One Moms World Mom Blog - Jen Houck

Technology

Check out this iPhone app that allows free video sharing!

Let’s set the stage. Your child is in the biggest recital or school play of the year. Unfortunately, your family is all over the country and all of them cannot make it to the big event. What do you do? Naturally, you will take lots of pictures and videos. It is your child’s shining moment after all.

After the big event, the video sits on your phone. You do your best to figure out how to get the video to all your family and friends. I have just the app for you to solve this dilemma. Introducing Joya, a new iPhone app that allows you to easily send one or more videos with friends and family regardless of file size.

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Joya co-creators Vlada and Michal Bortnik created this app so their family members all over the world could develop strong relationships with their two daughters.

“We wanted our loved ones to share in our kids’ everyday lives but Skype was too difficult. By the time we got it set up, the kids were too wiggly, antsy and upset to be on camera,” said Vlada. “We needed an easy way to remain connected to our favorite people on our own time and in a much more private way than blasting videos out on Facebook or Youtube.”

Here’s how it works:

· Download the Joya app on your iPhone

· Add contact information for your favorite people (cell or email) to your “favorites”

· Connect to your iPhone library

· Send one or multiple videos to your list of favorites

· The recipient will receive a link via text or email, click it and watch it. No iPhone or software required.

It is such a simple app and finally allows you to send video without sending large amounts of data through your text messages. We all want to show off our beautiful talented kids right? All your family or friends will have to do is open up their email and click to play. It is that simple.

Email

This app helps with privacy issues as well. I do not share a ton of video on my Facebook or Twitter. You just never know who is lurking out in the social media world and will see your video. There are some things that you would like to keep private with just family and close friends. Since this app only sends videos to the people you select, you do not have to worry about any outsiders being able to watch your video. It really is a win-win for everyone.

Now what are you waiting for …  download the app and free your videos!

Joya is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 5.1 or later.

Exciting News for Windows 8 Phone Users #VZWA

We are a huge music family. Each one of us has such a deep love for music. There will be evenings that we will turn the music on the TV or stereo and dance as one big happy family. It brings so much happiness. As you can imagine, we love Pandora Internet Radio. We have it on our tablets, my daughter’s iPhone, my Samsung Galaxy and now my other daughter will be so happy we can finally get it on our Windows 8 HTC Phone.

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Pandora announced today that they are debuting the Pandora app on the Windows 8 phone and it will be ad-free as well as unlimited streaming. This will last until the end of the year. HUGE score for windows phone users. You will be able to pin your favorite stations on your home screen so you can just do a single tap to bring up the radio station.

What are you waiting for? Download the free app in the Windows Store now!

A smartphone can help you with the flu?

The Flu seems like it has hit hard all across the country. We experienced the flu in our house right after Thanksgiving. The virus was nothing to play around with and I only wish I had taken my girls in earlier. My advice all season to people that have flu symptoms, is to get to the doctor so you can get the tamiflu. Several friends have told me the tamiflu made their flu symptoms go away quickly.

Verizon has put out an article that gives details on smartphone apps to help you with the flu this flu season.

Flu Near You app helps you find and report flu activity in your area and also includes Vaccine Finder, which identifies nearby locations offering the flu vaccine and provides directions.

The ZocDoc app finds nearby doctors and includes a map of doctors in many insurance networks. It also allows you to view available timeslots and schedules appointments from your smartphone.

For information on how to treat illness that might not require a trip to the doctor, the WebMD app allows you to check the part of your body that is troubling you, identify your symptoms and learn about potential conditions. It also includes medically-reviewed information about conditions related to you and advice for treatments. You can also find information and reviews on drugs, supplements and vitamins. Information includes uses, side effects, warnings and more.

While these apps may not cure the flu, they just might help you and your family avoid it or get the treatment you need quickly and easily.

Disclosure: I am a Verizon Brand Ambassador. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

My thoughts on the Nokia Lumia 822 Windows Phone

I will admit. I was very reluctant to finally open the box that Verizon sent me so I could review the new Nokia Lumia 822 Windows phone. This phone is exclusive to Verizon and is one of the first two smartphones Verizon Wireless is carrying that runs the Windows Phone 8 operating system. I am now trying out the other phone HTC and will have a full update on that phone next week.

