Nummies 911

Tech Tuesday - Pop Phone

I've lost touch with today's trends. Not that I really tried at any time in my life, but recently (meaning the last two years) I've been totally out of the loop. When I worked as a nurse, I read People magazine on the night shift and that allowed me the insight to know what my two teenage children were talking about at least 50% of the time. Now, working from home, and being on a stricter budget, I seem to have become ignorant of anything that doesn't appear in the few art related magazines I still get. Sadly People isn't one of them. 

So when I took Camille shopping with her Christmas money, the store had a huge sign that read, "We have POP Phones!" And here I was, the quintessential out-of-touch mother who had to ask the salesperson, "OK, what is a POP phone?" Boy am I glad I asked.  It's a handset.  A real handset that plugs into your cell phone and allows you the long forgotten comfort that only the weight and curve of a real handset can bring. Try it and believe me, it brings back memories like the smell of cookies baking in the oven. I'm in my 40's, so if your much younger than me the effect may be lessened. But if you are over 39, run, don't stop, and get yourself a POP phone. You won't regret it.

Over the past years I've become to disdain talking on the phone, and with the purchase of my very own purple POP phone, I think I may have found at least part of the reason why.  It's just not comfortable to hold a small and very hot box up to my ear, constantly trying to adjust it so I can hear the other party while trying desperately NOT to push any buttons that would put my conversation on hold or even end it. The POP headset solves all that, in addition to lessening the amount of radiation you receive from cell phone usage, again not something I was searching for, but a bonus. 

Here's a couple of pics I saw while surfing.

And one more.

So tell me, did you know what a POP phone was? Do you have one? Do you love it or hate it? Leave some comment love on this one.  I know you have something to say.

 

Tech Tuesday

Apps We Love

I have an iPhone. I made the switch to Apple products about eight years ago when I started to have less time and patience to devote to programming my PC to connect to the internet and keeping it free of spyware and pop-ups. I just wanted to turn something on and it WORK. Just work, without me knowing how it works. Apple products do that. They work. Period.

My first iPhone was the first product I ever bought with a fully charged battery out of the box. Really? Who would have thought of such a novel idea? Even Santa every year on Christmas Eve has to open boxes and plug in chargers so the next day children don't have to wait 24 hours to play with their toys. But I digress. I was going to talk about apps. 

Since my first iPhone, I have waxed and waned about my interest in apps. I guess because first and foremost, I see my iPhone as a phone. Novel idea, I know, but that's why I bought it, because I needed a phone. However, since my iPad came along, I've delved deeper into the world of apps because my iPad is NOT a phone. But it's not a computer either, so basically it's an APP runner. 

I'm rambling, I know. Long introduction to a short subject, but here is today's app review. 

Grocery Gadget is one of the few apps that I use every single week. Honestly, I don't know how I survived without it. More than just a list maker, the best thing is that you create your own "group" or "network." That allows you to share information with members of the group. Simply put, I can make a list, hit update, and it sends a message to the group that the list has been updated. In other words, I can add items to the grocery list and notify Anna to pick them up on her way home. I can add a photo to the item so she'll know EXACTLY what I want. I can even scan a barcode to add information. 

       

I don't use half the features this app has, and I still get more than my money's worth. You can add prices and search for e-coupons. You can designate stores for each item and shop by store, or you can designate different lists. Incredibly flexible, yet still very simple to use. It has a website portal that you can use to input items or update your lists. Grocery Gadget is great, and beats other apps in this category by a long shot. It also comes in versions for Android, Blackberry, Nokia and Windows phones. So if you are tired of crumpled scraps of paper, post it notes, or even plain text notes on your phone, give Grocery Gadget a try. You won't be sorry. 

 

Tech Tuesday

I thought I would start to share some of my favorite gadgets, tech tips, etc. with you, my readers, those few of you who keep checking in with me to see if I'm still alive :-)

Let me begin by saying that I am by no means an expert in modern technology, but I do discover things that I have found useful when shared with my friends and family.  So that's what I aim to do, highlight items and techniques that I have found to be beneficial or fun. I'd like to encourage you to do the same by chiming in via the comments.  Let us hear any related information so that we can all benefit without having to scourer the computer mags and blogs every week. 

So today, I'd like to give a big thumbs up to skinit.com. I had read their ads before in magazines and online, but I never ended up on their website. I did however pick up a case for my new iPhone 4S while shopping in a megastore. The case is basically a black bumper with a clear back. The purchase price was only $20, which I consider below average considering the purchase included a free skin of your choice from their website. I rarely see any iPhone case that appeals to my artistic side. They are either boringly corporate, cartoon silly, or just plain loud and rubber. I was attracted to the idea that I could either choose a skin I liked, or customize my own with a photo. (I anticipated a photo upload given my history.)

It was after I started browsing the skins that I became hooked.  There were so many skins that appealed to me, that uploading a photo was quickly dismissed, and the next hour was spent trying to decide which skin to order. I finally decided on a beautiful purple background to an OM symbol. 

The skin and shipping were free with the code included in the purchase of the case. I think that is a bargain. While the check out made it seem as if it would take weeks to receive your skin if you didn't upgrade the shipping and pay for it, I didn't and received my skin in under a week. On top of all that, I also received a code for 20% my next purchase, and Skin It encouraged me to share it with my friends so here it is. 

Enter code FEB12 for 20% off your order.  This code expires 2.29.2012.

Check it out and let me know what you think. As for me, I'm going to be looking for an OM sounding ringtone to complete the look and feel of pure bliss.