Digitwirl — Page 4

A Wireless Color Printer With Multiple Personalities

This weeks Twirl…

If you thought Cybil had multiple personalities wait until you get a load of our latest must-have gadget–the HP Photosmart Premium e-Printer, one of the most interesting home printers we’ve seen yet. On the one hand it thinks it’s a high-quality wireless color printer that knows the difference between documents and photographs, on the other it believes it’s a computer whose touch screen interface (with apps!) allows you to order movie tickets, download recipes and print news articles without a computer in sight. It has delusions of being able to print anything emailed from anywhere and, if that weren’t enough, it claims to scan and copy too.

It’s madness. Madness we tell you. Well, watch this week’s session, uh we mean Twirl, to see if Carley can get to the root of the many personalities of this personal wireless home printer.

So, what do you guys think about the amazing product this week??

I’m not gonna lie. I’m in love. Is it weird to say that I’m in love with a printer? Of course not, not when it is clearly so super awesome, right?

Oh HP Photosmart Premium e-Printer, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways….

I love that you can send things to the printer while you’re away from home, and they’ll be printed and waiting for you!
I love that it knows the difference between photos and documents, and prints them on the correct paper.
Oh yeah, I love that it holds BOTH types of paper in one tray, so you don’t have to switch all of the time!
I love the modern design. Super cool. The touchscreen with the app’s? AWESOME.
AND, I even love the price!! $199 is a steal for this.

So there you have it. Another amazingly super rad product brought to your attention by the Digitwirl girls! They find the best products out there, and then show you how to use ’em. Why? Because they rock.

What do you think? Have you seen a better printer? {I haven’t!} What is your favorite feature? Leave some comments and lets chat!

Carley's Byline Pic

Digitwirl is the weekly web show that offers simple solutions to modern day problems. In 3-minutes, Digitwirl brings busy women the very best time, money, and sanity-saving technology, and then teaches them how to use it, step-by-step. Digitwirl was created by technology lifestyle expert Carley Knobloch, who uses lots of technology to manage her busy life as mom of two and entrepreneur. Become a subscriber to get weekly show alerts and exclusive deals at Digitwirl.com, or follow Digitwirl on Twitter at @digitwirl.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 10, 2011 Filed Under: Fun Stuff, Reviews | No Comments

{Digitwirl} 7 Ways To Extend Your Smartphone Battery Life

Wherever there’s a Twirler in need, The Digitwirl Girls will be there to help. So when Lauren wanted to know how to extend her Smartphone battery life when she’s out and about we dug deep into our tech vault and came up with 7 simple ways to make sure your phone’s battery lasts as long as your day does.

Watch this week’s Twirl and you’ll learn more nifty tips than just dimming your screen and taming your Angry Bird addiction, you’ll also learn how shopping for dog treats really brings out the animal in Carley.

So, what do you guys think? Awesome, right?

The more of these Digitwirl videos that I watch, the bigger fan I become! I am pretty technically challenged, but their videos always make new gadgets and apps so easy for me to “get”. Love it.

Right now, I’m a stay at home momma, so keeping my phone charged is not usually a problem for me… I have lots of plug-ins at the house :) But when we’re out for the day, I’ve definitely had this problem, since I rely on my phone for EVERYthing: calendar and schedule, memos and to-do lists, wild and constant texting, videos, camera, and more.

Here are the tips that Carley covers in the video:

Turn off Bluetooth.
Use Wi-fi when you can.
Dim the screen.
Avoid games.
Turn off vibrate.
Avoid overheating.
Shut down your phone.

All super easy, right?

I had no idea that having the phone set to vibrate would run it down so quickly… But it makes sense, since it must take a lot of power for that little phone to shake itself silly for me at every phone call and text.

Share your thoughts in the comments…. Were this tips all new to you too, or did you know some of these already? Are you lovin’ these easy and fun Digitwirl weekly videos as much as I am?

Hey, Twirlers–do what Lauren did, send us a video with your computer quandaries and tech troubles. Nothing fancy, all you need is a webcam and a question… post it here, on our Facebook page.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 5, 2011 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | No Comments

{Digitwirl} Back That Thing Up!

Or… How to get “Set-it-and-forget-it Computer Backup!”

Read more about this weeks Twirl:

If you thought the wails of anguish that emanate from a gazelle being attacked by a lion were horrific, that’s nothing compared to the wails of anguish that will escape your lips if your computer dies and takes everything with it.

A lifetime of photos and videos, countless files, a music library that spans the decades. Gone. Caput. The solution to this worst case scenario is simple– Carbonite.

Carbonite is a secure online backup system for your entire computer that, should disaster strike, can restore all your files onto your repaired, or new computer. We checked out a few services like this, but we think Carbonite is the best online backup system, because it has unlimited data storage for a flat rate of $59 per year. That’s right, no matter how many pictures of your daughter’s third birthday, complete with a pony-riding princess you may have Carbonite will store it all safely.

And, Carbonite backups are far from out of sight out of mind, you can access any of your files from your computer or Smartphone any time. So watch this Twirl to see how you can avoid distraught howls in favor of set-it-and-forget-it peace of mind.

