Evaluating Photovoltaic Technologies for Solar Arrays

 

Imagine a world where the sun's rays not only warm your skin but also power your entire life. The dream of harnessing the sun's energy has taken shape in the form of photovoltaic technologies, bringing us closer to a sustainable and eco-friendly future. In this guide, we'll explore the vast landscape of solar arrays, delving into the intricacies of various photovoltaic technologies. So, buckle up as we embark on a journey to unravel the potential behind slacks, alternet, and fortified solar solutions.

Electronics & Tech for the Holidays

Ready to shop one of the most popular categories for the holidays with some of the hottest gift ideas? Then check out this awesome line-up of electronics and tech gear!

Tech Gifts for the Holidays

Video gaming (and technology in general) has come a long way from when I was growing up. I can still remember the excitement I felt when we got our first Atari. Fast forward (we will leave out the exact number) years later and so much has changed. Yet in some ways it's still the same thanks to AtGames and the Blast! family of products. The Blast! family includes the Atari Flashback Blast! Vol. 1, Atari Flashback Blast! Vol. 2, Activision Flashback Blast!, Legends Flashback Blast! and Bandai Namco Flashback Blast!, all of which come with a USB-powered HDMI dongle that plugs directly into the TV and an ergonomic six-button wireless gamepad. Every Blast! game includes high-definition video output, an intuitive menu system, save and resume game functionality and the ability to rewind a game in progress to recover from a play misstep. An optional second wireless gamepad can be purchased for games that support two players. Blast! family products retail for $19.99-$39.99.

Unlike other power banks, FosPower’s PowerActive 10200 mAh Power Bank not only charges USB-powered technological devices but it is built to withstand tough environments: from the snow and dirt to extreme water resistance for up to 3ft/1m for 30 minutes. This power bank is built tough to last and offer 10200 mAH power. The power bank has built-in short-circuit, over-charge, and over-heat protection. Plus you'll never get lost with the integrated LED flashlight and compass.

Charge five devices at once — at twice the speed of a regular wall charger with the X5 Car Charger. This rapid car charger caters to a car full of friends and family. Two of the ports use intelligent recognition, reading your device then charging as fast as possible from two to 2.4 amps. The remaining three charge ports power up with two amps. With the X5 Car Charger there won't be anymore fighting over the phone charger in the car!

JumpSmart is the most practical vehicle jump starter on the market! Packed in a single, high-powered unit is a 4-mode LED flashlight, power bank, and vehicle jump starter. The JumpSmart can jump start up to a 6-cylinder, 4.0 Liter engine with ease. Its powerful 10000 mAh / 37000 mWh high-grade Lithium-Polymer Battery is compatible with most cars, trucks, SUV’s, boats, motorcycles, lawn mowers and more! Beyond its jump start features, this 8W, 1100 Lumen LED Flashlight has 4-Modes with S.O.S., and a 450ft reach (High Beam, Weak Beam, Strobe, & SOS Modes). The power bank feature can charge any USB device fast at 2.4 amps when you run out of power! Charge, and re-charge up to 1000 times.

The GoFish Cam records in top HD quality, has green LEDs for deep water and night fishing, can be used up to 150M (~500 Feet) depth, and has built in WiFi to easily connect with your Android or iOS mobile device. WIth the GoFish Cam anglers can share their underwater fishing experiences with friends and family at the touch of a button. The strike, the fight, the win, it's all right there. Anglers can easily review, edit, and quickly share footage every time they reel in.

Say goodbye to AA batteries with Fosmon’s Xbox One controller charger. Fosmon's Dual Conductive Charging Station for Xbox One Controllers replaces your Xbox One controller's battery housing, turning them into rechargeable battery packs. Simply plug the base into an open USB slot on the Xbox One, or into a USB charger. Fosmon’s Xbox One controller charging station's 1000mah NiMH battery packs provide up to 30-33 hours of standby time. When not gaming, simply put the equipped Xbox One Controller on the Charging Station and it will begin charging automatically without needing to remove the battery. The green LED indicator will blink when the controller is being charged, and stays lit to signal that charging is complete.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Disrupting STEM Stereotypes for Teenagers – Especially Girls

Heard your daughter or her friend say she doesn’t like technology? While 31% of teens call technology “fun,” that percentage is much lower for girls. It’s not because of aptitude. The reasons girls aren’t interested in tech tend to be environmental.

