Sunday, August 25, 2013

Add your favorite sports team schedule to your Google Calendar

If you use Google Calendar, you can add your favorite Sports team schedule to your calendar. Other calendar add on options exist such as Holidays, Contacts' birthdays and events, Day of the Year, Phases of the Moon, Stardates, Week Numbers, Sunrise and Sunset, Hebrew Calendar.  But Sports fans have options to add their favorite Baseball, Basketball, Cricket, Football, Hockey, Rugby, and Soccer schedules.

Don't forget to add those back to school team schedules to your calendar. Great opportunity for family collaboration with the gadgets headed back to classes this year.

NOTE: It is not possible to sync sports calendars with other calendar applications at this time.



Open your Google Calendar, select Other Calendars, then Browse Interesting Calendars. Then make your selection (s) and subscribe.

Football options include NFL, CFL, and NCAAF.

Basketball options include NBA, WNBA, TBL, SBL, PBA, PFC, NCAAWB, NCAAB, NBDL, ACB, ITLA1, MFIBA_CHAMP, CBA, ULEB, and WNBL


Even if you added your favorite sports team schedule to your calendar, revisit the options to see how many more are available today then when you made your first selection.

You can also add a friend's shared calendar, add a calendar by URL, import a calendar, create and manage your calendars.

What else are you adding to your calendars?


Sunday, August 11, 2013

Android Device Manager Have you set it up?

You can now set up your Android device with Android Device Manager as described in Google's blog post on August 2, 2013 titled, Dude, where's my phone? Simple steps to protect your Android this summer.

Make yourself aware of the notes and the steps required for the tools to remotely locate and factory reset your registered phone and/or tablet.

You can select the following options:
Ring. Ring your device at full volume for 5 minutes - even if it’s set to silent or vibrate.

Erase Device. Perform a factory reset, which permanently deletes all of your data.

Note from Android Device Manager help: 
If your device is offline, Android Device Manager won't be able to ring or erase the device until there is a mobile data or Wi-Fi connection. Select Erase Device in advance and your device's data is deleted when it is back online. Android Device Manager does not work for devices that are powered off.

If you have been using Lookout (for Android / for iPhone/iPad), you can already do this from the Lookout site or via the Lookout Chrome App. An additional feature offered by Lookout is Signal Flare, which saves the phone's location when the battery is low.

And users of the many Android mobile security apps have a diverse group of features depending on your preferences.


So have you activated your Android Device Manager yet? If not, what is your favorite mobile security app?


Monday, July 22, 2013

How do you know if that product is recalled OR Do you have Scoot N Zoom Model 711?

I was checking prices of some items before donating and posting the items for sale and I discovered that the Radio Flyer Scoot N Zoom Model#711 was recalled. You probably learned the old adage,  "Buyer beware" when you were growing up, but do you implement practical application of the adage?  I would also challenge people who donate items, buy or sell online or F2F yard/garage sales to use your digital connections to research products before donating, selling, reselling, or purchasing.



Here is the Radio Flyer site announcing the recall of the Scoot 'N Zoom with FAQs and an option to apply for the $20 refund. If you have the Scoot N Zoom with a yellow UPC on the bottom your item is good. If it does not, then apply for the refund.

Why is the product being recalled?  The Scoot 'N Zoom (model #711) is being voluntarily recalled because the product may tip over causing a child to fall while riding, posing a risk of injury.
When and where was this product sold?  It was sold primarily at Wal-Mart, and also certain other stores from August 2010 through August 2011.
Where was the item manufactured?  It was manufactured in the United States.
How do I verify if I have this product in my home?  If you have a yellow UPC Code on the bottom of your unit, you have a redesigned unit and it is NOT affected by this recall. However, if there is not a yellow UPC sticker on the bottom of your Scoot 'N Zoom, we will send you a $20 refund check.
Radio Flyer has a link to the CPSC Recall for the Scoot N Zoom dated August 16, 2011. 

The US Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) provides many options to keep up to date with recalled items, from a telephone number, email, Twitter, Recall widget, a Droid Reall app, APIs for developers and links for International recalls and US Government recalls. You can connect with the CPSC on YouTube, Blogger, Flickr, or Twitter. You can search for recalls or report dangerous items. Here is to your safety this summer.

Just another way to integrate your digital device with things you do in life and keep everyone safe.




Saturday, July 13, 2013

WrapStar - The Microphone

Cool gadget for the #GBaby and fun for adults too. She has tinkered with a couple versions of baby and toddler microphones but she wanted a real microphone. So we opted for the WrapStar.





I wanted to know the difference in the model numbers, WS101, WS102, WS103, and WS104 before purchasing one. I chatted with an Amazon agent who said she would get back to me in 2-3 business days. Then I contacted FirstAct via email and received a response the next day. Apparently the model numbers depict the different colors of the microphone.

Anyway...it arrived and she tinkered with it. The next day in the middle of her singing to her GGMa in a Google Hangout, it just stopped working. We changed the batteries, tried a variety of twists and straightening and the microphone was still not operational. We submitted the request for replacement through Amazon, who shipped the replacement out the next day. We returned the initial one that was not working. I don't know if we got a bad one but I recommend this for people of all ages. Kudos to Amazon's Customer Service for the quick turn around. It is available at a variety of retailers online and brick and mortar.

Do you have a WrapStar microphone? How are you enjoying it?




Saturday, June 22, 2013

Mapping with Google - Maps and Earth

Just completed the Mapping with Google Course with Maps and Earth.


System requirements to participate/complete the course:

  1. Completion of the Google Maps and Google Earth activities and projects for certificate credit requires an Internet-enabled device.
  2. For Google Earth, ensure your computer is able to run the current version of Google Earth by reviewing the related system requirements. Download the current version of Google Earth.
  3. Mapping with Google includes some components, such as video and text lessons, that are accessible from most smartphones and tablets.
  4. Participation in the optional Google+ hangouts requires a webcam-enabled device.


Some takeaways from the course:

  • You could add the city closest to you for a world view of students in the MOOC.
  • As part of this course, we had access to a new version of Google Maps not yet available to all users.
  • Google invites educators to apply for a free Pro version of Google Earth year round, and would like to extend a discount to Mapping with Google students completing the course. Upon submission of a Google Maps or Google Earth project in advance of the June 24, 2013 deadline, students will receive a coupon code for 50% off a Google Earth Pro license. Coupons will be viewable from the My Profile page once the certificate project has been received. The coupon is valid through June 29, 2013.
  • There are some awesome tours available in Google Earth. Visit a place that you want to visit but otherwise not doable. Just tinker...you may even discover an interest that you thought was boring and buried from your school days.
  • Visit some place you have been and enable the Historic views.
  • Many classroom ideas that can be used as family learning projects.
  • Don't forget to check out Sky, Moon, and Mars - Too cool and much improved since I did a blog post about Google Moon and Sky in 2008.
There are many things about this experience that I could write about, but the 3 year old Gbaby takes priority.

Thanks Google for the MOOC.