How to Prevent your Kids from Buying on your Google Play Account

I recently wrote about the importance of having a strong and secure password but sometimes that’s not enough. If you have set your Google Play account to remember your password then anyone who gets hold of your phone could potentially rack up huge bills on your account.

There have been many headlines in the past 6 months regarding children racking up huge bills on Apple and Amazon App stores and the same could be true for your Google Play account if you don’t take care.

The usual default setting for Google Play Accounts is for the store to ask for your password the first time you use it. After that you are prompted to choose what password settings you would like and if you selected the options “to never be prompted for your password again” or for you to have a 30 minute log in period after you type the password then it’s very easy for unwanted purchases to be made.

If you’re unsure of you Google Play Settings or would like to make sure that unwanted purchases can’t be made then you can follow the simple step by step instructions below to set your account t to ask for your password “ for all purchases” and this will stop unwanted purchases from stacking up on your account.

Step By Step Guide

1.  Open the Google Play Store app.
2. Touch the Play Store icon > Settings.
3. Under “User controls,” touch Require password for purchases.
4. Choose a password setting.
   • For all purchases   ( recommended )
   • Every 30 minutes
   • Never
5. Type your password.

Also, if you use the “Every 30 minutes” setting, you can review your password settings by selecting the Change settings link that displays after you’ve made a purchase.

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How To Childproof Your Smartphone

When you think about childproofing your house, you consider neutralizing sharp corners, heavy objects, household chemicals and blocking unsavoury TV channels.

However, we often forget that our portable electronic devices may also host hidden dangers.

Take your smartphone, for example. In the process of exploring this fun new toy, your child may accidentally buy pricy apps or upgrades, delete things, make calls to your boss and more.

Here are a few steps you should take to be on the safe side and ensure your child has a nice friendly experience with your smartphone.

Lock Your Screen

This one comes as a no-brainer. If you leave your phone lying around unlocked, you make it easy for your child to start pressing buttons without your supervision. So, go to Settings>Screen Lock and choose a password or a key-combination to protect your screen.

Create a Separate User Profile

Later versions of Android allow you to create a special user profile for your child, allowing them to play with the device, while safely storing your data out of their reach. Tap Settings>User Profiles>Add User. Tap Set Up Now in the pop-up menu. You will then need to enter the user’s email address. It does not have to be an address your child is actually actively using, but he or she will need a personal account. Go to Google Play Store and tap the Menu button in the top right corner. Go to Account Settings>Content Filtering. You will be able to check/uncheck the following options: Everyone, Low Maturity, Medium Maturity, High Maturity, Show All Apps.

As an extra precaution, you can set up a pin code to prevent your child from changing these settings in the future. To do this, tap More About Content Filtering. You can even change the settings to prevent your child from being able to make in app purchase, you can read more details in our blog 

Lock Your Settings

There are a number of apps (like App Lock) that allow you to lock your settings (like date, sound, notifications, etc) and keep them from being accidentally changed.

Use a Childproofing App

You can find a good selection of apps for this purpose on Google Play Store, that cater to different ages.

For younger phone users, you may want to try Toddler Lock. When the app is in use, and your child starts pressing buttons, the screen will start showing colourful shapes that respond to touch and playing soothing music. In the meantime, all the hardware and functional buttons will be locked, ensuring your data’s safety.

We have just outlined a few simple precautions to protect your child from inappropriate information and your phone from unwanted modifications. Eventually though, the best childproofing method may involve sitting your child down and educating him or her about the way your phone works, outlining all the do’s and don’t.

How to Prevent your Kids from Buying on your Google Play Account

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5 Tech Bloggers To Follow This Year

When it comes to telling the story of tech, you will have no shortage of online information. Actually, you may be overcome by the flow of reading material spilling out on you from the screen. In order to not get lost in the sea of exciting facts and updates, you may need to shortlist your daily sources of nourishment. You probably already have a nice list of favourite tech blogs to rely on, but we could not just shy away from putting in our 2 cents.

Here’s our take on 5 tech bloggers to follow:

Michael Arrington @arrington

Named one of the most powerful people on the Internet by Wired and Forbes should not be amiss in your “to follow” list. You may know him simply as the founder of TechCrunch, a news website launched in 2005 with the focus on web startup companies, that has since become one of the most influential online blogs in the tech community.

In addition to TechCrunch, Michael Arrington has launched a personal blog – Uncrunched.com, where he writes about Internet startups, their creators, backers and investors from his personal perspective.

