REVIEW N86- Camera phone (Nokia)

As you know, I am not a geek (meant in a nice way… !), and can find my way around most things pretty ok though it makes sense for me to buy appliances and gadgets that do the job without too many distracting bells and whistles! Finding products in this technology-led age we live in without too much “detail” packed in can be difficult but this handset ticks all the boxes for me. Simple, smooth and does the job!

One of my New Year “intentions” is to take more photos. Not just posed, in the house ones but to do a better job of capturing our lives out and about, and of course recording and sharing our gorgeous North Yorkshire scenery! As a Mum I tend to lug about an enormous amount of well crap around so for me it is a good idea to reduce the bulk and have a phone with a camera that will do the job.

Paul at Womworld suggested I give the Nokia N86 a go, as the camera is a good one!

On opening up the box and lifting out the phone my first thought was “This is heavy!” – ok not heavy as in you’d need a week in the gym to enable you to lug it around, but more substantial than my current phone. This is not a bad thing!

The first thing I tested out, although this more a camera review than anything else, were the “usual” functions, and I was impressed. As well as the usual text, call, email etc this phone is packed with features to help you keep organised (definitely a plus point for a busy Mum or Dad!).

So.. the breakdown.

  • This is a substantial phone, not too heavy but certainly not flimsy like some I have had.
  • A slide phone – I much prefer slides or clam-type phone to permanently “open” ones.
  • Buttons – real buttons, no touchscreen in sight! (I worry about the day the touchscreen takes over from proper keys altogether as I just can’t get on with touchscreen!)
  • Easy take! Often things happen very quickly when out and about and by the time you’ve fumbled in the bag and got your tradition camera out and switched on, the moment has passed. With this phone it’s a case of sliding the camera lens cover open and pressing a button.
  • It is very easy to sort, store and tag your photos. In the past I have been terrible at organising my pics – but no more. I like to have things labelled and in the right place and this is very easy to do on the phone, and transfer to your pc.
  • PC transfer – very easy! You can connect your phone via USB for fast download.
  • Sharing – it is very quick and easy to send your pics on via message or email (if you have this set up), or you can sign up online to share (Nokia Ovi).
  • Photography features include panoramic pictures (my kitchen never looked so big lol),  autofocus (great for wriggly subject matter!), fast shutter, a timer and much more. It is basically everything you would want from a separate camera, wrapped up in a convenient bundle.

And the quality….

I think that speaks for itself – don’t you?

As a Mum & Blogger – I sincerely hope this camera is one of the options I have come upgrade time because for what I would use it for – it’s perfect!

 

Review: Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Monitor & Sensor Pad

When Tommee Tippee (TT) asked me if I wanted to review a monitor I was chuffed. It was the one thing we hadn’t managed to get picked up yet and so handy. When it arrived I got a hell of a shock. Monitor? This is the Uber Monitor, and looks something like you’d see on Star Trek – very swish. First thoughts? “How the hell am I going to set THIS up?!”. Luckily this nifty bit of kit comes with idiot-proof instructions and we soon had it up and running.

This set includes:

  • 2 way monitor including talk-back
  • Sensor pad
  • Digital room temperature monitor
  • Nightlight.

Monitor: The monitor  at first I thought was broken. You can touch a button to hear the babies room but thats no good for me, what if I get distracted and forget to press & check regularly? Rubbish! THEN I realised the monitor was activited by sound (and you can set the sensitivity of this!). Absolutely excellent ,no listening to that “fuzz” sound trying to pick out whether that was a snort or not. When there is sound coming through a light shows too, (the louder the noise the more lights light up), very handy when Taylor was in his cot upstairs and I was cleaning in the kitchen with the washer and dryer on!

*Please note that when setting up the monitor for the first time, it is inevitable that someone will try being Darth Vader from Star Wars…. repeatedly.

Sensor. Again ridiculously easy to set up and understand and a very reassuring piece of kit for many. I however am not now using the sensor pad simply because it makes me feel paranoid! Silly I know but that is just me. Luckily you can purchase the monitor separately  if you choose so you have both options.

Digital room temp monitor. Another useful bit of kit. The temperature is displayed in both the nursery and on the parent unit.

Nightlight. A reassuring glow which you can turn up and down or even on and off remotely using the parent unit.

Packed with extra features such a a 300m range, adjustable settings so you can personalise the way the unit works for you, a paging function so you can find the missing parent unit, and a recharging docking station for ease of use, this is the sensible and in my opinion, best choice for a new parent.

The unit can be purchase (both with or without the sensor pad) from Argos , and will be available from Mothercare, Boots and direct from the Tommee Tippee website by the end of the month. The set with sensor is currently retailing at £99.99 and without £64.99.

** Obviously baby safety is a serious issue but I have to say I had a hell of a time tormenting Kieran with the 2-way talkback on the monitor. I was in the nursery mumbling when I heard a voice (from up the stairs).

  • Kieran: Hello, who is there?
  • Mummy: It’s meeeee
  • Kieran: Who is me>
  • Mummy: I am the Voice
  • Kieran: What are you doing in the walkie talkie Voice?
  • Mummy: I am making sure you are behaving yourself.
  • Kieran: Oooh, I am!
  • Mummy: Have you got your shoes on? (which I asked him to do before I came up)
  • Kieran: Oh yes Voice!
  • I heard Roy from downstairs say “No you haven’t, don’t tell fibs” so….
  • Me: DON’T LIE TO THE VOICE! (I boomed).
  • Well I could hear him scuttle off to the shoe cupboard with a yelp from upstairs. I was laughing so hard by the time he came back!
  • Kieran: Mummy? Is that you laughing in the Walkie Talkie?
  • Mummy: (Sob!) Um yes!
  • Kieran: Oh Mummy! You tricked me!
  • And as an afterthought:
  • Kieran: But I DO have my shoes on now 🙂