How to Block Adult Websites From Kids

While it has tons of advantages, the internet can turn out to be a nightmare, especially for parents. There are many educational sites for your children on the web, but on the other hand, inappropriate sites are also everywhere. This in turn makes the internet very unsafe for children.

There are a number of things that you can do in such situations. You’ll require website-blocking applications and the web addresses of the inappropriate sites. Of course, these requirements will only be meaningful when you have an active internet service, a computer, and an internet browser.

The first step involves keeping an eye on the history files of your internet browser. History files usually list all the sites that have been visited over a certain period. Details such as the date a site was visited and the web address of the site are provided. This will give you a clear picture of which sites you deem inappropriate. You can find the history files by clicking the history tab on your internet browser.

Once you’ve taken note of the inappropriate sites, you’ll need to change your privacy settings.

Step 1: Open your internet explorer

Step 2: Once in the Menu Bar, You need to click Tools → Internet Options → Content.

Step 3: Once you are in the Content Advisor box, click Enable, Click the Approve sites Tab and Enter the addresses of the website, then Click never and then ok

The next step is to make sure that you select Users can see websites that have no ratings, enter an easy-to-remember password. and Click OK to easily surf the web

Though this method will partly block the sites that your child has been visiting that you are aware of, it won’t block him/her from visiting new inappropriate sites. You’ll thus be required to take more measures.

A website-blocking application has the ability to automatically determine the website that someone is trying to access through a computer. If the website is blacklisted, it can’t be viewed by your child. Additionally, website-blocking software can also anonymously track which sites your child has been visiting. Better yet, you have the option of setting your own security levels. This can thus be quite useful when you have children of different ages.

Though website-blocking software can be quite efficient, they squeeze unnecessary additional costs from your pocket. Finding the right Internet Service Provider can save you all this trouble. There are some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that have high –tech website-blocking applications which filter out inappropriate content. The best thing about them is that you need not worry about knowing all the inappropriate sites so that you can add them to a “blocked sites” list. More often, these ISPs dedicate some of their workers to manually visit the unknown sites that have been viewed by your child and block the sites if any inappropriate content is found.

Because the internet has several loopholes, all these methods won’t guarantee you that your child won’t visit inappropriate sites. Blocking inappropriate content from your children doesn’t always rely on getting expensive website-blocking software and getting your internet service from reliable ISPs. Sometimes, talking to your children about the downside of inappropriate content is all that you need to do. Moreover, you can place the computer in a more open location where any attempt to view inappropriate content will always be hampered.

Tags: Adult Site Blocking, Adult Sites, Adult Websites, Website Blocking

Source : techtalkafrica[dot]com

Hulu, Viacom expand deal to include Nickelodeon shows

Potentially ideal for parents looking for another way to entertain their kids, a barrage of Nickelodeon shows are headed to Hulu.

Covered in detail on the official Hulu blog earlier today, Hulu and Viacom have signed a new deal that brings the current season Nickelodeon programming to Hulu Plus subscribers. Different from Netflix, Hulu Plus subscribers will be able to watch the most recent five episodes of Nickelodeon shows approximately 21 days after the shows have aired. While Netflix provides an extensive amount of older Nickelodeon programming, Hulu is the first third-party subscription service to offer access to current episodes of Nickelodeon shows. Alternatively, children can visit the Nickelodeon site in order to view select episodes of their favorite shows.

Specifically, shows such as Spongebob Squarepants,  the final season of iCarly, Kung Fu Panda, The Penguins of Madagascar, Winx Club, Robot & Monster, The Legend of Korra, T.U.F.F. Puppy and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are included within the deal.

In addition, Hulu doesn’t play any advertising during the Nickelodeon shows beyond a reminder of the broadcast date and time before an episode starts. There are no restrictions on devices either, so parents can give their child a smartphone or tablet to watch these Nickelodeon shows assuming they have a subscription to Hulu Plus.

This deal does not include programming that’s broadcast on Nick Jr.. Shows directed at younger viewers like Dora the Explorer, Team Umizoomi, Max & Ruby and Bubble Guppies aren’t included within the new Viacom agreement. However, the inclusion of the previously mentioned shows on Nickelodeon’s main channel should significantly increase the usefulness of Hulu Plus among parents with tweens. For example, Netflix’s “Just for Kids” user interface has been particularly helpful in attracting new streaming subscribers with young children.

Interestingly, Hulu does not have expanded settings regarding parental controls according to the Hulu support page. This could be a problem for adults that share the account with their kids. In order to block mature content from younger viewers, parents have to log out of their Hulu account. For Hulu Plus subscribers, users have to contact Hulu’s customer service to alter the birth year on the account in order to block mature content.