As Arrington put it himself: “…I’m going to write my opinion, and I’m going to write whatever the hell else I feel like in between. If people want to read what I write, yay. If they don’t, I can live with that too.”

Eric Savitz @savitz

When it comes to the business side of the technological industry, one name jumps off the list, that of Eric Savitz. The creator of Tech Trader Daily blog and the West Coast editor of Barron’s magazine, Eric Savitz is an expert in investment matters, reporting news in software, hardware and telecommunication industries. Followed and listened to by tech enthusiasts worldwide, he offers helpful insights on all sorts of money matters. Follow him on Twitter for timely updates and smart personal tips.

Kara Swisher @karaswisher

As the tech field is seeing more and more new female players, Kara Swisher is one of the veterans of the industry. She joined the Wall Street Journal in 2003 with her popular column and blog Boom Town, which appeared in the Marketplace section of the Wall Street Journal.

In 2003, Kara became the co-founder of All Things Digital, where she and her partner Walt Mossberg get to interview the leaders of the tech world. Dubbed “the number one reporter in the Valley” by Business Insider, Kara is the voice to be heard and the writer to be followed.

Adam Dachis @adachis

One of the most popular writers at Lifehacker and the author behind a number of creative solutions to tech problems, Adam is definitely someone to watch. Apart from his contributions to Lifehacker (which in itself is lots of quality reading material), Adam has a strong Twitter presence with his tech tips blog, as well as a personal website –http://www.adamdachis.com. As Adam himself describes it: This site contains samples of my work plus a list of my active projects”. And his projects are numerous: from music , videos and games to podcasts, blogs and screenplay ideas.

Dave Zatz @davezatz

Dave is the creator and writer of the cleverly named blog Zatz Not Funny. With the tagline “AllYour Digital Media Goodness”, Dave’s blog is exactly that and covers all aspects of a gadget-rich digital lifestyle and media content. Zatz Not Funny is often referred to as one of the most relevant tech blogs, following recent news and developments in the industry, products, reviews, startups and more. Additionally, Dave Zatz is a frequent contributor at The Verge, Engadget and PC Magazine.

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How Knight Rider Predicted the Future of Motoring

When I think of futuristic talking cars with voice activated navigation, tracking and self drive abilities I can’t help picturing the Knight Industries Two Thousand or KITT for short. KITT was about as smart a car as I could imagine growing up on the 80’s and if Smoky and the Bandit hadn’t already secured the Pontiac Trans-am as an iconic model then KITT with its futuristic features certainly cemented the image in my temporal lobe.

What more could a small boy want than to grow up and own a car that has self driving, auto collision avoidance x-ray and infra red vision not to mention homing device medical scanners and to top it off was virtually indestructible?

In the 1980’s this may have been a tall order but just three decades on and what was once science fiction is turning into science fact.

Auto collision avoidance and self drive

Auto collision avoidance and self drive has been implemented in many new cars in Europe and The European Commission has gone so far as to say that by 2015, all new commercial vehicles should be fitted with devices that they hope will dramatically decrease the number of road fatalities. All the major players in the motor industry such as Ford, Toyota, GM as well as many others are investing huge sums in this technology. These advancements allow cars to recognize dangers, slower moving vehicles or obstacles in the road, automatically decelerate before the brake is pressed and even brake when the driver fails to reduce speed.

X-Ray and Infrared Vision

X-ray vision isn’t available on cars yet but that’s not the case for infrared sight as some manufactures like Mercedes Benz have fitted a few of their higher end motors with night vision that uses infra red to light up the road ahead. There are also a number of dash cams and car DVR systems, which make use of infra red technology to see at night and they can be exceptionally useful in resolving traffic disputes and fender benders. It typically uses Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) night vision cameras that can image through the windshield and thus be mounted in the driver’s compartment for a “driver’s eye” view of the way ahead.

Infrared has been available on many military vehicles for a long time and has become a critical component of modern warfare for obvious reasons as it allows vehicles to operate in total darkness without drawing undue attention. While we wouldn’t recommend driving at night without lights on the ability for your car to see at night certainly has its advantages, hence this technology is slowly becoming more popular on commercial vehicles. It probably, won’t be long until all cars come built in with this ability.

Homing and Tracking Device

Homing devices are not available just yet but they are coming soon. In the TV series, if Michael was in trouble he could call on KITT to come and save him. In today’s world Google is developing a future for driver-less cars where they can be summoned via your Smartphone. While the cars will be limited to just 25mph it may not have the speed to mount a rescue but that’s still fairly cool. Car trackers on the other hand have been around for a long time and each generation are getting more sophisticated.