Few parents want to limit their child’s options for careers. You want each child to find a place to thrive, mentally, emotionally and financially. But you need to know what discourages kids from getting involved in technology. And, if you’re working with your daughter or other girls, you’ll see these factors impact girls and minorities harder than boys. But that’s changing.

Photo by Michelle Lange

Building robots and telling digital stories are some of the fun ways kids learn about technology, but many middle schoolers — especially girls — steer clear of these classes, per a new study. Some think it’s “boring,” and others think computers are just for boys. Others can’t find someone like them working in tech. It’s those types of notions keeping girls from pursuing technology as an interest or a career.

Eleven is the critical age when girls start to choose activities besides technology and science – so that’s exactly when groups focused on getting more girls in STEM jump in. Through mentoring, entrepreneurial projects and hands-on playtime, girls get a look at how much fun there is in technology, and how many career options are open to them, too.

Parents play a critical role in helping kids embrace technology, too. That’s where Launching Your Teen’s Career in Technology: A Parent’s Guide to the T in STEM Education fits.

“Anyone who understands technology and wants to use it for a larger purpose should consider a career in technology,” Charles Eaton, the book’s author, writes in the book’s first chapter, which is focused on busting myths about tech careers. (You can start reading a 7-part“Bust the Tech Myths” blog series here.)

Reference the book to explore how your daughter’s strengths and interests fit with tech careers. You can encourage girls to try activities that lead toward tech, and you can push your schools to change too. Right now, you can change a girls’ future – spend 10 minutes on CompTIA’s Dream IT site to find nearby programs that focus on bringing girls into tech. Get involved, and share the information with girls, teachers and guidance counselors.

Read profiles of women in technology to your daughter. Get your copy of Launching Your Teen’s Career in Technology: A Parent’s Guide to the T in STEM Education at a 10% discount by entering the coupon code BLOG17 here.

Special Correspondent Michelle Lange is a Chicago-based writer, designer and business owner, who developed graphics and provided photography for the “T in STEM” guide.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received monetary compensation or product(s) in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Anki OVERDRIVE: for kids...or adults?

Sometimes when you come across a great gift you have a hard time deciding who it's great for. Usually it's a choice between your kids but sometimes on that rare occasion (like this one) you can't decide if it's for your teenage son...or your husband! I think sometimes my husband is as big a kid..well as my kids. And to be honest I'm actually quite okay with that because that means he enjoys spending time with our kids doing things they enjoy too. My son being a teenager has told me numerous time's he is too old for playing with Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars, but as I recently learned not too old for "racing cars". Hmmm I didn't realize there was a difference. I guess if it involves technology it's "okay" to play with cars. Either way I had one super excited teenager when he opened the box that this Anki Overdrive set was shipped in. The first thing he asked was "Is this for me?" and "Can I open it?" There wasn't no hiding this from him till Christmas that's for sure.

As a teenager I think he liked the using his cell phone aspect for racing. I think that's what made it "cool" and "okay" to play with the cars again. From a mom's aspect I really like that it's something that got him excited and he wanted to jump right in and learn all about how it worked. He's big into technology and figuring out what makes things work so this is great for him on many levels. Plus it has expansion packs and addition vehicles you can purchase so it makes choosing his birthday gift in a few months super easy for me!



About:
What makes Anki Overdrive the world's most intelligent battle racing system? Tech so advanced, it feels like the future.