While Hulu specifically provides pages for family and kids programming, Hulu’s method of blocking content is cumbersome when compared to Netflix. Netflix allows the user to assign a specific rating value to the video content that can be accessed through the account.

With five different rating levels, parents could setup a Netflix streaming account for a child that’s limited to “PG and below” programming. This rating system applies to television programming and limits what shows up onscreen as well as the Instant queue. However, changes to the parental rating on the account take up to eight hours to start working.

In addition to the news about Nickelodeon, the new deal between Hulu and Viacom includes a continuation of the agreement that adds new episodes of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report a day after each show has aired on Comedy Central. Identical to the previous agreement, viewing the high definition version of each show requires a Hulu Plus subscription. Due to the current news topics covered by the two popular shows, Viacom’s standard 21-day waiting period on a show like Jersey Shore simply wouldn’t be beneficial to viewership.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

4moms Origami Hands-on: Baby stroller or Mars Rover?

It's arguably one of the coolest strollers for tech-obsessed parents, but is the big-ticketed price tag worth the investment? Our hands-on with the 4moms Origami stroller finds out.

The 4moms Origami stroller is one of the most unique baby strollers available on the market. Unlike traditional strollers that require manual setup, the item folds and unfolds on its own with just a push of a button. At $850 retail, it’s not cheap; However, it is comparable in price to high-end models from companies like UppaBaby and Bugaboo, and the Origami brings a style all its own to the sidewalk.

Look and feel

Be prepared: You will get noticed. When you take your child for a walk in the Origami, people will stop you. Much in the same way technophiles are stopping strangers when they see an iPhone 5, people are drawn in by the Origami’s looks. From the raised seat for the baby, to the LCD screen, to the daytime running lights, this won’t be confused with a $20 umbrella stroller. It’s even got lights underneath the stroller to illuminate pathways when you’re walking at night. While the stroller body is relatively slim, a small, detachable luggage bag can be clipped on the lower back of the frame for additional storage. The back of the seat also has rooms for a thermos, magazines, stuffed animal, whatever other accessories you might need for your baby.

All the attention this thing gets is fine — exciting, even — but it’s frustrating because you can’t stop every time for every person who asks, “Is that a spaceship?” to show off the feature that will truly blow people’s minds: the one-touch electronic fold.

The wow factor

When you do get to your car, get the baby loaded securely in the car seat, you hope that at least a few of the gawking masses who’ve noticed the Origami are still there when you are ready to fold it up and stow it. With a slight twist, the gray button on the handle begins glowing blue and you know something special is about to happen. Push the now-illuminated button and watch the magic as this full size stroller contracts itself into a horizontal pod, ready to be placed in the back of the car. Press it again and the pod reforms itself into a stroller. Each process takes about 2.5 seconds (it doesn’t help to yell “Autobots, Roll Out!” before you do this, but it doesn’t hurt) to complete but the crowd impression is sure to last way longer. [See video below for a demo.]

More than meets the eye

Onlookers will think you stole a top secret government project like Johnny 5 from Short Circuit, but there’s more to a baby stroller than slick engineering. After all, this is going to be holding your most prized possession, so let’s discuss comfort and handling.

We tested this stroller with my son, Harry, who is 13 months and 22 pounds. He can’t say much beyond “Daddy” and “Book,” but judging by his overall demeanor when riding in the Origami, he seemed very comfortable. The baby rides up a little higher than in most strollers, which is nice for the baby to be able to see better, and for adults who want to see him. One drawback is that the Origami does not fully recline. There is a curved bar underneath the baby seat that prevents a full lay-flat option, which is not ideal for every child.

The handlebar design of the stroller’s control grip provides an extremely natural way to walk and direct the vehicle, and the suspension is calibrated to provide a pretty smooth ride. You can push it quite easily with one hand.  The pedal brake is easy to use and effective. There are two cup holders for the parent and two cup holders for the child, which is a nice touch. The sunshade also does a good job of protecting your baby from bright sunshine and harmful UV rays. A car seat adapter is available and a pram attachment will be released soon. No word yet on a kickboard for a second child to ride along with you.

Baby tech

The Origami comes equipped with an LCD screen that provides some useful features including a speedometer and an odometer. While you’re not likely to get the Origami up much faster than three or four mph on most walks, it’s nice to see how far you’ve gone at the end of the day. If nothing else, it provides a little extra sense of accomplishment when you realize you walked five miles while running all those errands. 

There is also an icon that tells you whether or not there is a baby in the stroller. Now, I’d like to think most new parents will take the extra step of looking at their actual, physical child to ensure he/she is in the carriage rather than depending on their digital doppelgänger, but it actually serves another, more important purpose. Answering the obvious question, “Will this thing fold up with my baby in it?” there is a weight sensor built in (which triggers the digital icon) and we can say definitively, no, the Origami will not fold with a baby in it. (Truth be told, we tested it with a fire extinguisher first!)

