Product Guides 2010 | Faith and Family Reviews

Archive for Product Guides 2010

Plantronics Voyager Pro Review

Posted by html404 on November 18, 2010
in Product Guides 2010, Technology/Electronics

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

It’s been a long time since we had our Back to School product guide, however, we still have this one last product that we need to write up a review about – the Plantronics Voyager Pro. You have to be careful about these phone accessories because they all are not necessarily compatible with all phones. This was the case with us. Then we decided to get new phones with a new carrier and bingo, the Plantronics Voyager is now compatible with my new phone.

While I don’t consider myself tech savvy, I can usually manage to figure most things out for myself over time. I found that setting up the Plantronics Voyager, which is simply an expensiveBluetooth ear piece that allows you to talk on your cell phone handsfree, took me a day or so to understand how this thing worked and I still have not quite figured out one aspect to it that was installed on my laptop.

That said I thought the Plantronics Voyager Pro was very nice, had good sound, and fairly easy to use once set up. However, for it’s fancy price of $199.95, I thought that it should stay behind my ear better than it does. I wear glasses so because the arm of my glasses sets behind my ear causing the Plantronics ear piece to not set well on top of it. Any slight movement and the Plantronics Pro pops out of place. I have been disappointed and the ear piece has been sitting in the pocket of my shoulder bag ever since. So much for keeping up with technology, eh? But I cannot be fiddling with the ear piece trying to get it to stay in place while driving or typing for that matter. It just isn’t safe or productive use of my time.

Plantronics Voyager Pro UC Retail Price $199.95

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NuShield’s DayVue Screen Protector Film

Posted by html404 on October 1, 2010
in Product Guides 2010, Technology/Electronics

We mentioned NuShield’s screen protector in our Back to School Product Review .

NuShield’s DayVue screen protector film was created to reduce the amount of glare users experience on their LCD displays. It is suppose to enhance daylight readability.

The DayVu is custom made and pre-cut to the size of your screen, so it is easy to install. It is thin, anti-reflective and filters out UBV light.

I found that the DayVu does reduce the glare on my laptop screen and while it does not pick up fingerprints easily my DayVu has scratched within the first days of use, so that was disappointing.

Another thing is the cut of the DayVu is a fraction off so if I have the overhead fan on in the room I am in it blows the screen out of place as there is no adhesive required to insert the DayVu. However, this may be partly my fault because I said my laptop is a 17″ screen when in actuality it may be 17.1″ or 17.2″. So if you decide to order one be sure to use exact measurements.

The great thing about this screen protector is that it can be used on most LCD displays (inside and outside use), not just on your computer.

The DayVu may be purchased at www.nushield.com

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Easy Lunch Boxes

Posted by html404 on September 24, 2010
in Eco Friendly Products, Product Guides 2010

About Easy Lunch Boxes

* Eco-Friendly
* For Kids & Adults
* Bento-Style, 3-Compartments
* Less Pieces, More Function
* No BPA, Lead, Vinyl or PVC
* Affordable & Durable
* Easy Prep, Easy Cleanup
* Nesting Containers
* Custom, Washable Cooler Bag

Our Review

The Easy Lunch Box System is a convenient lunch system that makes feeding little ones a breeze. I found that the Easy Lunch Boxes helped eliminate most of the mess in the van. Not as much food got on the floor, the children had a place to put their food while they were chewing or were tired of eating.

When the Easy Lunch Boxes are all full, only three of them will fit into the Easy Lunch Box cooler. Not all four will fit, so an additional bag will be needed or some other small cooler to keep food items that should be refrigerated cold.

As EasyLunchBoxes.com states, the lids of the Easy Lunch Box containers fit loosely. They do not snap shut, which I appreciated so the younger children could easily open their own container. Yet it was odd trying to fit them on because my tendency is to snap the lids of containers, but these just do not snap. They really only set. Despite this, I still very much like the Easy Lunch Boxes and hope to buy a couple of more to make lunches easier at home and on the road.

