The Online Mom

10 Ways to Stream Movies and TV Shows

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:14:00 PDT

More sophisticated mobile devices, smarter apps and faster wireless networks are finally delivering on the promise of anytime, anywhere movies and TV shows. As a result, dozens of providers – from independent distributors to cable operators – are falling over themselves to bring us the latest and greatest in box office entertainment. But with so much choice, there is often confusion. Some providers offer subscription services, some offer one-time rental or purchase options, and some offer a...

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5 Ways Augmented Reality Apps Are Changing Our Lives

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:26:00 PDT

If you look through the tech section of any newspaper, or spend any amount of time online, you are almost certainly familiar with the expression “augmented reality.” Used in everything from military exercises to sportscasts on national television, augmented reality (AR) applications have quickly become part of our everyday lives. But what exactly is augmented reality? In simple terms, it’s a view of the real world that has been enhanced by computer-generated graphics, text or sound. While we...

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Parental Guides for Instagram and Snapchat

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:12:00 PDT

For those parents already feeling a little overwhelmed by Facebook, the stunning popularity of instant photo-sharing services like Instagram and Snapchat can feel like the final straw. How can you possibly keep up with everything your teen is doing on all these social networks, particularly Snapchat, where photos disappear 10 seconds after they have been viewed, leaving no trail of what’s been posted? Sensibly, the folks at ConnectSafely have decided that a little knowledge is a good thing – at...

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Five ways to deal with online haters

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:04:00 PDT

By Stacey Ross Four years ago I experienced my first "hater." She posed as an interested client, but in reality was calling me to vent. From the grapevine (or maybe just my About page), she was aware that I am a happily married mom of two and had some luck early on in building my blog. Somehow, I allowed myself to remain on the phone with her while she tore my brand new website apart and shared with me that, while she was barely pregnant, her husband went off and cheated on her,...

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Monitoring Our Kids’ Social Media Activity

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:51:00 PDT

By Naomi Broderick In today’s world, social media is the new norm. Everyone is linked to one another in a growing network of connectivity and sharing. While it’s surely a positive evolution for the globe, the transition does lend itself to potential consequences. One specific one is the influence that social media can have on young children across America. Parents from all walks of life struggle to balance their children’s development with the societal transition to online activity. There’s a...

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10 Apps to Help Monitor Your Health

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:49:00 PDT

Today’s mobile devices are designed to provide us with instant feedback on all the issues that we care about the most, so it’s no surprise that medical and health-related apps are some of the most popular downloads. Some apps help analyze symptoms, some apps help you get the best price on prescriptions, and some apps just encourage a healthier lifestyle. While medical and health-related apps should never be relied on as a substitute for professional diagnosis or proper medical treatment, they...

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10 Must-Have Travel Apps

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:33:00 PDT

Spring is finally here and it’s time to start thinking about those wonderful summer vacations. And if you have some travel to organize, your smartphone and tablet can help! There are some great apps for choosing flights, booking hotels, renting cars, and more. And there are hundreds of additional apps for making sure you have a fun time once you arrive at your destination. From finding a great restaurant to conversing with the locals to keeping track of your finances, your app store has you...

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Teaching our kids to curate

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 PDT

These days, most parents have a basic understanding of the digital world that surrounds their kids. Whether they’re toddlers, second graders or middle schoolers, kids are learning to embrace their exciting new environment at lightning speeds. Even those of us who consider ourselves “tech savvy” still marvel at the ease with which even very young kids take to touch screens, mobile devices and online resources. How do they instinctively know when to swipe, pinch or zoom? Gestures that have to be...

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Students Turn to Social Media To Screen Colleges

Wed, 15 May 2013 07:42:00 PDT

By Tracey Dowdy For years, colleges and universities have used social media as part of the screening process for potential students. We’ve all heard tales of students who lost out on scholarships or were denied enrollment at prestigious schools over careless Instagram and Facebook photos or profanity laced Twitter accounts. Up to now, the burden of maintaining a reputable online presence has been on the prospective student but that dynamic is starting to change. Students are increasingly using...

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All screen time isn't the same

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:44:00 PDT

In the digital age, it’s become conventional wisdom that too much screen time is a bad thing for our kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids under the age of two have no screen time at all, and that kids over two watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day. Numerous studies have chronicled both the rise in overall media consumption and the correlation between too much screen time and poor academic performance. As a result, parents are constantly reminded to monitor screen time...

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