Techish

Here’s the wacky stuff you should buy for the Eclipse 2017

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Our Christina Tynan-Wood did a great story on all the practical stuff you NEED for the eclipse on Monday. But what about the stuff you really WANT? I mean, the total solar eclipse going down on August. 21 is kind of a big deal. For the first time in 99 years, the moon's shadow will make its way across the entire United States from the west coast to the east. If you live in these states on the map to the left here, it's going to pass right over the top of your head. And that's a big freaking deal. Such a big deal, this one event links Hindu mythology, the world's first computer, and Albert Einstein. So obviously, you'll need a memento or two to mark the occasion, right? If ... Read more

8 Clever Mom Hacks for Driving with Kids

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  Does it seem as if a big chunk of your family time happens on the road? Considering that Americans spend, on average, 290 hours a year driving, that's not just frustration talking. This is a reality. That is more than seven work weeks, spent in the car. And, if you have teenagers, this might even be the only time you spend in one-on-one conversations where they can't storm away and slam a door. Here are some hacks for making that time the best family time it can be. Maybe you can turn this modern, mobile moment into some of the best time you have together. Make the Car a Rule-Free Zone Whatever rules you have about limiting time spent gaming or accessing the Internet at home? ... Read more

DEALish: $10 off Circle with Disney

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  We are big fans of the Circle with Disney ($99) here at Techish. This device (pictured below) attaches to your wireless router and gives you the parental controls that should have come with the Internet. There are too many devices – phones, tablets, computers – in most homes to even think that installing something on your kids’ devices that filters out the seamy underbelly of the Internet will be enough. You need much more than filtering, one device at a time. You need to protect kids from content, from addiction, and from distractions. You need – especially before school starts again – to be able to shut the Internet off to create bed times and family time. But sometimes ... Read more

HOW TO: Use Ghost Mode to turn off Snapchat’s latest Snap Map feature

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https://youtu.be/u9sUFSchmlU A whole bunch of my mom-friends are buzzing about Snapchat's latest Snap Map feature that shows their teen's avatar location on a map – right down to the cross street. Wired called it "stalkerish," while a whole host of other news outlets from Good Housekeeping to ABC News report additional privacy concerns. HOW TO USE GHOST MODE TO TURN OFF SNAP MAPS As our own Christina Tynan-Wood points out, you have to opt-in to Snap Maps in the first place. If you or your teen hasn't done that, then no worries, it's already "off." When your teen opens the app for the first time after the update, Snapchat walks them through a step-by-step tutorial on how to use the Snap ... Read more

Worried about Snapchat location tracking your teens? I’m not. Here’s why:

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On June 21, Snapchat launched a feature – Snap Map – that caused  parents, law enforcement, and some reporters to fret wildly about the safety of teenagers using Snapchat. Snap Map shows people on Snapchat where their friends are, on a map, in precise up-to-the-second detail. Even if the idea of a feature on your teen’s phone that reveals their location doesn't already worry you, it probably will after you read all the warnings. BUT IS THIS A BIG DEAL? This is, absolutely, a good reason to talk to your kids (again) about privacy in the Internet age. This all might seem like another cool thing to them but there are serious dangers with location tracking and software companies have not ... Read more

We tried dozens of travel apps. These 10 will save your trip!

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Gone are the days of money belts, maps, travel guides, and standing in line. You can use your phone to do most of that. But which apps will get it done? We tried dozens of them, hit the road, and learned from our mistakes. All you have to do is spend ten minutes downloading apps and you will be ready to roll. Dosh (iOS/Android), free Travel is spendy. So you get out a laptop and research every hotel, flight, and restaurant before you decide. Oh, stop! Get Dosh. Need a hotel? Fly through a list of deals, right in the app. Tap, buy, and earn reward Dosh you can spend later.Time for lunch? Everyone else throws fiscal caution aside when tummies growl in an unfamiliar town. Not you. You ... Read more

Celebrate iPhone’s 10th birthday with these 10 iconic iPhone moments

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Apple's iPhone is the most popular smartphone on the planet, and it's had an absolutely immeasurable effect on society and pop culture. It just turned 10, so here are the top 10 most iconic moments in the history of Apple's stellar smartphone. #10 The Reveal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7qPAY9JqE4 Where it all started. After months and months of speculation, rumors, and a few small leaks, Apple's co-founder and then-CEO took the stage to show the world what Apple had been working on. It was an iPod, a communication device, and a phone all wrapped up in one! The world would never be the same. #9 Samsung endorsement, sent on iPhone Huge companies pay celebrities for ... Read more

7 of the best high-tech tools for keeping tabs on kids:

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When my son turned eleven, he announced, “I want to stay home alone!” And that was a new phase in parenting. It started with the question, “At what age is it okay to leave the kids home alone?” And it won’t end until I am sitting on an empty nest. In between, there have been (and will be) more questions, worries, unplanned events, proud moments, messes, broken trusts, and parties that any parent ever wants to stop and add up. Modern times, though, bring some slick tools that do more than their intended purpose. No, you can’t turn your microwave into a camera. But some technologies – even those you already have  -- do double duty as robot babysitters for kids who are ready to stay home ... Read more