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Aroma Home Screen Wipe

Posted by html404 on September 18, 2010
in Product Guides 2010, Technology/Electronics

About Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy has been used for healing since the first century. In 1937, the word “aromatherapy” first appeared in print in a French book on the subject: Aromatherapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Vegetales, by a chemist named Rene-Maurice Gattefosse.

Used primarily to alter mood or cognitive function, aromatherapy is known to have positive therapeutic effects on adults and children alike. Enhanced relaxation is one of the most popular and effective uses of applied aromatherapy. The basic mechanism is the influence of aroma on the brain through the olfactory system.

Source: US National Library of Medicine and How Stuff Works

About Aroma Home Screen Wipe

These fun animal Screen Wipes have a chamois tummy and will clean and help reduce static on all computer monitors, laptops, TV/LCD screens and even car windscreens! They comes with a little zest of fragrance.

Available in sixteen fun animal designs these are an ideal gift for the person who has everything. The designs are: Pig, Lion, Cow, Bunny, Duck, Poodle, Monkey, Gorilla, Giraffe, Elephant, Brown Horse, Black and White Horse, Tiger, Schnauzer, Cat, and Westie. You may buy them here for $11.99 each.

Our Review

Our family has been using aromatherapy via essential oils for the last couple of years and have seen the positive affects they have on our family. They do indeed soothe and relax. We also appreciate their beneficial medicinal properties as well. So when the Aroma Home Screen Wipes came across our inbox when we were doing our Back to School Product Guide, we were interested in learning more about them. We were sent the pig screen wipe to review. We all thought it was cute, and many of the children asked if they could have it for a stuffed animal!

Personally, I thought this screen wipe was very sweet and cute. The pig worked well on our computers and my daughter liked it for her note/net book. I loved the smell of the screen wipe – a zest of lemon fragrance – but found that the fragrance isn’t long lasting. That didn’t affect how it cleaned our computer screens though. It cleaned the computers very well of dust particles and did help to remove some static. But if you happen to have little hands that get a sticky spot on your screen on occasion the screen wipe does not work so well for those spots that require a little extra rubbing.

The screen wipe requires sponge cleaning only, so I am still not sure how well that will work over the long term. Therefore, the screen wipe may need to be replaced eventually once piggy’s tummy is pretty dirty and is found to no longer clean screens as well as it once did. That’s just my opinion though, just having the screen wipe for a month.

My younger daughter just came in and saw Aroma Home’s website pulled up and said, “Oh, I want those for stuffed animals! (the screen wipes!)” However, these cute screen wipes are not toys.

To view the whole selection of Aroma Home’s screen wipes, please visit http://www.aromahome.com/gb/screen_wipes.asp

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Grasshopper Snip, Glue and Grow Preschool Kit Review

Posted by html404 on September 12, 2010
in Education, Product Guides 2010, Shopping

School has started and so has the back-to-school routine. But what about our preschoolers? What are we doing to prepare them for school? They are often interested in anything “school” related when they know older children who go to school. Yet so often kids get tired of workbooks and handwriting. Grasshopper Kits are a perfect activity for parents and preschool teachers to use with their preschoolers, not to mention FUN!

About GRASSHOPPER®

GRASSHOPPER® Preschool Prep Kits are designed to get kids ready for school all through play: no workbooks… no pencils… 100% fun!

According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, the average 3 year old is spending 3-4 hours with electronics such as television and video games each day.

The current recommendation states that parents need to introduce more active, goal-directed play into their children’s routine. GRASSHOPPER® Preschool Prep Kits are the answer. Children play games while achieving functional success. All GRASSHOPPER® kits are packed with exclusive materials and games to help create a smooth transition into the world
of education.

GRASSHOPPER® games are clearly laid out in full color guide books with straight-forward instructions and supporting illustrations. All of the materials fit easily into the custom GRASSHOPPER® no-spill carrying case which is designed with organized compartments, an easy snap lid, and a built in easel.

The games all have a ‘back to basics’ slant, with a clever edge so that kids feel like they are playing while they are building their foundation skills for school. Help your child get ready for school the GRASSHOPPER® way!