So, what do you think?

If, like me, you are totally technically challenged, I bet you’re feeling a big weight lifted off of your shoulders after watching this video! Like a, “Finally an easy way to make sure I don’t lose all of my important stuff if I make a huge mistake one day and totally screw up my computer” type of feeling :) Right?

Back that thing up…

Backing up my information is one of those things that pops into my head from time to time, but since I had no idea where to start, and it seemed like something that would be way to complicated for me to figure out, I tried to ignore the whole thing.

Technology Tragedy.

About 6 months ago, the kids were all playing around in the office, and somehow {none of them will really admit to doing ANYTHING, of course} they completely fried the hard drive in my boyfriends computer. Like, everything gone. All of his photos, his work files, his programs, music, all. of. it. gone. Forever.

That made me realize how easy it can be for something to happen, and how extremely valuable the content on my computer is! What if something happened, and I lost all of my little one’s baby picture files?

Just do it.

So, this has been on my mind for awhile, which means I was SUPER EXCITED to learn about Carbonite in this video today! Just set up an account, and someone ELSE will do the work, and backup everything for me, and keep it all safe? And for only $59 a year?? Easy peasy, and I’m in!!

I’m going to be signing up for this today, and am so glad that Digitwirl shares such awesome products, services, and companies with me in short, easy to understand video presentations. Finally, I can upgrade some of my technology, because with Digitwirl, I “get” it!!

Love it? What more great tips?

Carley's Byline Pic Check out Digitwirl today!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 26, 2011 Filed Under: Shopping, Fun Stuff, Deals and Coupon Codes | No Comments

{Digitwirl} Mint.com– Show me the money!

Keeping track your life is challenging enough, so who can remember when your next credit card payment is due or that your checking account is on life support? But there is a simple way of keeping track of all your finances, by storing them in one secure place–Mint.com.

With a few simple clicks you can upload your bank account balances, bills, mortgage statements and student loans and Mint will organize them in one place so that you always know exactly what’s going on with your finances. No more searching piles. No more late fees.

And, Mint gives you an up-to-the-minute view of all your transactions, analyzes your spending habits and lets you set up a budget. It might just surprise you to see where your cash is going and how you can save money!

With the Mint app (available for both iPhones and Androids) a quick peek at your bottom line will help you decide whether to purchase, or pass on, that little “Me gift” you’ve been eying.

Watch this week’s Twirl to learn all about how you can gather up all your finances into one safe financial manager. Oh, and let us know what you think about Carley’s hat. Yay? Or Nay?

So, what do you guys think? Amazing, right? When I look for stuff to share with you here on Sunshine and Sippy Cups, I look for things that will help you save money, make your life easier, and help you have more fun.

Mint.com is perfect, because it does all three! By making it easy for you to track your spending and pay your bills, you can save more, and avoid those dreaded late fees. And that leads to MUCH less stress in the back of your {already-super-busy-mommy} mind! Less stress = More fun!

But… I have a confession. I have an account at Mint.com, and never did anything more than sign up. I never took the time to set it up or link my accounts because I thought it would be complicated.

No, keeping track of piles of bills and writing checks is complicated! I am SOOOO glad to have watched this video and realized how easy it is to set up, and how simple it will be to keep everything organized. Because although I am the queen of home organization, even I get overwhelmed sometimes!! You can imagine what my mailbox is like each day {you’ve seen the pictures!} so it’s easy for bills to get lost.

And I especially like that NO MONEY can be moved around, making it safe as can be. Love that.

I know that the momma’s that follow my blog are all about saving money, right? Of course! We clip coupons, search for deals and offers, and do what we can to give our family the BEST possible life, at the LEAST expense!

But, so many of us forget to manage those savings, or save for the future as well as we should. So I feel totally confident recommending this awesome service to you, and I hope it helps many of you reach your financial goals :)

A few more helpful tips to keep your finances in order:

Credit Karma: A TRULY free Credit Report, with an analysis of your score. Read about it here: Credit Karma.
LearnVest: My VERY favorite financial tip site! Frugal tips every day, focused on living fabulous for less. Get access to great tools with newsletter sign up using the link below!

If you use Mint.com, I’d love to hear your experiences… Leave some comment love! And, what DID you think of Carley’s hat in the video?? :)

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 20, 2011 Filed Under: Freebies, Fun Stuff | No Comments

{Digitwirl} How Dropcam Keeps Your Family Safe!

Dropcam Lets You Keep An Eye On Your House When You’re Out!

Unless you’re under house arrest chances are you’re out of your house most of the day. Wouldn’t it be great if you could check in our your baby while your out (especially if it’s first steps season), monitor who’s coming a knockin’ or look in on your pet? We thought so, which is why we are now card-carrying Dropcam fans.

Dropcam is a wireless security camera and online recording device that’s simple to set up and to get viewing. Once it shakes hands with your home’s wireless network connection, this little guy can be placed anywhere around your house where there’s an outlet–although we highly recommend you exclude the bathroom…ick. Then, you can get a live feed, or with certain plans, look back at what’s already happened right on your computer or through the Dropcam app for both iPhones and Androids. Yes, that’s right, you can view everything Dropcam sees right on your Smartphone.

