Haven't taken the No Text On Board Pledge yet? Need more conclusive evidence that texting while driving is a bad deal, all around? This documentary by legendary director Werner Herzog shows both sides of the story, courtesy of AT&T. Definitely worth watching.
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am an AT&T customer but posted this because it made me think. No compensation was provided for this post. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.
You can download different apps for your iPhone or Android phone that can keep track of what you've been eating and count calories for you or maybe work as a virtual pedometer but one of the best things about getting healthy in this day and age is the number of tech tchotkes that exist solely to keep you accountable for your exercise and nutrition goals.
I'd been hearing about the awesomeness of FitBit devices for a while but was skeptical. I mean, the things are basically LED pedometers that you have to wear all day– how great could they be? And then I found out that the FitBit One actually uses WiFi and the cloud to keep track of not only your activity but your estimated calorie burn AND your sleep patterns. Being a notoriously light sleeper, I was super curious about that latter bit. How could this teensy gadget the size of a flash drive figure out how I was sleeping? And, more importantly, how that affected my metabolism? Sold.
It's very inobtrusive. You're supposed to fasten it to your waistband during the day and use the included wriststrap for sleeping. The latter didn't work so well for me because the velcro strap caught onto my plushie microfleece blanket and came off while I was sleeping. I clip it to my nightie strap instead and it still does its job. I haven't had much of an issue with it except for the fact that it's so small, you sometimes forget it's there. I freaked out one day and assumed I'd flushed it down the toilet or something when, in reality, I had merely forgotten to reclip it to my clean clothes after my shower.
What I like about the FitBit One is it really underscores how much you SHOULD be moving versus how much you're REALLY moving. It makes me occasionally jump up from my desk to climb the stairs or do a couple of quick squats. No joke! Without trying to guilt you into it. It kind of gives you all the info to guilt yourself.
I'll admit that I haven't gotten into the habit of entering in other exercise and food journaling on the FitBit iPhone app but I think that's the next step. I'm also contemplating buying the FitBit Aria WiFi Scale, which wirelessly transmits your weight, BMI and body fat percentages to your stats. Talk about total accountability…
Written as part of the Mamavation Monday blog carnival for the Mamavation Sistahood.
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am an AT&T customer and I received a complimentary FitBit to facilitate this review. No compensation was provided for this post. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.
A few months back, I wrote about AT&T's It Can Wait campaign. Hopefully you've signed the No Text on Board pledge by now but if not, let this be another reminder. We are all busy these days but there is nothing as important as arriving alive. Keep your eyes on the road, people. This video shows texting and driving from a unique perspective: the phone's.
As part of the It Can Wait campaign, I received the care package pictured below, featuring the Samsung Galaxy SIII Android phone, a No Text on Board tee and case, stickers and jelly rings.
I was tempted by its shiny candy apple red finish but I have to admit, I'm a diehard Apple girl so I passed the phone on to my friend Cindy who is a big Android user so she could give you a more in-depth review:
When the Samsung Galaxy S III landed in my hands, I wasn't shopping for a new phone. I was somewhat satisfied with my third HTC Android phone and particularly uninterested in adapting yet another phone to my specific needs. Getting the hang of a new phone always sounds like an easy, fun, worthwhile process until you get far enough into the transition that it's too late to turn back. Kind of like having additional children.
The first glimpse of a shiny red phone with a crisp, bright display had me hooked. I use my phone to take a lot of photos of my kids and dogs to share on a variety of social sites. I was surprised to find the flash on the Galaxy S III actually makes for better photos rather than washing out the subject with too much light. I used to rely on apps to clean up my photos but I don't need that anymore. Another surprise was the lack of shutter lag. Now the photo I end up with the one I expect to see. I am still getting used to the 4:3 aspect ratio which is quite different from 16:9 on my previous phone.
My fears about setting up the phone to suit my needs were quickly allayed. Once I signed in with my Google account, my apps started downloading and my contacts were accessible. It's no longer a struggle with getting Facebook events to show up on my calendar. Adding my work email was also a breeze. I still have loads of features to explore. Since I have my phone with me everywhere and the battery holds up amazingly well, I have abundant opportunities to play with the options and learn how to make everyday tasks easier. Most recently I figured out how to capture a screen shot. You swipe across the screen with the side of your hand. It's quite clever and not the clumsy process other Android phones use.
