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:
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!
See more information about WellConnectedMom.com contests.P.P. (Post Post) The Giveaway for the ZOMM, the new wireless leash for your cellphone is still going on until June 28th. Don’t forget to read the review and find out how to win one for yourself! ($79 value)
{For a chance to win a ZOMM, see the end of this post}
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:
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
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
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 Losethelaptoppost. Ughh!
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
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!!!!
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!
I received an e-mail from Sonya Li, a Masters candidate at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism(my alma mater). Sonyais studying the relationship between women and consumer electronics. She is currently seeking mothers who use technology ranging from cell phones to personal computers and digital cameras on a daily basis.
She would love for WellConnectedMom.com readers and others to help her by filling out a survey. The survey for her study will take between 8-10 minutes to complete. Participants who complete the survey and submit their email address will be eligible to win one of several $20 gift cards to Target. The survey must be completed on or before Friday, June 4.
Please help Sonya in her school research by taking her survey. It took me less than 5 minutes to complete. Her survey asks questions about decisions you make in purchasing different gadgets (cameras, computers, etc.).
You might recall a couple of months ago I told you about MomSelect.com, a website that brings together moms and manufacturers to stimulate mom’s conversations based on products they like. Recently, MomSelect.com offered an opportunity to try out a new inexpensive toy for kids called Marble Racers. I knew right away, anything that lights up would bring lots of excitement in my household. So I signed up to review the Marble Racers. The very next day I was alerted that I was chosen to participate in the program. Interestingly enough, within an hour of being notified, I had a package at my door! Boy, was that quick! Apparently, the manufacturer of Marble Racers is only 20 minutes away from my house. Cool. I hid away the box until Friday of that week for our family fun night. MomSelect.com sent me six cars to try out.
”Craft Project”
On family fun night, I unveiled the cars to my kids. Their eyes widened as I hit the car with my hand and they lit up. My daughter was particularly thrilled as she saw that you can put the stickers on the car to decorate them yourself – a craft project! She also noticed that at least two of the designs were meant for girls. My son was excited because one car could be decorated as a police car, one as a fireman car, and one with cool flames down the side.
We went to work right away on peeling off the decals and applying them to the cars. To my surprise, my four year old son was able to put on most of the stickers on his cars himself. It took us about 5 minutes per car to put the stickers on. My kids were very intent on creating their car and didn’t even “test driving” the car until they were done decaling (rather than detailing) all their cars.
Off to the Races!
Now with the cars completed, it was time for the races! We have a long hallway which we used to set up the cars. We turned off the lights and sailed the cars down the hallway. Due to the weight of the marble, the cars flew down the hallway. The cars light up when they crash into things, or when my kids hit the cars first before sending them down the long corridor.
We had one kid at each end of the hallway so we could race them back and forth. Then we tried racing the cars back in forth with one of the kids in the middle, trying to grab our cars. We all had a good time. One car would be fun, two cars more fun, but six cars was just crazy! We always had plenty of cars to roll back and forth and we had names for each one.
Where to Buy
Marble Racers can be purchased online here for $7.99 each. Or better yet, if you live in California, Arizona, or Nevada, you can pick them up at a nearby CVS Pharmacy for $4.99 or $29.94 for all 6 cars. For a limited time, the company that makes Marble Racers, Skullduggery (a kids educational toy maker), if offering a Buy One Get One Free special on all six models of Marble Racers when you guy them at CVS in California, Arizona, or Nevada. To take advantage of this special offer:
Mail or email a copy of your CVS receipt with your Light Up Marble Racer purchase to the following address:
The name of the Light Up Marble Racer you would like sent to you for free (Fire, Police, Confetti, Cat’s Eye, Volcano or Cyclone).
Please note that this offer expires May 21, 2010. Sales slips must have a date of May 21, 2010 or earlier. This offer is limited to CVS purchases in ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA & NEVADA only. Offer limited to the first 1000 entries.
A Mom’s Perspective
I have to admit, these are fun racer cars that can go pretty fast and relatively straight. My daughter loved being able to create her own as a “craft” and my son loves smashing them against walls to light them up. For my daughter, her cars are a”work of art.” For my son, they are a demolition derby delight. For me, they are a fun activity to do with the kids. They are small and portable and fun to use. They are sure to catch everyone’s attention if you give some as a part of a birthday present to your child’s friend. I’d also recommend taking advantage of the Buy One Get One free offer now.
Well, gotta go, my Confetti Marble Racers is ready to try to win another race down the hallway strip!
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. 
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! 
ES 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:
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 
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