Watch this weeks Twirl and see what Carley caught her son doing. Don’t worry, it’s a good thing.

{And… Get 10% off a Dropcam or a Dropcam Echo by entering the discount code “DIGITWIRL” at check out! Sweet deal, right?}

Check out Dropcam in action:

What do you think? Awesome, right?

The price is kinda high, but really, I think it’s worth it. It’s a pretty moderate price really, for something this cool, that can give you this much peace of mind.

I can imagine a few scenarios:

You go on vacation, and want to make sure you’re home is safe. From robber-type bad guys, of course. But also from a pipe bursting, or some other type of disaster. I know that when we go away for a bit, I ALWAYS worry about things at home. And we don’t have a trusty neighbor to check in. So this would really ease my wildly imaginative mind!
Speaking of neighbors watching the house…. Wouldn’t it be nice to see what they’re up to when they come by to water the plants or feed the cat? Do they snoop through your cupboard? Or pick their nose? All of the important type of things that I need to know. Right?
And speaking of the cat, maybe I want to check on her and see how she’s doing during the day. Maybe not, since cats are pretty darn boring. But maybe? Or, as I saw suggested on the Digitwirl website, maybe you want to check on your chickens. A live Chicken Cam. Don’t laugh. It wasn’t my idea, but I like it. I’d watch Reality Chicken TV. Really. I’m like that.
And speaking of robber type bad guys… Imagine that your home DOES get broken in to sometime. How great would it be to have it on VIDEO, to catch the people that did it? Yup. Batman can’t always be there to save the day. Sometimes you need Dropcam.

So, you can see this is a pretty valuable purchase, and totally worth the investment.

I also like that I could use it as a baby monitor, and let daddy get to watch the baby from his iPhone while he’s at work. Super fun idea.

What do you guys think?

What other scenarios can you think of where having this sweet camera would really come in handy?
Do you think this is something that you could use at your house?
Are you excited to use this awesome coupon deal on a Dropcam for your family?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please share in the comments! I can tell ya for sure, this is now on my list of presents that I’d love to get in a couple of weeks for my birthday… *hint hint*

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 12, 2011 Filed Under: Fun Stuff, Deals and Coupon Codes | No Comments

New From Digitwirl: Using the Cardstar App!

Get your loyalty cards out of your wallet and into your Smartphone!

From the pet store to the bookstore everyone seems to have loyalty cards these days. They’re great. They get you discounts and exclusive deals, which may be why your wallet is jammed full of them. Or, you may be the type who hates carrying them all around with you, but inevitably the one you need is stashed in a drawer at home.

Cardstar (www.cardstar.com) is a simple, yet brilliant, app that puts all your loyalty cards in the palm of your hand (assuming that hand is holding your smartphone).

Download it for free to your iPhone, Blackberry or Android and then using your phone’s camera just scan the bar codes on the back of your cards. Boom! Cardstar reads the barcode and stores them where they can be scanned at the checkout counter just like you would your plastic card. Cardstar will also show you which of your stores is offering special deals and help you score coupons to save you even more money. No wonder the loyalty card program we’re most loyal to is Cardstar.

Check out this week’s Twirl and see how easy it is to ditch the plastic and hold on to more paper–you know, the kind with dead presidents on it….

Ok, I admit it… I’m a bit old school, and I don’t even have a smart phone just yet. I’ve been thinking about upgrading to an iPhone, because my brother has one, loves it, and is always showing me all of the cool app’s that he has on it.

After watching this new video, I’m pretty much convinced that it’s time to upgrade! I LOVE this app idea!

I do all of the shopping for our household. So obviously, I’m always looking for new ways to save and earn rewards. That means that just like in the video, I have a TON of those little loyalty cards in my wallet!

I looked this morning, and this is what I’m carrying around:

Safeway Club Card
Albertsons Preferred Savings Card
Shopko My Extra Savings Card
Rite-Aid Wellness Plus Card
Kmart Shop Your Way Rewards
Sears Shop Your Way Rewards
Buckle Loyalty Card
Toys R Us Rewards R Us Card

And more!! That takes up so much space in my wallet, and it is always so hard to find the one that I want when I need it. Ugh. I hate being “that lady” in the checkout line… You know, the one everyone is waiting on while I fumble through my purse trying to find my card. Yikes. This app would solve that problem.

I also love that they not only make it super easy to store and access all of your reward cards quickly, but they also help you find deals and coupons when you get to the store to shop. Super cool, right?

I’m a bit technically challenged (which is funny right, since I’m a blogger?) which is why I LOVE Digitwirl, and the way that they find stuff that is relevant to me and make it super easy to understand.

What do you guys think?? Share some thoughts in the comments!

Have you ever used this app before?
Are you excited to check it out?
What other app’s make your life easier? Share them with us!
Have you heard of Digitwirl yet? If any of you are already fans, share some other fun tips that you’ve learned from them!

I hope that you guys loved the video as much as I did, and that this app helps you out! And stay tuned for next weeks video from Digitwirl, so you can learn another great tip :)

Want to check out more from Digitwirl right now? Read more: