Tech Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Serendipity Mommy

Five essential apps for working moms

September 10, 2018 by Mandy

In today’s economic climate, juggling motherhood and work is the norm rather than the exception. Data published last year by the US Department of Labor showed that 70 percent of women with kids under 18 are working – and three quarters of them are in full-time employment.

Most of us have dreamed of someone inventing a cloning machine so that we can be in two places at the same time. It is probably for the best if that remains in the realms of fantasy, but technology has come up with some less dramatic, but still extremely useful, ways to help working moms face the challenges of being both a caregiver and a breadwinner in today’s society. Here are five of the best.

SuperSaaS puts everything in one place

Having different apps for mail, social media, shopping, banking, scheduling and messaging is great. But it can sometimes create as many problems as it solves. SuperSaaS is an integration-compatible appointment calendar that needs to be at the top of the downloads lists in order to keep everything else under control. This appointment and booking scheduler is an easy way for others to book and appointments and meetings with you throughout the year on a flexible calendar. By communicating with your various other apps and platforms, it acts like your own personal assistant.

Google Family Link helps you watch the kids

Whether you are in the office on the other side of town or simply at your desk while the kids are in another room, it is a fact of life in the online age that you need to keep a handle on what they are doing. Google Family Link provides an interface by which you can review and approve what the kids are downloading and using on their personal devices. It even provides useful metrics on how long they are spending online, and you can use it to automatically power things off when it is lights-out time.

Fayr – the app for the new family dynamic

There are plenty of working moms out there who are not just the main breadwinner and caregiver, they are the only one. Families come in different shapes and sizes, and for those who are divorced and separated, co-parenting brings its own challenges. The Fayr app is ideal for coordinating shared financing and childcare responsibilities such as contributions for school trips, pick up times and so on. It is currently available on iOS, and will soon be released on Android.

Bambino, for childcare emergencies

Neither parenthood nor career life are always predictable, and there will always be times when they clash. Bambino is an app that can be an absolute life-saver when you need safe and reliable childcare at short notice. It lets you search for registered babysitters by location, and the social aspect provides honest feedback and recommendations from other parents.

Chorsa helps to share the load

Of course, an app can only do so much, and sometimes the biggest help in getting through the day can be those little extra pairs of hands. Chorsa is great for sharing out the work, whether it’s putting out the trash, making the beds or walking the dog. It even allows family members to compete for points in a league table. Who needs a cloning machine when you’ve got a mini-me or two to help get everything done?

The New Age of the Internet

May 25, 2018 by Mandy

The Internet has evolved significantly throughout the past decade. The entire world of knowledge is accessible at anyone’s fingertips. There is so much to know and learn! Sometimes it can be hard to keep up with how the Internet is because things are always changing. So what is there to know and learn? There is certainly a lot to know. The person reading this may be one of those that is reading to learn more about how the Internet has evolved. Here is a list of things involved in the new age of the internet.

Social media is prevalent.

Social media is perhaps one of the most important parts of the current internet age. So here is a quick rundown. Facebook is still in–nearly everyone has one. Twitter is popular for a lot of authors. Tumblr is what everyone uses now. It’s full of both teens and adults, and it’s full of everything from cute cat pictures to quotes to science facts. Then there’s Snapchat, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Snapchat and Instagram are two of the most common ones for teens and young people, while LinkedIn is used in the business world.

Cloud storage is new.

Anyone who uses computers has had that moment where they type out something long just to have it be lost. Cloud storage is a new revolutionary online storage that automatically backs up one’s work to help prevent losing it. No more working for hours just to have their work deleted! Now that it automatically backs up and can be backed up from any computer, there is so much more peace of mind, and isn’t that valuable in itself?

It is accessible almost anywhere.

There is free Wi-Fi nearly anywhere that one will go whether it be the grocery store, a doctor’s office, or a hotel room. So one can work or play from anywhere which is a huge plus. Just connect to the Wi-Fi and surf away!

There are often classes one can take to learn.

Unsure of how to use the Internet? Often do libraries or local colleges conduct classes for people who need to learn how exactly to use the internet. They can cause a boost in confidence and help one be able to open a new world of possibilities from the comfort of their recliners.

Everyday things can now be done online from home.

Tired of going grocery shopping and running into people? Now one can shop entirely from their home. They can do everything from grocery shopping to clothes shopping, and it can save a lot of time and even some money. No more awkward running into people one doesn’t want to see.

Virtual private networks exist!

A virtual private network or VPN allows one to use a private browser in a public space so that one cannot find out what one is searching on from a public server. VPNs such as Memset are revolutionary in this new Internet age as they allow people to do what they could not do a decade ago.

Top 5 Gadgets to Keep Your Kids Amused

May 11, 2018 by Mandy

Parents love their children, however; there are those few moments that you want some peace and quiet especially while on the road. Long flights and drives are always a test of the parent’s patience level especially when their child gets bored. Thanks to modern technology, there are gadgets that can help keep your child entertained during travels. The gadgets come with several apps they can play with and they do not have to get bored when travelling. The top five gadgets include;

1. Tablets

Nearly every child in this century knows how to operate a tablet thanks to the integration of modern technology in the classroom. A tablet is a key gadget when it comes helping keep your kids entertained while on the plane, automobile, or a train. The tablet has various applications you can download that will help keep your child busy when travelling. You can also store their favourite songs and movies on the tablet that they can watch or listen to without having you constantly change the radio if you are using an automobile to travel.

2. MP3 Players

The other gadget that is guaranteed to keep your children busy is an MP3 player. The MP3 player is small and easy for a child to hold without getting tired. An MP3 player like an iPod touch is an excellent way to keep your child or teenager entertained while travelling. Your daughter or son can listen to their favourite music or podcasts, watch movies, and play their favourite games. Some MP3 players have features that make it easy to document the whole travel experience.

3. Educational Gadgets

The educational gadget you acquire for your kid will depend on their age. The best Educational gadgets available in the market are LeapFrog. A child between the ages 4-9 can use the educational gadget known as LeapFrog. The LeapPad has four different apps with a diverse library for your child to read when travelling.
For children at the age of 10 and above, they can use the LeapFrog Tag device. The device allows them to enrich their minds as they enjoy the travel.

4. Game Systems

For kids who love their play stations, you can purchase a portable gaming system for them. A gaming system is perfect for long flights, road trips, or train rides. Your child will not get bored travelling since they have their game system to keep them busy.

5. Video Streaming gadgets

The video streaming gadgets are perfect when your children are indoors due to the bad weather. To keep them interested in the trip, you can save some of their favourite streaming videos and watch them while inside a motel.

However, since all the above gadgets are easy targets for thieves; it is essential that you keep insure them using sites like switched on insurance who offer family packages.

Keeping these gadgets safe will not only spare you the risk of purchasing new ones all the tip but it will also help your children remain entertained throughout the journey.

Why You Should Get a Portable Charger Before Traveling This Year

February 27, 2018 by Mandy

Source

If your New Year’s resolution in 2018 is to become a digital nomad, then you need a portable wireless battery charger. The necessity of a portable charger for traveling is obvious to everyone who tries to do work while traveling. Even if you plan to avoid work during your travels, being able to charge your phone everywhere helps you stay in contact with the people at home.

No More Inconveniences Related to Electrical Outlets

The best travel charger is one that works everywhere. With a wireless charger, you do not have to worry about whether the outlets are 110 volts or 220 volts. The same charger will work in every country you visit. Besides, trying to find an outlet for phone charging in an airport is a major hassle. With a portable charger, you don’t have to ration your phone time during a long layover.

Take Backpacking into the Next Century

Backpacking in the 90s was an adventure. You could send paper postcards to your friends, and you would occasionally find an Internet café. Today, social media is an important part of the backpacking experience. With a charger backpack, you can post updates during the train ride from one country to another. You will not have to wait until you get to the next city to find out your friends’ latest news.

A charger backpack is not just great for traveling. You can also use it for commuting to school or work. If the weather gets too rainy or snowy during your bike ride, you can stop indoors and call for a ride. It will not matter how recently you have charged your phone.

Whether you are traveling internationally or just down the street, a charger backpack is a big help.

Why You Should Use Online Photo Printing for Your Pictures

October 6, 2017 by Mandy

There are many different reasons why someone may want to print photographs. It is quite rare now, however, for people to print their own pictures in a dark room. This is because photography is almost fully digital. While photo printers were popular for a while, this has now also gone digital. The result is that most people opt for online photo printing instead.

Before Online Photo Printing

In the past, photos were printed using chemicals and a darkroom. Professionals would use specialized paper, which would be dipped in various basins, each with different chemicals in it. This would transfer the images taken on a negative onto the paper. This process still exists, of course, but it is no longer popular. It is time consuming and expensive, and therefore more reserved for the hobbyists nowadays.

The Benefits of Online Printing

Online printing has a lot of benefits, many of which go beyond the fact that you can print some pictures. They include:

That you can print your images on just about anything, from canvasses to mugs, and from pens to t-shirts. This is great for souvenirs and keepsakes, but also highly beneficial as a promotional item for businesses. Indeed, advertising firms are perhaps the biggest clients of most online printing professionals. Printing this way is a lot more economical than any other method.
That digital and online printing is a lot cheaper than any other form of printing. If you still have a printer, you will know how expensive ink is, particularly ink suitable for photograph printing. Plus, you also need special paper in order for things to look good. If you go online, prints are a lot cheaper and if you buy more than one print, you will usually get a greater discount as well.
That it is done for you. You can simply place your order online, from the comfort of your own couch, and the prints will be sent to you as soon as they are done. You can set up an online account on which you can store all your images, and you can place an order for prints whenever you have some time, including during your lunchbreak, on the bus when you commute, or any other time.
That it is incredibly quick. Usually, you can have straightforward prints within you in no more than five working days. For bigger or more complex items, such as entire photobooks or canvas prints, the time would not even be all that much longer. In fact, it is likely that what you have to wait the longest for is the USPS, depending on where you live and where the printer is located.
That you can choose lots of different materials. You can obviously choose matte or gloss, but also materials such as canvas, artistic prints, and more. Plus, you can choose the finish you like.

Clearly, online photo printing is far more convenient, faster, and affordable than any other method out there.