Each Supercar is a self-aware robot, driven by powerful artificial intelligence (A.I.) and equipped with deadly strategy. Whatever track you build, they'll learn it. Wherever you drive, they'll hunt you down. The better you play, the better they become. Whether you battle A.I. opponents or friends, your tactical options are unlimited. And with continuous software updates, the gameplay always stays fresh. Customize weapons. Swap out cars. Build new tracks. It’s easy to pick up, and nearly impossible to put down.

Buy it: You can purchase the Anki Overdrive set as well as all the extras online. There's still time for Christmas delivery so hurry on over today!

Disclosure: I received compensation in the form of product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Stay up with the latest technology with Beets BLU

I recently had the opportunity to try out a few products from Beets BLU and am happy to say they are pretty awesome. I love technology and when I get to try out new technology products it's always a lot of fun. If you like techy products you'll definitely want to check out these two products for sure.

The Beets BLU Bluetooth Scale isn't just your basic everyday scale, it's a scale that will wow your socks off.

I've been using this scale for a few days now and man do I really like all of the features that it offers. I've been trying to do better at tracking my weight and writing it down but like most I tend to forget the writing it down in my log part. With this scale I don't have to do that anymore because through the Bluetooth connection it automatically uploads all of my information for me to the app on my phone!

The scale looks nice sitting on my bathroom floor so I leave it out. That reminds me to do my weight in the mornings, not just randomly when I remember.

With the scale and app I can track my weight, body fat percentage, water and muscle level mass on a daily basis. What a great motivator. I can see if something I did in my routine the day before had a positive or negative effect on my results so I know what I need to do or not do. You can track multiple users which is nice for my husband and I to be able to both use it.

Setting everything up is very easy right out of the box and with use of the app. There's even a place on the instructions where you can scan to download the app quick and easy. The app is easy to follow and to use which makes it more encouraging to use.

I was excited about trying the Beets BLU Key Finder out because it seems like I am always misplacing my keys. I can never remember if they are in my jacket pocket, my purse, or if I've left them laying somewhere in the house when it's time to go. With this cool little device I can use my phone to locate exactly where my keys are at. I just press a button through the App on my phone and the key finder beeps letting me know where my keys are. I really like this because it has saved me time searching when I'm in a hurry. I also like that it's nice and small so it doesn't make my keychain extra heavy or bulky, it's even smaller than my car remote.

For what I wanted this works great and I no longer have to waste my time searching for my keys. I'm thinking about getting another one for my mom because she does the same thing losing her keys all the time too. I didn't have any trouble locating the App in the iTunes store and was able to download and use it with my device very easily.

You can find these and other great products in the Beets Blu Store.

Holiday Gift Guide: Keep your files safe with a Lexar JumpDrive

Whether you have just a few files and photos to back up, or a lot like me Lexar has a JumpDrive to fit your needs. They offer them from 8GB-128GB sizes and that means you can save anywhere from 1,600 to 24,500 photos depending on the size of your drive. For me that means I can load up my photos and take them with me when we visit family out of state and share them with anyone that wants to make copies. And it also means I can save files outside of my computer that I don't want anyone gaining access to by accident (like Christmas lists)! If you have anyone on your list that likes to stay backed-up they will thank you greatly for the gift of a Lexar JumpDrive.

About:

• Stores and transfers content faster with SuperSpeed USB 3.0 technology
• Slim, retractable design with key ring
• Colorful capacity options
• Reliably stores and transfers photos, videos, files, and more
• Compatible with PC and Mac® systems
• Three-year limited warranty

Buy it: You can purchase Lexar JumpDrives from their online store.

Best Buy is #HintingSeason with the new LG OLED TV #OLEDatBestBuy

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.

Do you usually get a "family gift" at Christmas time? We try to always get something that will benefit the whole family each year. We've done a flat screen TV, a Playstation, a pool table, and various other things over the years. Basically we try to find something that we can all use and something we actually need too. Plus it gives me the chance to update the technology through out the house. We all enjoy watching movies together and playing video games so having a quality TV is important to us. That's why the OLED TV first caught my eye. I could just imagine us sitting in front of it playing one of our dance games, or watching a movie and eating popcorn.