Would I be open to upgrading to a new phone now? Unlikely! The Galaxy S III is perfect for my needs, looks sharp, and holds up well.
I have to admit when I saw her photos start popping up on FB, Twitter and Instagram, I was impressed. The clarity and color of the images are really nice. It made me want the new Samsung Galaxy camera!
Anyway, AT&T has generously offered to give one of my readers the same package. Enter to win using the form below.
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am an AT&T customer and received the items pictured for review purposes. No compensation was provided for this post. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.
This holiday season, AT&T is working on making wishes come true. They have teamed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to sponsor a daily wish from November 23rd through December 20th for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Click hereto see the wishes that AT&T has helped grant through today.
AT&T's Wish A Day Sweepstakesfeatures a wireless “wish list” gift of the day, launching at midnight the day prior. As the holidays approach, the wireless gifts get bigger and better. Users have two ways to win the gift (two gifts will be awarded each day):
Provide email address to register with the chance to randomly win the gift
Answer the question, “What’s your greatest wish this season?” Registrants can share their comment to their social graph and users can vote on the one that is most deserving of the daily gift. The comment that receives the most votes by 11:59pm wins the daily gift.
If you have gadget-lovers on your holiday shopping lists, or you're looking for techy ideas to share with Santa, don't miss AT&T's Guide to Gifting.
As you shop online this season, check out these mobile security tips before you scan any barcodes or QR codes. This technology can be extremely useful for shoppers, especially during the holidays, but it can also create a gateway for malicious activity if you aren’t careful. AT&T shares tips to stay safe while scanning:
Think before you scan. Be cautious about what you scan or download onto your mobile device. When scanning a mobile barcode, take the context of the code into consideration.
Keep security software up to date. Mobile security software can be the first wall of defense against malware. Make sure your phone is updated regularly to ensure your security software is the latest version available.
Double check the URL. Prior to scanning a code, check the URL of the website it leads to. Most scanning apps, including the AT&T Code Scanner, give you the option to review a URL prior to loading a page.
Protect personal information. If you scan a mobile barcodes and are asked to give out personal information, be selective in the information you share. Most QR codes are intended to lead the user to a website, video, or additional information and will not ask for personal information.
In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I am an AT&T customer but no compensation was provided for this post. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.
More than 100,000 people a year are injured or killed in accidents when a driver is texting and driving. Drivers are 23 times more likely to be in an accident when they’re texting.
Nothing is so important that you have to text while driving. Nothing.
This Wednesday, September 19th, let the world know that you have your priorities straight and sign the No Text on Board pledge at www.ItCanWait.com. Watch this 10-minute documentary titled "The Last Text" produced by AT&T to see different ways that texting and driving has had a lasting adverse impact on the lives of real people.
Stay safe and spread the word. Take the No Text on Board pledge today and share the message with your friends, family, and followers using #itcanwait and tag @ATT. You can even add an online banner to your profile picture on Twitter and/or Facebook. Just follow the easy on-screen instructions at www.twibbon.com/itcanwait. If you use a BlackBerry or Android phone, you can download the DriveMode app– more platforms will be available soon.
Texting while driving is as dangerous and unacceptable as drinking and driving. Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
I really love my iPhone 4 but I was curious about the new AT&T Windows phones. How would they compare to my beloved iPhone? Pretty well, it turns out.
I received a Samsung Focus to try out and was instantly impressed with its slim profile and lightweight feel. Turning it on, the brightness and clarity of its screen was glaringly obvious: it has a 4" super AMOLED WVGA screen, which means nothing to me but sounds like it might explain how crisp and clean images are rendered on the display. It is truly beautiful, impressive even compared to the iPhone's display. The Windows interface uses Live Tiles on the start screen, making navigation pretty intuitive even for tech novices. The only person in my family who couldn't immediately start playing with it was my mom, who refused to just because she's a stubborn, self-avowed luddite. The Zune, Office, IE, Xbox and Bing integration is predictably seamless and I imagine pretty convenient for PC users. As an old school Mac lover, I am committed to my iPhone, but if I had to switch platforms I think I would be more than satisfied with the Samsung Focus.
Disclosure: In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a Samsung Focus to facilitate this review but all opinions are my own.