I am an Android geek but I finally gave in and took the test with the Windows Phone. We were invited by Verizon to head to a UNC Tarheel Basketball game to test out the phone. A couple days before, I decided to turn on the phone and get acquainted with the device. At first, it took some adjustment to figure out the app store. Once I was able to sign-in with an X-Box account, I was able to do a search for my most loved apps. Windows Phone 8 has 120,000 apps in its Window Store, and 46 of the top 50 are the most popular ones that we all are familiar with in our everyday use. The LiveApps function is a win for technology lovers. We all know apps drain our phone’s battery, but the LiveApps will provide you with live updates such as weather, sports scores and flight info without draining your battery. I used this feature at the game.

The camera with the windows phone is pretty impressive. It was actually taking better quality pictures at the game than my Samsung Galaxy S 111.

The camera is 8MP Auto Focus Rear–Facing camera with Carl Zeiss Tessar® Lens and Dual–LED Flash (3264 x 2448 for 4:3 mode; 3552 x 2000 for 16:9 mode). We were mid-way up in the stands and you can see what great quality. Click on the above picture to make it bigger.

The phone also has a 1.2MP Front facing camera: f/2.4; Still images (1280×960).

As you can see, great quality.

During the game, my youngest got a little restless but never fear. I had loaded up apps for her on the Windows Phone. I created her own area on the phone called Kid’s Corner. This corner allows you to share the apps and music with your child while password protecting your other content and safeguarding them against seeing things they do not need to see. I am really protective on what the girls can see and hear. This feature on the Windows Phone really gives a parent a peace of mind.

The tiles on the home page on the phone are full customizable. You can load what you want to access quickly and use frequently. I can understand why someone would want this phone if they have recently purchased a new Windows 8 PC or tablet as the appearance is so similar. It helps you stay connected on each device and always have your files at hand. The SkyDrive on the Windows 8 phones comes with 7GB of free online storage. This way you can automatically sync between your phone, your laptop, your computer and your tablet.

Overall, I can say I will not turn my nose up to the Windows Phone. It did take an adjustment period and for me to put the wall down between me and windows phone, but I am glad I did.

This phone is currently free on Verizon with a 2-year contract.

Disclosure: All thoughts and opinions are of my own. Verizon sent a test device in order to facilitate this review.

Why I did not rush to get an iPhone 5

First, I have never owned an iPhone nor do I own any Apple products. I am very content being a PC girl and a Droid girl. Have I marveled at the mac book and drifted off into dreamland? Indeed, in fact many of times but I just know it is not feasible with our finances.

I have recommended different Droid phones but I always had to add in a few cons with each of the phones. It is different with the release of the Samsung Galaxy SIII. Just hear me out for a few minutes.

My technology world changed when this phone showed up at my door step via the FedEx guy. He probably was just curious why I wanted to hug him so bad, I restrained myself… so don’t worry. As you can see, several of my FB friends were a little jealous of the phone. They have good explanations on why they are jealous too.

Top 6 reasons why I can recommend the Samsung Galaxy SIII 100%

1. I can finally do screenshots. I will admit, I was a little jealous of the iPhone users that were able to do screenshots so easy, but now the jealousy is totally gone.

2. Swipe Text is my best friend. Seriously, where has this feature been all my life? It is so much easier to text now and everywhere I take the phone, it is the number one feature I show-off first. People cannot believe it….

3. The screen size. I am getting older. My eyes cannot see on little screens like they use too. How did I text on the little flip phone just 4 years ago? Who knows… The Galaxy SIII has a 4.8” HD Super AMOLEDâ„¢ display. The color will just amaze you. It brings details out in much better quality than any phone I have experienced.

4. The camera. Don’t you hate when you go take a picture with your cell phone and you have that shutter lag? This phone has ZERO shutter lag. Cue the chorus! You can actually take 20 continuous shots in seconds with Burst Shot. The camera has 8.0 megapixels. Pretty nifty for a cell phone camera.

5. S-Voice. Who needs Siri? I do not. My partner is S-Voice. M and L loves talking to S-Voice too. Plus, with Motion Gestures, your phone can perform tasks from simple movements, like starting a call by raising the phone to your ear. LOVE! Plus, a simple tap on an NFC tag will launch apps and perform custom tasks with TecTiles.

6. Video. When I go out of town, I am able to connect to the wifi and video chat with my girls using G-Talk. I love this feature. Also, watching Netflix on the phone produces such quality video resolution.

There you have it. Since I do not have any Apple products, it just doesn’t make sense to rush out and get an iPhone. I am getting more from the Samsung Galaxy SIII than I ever imagined. Samsung is giving iPhone a run for their money for sure. Which deep down, just excites me so much!

Disclosure: I am a Verizon Wireless Ambassador. I am provided with technology devices on a rial basis in order to facilitate my reviews. All opinions and thoughts are of my own and are honest!

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