About the LG  55EC9300 SKU# 7846019 – OLED TV:
• Infinite contrast ratio and stunning color - delivers more natural, lifelike viewing.
• 4 Color Pixel technology enhances color range and accuracy.
• Super thin design (consider how to show visually)
• Find content faster with webOS

What is OLED TV?
The stunning design of LG OLED TV is only 0.21" thick at its thinnest point. Picture quality is spectacular, with Infinite Contrast that ranges from the most blazing whites to the deepest blacks. And, LG's exclusive 4 Color Pixel technology delivers bright, vibrant colors. Learn more here: LGOLEDatBestbuy.com

Your first kiss. A baby's first steps. The majesty of a desert sunset. Some things in life defy all explanation and must be experienced to be believed. Such is the case with LG's latest display technology. With deeper and richer colors, stunning contrast and ingeniously curved screens, it is unlike any technology you've ever seen, and it delivers a picture that exceeds your wildest imagination.

Buy it: Because they want to give you the "Best" price you can get the LG OLED TV for $3,499.99 (a $500 savings) everyday!

Mark Your Calendar!
Best Buy is hosting an LG OLED Twitter Party on Thursday December 4th at 7PM CST. Join the party for a chance to win Best Buy gift cards and other great prizes. Tweet #HintingSeason with your top gifts that you want this Holiday from Best Buy.

Stay charged on the go with the LINKON Portable Charger

Do you worry that your phone might die when you're out for a long period of time running errands? Or maybe while you're on vacation at an amusement park where you can't stop and plug in half way through the day? I know I've had those fears before. What if I need to make a call or someone needs to call me and my phone has died, what will I do then? Now that I have a LINKON Portable Charger I don't have those worries anymore. You simply "charge" the LINKON Portable Charger before you head out and it's ready to go when you need it. Providing multiple charges to most iPhones and some Android phones.  It comes with a cord for plugging the charger into your computer (that doubles as the Android phone plug) for charging as well as connections for the old and new iPhones. The part I really like is it has a digital LED display to show the power level of the charger at any time. No more wondering if the charger still has power left in it or if you need to plug it in for a recharge. The LINKON Portable Charger is even compact enough it fits in my purse without adding any weight or really taking up much space. I've used a portable charger before, but I prefer this one because I can check the level of power it has anytime I like. I always hated not knowing if my old one had any power left in it or not.

Buy it:


Use coupon code 3WNXXWIH to get 45% off instead of 38% off during checkout.

Holiday Gift Guide: Wi-Fi Smart Plug

Do you have a tech person on your Christmas list? Maybe someone that likes to use their phone to control everything? Or maybe you're the one one that wants to monitor your energy usage and control when things turn on and off? Well, no matter which of these needs you fit into the Wi-Fi Smart Plug is a great solution for you. The reason I was so intrigued by the Wi-Fi Smart Plug is because of where we live. Out here in the country there isn't any street lights to light up the front door at night to make finding the keyhole and getting into the house easy. And when I am leaving early in the day I really don't like to have my porch light on all day wasting electricity. That's where the Wi-Fi Smart Plug comes it. With my smart plug I've been able to plug in my porch light that I can turn on at any given moment I wish. And I don't even have to be home to do it! Now I don't have to worry about fumbling around in the dark with my keys trying to get inside the house at night.


About:

Power Scheduling - Easily create on/off schedules for your devices

Local and Remote Control - Use the free mydlink smart plug app to instantly turn devices on/off from your smartphone or tablet

Simple setup - Easily connect to existing Wi-Fi with WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup button)

Thermal Protection - A built-in thermal sensor will automatically turn off overheating appliances

Energy Usage Statistics - Monitor power consumption of connected devices

Wi-Fi Connectivity - Requires no additional hub or device, works with any Wi-Fi network

Buy it:

Experience Inspiration at Best Buy with Intel Technology Zones #IntelatBestBuy @Bestbuy

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.