Health Monitoring

The KITT car from the 80’s was able to monitor a person’s key vital signs and could even detect if they were injured, poisoned or pick up on emotional indicators. Ford has its own version of this with a seat that can monitor ECG and heart rate by utilizing six embedded sensors to pick up vital signs, this could be used to detect if the if a driver was having a heart attack or even if they have fallen asleep and use other things like the auto braking to bring the car to a safe standstill, it could even send for medical attention if needed by using a cars communication systems.

GPS and In Car Systems

One thing we all remember from KITT is the distinctive voice that belonged to William Daniels. If you feel nostalgic for the good old days then you can easily buy and download this voice for a range of GPS navigation systems, in fact there’s a wealth of voices to choose from so you can get directions from your favorite TV or movie character such as Yoda. “Left, you should turn”

Alternatively you could use a combined DVD in car entertainment system with GPS features and most of these will let you sync your phone up via Bluetooth to provide hands free communications while you’re out and about. If you want something a little flashier then why not take a look at  heads up displays like the iHUD, which can display either your cars telemetry or even your phone data directly onto your windshield making you feel like a top gun ace. All these products and a wealth of other in car gadgets are available from ELECTROSHOPWORLD at wholesale prices and with express shipping you needn’t wait to take your driving experience to the next level.

Sadly the creator of Night Rider, Glen Larson died at age 77 last week and therefore didn’t get to see all his visions of the future come to pass, but thanks to his visions of the future a whole generation of car enthusiast were inspired to create a better brighter future for us all and I think that’s something he probably took great pride and joy from knowing. Not only did he shape the TV of my childhood, which without him would have would have been very different, he also shaped the future of driving. You can read more here.

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Top Features for your Security Cameras

Security cameras are now more common place than ever and the industry has been booming over the past few years. There are a host of different cameras, from home IP security systems to high end professional models for secure facilities. As the technology is becoming more user friendly and easier to set up, many people are taking the plunge and picking up great quality cameras for monitoring their home, office, family and even pets. With so many people now using easy to set up IP security cameras, and such a wide choice of cameras to pick from, finding the correct camera for your needs can be a daunting task. Here is a list of some key features you should be aware of and look for when buying a security camera.

Night vision or low light viewing

The lower a camera’s lux rating the better its ability is to see in the dark. If you want a camera that can work 24/7, that can peer into total darkness then you need to check for a zero lux rating. Most cameras will be having two lux specifications, one for color and the other for black and white. You should also check for the built in IR illuminators. If you’re using the security camera in combination with security lighting then you can go with a 0.01 lux rating or for a starlit night a 0.001 lux.

Size and Style

Do you want people to know they are being watched or for your cameras to go unnoticed? Many times just the visual presents of a camera is enough to make would be thieves thing again, in which case a larger more obvious camera could be ideal. If you’re looking for something more covert then a sleeker more compact design that can be subtly hidden from view could be what’s required.

Cabling

Often the hardest part of installing a modern IP camera is the need for routing cables for power and data, especially with outdoor cameras. Even wireless cameras need to be connected to a power supply. At least laying one cable is easier than two and fortunately at ElectroShopWorld there are a large range of indoor IP cameras and outdoor IP cameras with wireless options available in both categories.

Pan, Tilt, Zoom

Some IP cameras are limited to being focused on just one spot. This is fine if your intended use is to cover a cash register or doorway. However if you would like to monitor a large area such as a parking lot or warehouse then selecting a camera with Pan, Tilt and Zoom, (PTZ Camera  functions will allow it to monitor a wider area and to even zoom in so as to capture greater detail over larger distances.

Internet Access

Having internet access on a security camera will allow you to view the footage remotely. This means you can check what’s happening by simply logging into a webpage or a host network, and allows you to check security 24/7 without having to be physically on site. With internet access you can check the office, yard or front door from any location you like. Many of the cameras available from electroshopworld have Android or iOS compatible apps so you can even control and view the footage from your tablet or phone as well.

Recording abilities

Whether its pesky teenagers, toilet papering your house or people of a more nefarious nature, they are most likely going to strike when there’s no one around. For this reason, investing in a camera with recording abilities can mean the difference between catching a thief or them escaping unpunished. There are a growing number of cameras that have motion detection and alarm settings as well, that can be set up to start auto recording if they detect anything out of the ordinary.

