

Hey, I’ve still got a long ways to go.  My sleep score average is 71.  The ZQ average for my age is 74 — and I can be an over achiever at times – so I need to get cracking!  But I started at a 69 average, so I’m getting better.

A Mom’s Perspective

It is my hope that you will treat your sleep with higher priority and find ways to obtain better sleep.  Since I have been using the Zeo to focus on my sleep more, I have more patience with my kids and feel more balanced.  I highly recommend the Zeo Personal Sleep Coach if you’re struggling with sleep or could use help in obtaining more restorative sleep. 

The headband is very comfortable and I just love waking up every morning and checking my sleep stats.  One more important thing to add is that the Zeo can be used as a normal alarm clock or you can enable the “smart wake” feature which wakes you up within a certain designated time frame.  It will wake you within this time frame when you are in light sleep – as opposed to REM.  Waking up in light sleep will be easier for you and your body can adjust.  It plays a nice jingle that gradually gets louder.

Take advantage of National Sleep Awareness Week and begin assessing your sleep now.  For more ideas on how to get a good night’s sleep, visit the Zeo Sleep Center.  The Zeo Personal Sleep Coach retails for $279 and can be purchased online at myzeo.com. 

If anyone decides to get one, please let me know.  We can compare our stats and help each other.  And to all I wish you a good night’s sleep!

1  http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/let-sleep-work-you

2  http://myzeo.com

3  http://www.myzeo.com/pages/66_the_power_of_deep_and_rem.cfm

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