Did you know a whopping 79% of Americans are excited about the chance to learn and try out new technologies? Or that half are frustrated by the lack of access to them beyond what they read or see in the media? These were just a few finds according to a new study by Intel and Toluna.

Because of those stats Intel and Best Buy are have teamed up to bring new Intel Technology Experience zones to 50 Best Buy stores in major markets across the US. The Intel Technology Experience lets customers – from tech enthusiasts to technophobes – play, explore, and be inspired by the power of technology with hands-on activities like 3D printing and virtual reality games. For many, this is the first opportunity to see, touch, and play with exciting new technologies they’ve only heard about.

Upon my arrival to the Intel Technology Experience zone I was immediately drown to the Mars  augmented reality world zone. I was quite impressed with just how life-like the game was when I picked up the tablet and started moving it around to "race" around Mars. It took a little getting used to, but it was a lot of fun to experience first hand. If it weren't for the Best Buy employee that approached me to see if I needed help I would have kept on playing for who knows how long. I'm one of those "hands-on" people. I like to not only see but also touch, feel, and experience technology.

So much technology so little time was my thought as I was showed around the Intel Zone. I got to see some pretty awesome technology at work right before my eyes. I didn't just get to read about it in a magazine, or see it on television. I got to experience it first hand and with the guidance of someone that understood and wanted me to understand also. That was a big plus in my book because I like having someone on hand to explain things to me so I know exactly what I'm looking at.

The Intel Technology Zones average about 240 square feet and show customers the power of Intel: the technology behind these new, innovative activities is the same power behind the devices like tablets and laptops we love and rely on every day. Customers can build and print their own 3D robot, master beats and remix tracks by Ne-Yo as a digital DJ, and check out the latest PC and tablet devices powered by Intel processors.

The Intel Technology Zones will be staffed by specially trained Best Buy Blue Shirts to answer questions and help customers make the most of each area within the experience. Each season, Intel will refresh the venues with a new array of technology experiences.

For more information about the Intel Technology Experience areas, including a list of stores, visit www.bestbuy.com/intel.

Xoundstar Smart Wireless Bluetooth Speaker #xoundstar

I have lots of music downloaded on my phone so I can listen to just what I want, when I want. But sometimes it's not convenient to use the small speaker on the phone so I've been looking for a speaker for awhile now. When I came across this one I was pretty excited because it's also wireless. It was super easy to connect to my phone (which literally took less than a minute) and it was ready to go as soon as it connected.  One of my favorite features is that you can also use it to answer your phone by the touch of a button on top of the speaker. I even tested it out having my son call me from the other room to just to see what it would be like. It was very easy to do, and the call was very clear. Definitely a plus if you are working on something and don't want to touch your phone to answer a call.  The other great part is that it's rechargeable so you don't have to worry about going thru a ton of batteries, or having it stationary near an outlet. I'm already planning on getting a few of these as gifts for Christmas this year because I know a few people that would love it as much as I have.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Walmart Family Mobile has the Lowest Priced Unlimited Plans for Father’s Day #FamilyMobile #CollectiveBias #shop

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

We are just now hitting summer vacation and the kids are already wishing their dad was home with us so we could start on family trips to the park and camping before the weather gets too hot. But unfortunately that won't happen until the factory he works at shuts down in July. So in the meantime I came up with the perfect plan for them to be able to keep in touch with their dad. Thanks to Walmart having the cheapest wireless plans I was able to get a phone for them with Unlimited Talk Text and Data/Web at a very reasonable price.

Our Walmart had a great selection of phones to choose from and had everything we needed to get started using the phone right away. Just how this mommy likes it, one stop shopping! I picked up a phone and a Starter Kit and we were ready to head home and activate in a matter of minutes. Well...almost ready that is. My daughter decided she needed to be a part of the photo fun and began posing for me with the phone we picked out.

Here she is acting like she's talking to her dad on the phone telling him all about our day and shopping trip to pick up a phone. I have to give her credit she sure did look like she was talking to someone telling them a great story.

