Techy Gifts for Your Favorite Teachers

'Tis the season! Looking for that perfect gift? Not sure what would make a good gift? Need ideas? It's time to make this year different from all the rest. Take technology to the next level by trying some of these techy ideas for gifts. You won't be disappointed in these finds. Happy Shopping!
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Start with Gift Cards. iTunes gift cards and Google Play gift cards are a great gift for teachers. Gift cards allow teachers to vet apps that can be used later with students. During Black Friday, Target has buy one iTunes Gift Card at any price and get a second iTunes Gift Card of equal or lesser value for 30% off (source: http://goo.gl/7na3iT).

Try some Super Cool Tech Tools. I love gadgets. My all time favorite gadget is my portable USB charger. Portable USB chargers are a nice gift to have in the busyness of today's world. As long as you have your usb cable for your device, then you have a battery at all times. Right now the black Mophie Juice Pack is on sale for $39.99, regularly $70, and can be purchased online at Best Buy. (source: http://goo.gl/TvxXz1)

Purchase a Class Gift. Maybe this year is a great time to chip in on a class gift. With shared sets of iPads in the classroom, it may be a good idea to invest in a wireless bluetooth speaker. What better way to hear those student-created videos without having to always be connected by a wire. My favorite is the JAM Wireless Bluetooth Speaker. Walmart carries the JAM Plus ($65) or the JAM ($30). Both have quality sound, play for 4 hours, and work up to 30' away.  (source: http://goo.gl/yt9pZ7)

Make Donations in Their Name. Techy gifts do not have to be a tangible, shiny new gift. This year consider making a donation in your favorite teacher's name.Monica Burn's blog post suggest these two organizations: Kickstart - helps get ideas off the ground. Click here to learn how to back a project. Girls Who Code is an organization that helps students explore careers in computer science.  You can make a donation on behalf of your favorite teacher by clicking the 'donate' button on their homepage.

Totally Outrageous Tech Tool. Take lessons online by capturing them using robotic mobile technology found in the Swivl. The Swivl allows a mobile device (iOS/Android compatible) to be connected to it and then rotates 360 degrees with a 25 degree tilt and 30 foot range using a wireless remote control with microphone. The Swivl is outrageously priced but worth a look. Click here to see a demo video.

Data breaches and vulnerability: Data thieves, your private info and passwords, shopping online, using Wi-Fi and storing in the cloud.

The upcoming holiday season and the recent deluge of password security breaches at major retailers, leaves us feeling at risk of cyber-criminals.

This blog provides some basic points about vulnerability, password information, resources and provides you with some tools that can help protect you from the bad guys.

Your passwords, digital safety, basic security and knowing how to attack the problem of hackers along with being a well informed, vigilant individual helps keep you from being a target.

Password Do's and Don'ts

Here are a few tips compiled from the KrebsonSecurity blog   http://tinyurl.com/q8kuwrb

• Don't use a family members name or passwords with combinations of your confidential information, such as your Social Security or phone numbers. 
• Don't use the same password for your secure accounts (banking, financial and credit cards) as you use for your email accounts. It the email account is hacked, your password is at risk for all your accounts. 
• Complexity is good in a password, but length is the key to a good password. The more characters, the harder is is to attack. 
• It's OK to write down your password information but don't leave it in plain site. Best practice is to write down your username and website information which you access and put a password hint beside this information.
• There are several third-party programs that help to manage passwords, such as Roboform and PasswordSafe,. I use Passwordsafe on my Iphone but must remember the Pin to be able to access these.

Protect yourself when you click, browse and buy online. 

McAfee offers a list of scams and keeping your holiday cheer this year. This website provides info on holiday mobile scams, gift scams, not-so-merry mobile apps and deceptive and dangerous E-seasons greeting and online games.

For complete article: 12 Scams for the season  http://tinyurl.com/m8ohefm

Your secrets aren't safe

Consumer reports (July 2014) wrote an easy to read and understand (6 page) comprehensive article which addresses computer hacks, scams, smart phone hacks, malware, social media, at the doctors office, in the cloud, shopping, travel and how to protect your digital life. It includes a field guide to passwords, how to encrypt and software available to assist.

I encourage you to take time to read and apply these tips to help you attack the problem of hackers and keep you from being a target. http://tinyurl.com/q4yrfav

10 Important Password Tips Everyone Should Know

Vicki Davis writes on CoolCatTeacher and suggests switching to a passphrase, never saving passwords in a web browser, using the site name in your password, using a password manage and substituting numbers and letters. Again, the recommendation of using a unique password for your bank account and email is a reoccurring tip and recommended to change now.
http://tinyurl.com/mrjawko

“Tis the season to shop for High-Tech Toys!

We have smartphones, iPads and iPod touches, 3D TV’s, tablets, and iPad minis, as well as Archos GamePad, PS3, xBox, Oakley Airwave Goggles with GPS, and so much more.  From the silly to the brilliant here are a few ideas.


The JOYSTICK-IT ($14.99) works with any device which features a capacitive touchscreen. This includes the iPad and many Android tablets.







The Olloclip for the iPhone is a 3-1 quick-connect lens solution for the iPhone that includes fisheye, wide-angle, and macro lenses in one small, convenient package that easily fits in your pocket.

Foosball for the iPad (around $100.00) Free app comes with it.  However, if I remember my college days, many many years ago, it could be dangerous for that iPad!

Helix Bendable Bluetooth Speakers ($50.00)  bluetooth speakers with a flexible inner core, that let the user wrap them like a bracelet. From the user’s wrist to their shower head, Helix’s flexible body helps it wrap around what they want, while its water resistant exterior keeps its inner electronics safe, as long as it's not submerged. The Quirky logo serves as an on/off tab, while the user controls it with their bluetooth device.

 

 
Polaroid Z2300 ($167.00) is the newest addition to Polaroid’s instant camera.  It allows users to print snaps instantly.  It produces a 10 megapixel 2 x 3 inch image in full color in under a minute.



 Put the future at your fingertips with a Virtual Laser Keyboard ($99.99 - $200.00). Revolutionary laser technology projects a virtual keyboard on any flat surface.  There are several out there. This one pictured is from Brookstone.

Digits - Conductive Glove Pins ($14.99) Don't let your gloves keep you away from your smartphone! Digits are mini conductive pins that convert the gloves you already own and love into smartphone-compatible gloves.





Tip of the Week:  Shopping Online Safety

1. Keep your computer, browser, and anti-virus software updated.
2. Pay attention to web addresses.  Many malicious websites may look like a legitimate site but may use a variation in spelling or a different domain.  Also look in the address box for the “s” in https:// before any transaction.
   Use a credit card, not a debit card.  With credit cards, laws limit your liability for fraudulent charges.
3. Keep a record of your order and compare when you receive your credit card bill.
4. Don’t use public computers and unsecured wireless connections.