Boogie Board eWriters

 **A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

It seems whenever I need to print something for work from my home office all of the paper in the printer has miraculously vanished.  It is easy to find though as our refrigerator is covered with all my kids' drawing showing off their latest artistic masterpieces and highlighting where all my copy paper went.  While it is hard to be mad at my kids for having fun drawing it can be quite frustrating.  I may have found a solution to my problem though with Boogie Board eWriters!

Boogie Board eWriters provide a paper-like writing and drawing experience upon a light weight, reflective, pressure-sensitive, plastic liquid crystal display (LCD).  By pressing down on the LCD with a finger, stylus or other instrument images are created on it with the same effect of using a pencil or pen on paper.  When you want to change the image simply press an erase button on the ewriter and an electric field generated by a coin cell watch battery that powers the device will make it vanish.  The only energy the device uses is to wipe the LCD screen clean so you can get a lot of use out of it with a small battery while also being very environmentally friendly by reducing the amount of paper you use.

Boogie Board eWriters can serve as a multi-purpose paper replacement for helping students practice handwriting and arithmetic, taking notes, leaving messages, creating maps, playing games like Tic Tac Toe, even diagramming sports plays for a youth basketball team you may be coaching.  Oh and of course these devices are great for drawing pictures! The sky is the limit for applications and pretty much anything you write or draw on paper can also be done on a Boogie Board eWriter.  It sounds almost too good to be true, but my family has put two of their models to the test, a Scribble n' Play and the jot 4.5 CLEARVIEW eWriter, and both performed splendidly.

Scribble n' Play

My daughter loves doodling on the Scribble n' Play and I've noticed that the paper in my printer tray hasn't been disappearing as much.  She really adores drawing on her Scribble n' Play. This eWriter features Colorburst technology that provides a multi-color LCD writing screen.  It comes with four stylus tools that allow users to create a variety of lines and textures to enhance their drawings.  These stylus attach to the board for easy storage.  a FREE app for iOS devices allows you to save your Scribble n' Play creations on a phone or tablet then share it with family and friends.  With the simple push of a button the image on the LCD disappears and you can start on a new masterpiece.  Since the energy you need to operate the device is primarily to generate an electrical charge to reset the LCD it has really long life with the battery it comes with and when it is time for a new one you just need to pick up a replacement coin cell battery.

jot 4.5 CLEARVIEW eWriter

The jot 4.5 eWriter has a patented translucent LCD screen that makes it perfect for kids to practice writing their numbers and letters.  It comes with alphabet flashcards that can be placed behind the device for kids to practice their handwriting skills.  There is also a FREE iOS app that provides practice math drills that can be placed under the eWriter's clearview screen for kids to interact with using the device's included stylus. The jot 4.5 eWriter's quick, one-push of the button erase system makes it great for repetitive tracing and memorization drills that would be particularly useful for students in kindergarten through third grade.

This device isn't just for tracing though and while it is great for young students there are plenty of practical and fun uses for adults too.  Use it to write down things you'd otherwise need paper, scratch pads or sticky notes for.  It's also great for sketching!  In addition to using the included flashcards to practice his handwriting on the jot 4.5 eWriter, my son also has lots of fun drawing on the device.  Trace an illustration or if you have the artistic ability create your own work of art draw something freehand.

 

Affordable, convenient, practical and environmentally friendly, our family has had a great experience using Boogie Board eWriters.  I particularly like these devices get away from typing and encourage people to continue using handwriting.  The two devices we reviewed are focused on being primarily used by children but if you really appreciate this concept, Boogie Boards also has an eWriter aimed for adults, the jot 8.5, that features a sync app that easily transfers your content in a format that can be edited to a phone or tablet encouraging using the device for note taking, writing, and messages.

For more information about the Scribble n' Play, the jot 4.5 CLEARVIEW eWriter or Boogie Board's other products, please visit myboogieboard.com

Speed up your home's wi-fi with some help from Linksys

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free

A few years ago we set up a Wi-Fi router primarily so that our family could stream movies on Netflix from our personal computer located in the home office at the back of our house to the living room television  at the front of it.  How we use the Internet has changed between now and then though.  On any given evening you'll find my twins each on a tablet working on homework, my wife on her smart phone playing Candy Crush, and I'll be updating this blog from a laptop.  While our use of the Internet has evolved over the years we hadn't made any changes to how we were accessing it.  That original router meant primarily to watch an occasional movie was now being overwhelmed as apps, games, and videos were tapping into it from a variety of sources at the same time often bringing our connections to a standstill.

It was time for a change and thanks to Best Buy we've had the chance to switch our old wireless setup with a brand new WRT 3200 ACM Wi-Fi Router from Linksys.  I have to say the change is amazing! Without upgrading our cable internet connection bandwidth, we found that lag times and disconnections disappeared when using multiple wireless devices around the house.  Troubles with apps not performing, movies not downloading and our wi-fi in general crashing went away as soon as our family installed the Linksys WRT3200 ACM Wi-Fi Router. The reason it works so well is this new router is powered by Tri-Stream 160 technology, which doubles the bandwidth on all spatial streams making it the fastest dual-band router on the market.  What does that mean in plain English?  Instead of sending out a single signal to one device at a time as traditional routers do, the WRT 3200 ACM sends a variety of signals to multiple devices at the same time and at the speed. The WRT 3200 ACM Wi-Fi Router also allows users to gain access to restricted DFS channels at full bandwidth for the clearest Wi-Fi not available with most other routers.  The clearer your signals are the stronger the connection will be leading to faster speeds.

Talking about speed -- in addition to improving our mobile device's internet connectivity, the router was also really fast to set-up.  I have to admit really dreading taking the WRT 3200 ACM out of the box because adding hardware to my computer always turns out to be a pain; but thanks to its great installation software you essentially just needed to plug the router into an ethernet connection and follow some prompts go get the wi-fi up and running around the house.  It is very easy to do and can be done fairly quickly.  A real plus from my point of view.

So here are this router's specs:

• 1.8 GHz CPU for high-powered performance;
•  MU-MIMO technology for high-speed Wi-Fi to multiple devices at the same time, same speed;
•  Open-source ready with OpenWrt and DD-WRT® for complete flexibility and customization of functions;
•  Upgraded Smart Wi-Fi app to manage and monitor your home Wi-Fi from a mobile device, anytime, anywhere;
•  256MB Flash and 512MB of RAM Memory;
•  4 Gigabit Ethernet Ports

If your family is like ours and often has multiple devices using a home Wi-Fi network at the same time, I'd encourage you to check out the Linksys WRT 3200 ACM Router.  It has really worked well for us. For more information or to purchase one please CLICK HERE.

TALKING TOM GOLD RUN

There's been a heist and it is up to you to track down all the stolen gold in the newest addition to the popular Talking Tom and Friends mobile app video game franchise.  Talking Tom Gold Run, from Outfit7, begins with a robbery causing the players to run as fast as possible to retrieve the fallen gold bars, dodge obstacles and collect rewards.  Each component of the game allows players to "Go for the Gold" as they help Talking Tom and Friends utilize the gold they've collected to build their dream homes.  Featuring seven worlds to unlock, as a player progresses in building his or her character's house new building upgrades, characters, and running segments become available within the game.



With Talking Tom and Friends apps reaching more than 4.5 billion downloads worldwide you know Outfit7 is doing something right when it designs these video games for mobile devices.  For example, Talking Tom Gold Run expands beyond the standard mechanics of a runner game by giving players a reason to run in the dream home construction aspect of the game.  Vibrant graphics combined with intricately designed levels don't just provide for fun game play but also allow players to experience an ongoing story through the eyes of Talking Tom and the gang.

"Talking Tom Gold Run draws the player in with an interactive storyline, top-notch graphics and iconic characters that users have come to know and love," founder and CEO of Outfit7 told A Geek Daddy. "We guarantee the gamer will never get bored with so many unique worlds and segments to unlock."

Talking Tom Gold Run is FREE to download on GooglePlay Store, Apple App Store, Windows Store, and Amazon.  It does include in-app purchase options so if your kids are playing make sure to keep your parental control feature activated on the mobile devices just to make sure mom and dad are approving of any purchases.  The game also contains social features which allows players to connect with friends through Facebook and share high scores.

MARVEL's The Avengers: Age of Ultron Twitter Party - Friday, May 1, 2015 ( 1 to 2pm EST )

Avengers Assemble! Join A GEEK DADDY BLOG on Friday, May 1, 2015 @ 1pm EST as we co-host with SoFab Chats a Twitter Party celebrating the theatrical release of MARVEL's The Avengers: Age of Ultron.  We'll be giving out $500+ in gift cards while talking about the new movie, discussing who our favorite Avengers are, and exploring Walmart's new Super Heroes Assemble augmented reality app.

To participate RSVP with SoFab Chats and use the hashtag #AvengersUniteSweeps on Twitter between 1 and 2 pm EST.  Please follow @Geekdad248, @KellysLuckyYou, @blm03, @MudpiesandTiara during the party on Twitter.  To be eligible for prizes you must RSVP and participate in the party replying to questions from the hosts using the hashtag #AvengersUnitedSweeps.  Join in on the fun, it should be a smashing good time!

I have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser to serve as a co-host and promote the #AvengersUnitedSweeps Twitter Party.

Digital Media Academy Offers Summer Camps To Keep Kids Productive Over The School Break

 ** This is a U.S. Family Guide Sponsored Post that I have been compensated for.  Any claim, representation, statistic, quote or other representation should be verified with the service provider, Digital Media Academy **

It is that time of year when the end of school days is quickly approaching and parents need to start thinking of what their plans for the kids will be during the summer break.  If you want to make sure your children have a productive summer check out the Digital Media Academy (DMA) which has programs aimed at tech savvy youth that will interest them and build their skill sets at the same time. Kids and teens learn computer programming, app development, 3D modeling, robotics, graphic design, film-making, and much more. DMA summer camps are one or multiple week experiences taught by industry experts and tech professionals. Campers get hands-on experience creating projects using the latest hardware and software from Apple, Canon, Adobe, and more.  To help inspire future women computer programers, scientists, and engineers, DMA is also introducing a new program this summer, Made by Girls, dedicated to empowering girls and closing the gender gap in the tech industry.


The DMA Experience from Digital Media Academy on Vimeo.

From talking with my teen aged niece and nephew, I know that designing and making money from creating apps is something all the kids are into right now.  Participating in the DMA summer camps can really help a kid get the skill set to put them on the right track to making their own apps. You can't beat an opportunity that lets your kids have fun while learning skills that could help them get into a career field they are interested in.

A Geek Daddy Blog readers can save $75 off summer camps at DMA with code TECHSUMMER at www.DigitalMediaAcademy.org. Sign up for multiple weeks and save big! Campers save $125 for each additional course they register for. Register by May 31,2015 to #CreateTheNext best-selling app this summer!

Founded at Stanford University, DMA is ranked as one of the ten best summer camps in the world.  Give your teen a pre-collegiate experience or build a child's confidence through project-based learning. Learn at some of the most prestigious colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Questions? Call 1(866)656-3342 to speak with a Guest Service Representative or email info@digitalmediaacademy.org and mention this US Family Guide Special Offer.

DMA Summer Camps are held at college campuses across the United States. For example, in my home state of Michigan DMA is hosting its camp at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. They also have programs at Northwestern University in Illinois, Harvard University in Massachusetts, Stanford and UCLA in California, and Rice University in Texas among other locations. Programs are specifically designed for children 6 - 12 or teens 13 - 17 in nine digital media specialties ranging from Programming & App Development to Robotics & Engineering.

For more information visit: DigitalMediaAcademy.org

Play DONKEY KONG for FREE on your Internet Browser

I'm dating myself but when I was a kid the new high-tech toy was going to the arcade in my hometown to play DONKEY KONG.  I spent a fortune in quarters jumping barrels trying to rescue the lovely Pauline. This game featured the first appearance of Mario who later rose to fame with the video game Super Marion Brothers, for its time had better gameplay than the other games out at that time and was the best selling arcade machine of the early 80s.  As we play Playstation 4 in our living room, my kids don't believe me that when I was a child we had to go to places to play video games rather than just sit on your own coach and turn on the tv.  I try to use Chuck E. Cheese to explain it to them but that pizza chain has really become more about mechanical rides and skee ball than video games so they didn't really get the connection. Oh how the times have changed, but I still have fond memories of warm summer evenings watching the neon lights flicker on the video screen as I took on the evil Donkey Kong trying to save the day.

Nintendo who produced the game and owns its rights to boost its home video game platform sales so far has been reluctant to allow its classic games like Donkey Kong and Super Mario Brothers to turned into apps that can be played on smart phones and tablets.  That is a bummer but probably helping me stay productive and not losing track of time while dodging barrels and grabbing coins on my phone's screen all the time.  You can though now play DONKEY KONG for FREE on your Internet Browser by visiting ArcadeYum.com.

Time warp back to the 1980s with this online game that provides the basic controls of left-right-up-down and jump as you try to make your way up the construction site to rescue your kidnapped girlfriend from the dreaded Donkey Kong.  Here's a screen capture of a game I recently played on my PC on the AracadeYum website.  Note you have to use Flash to be able to play the game but this may work on some tablets and phones that have compatibility.

CLICK HERE to play DONKEY KONG!

Be aware that ArcadeYum doesn't charge any money for you to play the games on their website but they do download some software that allows them to target you with advertisements when you are online. I've found that if you click this link the website doesn't download this software but if you visit this link it won't allow you to play without downloading the software.  For more information about ArcadeYum's software downloads, what they do and how to remove them, click here.  So far I haven't seen the ArcadeYum software listed on my computer or seen any advertisements generated by it so I think you're clean if you use the flash version of the game in the first link I posted. Just be alert to click cancel or no if you are prompted to download anything when you visit this website unless you are OK with receiving advertisements from them and having some of your Internet browsing habits tracked.