The phone we settled on is also internet compatible so the kids can put the phone to good use beyond texting dad at working and sending him pictures. With this phone they can also play games online and look up information on the web. My son's already been searching to find information on some campgrounds in the area so he can go camping and fishing with his dad for Father's Day. And since he has a phone of his own he can even send pictures back home to mom while they are away. 

Now the kids can text (and send selfies) to their dad while he's on his breaks during the day at work. It's the perfect way for them to feel like they are still a part of their dad's day until he gets home. I couldn't be happier with the choice we made and the plan that we choose. I did all of the registration right from my computer on the Walmart Family Mobile website. It was a very easy process and the phone was ready for action in less than 15 minutes.

Special thanks to #CollectiveBias and Walmart #FamilyMobile for sponsoring this post. It's helped us save money with a mobile service that fits our budget and saves us money, all while keeping my husband and kids in touch all day long.

KidsEmail.org - A safe way for kids to email!

This is a sponsored post on behalf of KidsEmail.org. However all thoughts and opinions stated are my own.

 

What is KidsEmail.org? 
KidsEmail.org is a safe email service for kids and families. Your kids can now have a safe email account while allowing parents to be aware of any correspondence their children send and receive.
You supervise your children when they go outside to play. Do you know who is contacting your child inside of your home?

 

Above is a video that tells you just a little bit about KidsEmail.org and how it all works. I'd never heard of it before I partnered with them on this post. But now that I have am pretty excited to start using it for my kids. Registration is easy and you can start with a free trial account to make sure KidsEmail.org is the right choice for you. Simply enter your email address and your preferred password. An email will be promptly sent to you with an the activation link. After your account is activated you will be taken to your Parental Control Panel where you can begin to add accounts for your children.

During this step you will enter the desired username you'd like to have for your child's email address as well as the password for that email account. You can also designate how the child's name will appear in other peoples' inbox as well as if your child is a boy or a girl. (These options are not required however.) Then there is an option if you have older children to give them a more "grown-up" interface for their email accounts.  This is perfect for children in their pre-teen and teen years. (This is a setting that can be changed at any time, so don't feel like you have to start out with this option.) The next step is to edit their Safety Settings and indicate just how much freedom you want them to have with their account.

That's it, you're all done! Now your child can log onto their own email account, customize it just for their style, and of course start sending emails.

I really liked that for my daughter she can even have a princess themed inbox. It really made her feel like the program was made just for her.  And now I can let her be a big girl and email our family that lives out of town. One of the features I like best about the program is that as a parent I can specify an exact list of contacts for each of my kids if I so choose. And this is perfect for my 8-year old daughter because I don't want her accidentally emailing anyone other than family or close friends.

You and your kids can access KidsEmail.org on iOS, Android and Web platforms. Perfect for sharing with friends and family while you're on the go!

KidsEmail is free to try for the first 30 days with no obligation. They don't even require a credit card during the trial period so there is nothing to cancel, and you don't have to worry about receiving a bill for forgetting to cancel like some trial offers.

You can find out more and connect with KidsEmail.org on their social media outlets:
KidsEmail on Facebook
KidsEmail on Twitter
KidsEmail on Pinterest
KidsEmail on Google+
KidsEmail on LinkedIn
KidsEmail on their Blog

Epson Partners with DonorsChoose.org to Fund Classroom Technology

$100,000 Epson Donation through DonorsChoose.org’s “Double
Your Impact Program” To Help Enrich Classroom Teaching and Learning

Epson America, Inc. today announced a 2012 holiday season initiative to help teachers acquire the classroom technology they desperately need to enhance student learning. Through the DonorsChoose.org “Double Your Impact Program,” Epson will donate two percent of  purchases sold on Epson.com between Dec. 1 and  Dec. 24, 2012, up to $100,000.*

“Providing our public school teachers with the tools and technology needed to improve classroom learning is important throughout the year, however, with all the cutbacks facing public schools right now, it seems particularly important this holiday season,” said Jered Goodyear, manager, online marketing, Epson America, Inc.  “Our decision to partner with DonorsChoose.org was based on its ability to get funding for specific projects directly into the hands of teachers throughout the U.S. who are committed to delivering the best possible education they can to their students. We are very excited about this program and encourage teachers, along with students and parents, to participate.”

DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests at DonorsChoose.org and donors can give any amount to the project of their choice.  Through the Double Your Impact program, once projects are approved and posted, all projects that meet the given criteria automatically qualify for the Double Your Impact offer.

To learn more about the project and view Epson’s holiday deals, please visit http://epson.com/100kholiday

About Epson
Epson is a global imaging and innovation leader whose product lineup ranges from inkjet printers and 3LCD projectors to sensors and other microdevices. Dedicated to exceeding the vision of its customers worldwide, Epson delivers customer value based on compact, energy-saving, and high-precision technologies in markets spanning enterprise and the home to commerce and industry. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 75,000 employees in 97 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and the communities in which it operates. To learn more about Epson, please visit http://global.epson.com.

You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (http://facebook.com/EpsonAmerica), Twitter (http://twitter.com/EpsonAmerica and http://twitter.com/EpsonEducation) and YouTube (http://youtube.com/EpsonTV).

About DonorsChoose.org

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers from every corner of America post requests, and individuals can give directly to the ones that inspire them. To date, 250,000 public and charter school teachers have used DonorsChoose.org to secure $158 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn.

Epson Artisan 730 All-in-One Printer

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to test out the Epson Artisan 730 first hand. Let me tell you this printer is AMAZING!  First off I want to tell you it was so easy to set-up. The included instruction sheet is very simple and quick to get your printer up and running.  I was even able to find it wirelessly with my new laptop. WOW.  And the print quality is just as great. I love being able to print from any room in my house without being hooked up to the printer via a USB cable. I just click, print, then go pick up the papers when I am ready. Another great thing is the paper trays, I can load regular paper and photo paper all at the same time! And one of the coolest things I found was the pop out CD/DVD tray, you can use it to print right on your CD's.  I plan to use this feature when I make a CD of pictures to send my in-laws at the end of the year. Then I can print a cool picture of the kids on it along with the date.  Did I mention that it holds six different ink cartridges? Yes six, now you only use the colors you need, therefore you only have to replace the individual colors as they are used.  I just can't say enough good things about this printer.

Complete with the world’s fastest 4”x6” photo print speeds and brilliant Hi-definition photo quality, the versatile Epson Artisan 730 premium home all-in-one allows consumers to speed through everyday projects with 4”x6” photos in as fast as 10 seconds. The new all-in-one also comes equipped with Epson Connect, a new portfolio of cloud and mobile services enabling mobile users to print documents and photos directly to their Epson printers from a mobile device. Epson Connect offers two solutions – Email Print and Epson iPrint. 

A few of my favorite features:

4-in-1 with Wi-Fi: Print / Copy / Scan / Photo
Ink: 6-color Claria® Hi-Definition dye ink

CD/DVD Printing: print right onto inkjet printable CDs / DVDs without labels 

Smart touch panel:  large display lights up only the buttons you need; includes a 2.5" LCD to preview, edit and print photos

Disclosure: Thanks to PR Firm/sponsor for providing me with the above mentioned product.  This blog post is not a paid post and the honest opinions stated are my own.

AeroGrip iPhone Case #Giveaway 10-10

A high-gloss, slimline case that complements the sleek design of your iPhone 4, the AeroGrip offers sharply-styled protection that's designed to take the hit. Includes a screen protector & microfiber cleaning cloth.

My Take:
I received the purple AeroGrip iPhone case for my reviewing purposes. I wasn't sure how I'd like this case since it only covers the back and sides of the phone, whereas my previous case also wrapped around the front a little bit. But so far I haven't had any issues with it falling off or anything.  The thing I really like is the grips on the sides of the case. They feel really comfortable when holding the phone. The other nice thing is it came with a screen protector. I don't know about you, but my screen protectors don't seem to stay clear an awful long time after letting my kids use my phone to play games. So it was nice to be able to change that when putting on the new case.  Made me feel like I had a new phone all over again. Nice and shiny!