Picture quality

IP cameras with web access that can broadcast to your phone are all well and good but if the picture quality is poor then the images will be of no use whatsoever. Make sure you check that the camera you get is good enough for the job. 720p or above should provide you with quality images and if you’re going to be viewing them on your phone, check that the camera uses suitable compression such as H.246 that allows for compression and transmission of high quality images with loss of image quality.

Weather resistance

If you’re going to be using the camera outside then unless you live in a desert you probably want to ensure any camera you purchase will be protected from the elements. Look for a waterproof rating of such as IP65 to ensure your camera will be up to the job and not be damaged or put out of commission by the weather.

Whatever your security camera needs be sure to check out the ElectroShopWorld web store for a wide range of options at wholesale prices.

Ofcom Reports 4G Speeds Twice as Fast as 3G in the UK

Many phones these days support 3G but as our demands for data and mobility increase so has the desire to have quicker download speeds. If you find yourself waiting impatiently for downloads or always on the go but in need of access to a host of online information then 4G can certainly help you.

Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries has released a report showing that 4G communications in the UK was clocked at an average of 15.1Mbps (megabits per second) which is more than twice the speed of 3G which averaged 6.1Mbps.

One of the reasons people have been slow to take up 4G is because the perceived increase in data speeds wasn’t that great and additionally many 4G phones can be prohibitively expensive. However companies like ElectroShopWorld are trying to address this with unlocked 4G phoneshttp://www.electroshopworld.com/index.aspx?pageid=1748102&chainID=189072&txtQuickSearch=THL+L969+ at considerably less than most leading brands.

The report didn’t cover the whole of the UK but included 5 major UK cities. Overall London was noted as having the fastest 4G speeds but the slowest 3G speeds, which could be to do with the relatively large numbers of 3G users compared to those using the 4G network.

The researches is welcome news for phone manufactures and service providers as it proves “a significantly enhanced mobile broadband experience to customers” said Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards. The 4G network is expected to be available to 98% of the UK by 2017 at the latest and helps make the case for transferring to 4G.

You can read more on this story at the BBC website.

Christmas Gift Ideas For Kids

As the jolly sound of jingle bells is getting closer, so is Christmas morning. Make sure Santa is extra cool this year with these “gadgetized” Christmas gift ideas for kids.

Looking for a fun and exciting way to keep your kids entertained? Then look no further than Hibou Owl, he is here to teach and entertain children for hours as he actually reacts and interacts with you and your little ones. Download the application for your iOS or Android device and then you can talk, make Hibou dance and feed him, plus he can also tell you a story. 

For The Younger Ones

Children’s Mobile Phone

Give your child all the independence and freedom that comes with owning a mobile phone, while making sure they are safe and connected.

This special mobile phone was designed just for children and is equipped with only the necessary features to ensure efficient and secure communication. With only 5 preset phone numbers available (including 1 emergency SOS number) and no SMS or Internet surfing capabilities, your children are sure to stay out of trouble and away from any undesirable content.

You can also know where your children are at any time of the day by sending an SMS to the tracker phone or setting the tracker phone to send you regular updates throughout the day.

For The Curious Ones

USB Digital Microscope

Let your children explore the world around them with a digital microscope and discover new universes right under their feet!

With a 400X zoom, nothing will look like you’ve seen it before. A great and smart toy for children and adults alike, there is a risk you may also be lining up to play.

Explore and discover together with your child by looking at insects, plants, coins and just about anything you can find! Connect the microscope to your PC and enjoy high-resolution images.

With the included software you can save your captured images or videos directly to your hard drive! To take a snapshot, just click the button on the side of your microscope and share your exciting discoveries with the world.

So he/she wants to be a pilot

iHelicopter

Let your child practice his or her flying skills with iHelicopter – a cool flying contraption, controlled with your iPhone or iPad.

With iHelicopter, making your child’s dreams of high skies come true is fun, safe and easy. The helicopter is a joy to fly and control. One of its best features, though, is durability: made with stainless steel, it can withstand ceiling-high falls to hard floors – so don’t worry about letting your child perform all sorts of awe-inspiring tricks in the air!

For the all in one fun

Venstar K7 Children’s Tablet

With Venstar K7 you get a complete entertainment and edutainment centre for your children.

A vivid operating system and specially designed working framework are a perfect setting for your children’s games and learning programs.

A 7-inch screen with 5 point touch support will welcome your kids into the digital world with high resolution and great interactive capacities.