The kinetic energy from the spinning wheels also charges the unit, so there’s no need to plug in like an electric car to charge the running lights. In fact, there is an optional kit that allows you to charge your cell phone directly from the Origami itself. That is cool.

Some drawbacks

Unfortunately, with all that tech built into the stroller, the Origami is not light. At 29 pounds, it’s one of the heavier strollers available, and for smaller moms and dads, that can cause some difficulties picking them up to load into their oversize SUVs. That said, getting the stroller in and out of the car will probably be the extent of carrying it for most people. With a ride this smooth, you’ll just want to push it everywhere.

The Origami’s one-touch folding feature is intuitive to use. The stroller comes out of the box charged and ready to go, and assembly takes about two minutes. But remember when we said the unfolding setup was foolproof? Well, maybe it’s too foolproof. The flip side of all that ease is that other children can take one look at this extremely interesting vehicle and figure it out just as quickly. As was the case when my 3-year-old turned the knob and pushed the glowing blue button and leaped into my arms in fright as the stroller transformed before her very eyes. There’s a lock on the underside of the button to prevent these Curious George-type moments, but it’s up to you to remember to lock it.

Bottom line

The 4moms Origami stroller, with its smooth glide and futuristic features, provides a comfortable and eye-catching experience for both child and parent. Again, at $850, it’s not cheap — but for parents who love to be ahead of the curve, it’s a great pick.

[Editor's Note: Sean is the Vice President of Sales at Digital Trends, however, this review is not a paid endorsement from the company. He happened to be the only one at DTNY with a young child to help test the product! The Origami stroller maybe for 4moms, but Sean loves it and he's a dad, so don't fear the brand name!]

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

The OwnFone: A perfect phone for kids, backup for adults

OwnFone lets parents create customizable, super simple phones for their kids or good emergency phones for adults

Turns out, it doesn’t matter who won the patent wars because there’s a new (possibly) must-have phone on the market: the OwnFone. Created specifically for those users who couldn’t be bothered with a feature-rich smartphone, the OwnFone is programmed for the sole purpose of calling the people you talk to the most. Numbers aren’t stored on an internal storage device either. Rather, to make the phone as simple as possible, numbers are stored in the cloud and retrieved when needed.

Launched first in the UK, the super simple device allows you to configure up to 12 contacts. The names of each contact will then be printed on a large white button, push the button and it will call that contact. As far as features go, that basically sums it up — though it’s worth mentioning that braille and photo buttons are in the works. And just to be clear, there is no keyboard or screen on the device.

The OwnFone has the dimensions of a credit card, weighs 40 grams, and manages to be a slim 7mm thick. The size is great if you need a back-up device for when your main one drains battery. You can even forward your main number to your OwnFone if you want a fairly-disposable phone to take travelling. The look of the device is left up to you. First, you can choose from 2, 4, 8, or 12 contact layouts. Then you choose from pink, blue, green, orange, red, or black for the main color of your OwnFone. Finally, you can choose to leave it plain or add an image or pattern to customize it further.

Besides catering to smartphone-haters everywhere (they exist, right?), the OwnFone seems like a perfect fit for kids to carry around without having to add another expensive mobile contract to the monthly bills. Alternately, less tech-inclined adults could definitely benefit from a device that does one thing and does it well. Plus, it’s easy on the wallet with a meager price tag of £55. Throw in free replacements and you have a pretty stellar deal.

Unfortunately, if all of this sounds like your cup of tea, the OwnFone is currently limited to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Would you consider ordering an OwnFone? What would you use it for?

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Angry Birds marches on – theme park based on popular game to open in UK next week

Parents in the UK, prepare to be badgered by your little ones – Finnish game maker Rovio is days away from opening its first Angry Birds theme park there.

Of course, there will be those who are absolutely fed up to the back teeth with Angry Birds. Among them may be the early adopters, who’ve since grown weary of the bird-slinging game, or those who were suspicious from the start, refusing to become one of the many many millions of people who’ve downloaded the game onto their mobile devices and continue to enjoy spending countless hours battling with egg-stealing green pigs.

Among those many millions are, for sure, a huge number of kids, drawn in by the cutesy graphics and simple game play. These same children – at least the ones living in the UK – will likely be impatiently tapping their parents on the back the moment they discover the country’s first ever Angry Birds theme park is about to open.

Located in Nottinghamshire, England, the new activity park forms part of Sundown Adventureland, a popular day-out destination for families in the area.