Win it: One lucky reader will win an AeroGrip iPhone Case. This giveaway will end October 11th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US & Canada.

Entry Method:  Please use Rafflecopter form for ALL entries.  Post comments will NOT be counted. (For daily Tweets you can just put the word Tweet in the mandatory entry box to unlock the Tweet box if it is locked. This box tracks cookies and if you clear them it resets.)

VTech Prize Pack #Giveaway 9-25

Welcome to the Rafflcopter Round Up hosted by Simply Stacie and Makobi Scribe.

This giveaway is sponsored by the VTech InnoTab. If you missed it you can read my blog post about the new VTech InnoTab here.

 

Win it: One lucky reader will win a VTech shirt (S,M,or L in children's sizes), a VTech branded 500MB Flash Drive, a box of 8 Crayola Crayons, and a $10 Gift Card to Walmart. This giveaway will end September 26th at 12:01 AM EST. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email. If no response, a new winner will be chosen. Open to residents of the US.

Entry Method:  Please use Rafflecopter form for ALL entries.  Post comments will NOT be counted. (For daily Tweets you can just put the word Tweet in the mandatory entry box to unlock the Tweet box if it is locked. This box tracks cookies and if you clear them it resets.)

VTech InnoTab Coming 9-30 (and giveaway sneak peek)

About InnoTab:
• The InnoTab is a cutting-edge, multi-function tablet for children 4-9. Packed with fun, the InnoTab offers interactive and animated e-books, learning games, creative activities and more – all in one compact, durable tablet. Pull it out of the box – and it’s ready to go for hours of play
• The InnoTab features:
-  A 5” brilliant color touch screen LCD (industry’s first?)
-  A sleek, kid-tough and compact design to take on the go
-  Animated e-books, learning games, music player, video player and so much more
-  A cartridge library that features kids’ favorite characters
-  A tilt-sensor for game control
-  100 downloadable titles (by the end of the year)
• While adult tablets costs $600, the InnoTab is $79.99 – a smart purchase for kids. You can give your kid a tablet designed just for them for less than your family’s monthly cell phone bill.

Product Story Themes
Kiddovation:
• Taking the hottest technology trends and bringing them to kids for the first time
• InnoTab – first tablet for kids
• We’re bringing tech trends to kids at a dramatically accelerated rate. Gone are the days of waiting 5-10 years for a technology to be designed and launched for kids.  We develop the products quickly  and capitalize on the hottest trends.
Fun is the key to learning:
• Helping kids have fun (first) and learn (second)
• Laughing and learning every step of the way, keeping kids focused and entertained for hours
• Learning without trying
Technology with Training Wheels:
• Preparing kids for a tech-centric world
• Helping children develop a sense of independence
• Mom’s partner – we stay with you throughout your child’s life – from infant to elementary school
Smart Purchase:
• Hours of play that lasts for years at a value
• Multi-functional
• More for the child as they develop

Product Details
• 5" color touch screen and tilt-sensor for educational gameplay
• E-books, educational games, creative activities, learning apps, and more available on cartridge or as downloads from VTech Learning Lodge Navigator website
• 4 different media players: E-Book reader, MP3 music player, photo viewer and video player
• 64MB onboard memory and SD card slot for memory expansion
• Learning toy connects to PC/Mac with included USB cable
• 4AA Batteries Required
• Cost = $79.99

I haven't even seen this in person and I am already in love.  My daughter is five and just started kindergarten and I think she would totally love this! I don't know about you but when she uses my electronics I am always so afraid she is going to drop them.  With the InnoTab she would have something similar all of her own!

Make sure you check back on Wednesday for the Rafflecopter Giveaway Round Up where I'll be giving away a prize pack from VTech!

 

Disclosure: I was not compensated in any form for this post, all opinions and thoughts are my own. I was however provided with the opportunity to host a giveaway in exchange for sharing this information.