To ensure safe tablet fun, Venstar K7 comes with parental control in the form of a password that you can set up to prevent any unwanted activity.

http://www.electroshopworld.com/Venstar_K7_Android_Childrens_Tablet_-_7_Inch,_42_OS,_RK3026_Cortex_A9_Dual_Core_Processor_Blue/p1748101_13140290.aspx

Android Apps For Better Sleep

After running around at work, going to the gym and getting ready for the next day, you might logically assume that once your head hits the pillow you will be fast off to dreamland. But there are days when that simply does not happen. And then you might need some extra help from your friendly Android phone and a great selection of apps for better sleep.

Yoga for Insomnia

One of the best ways to fall asleep soundly and quickly is yoga. But if you don’t fancy getting out of bed and paying an emergency visit to the local yoga studio, we suggest you download Yoga For Insomnia. The app offers Hatha yoga practices for better breathing, stretching, relaxation and, subsequently, sleep. Add to that soothing tunes and illustrations of yoga poses – and you are all set for your own private session.

Sleepmaker Rain

Isn’t it nice falling asleep to the gentle sound of rain hitting tree leaves outside or more brazen noise of an approaching thunderstorm? Close your eyes and you get carried away to a remote tropical paradise, gently rocked to sleep by nature’s most soothing sounds.
Sleepmaker Rain even allows you to choose the type of rain you want to fall asleep to and you can imagine you are in a different season every time.

 

Sleep As Android

Sleep As Android is an all-in-one comprehensive sleep tracking system, that will observe, analyze and tell you all you need to know about your sleep patterns. The app will also use your phone’s sensors to learn how you move through the night and will try to find the most appropriate moment in your sleep cycle for the alarm to go off. You can also record your sleep sounds to fight off any snoring accusations or to hear if you mumble in your sleep.

Relax Melodies: Oriental Meditation

Great for both – sleep and meditation – the app has a nice selection of traditional and relaxing Asian melodies, like Chinese flute, harp and more. You can make your own sound mixes and control the volume. Relax Melodies is a good choice for any time you need a quick Zen moment or are settling in for a deep sleep.

Sleep Music

If you are not a fan of rain, Chinese flute or the sounds of cracking fire and prefer to fall asleep to the tranquilizing tunes of Iron Maiden – download Sleep Music – an app that allows you to play your own tracks and will gradually lower the volume as you drift off. This feature is really helpful as you won’t have to bother fiddling with your phone once you feel you are ready to sleep.

Fun Christmas Apps To Set Your Holiday Mood

There may still be 41 days till Christmas (but who’s counting) and yet the holiday spirit has already started to invade our busy lives with insistent thoughts of hot chocolate with marshmallows and red pointy hats. So, why fight it? Instead, here’s a list of fun Christmas apps to get that holiday spirit to top speed.

Christmas List

One of the joys (and occasionally headaches) of Christmas season is gift-giving. Christmas List app helps you organize all your present ideas and make sure no one is left out in your holiday gift-giving. Keep track of your spending and timing and take all the unwanted fuss out of this year’s shopping.

Christmas Carols

Nothing quite completes the holiday mood mix, as the right kind of music. If you happen to find yourself this winter in a place with no live caroling, this app is the second best thing. Plug in your head phones on the way to work and have a jolly day of kind childhood melodies.

NORAD Tracks Santa

One of the reasons I can’t wait for December 1st is because this is the day Norad Tracks Santa is available for downloading. The app does exactly what the name suggests – it tracks Santa’s journey from the North Pole – so that you know exactly when to look up at the sky and listen for jingling bells. The app is pure magic for kids and fun for adults too. Ans yes, it is the official app of North American Aerospace Defense.

 

Angry Birds Seasons: Season’s Greetings

Why throwing birds at pigs is so fun and addictive is a great mystery. Why doing it against a snowy background is an amazing Christmas mood setter is yet another one. And yet it works like a charm!

Outside of cute and detailed Christmas decorations (you will the little birdies sporting holiday hats and scarves), the game is what it has always been – addictive. So be careful and use in moderation.

Santa’s Workshop

Santa’s Workshop offers the basic set-up for holiday mood making. It’s an interactive Christmas wallpaper app set, as the name suggests, in Santa’s workshop and offering all sorts of holiday fun. You can even open Christmas presents as they move past you on a conveyor belt by tapping on them!

Christmas Tree Decoration

If this Christmas you find yourself without a proper holiday tree or if you want to get some skill training before the big decorating event – just get a tree for your phone. Christmas Tree Decoration lets you have all the creative fun you want without the hassle of tangled lights or broken ornaments.