According to the designer of the new attraction, there’ll be themed swings and roundabouts, as well as several climbing towers. Of course, there’ll be a giant sling too, though hopefully someone will be on hand to stop over-excited kids catapulting their friends into the North Sea. There’s also talk of themed rides being introduced at some stage.

Paul Tomlinson, park manager at Sundown, said he was delighted to be hosting the UK’s first Angry Birds attraction “as the brand is so well known throughout the world.”

Of course, this isn’t the first Angry Birds-based theme park to open – there’s already one in China (albeit unauthorized), and another in Finland, where Rovio, the company behind the game, is located.

Rovio’s CEO, Peter Vesterbacka, told Reuters earlier this year that the Angry Birds attractions – of which there are plans for many more – will resemble small adventure playgrounds rather than full-on Disneyland-style affairs. “We can’t afford to invest billions into theme parks,” he said. “We are a tiny company from a tiny country.”

[via the Guardian]

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Dating website My Lovely Parent lets kids choose dates for parents

A new dating website allows kids to choose dates for their single parents.

When you hit a certain age, it becomes more difficult to meet someone. It’s difficult enough to meet someone when you’re young; so when you’re older, that’s amplified. You’re faced with a myriad of potential significant others who all have their own emotional baggage – and probably a lot of it. With more than 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, that leaves a lot of heart-broken people out there looking to start anew with someone else.

Those people surely have problems finding people who are ready for a relationship. That’s why online dating sites are so popular. If you sign up for one, you’re ready for something real (maybe not, but that’s the premise, anyway). Ideally, you’re only finding people who want a relationship just as much as you do.

But not every parent wants to use eHarmony or Match, and anecdotally, we’ve seen some the ones that do end up with some doozies. For those who are still living with a single parent or just concerned about their parent’s dating life, there is a way to influence who they date. A new dating site called My Lovely Parent allows the kids to do the picking when it comes to who their parent falls in love with. My Lovely Parent allows you to create a profile and search through eligible matches, much like Match and eHarmony does, but on someone else’s behalf. This should be particularly helpful for those who know their parent would benefit from a dating site, but the parent is hesitant to open an account. 

My Lovely Parents ventures away from the typical dating site by allowing the kids to gather a list of people they like and email it to their parent. There isn’t another dating site like this, as My Lovely Parent is solely dedicated to parents.

While you never really know if someone is creepy or not until you meet them, this site seems like it would have more quality people on it compared to any other dating site. At least we can hope.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

BlackBerry Monitoring Software: 4 Types of Friends Your Child Shouldn’t Have

Many parents refuse to use BlackBerry monitoring software because they have complete trust in their children. And I understand it. That’s the kind of relationship that you want to have with your son or daughter, the type where you’ve always taught him or her right from wrong so that you don’t have to be a helicopter parents, hovering over your child making sure that nothing’s wrong. I think those parents should be proud of their accomplishment.

However, a lot of times, the problem is not your child, but one of his friends or even an acquaintance. After all, all it takes for something to happen is just one person that is too stupid / irresponsible / lazy / stubborn. For example, even if your child doesn’t drink, one of his friends who does might decide to give him a ride to your home.

Anyway, you can now use BlackBerry monitoring software to know exactly the type of friends your child has, and I hope it’s none of these.

a) The drinker.

I bet you saw this one coming. The drinker is by far the most dangerous one, not because he drinks, but because he tends to drink and drive. And car accidents are by far the number one cause of deaths for teenagers.

b) The dare pusher.

Teenagers often dare each other to do something. If they were more mature or if they knew better, they would realize it’s not worth do so something just to impress some guys or girls that will be irrelevant in three years. And while some of those dares are harmless, like calling a girl and telling her that you like her, others can be quite dangerous, such as insulting and picking a fight with someone.

c) The drug user.

I remember the time where drugs were used only by hippies in basements and concerts. Unfortunately, it’s not the case today. There are many young people who use drugs in a constant basis. If one of your child’s friends does, you have to know about it.

d) The bad company.

This one is actually a sort of all-encompassing general term for those type of people that you really dislike and that you don’t want your child to hang around with. For example, a kid who says racial slurs, or one that tells comments that denigrate women, or a girl who uses sex to get the attention of boys, etc. The exact type will vary according to your values and your idea of right and wrong.

Final Thoughts

We can’t be next to our teenagers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and even if we could, it wouldn’t be healthy. However, we can use BlackBerry monitoring software and find out who they are hanging with. And if it’s someone we don’t want near our children, we can do something about it. 

Author Name: Brian Coulter

About The Author:

Brian Coulter is a Latest Mobile Technology enthusiast and author of Blackberry Spy Software. Brian also writes about exciting and informative discoveries on mobile development.

Source : techtalkafrica[dot]com