Here’s the travel tech I don’t leave home without:

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I travel some 10,000 miles a month on average for work (and occasional play) so heading into what's expected to be a record breaking weekend for travel? I'm not messing around. According to AAA, some 40-million Americans are heading out of town for the Memorial Day Holiday — the most in 12 years. If you’re one of the masses gearing up to take a trip here are ten tech tools that can save you from all kinds of headaches, while keeping you connected, charged-up, and even a little more safe on the go. Bluesmart Carry-On The ultimate smart luggage. Connects to your phone and tells you its location via GPS, automatically locks itself when you walk away from it, and even has a built-in ... Read more

Sneaky teen texting codes: what they mean, when to worry

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihGOH4OOtTY If your teen has a smartphone, chances are they spend several hours a day on text and social media. If you ever look at what they’re actually doing on there, you’ll likely see a lot of innocent “Snapstreaking,” some funny Buzzfeed videos and a bunch of letters and numbers that look like some kind of modern-day shorthand. You probably use some of these yourself: LOL = laugh(ing) out loud                                 GR8 = great IRL = in real life                                                   TYVM = thank you very much IMHO = in my humble opinion                        BRB = be right back J/K = just kidding                              ... Read more

How to find hidden playgroups in your own neighborhood like a #MomBoss

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When my daughter was a baby, I met most of my mom-friends at playgrounds or Gymboree classes. Nowadays, more moms are finding each other online, even if they’re looking for people to meet up with in real life. But finding out how to join the quirky clique and meet some gal pals in your neighborhood isn’t as easy as just looking out your front door anymore. Where do you start and how do you know that it’s safe? The groups you spot on Craigslist or other sites — how can you be sure that it’s not just some creeper trying to snag sensitive information about you, or worse? We tracked down the experts to find out how to discover and manage the secret moms groups in your neighborhood like a ... Read more

RUDE! Turn your annoying notifications off in public!

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((Note: I posted this to my Facebook during a plane trip recently: I would love to hear what you think!)) Does your laptop, smartphone or tablet DING, buzz, vibrate or whistle every time you get an IM, email, news alert, FB message, etc? Are there any other humans around you? If so: do us all a favor and TURN YOUR NOTIFICATIONS OFF. I'm sitting next to someone on the plane, with my best earplugs in, and it's still driving me crazy. It's dinging like a front counter bell (you know those really loud ones meant to get immediate attention) every few seconds. Should I say something or just try to ignore it? I had this with a person working with me recently too. I mentioned that it was ... Read more

How to end robocalls and telemarketers for good (as heard on WTOP)

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Have you noticed an uptick in those super annoying robocalls, telemarketers, and scams hitting up your smartphone or landline all hours of the day and night? I have, and it’s driving me nuts. Last month, I had a bogus call to lower my electricity bill. A few weeks ago, it was a pause after I said hello, then a woman saying, “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m adjusting my headset,” before launching into a sales pitch of some sort. And then there’s the daily deluge of numbers that look legit — maybe a doctor’s appointment reminder or my daughter’s school calling — only to end up being an obvious scam. “This is George Michael,” says a male caller with a heavy accent, “calling from your online pharmacy with ... Read more

How e-biking saved my butt. Literally.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS6srigDLVI I’ve been nursing a pretty serious upper hamstring injury for more than a year. To put it bluntly, it’s been a real pain in the butt. I used to run or bike every single day. It’s how I stay healthy and sane. But with this nagging injury, running is out right now, as is hiking, and even the most mellow of spin-classes. But not getting outside regularly for a little fresh air and an endorphine fix? That’s just as bad. Enter the e-bike revolution. It’s gaining some serious speed thanks to new technology and new companies rolling out an upgraded fleet of semi-affordable electric bicycles. (And it’s taken me to my happy place of regular exercise ... Read more

Beating robocalls and telemarketers on your home phone

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Blocking those annoying robocallers on your cell phone is a serious task that I've already tackled, but if you're still getting the constant calls on your home phone it can be just as big of a headache. Here's how to kick those creepy callers for good! I know, it doesn't work well, but still get on the list The first line of defense against pesky telemarketers and scam solicitations is the Do Not Call list. It's managed by the Federal Trade Commission and you can add yourself to the list by registering your phone number on the FTC's website. It's very simple and takes only about a minute. Telemarketers and robocallers who don't follow the rules and call numbers that are on the list ... Read more

ROBOCALL RAGE! Here’s how I finally stopped getting those annoying spam calls!

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Have you noticed an uptick in those super annoying robocalls, telemarketers, and scams hitting up your smartphone all hours of the day and night? I have, and it’s driving me nuts. Last month, I had a bogus call to lower my electricity bill. A few weeks ago, it was a pause after I said hello, then a woman saying, “Oh, I’m sorry, I’m adjusting my headset,” before launching into a sales pitch of some sort. And then there’s the daily deluge of numbers that look legit — like my daughter’s school calling, or a media outlet from Manhattan — only to end up being an obvious scam, “This is George Michael,” says a male caller with a heavy accent, “calling from your online pharmacy with your diet ... Read more