Grasshopper Kit

Our Review

There are four Grasshopper kits altogether, the ABC and Shapes is a combined kit ($49.95), Getting Hands Ready ($29.95), and Snip Glue and Grow (29.95), which is the one we received. I was busy with the Back To School Guide the day that we where going to test this kit, so I told two of my daughters to take the younger children down and use the kit with them. I was surprised that it kept the children busy for at least a hour and a half. This kit is filled with age appropriate activities for preschool age children. Although my 1st and 2nd grade boys found it fun too. The great thing about this kit is that we have used it a few more times since then. Therefore the kit is not just a one time use as it can be used multiple times over until all the materials are gone.

From the ten hands-on games and activities the children participated in from the kit include: gluing little colored pom poms to cards with different characters on them, being creative with a bit of play dough, practicing cutting with scissors and practice cards, blowing bubbles with the bubbles, making paper chains. Everything needed isincluded in the kit. No extra trips to the store or multiple stores, definitely a mom pleaser with that feature!

The Snip, Glue and Grow Grasshopper Kit ($29.95) gets a thumbs up from us. I hope to order the ABC and Shape kit for my little ones, so I will let you know how those are in the future.

For more information visit: http://www.grasshopperkits.com/allproducts.html

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Pentel Pencils

Posted by html404 on September 11, 2010
in Education, Product Guides 2010, School

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, our review is our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

It’s back to school time and if your children are anything like mine they go through an amazing amount of pens and pencils! Pentel was kind enough to send us some samples for our Back to School Product Guide and I am finally getting around to writing the review. Readers and PR reps alike have been very patient with me as I try to get caught up.

The samples that I received included Hyper G Ultra Smooth Retractable Gel Rollers (pack of 3), The Study Pack – The Pink Pack! – Pencil, Pen and Highlighter that Pentel sells and donates five cents from every purchase to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a Tri Eraser and two .e-sharp mechanical pencils that take different size lead (0.7 and 0.5).

I have loved all of the Pentel products. The only negative that I have has nothing to do with the product, but my children. My two-year-old broke my “Think Pink” pen, which seemed to glide across the paper and it actually was pink ink, my favorite ink color. And my four-year-old lost my red Hyper G pen. Guess I shouldn’t have shared, huh? (Just kidding!)

Tri Erasers – This is a novel idea and new to me to see an incased eraser like this one. I really like how well it erases and how easy it is to erase with it in this form.

Hyper G Gel Pens- These are a fine tip pen and write well. I’ve had no problems with them thus far.

Mechanical Pencils – Really like these and used all the lead in one already keeping track of Sir Eats Alot’s nursing and input and output

Think Pink Study Pack – This neat little pack held the pen with the pink ink that I really liked. The highlighter in this pack is retractable as well as refillable, pretty handy.

THINKPINKSTUDYPACK

For more information about these and other Pentel products, please visit www.pentel.com

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V-Moda Crossfade LP Headphones Review

Posted by html404 on September 6, 2010
in Product Guides 2010, Technology/Electronics

I received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of this product.

About V-Moda Crossfade LP Headphones

High-Definition Sound

Featuring patent pending 50mm Dual-Diaphragm High-Definition Drivers, the Crossfade LP delivers the sound of multiple drivers with the efficiency of a single smaller driver. The result is deep vibrant bass, juicy mid-range, and crystal clarity on today’s portable devices without the need for any batteries. The driver’s diaphragm is constructed of a harder inner ring providing an extended high range and a softer outer ring for deep lows, resulting in an unprecedented sound. Supple memory foam ear cushions isolate noise and immerse you into your own world of sound.

Fashion Forward Design

With the Crossfade LP, music lovers experience a sophisticated headphone with a true fashion-forward look. Created with a unique metal “V” design and available in White Pearl, Phantom Chrome and Gunmetal Black, the Crossfade LP gives music enthusiasts a sophisticated headphone with a fashion-forward look. For people on the move, the Crossfade LP is equipped with a detachable cable featuring a three-button remote control and high-fidelity microphone to easily change volume and answer or end phone calls.

Ultimate Ergonomic Comfort

Your headphones are supposed to be comfortable. With the Crossfade LP, you get an incredibly lightweight headphone that you can wear for hours. Using a revolutionary metal “V” design and supple air-cushion memory foam, the Crossfade LP weighs only 280 grams and offers an ergonomic comfortable fit. Relentless research went into the precise shape and materials of the headband and ear cushions, resulting in a tailored, fashionable fit without unsightly gaps and minimal pressure on the head and ears.

Universal Compatibility

Now, your calls and your music are in stereo. Featuring a three-button remote and discrete high-fidelity microphone, the remote/mic cable gives you complete control of your calls and your music. You can adjust the volume, control the playback of your music and video, or record voice memos and answer calls from your iPhone 3GS and more. Plus, you get a long (69”) audio cable with ¼” adapter so you can listen to music from your iPod, iPhone or professional stereo equipment. Want to use the Crossfade LP with your Mac? You can, it’s compatible with the latest Mac products, including the iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook or MacBook Pro and can be used for iChat, Skype, VoIP, and other audio recording applications.

Built To Last

We’re passionate about sound and providing you a durable product. Four years of testing the Crossfade LP on tour and in everyday life situations resulted in a tank-like steel frame, flexible memory headband, and detachable Kevlar®-reinforced cables to ensure unprecedented durability. Our commitment to quality stays with you. Each Crossfade LP is backed by an unrivaled one-year premier warranty. If you’re rough on your headphones, don’t worry. We’ve designed an incredible replacement program just for you. With the exclusive V-MODA Replay Replacement Program, you get a 50% off lifetime replacement guarantee. (Editor’s Note: You can’t beat that!)

Price: $249.99

Our Review

The V-Moda Crossfade LP Headphones are very, very nice! I honestly don’t have anything negative to say about them. We received the Phantom Chrome colored ones. They are extremely comfy, except when I have my earrings in as the stud posts push into my head due to the headphones fitting so snuggly. They also have great sound. I love that I can listen to a show or music and it pretty much blocks out the rest of the noise in the house! The headset we received includes a nice carrying case and we kept the box, as it was well packaged and it gives extra protection during the times they are not being used. I think these are the most luxurious over the ears headset we’ve owned. They even have 24K gold-plated plugs! Although, my husband did mention that he use to own the best headphones available…years ago when he was more of a music connoisseur.

This headphone set is very well made. Right down to the audio cords that are covered with fabric. They are lightweight (280g) and the ear pieces are in a rugged metal V design. They also have air-cushion memory foam on the ear pieces and headband, which provides added comfort. The headset has a durable steel frame. They include audio only and remote/microphone and luxury fabric 3.5mm audio cable. For audio compatibility visit www.V-Moda.com/compatibility

We really, really like this headphone set! I guess the only negative I could come up with is the price $249.99. I know they are worth it because I have seen them and used them, but most families probably would not budget $250 for audio equipment. The thing is, with the size of our family we look for things that will last and that will withstand multiple people using it over and over again and the V-Moda Headphones meets this criteria. We also love their replacement guarantee! (see paragraph above entitledBuilt to Last)

Thank you V-Moda for the opportunity to review this great product!

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Hyper Dash – An Educational Game

Posted by html404 on September 6, 2010
in Education, Product Guides 2010

I received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While I consider it a privilege to receive free products to review, my review is my honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

Overview

Hyper Dash will challenge you to be your best. It takes no time at all to learn, but selectable skill levels and four completely different game modes mean the challenge, like a real sport, will last a lifetime.

Hyper Dash consists of one electronic tagger and five different colored and numbered targets. The tagger plays pre-recorded music and calls out which targets you need to strike. It tracks the amount of time taken to complete each course. It can be set up side-by-side, or spread out across the length of a football field. There’s no limit to the distance between targets. Farther targets result in more running and exercise.

Hyper Dash can be played indoors or outdoors; solo, in pairs, or in teams. Parents vs. Kids is an entertaining option. Cooperative siblings can work together to beat their best time, while more competitive kids prefer the head-to-head mode.

As your speed, skill and agility improve, the series of commands becomes longer and more challenging. Level one calls out the colors you need to tag, level two includes numbers, level three adds special commands (Double Strike, Triple Strike, Reverse, Double Reverse) and level four features Compu-Strike (addition/subtraction problems in which you tag the sum or difference of the numbers called out).

Other play modes include the memory game of Micro Dash and multi-player relay races that promote teamwork. For a game of Hide ‘n Dash, let your opponent hide the targets before you begin. Every game has encouraging cheers and upbeat music to keep kids on their feet, expending energy and having fun.

Features
– Follow the commands and tag the targets with the handheld unit — fastest time wins!
– Set the targets on a table, around the room, or outdoors to test your speed and agility.
– 4 game modes to challenge your speed: skill, memory, coordination and teamwork.
– Play solo, head-to-head, or in teams.
– Music and voice drive the action.
– Includes ergonomically designed Hyper Dash unit and 5 targets.

Recommended Ages
Ages: 6+ / Players: 1-8

Battery Requirements
Requires 3 AA batteries, sold separately.

Retail $32.95 currently on sale for $26.95 on Hyper-Dash.com

Our Review

Most of our children really liked Hype Dash. They thought it was fun. One of our daughters said she could not get to level 2 or 3 on the harder ones. Another one of our daughters said she thought it was cool and that she really liked it. She especially enjoyed the multiplication, as that is what she’s been working on in her school work. Our boys though were disappointed that the game pieces didn’t shoot out like they thought they were going to, but that is the only real complaint we heard from them.

Hyper Dash is educational while being fun. It provides children a way to get energy our of their system while learning, thus making learning a fun activity. It gets a thumbs up from us!

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Back to School Product Guide: Technology/Electronics Part 2

Posted by html404 on August 13, 2010
in Product Guides 2010, School, Technology/Electronics

backtoschooltechnologyandelectronics

1.) Sony E-Reader- Pocket Edition this cute little e-reader is perfect for students who want books without the hassle of carrying them around. Perfect for college and high school students. The pocket edition comes in 3 colros, rose, navy blue, and silver. The Reader Pocket Edition™ lets you access up to 350 of your favorite books from anywhere. Its elegant, lightweight design is small enough to slip into a purse or jacket pocket, and features a 5″ display with E Ink® Vizplex paper-like screen technology for easy reading, even in direct sunlight. For added versatility, it supports multiple file formats including ePub and PDF, offering access to more books from more places, including the Reader™ Store and over one million free public domain titles from Google Books. ($169 now on sale for $149)

PRS300RC

2.) Cram IPOD APP- You can study The Way You Want. Studying for an exam is now easy, simple, and fun with Cram. Study with flashcards on your iPhone or iPod Touch and use multiple-choice for practice of the material. When your test is over, Cram grades and records your test performance so you can track your progress. Cram is only $4.99 ( the price of a pack of paper flashcards) on the iPhone and iPod Touch and is available for download in the Apple iTunes AppStore. Its so much more fun, cheaper, and greener than paper notecards. Cram is a must-have for students, because most students live and die by their iPhone and iPod Touch and what better way to study that on the device that is with you all the time. Cram is for students in middle school through grad school.

iphoneIcon1

3.) Living Green- Solar Goose Light – The Jumbo, a heavy duty solar powered rechargeable LED Flexible Tube Light with a Built-in 5.6V Cell Phone Charger. Leave the flashlight by a window for charging and it will always be ready when you need it. In addition to a reading light, the accessories provided with the Jumbo include an extension cord and 10 adaptors to charge cell phones and other PDA devices. Simply place the Solar Goose® flash light in direct sunlight and connect to mobile device (phone/GPS /IPOD) to charge. The Solar Goose® Jumbo Light is made with of high quality recycled aluminum, is very lightweight, durable and the flexible neck accessory makes it a great “on the go” reading light. It is also the perfect companion for kids in college, travelers, campers,and boat owners. Its flexible neck makes it easy to inspect limited access areas that are hard to reach such as engines or electronics. The solar flashlight can provide up to 6 hours of continuous use on a full solar charge. ($59.95)

A review of this product will be featured in the next week or two after we’ve had sufficient time to review and test it.

Jumbo

4.) Switch2Health Exercise Watch- For every 60 minutes of activity, users earn a special reward code that they upload to http://www.s2h.com for points. They earn and accumulate these points towards free Nintendo Wiis, Apple iPod Nanos and iTunes, DVDs, movie tickets, gift cards and more! The S2H REPLAY retails for only $19.95 and students can earn over $200 in rewards each year just for exercising. It is available to purchase online at S2H.COM, Sears, Kmart and Amazon.

replay_right

Thanks for sticking with us for the Back To School Product Guide 2010! Come back this afternoon for more of Faith and Family Reviews as well as a new giveaway!

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Back to School Product Guide: Technology/Electronics Part 1

Posted by html404 on August 13, 2010
in Product Guides 2010, Technology/Electronics

backtoschooltechnologyandelectronics

Today we will be featuring the Technology and Electronics part of our Back to School Product Guide. We think that many of these are very cool and useful to the whole family. So parents and children be sure to check them out!

1.) V-Moda Headphones- Going back to school in the fall can always be a stressful time. V-MODA’s Crossfade LP over-ear headphone is not only a perfect fashion-forward accessory for any stylish student on the run, but is practical too. Engineered with the help of world-class DJ’s, Crossfade LP offers impeccable sound, comfort and durability while allowing users to make and answer phone calls with a built-in, hands free microphone and three-button remote control. These headphones work with the latest iPhone 3GS, iPod, iPad and MacBook. They come with a one-year V-MODA premier warranty and Replay Replacement Program – 50% off lifetime replacement guarantee ($249.99) Comes in 5 cool colors.

We will be featuring a product review of this item next week. We need a bit more time to test it.

v-moda

2.) Notebook- MSI’s sleek U135 netbook (MSRP $349.99, 2.4lbs.) is not limited by its compact size; in fact, it offers massive hard drive capacity, perfect for the media-loving and ambitious student. Here are a few reasons why it’s great for students this back-to-school season: It’s compact and lightweight, meaning that it travels well so students can study and do homework while on-the-go, It’s available in silver, black, blue and red, so kids can make a statement with their netbook, it offers approximately 7.5 hours of battery life, so students don’t have to worry about their power supply dying and it runs the slick Windows 7. With the U135 in their backpack, students can confidently tackle school projects, studying and research on the go or while at home, and still enjoy their multimedia and social networking hobbies.

notebook

3.) Computer Screen Wipes- These adorable screen wipes are fun screen with a zest of lemon fragrance and a chamois will clean and reduce static on all computer monitors, laptops and LCD screens. Easy to grasp, non scratching, no mess reusable again and again. They have a calming scent as you get a whiff of lemon zest and chamois emitting from their tummies and cute addition on any desk. And you don’t need to use your plush screen wipe with other cleaning agents. Just wipe any screen and reduce the static and remove the dust. Check out their nine fun animal designs: Pig, Horse, Giraffe, Tiger, Elephant, Duck, Gorilla, Bunny, and Schnauzer Dog. ($10.00 each)

We will be featuring a review for this product once they arrive and we have tested and tried them. Check back later…

screen_wipe_bw_horse_us_sml

screen_wipe_schnauzer_uk_sml

4.) Nu Shield- This product is a screen protector for cameras, laptops, hand held devices and more! This screen allows daylight readability of the screen, installs easily in seconds and lasts indefinitely. Tough, durable film protects against scratches and gouges. Super thin with a pleasant feel anti-reflective film hides fingerprints. Filters out 99% of UBV light. This product is perfect for college and high school students who love to be outdoors but don’t want the glare on there technology products.

We have a review to post about this product, which will probably be featured next week or the week after. We need time to test and try it!

Dayvue_film_inside_small