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Facebook cuts its Portal smart display to $99 for Mother's Day
Mother's Day is less than a month away, and it seems Facebook is hoping you'll consider giving your Mom a Portal or Portal+ to keep in touch with you -- it's running a Mother's Day sale on the smart displays. Until May 12th, Portal will set you back $99 instead of $199. If you decide to pick up a pair of them (maybe, possibly one each for you and Mom), you'll get $200 off, as long at least one is the larger Portal+.
Samsung offers $400 discount on its artsy 'The Frame' TV
When tuned properly, a good TV can offer a window into another world. Samsung knew this when putting together its design-forward Frame TV last year, and now the tech juggernaut is making it easier to put one on your wall. Now through May 12th (the day before Mother's Day) you can pick up a 55-inch or 65-inch model of the UHD display for $400 off, which knocks the price down to $1,598 and $2,398, respectively, on Amazon. That means you can get the 55-inch variant for just a few hundred dollars over what a 43-incher would've cost last November. Mom wanted a fancy TV for her special day, right? It'd sure beat the vacuum cleaner Dad got her last year.
Google Photo's Mother's Day video tool is no substitute for a card
Google often likes to dip its toes into holidays and notable days to remind everyone what its apps can do (and could you use them, please?), and it's recently added a special Mother's Day assistant to its Photos app. Given that Google selects the photos and cuts it all together, it's possibly the lowest-effort Mother's Day 'gift' if you've totally forgotten and / or have no intention of buying a genuine card or seeing mom in person next weekend. (But seriously, you have a week and two days left to sort something, pull it together.)
Facebook tries out temporary reactions for Mother's Day
While it's not the first time Facebook has reminded you to call your mother, the ubiquitous social network is using Mother's Day to test out some temporary Facebook reactions, The Verge notes. Twitter user Sreedev Sharma spotted the dainty purple flower icon in Facebook's source code and a statement from Facebook confirms users in certain markets will be able to leave virtual flowers as reactions for a limited time.
Breakfast Topic: What type of character would your mother play in WoW?
Happy Mother's Day! I suspect that many WoW Insider readers are probably not mothers themselves (though surely some of you are), but I do know most of you are human, which means most of you have a mother or two. As such, I thought I'd use the day to ask this question: what would your mother play in WoW? Would she be a paladin? A warlock? Would she roll as a gnome or a tauren? What about her spec? To answer the question myself, I really had to consider all the angles. Generally I think of my mother as being very kind and nurturing, but I've also seen her stand up to people three times her size and threaten the neighborhood bullies with a gaze of death when I got picked on as a kid. All in all, I figure she's probably a druid since she's fairly attuned to nature and can make anything grow. She'd probably go main spec kitty DPS (she has her moments of being super sneaky) and restoration as her secondary spec. As for what race she'd be ... I see her more as a night elf but I know she'd pick tauren since the cows are so cute. My stepmother, on the other hand, would totally go dwarf elemental shaman. Granted, she'd probably also have four level 90 alts and a bunch of battleground achievements ... She's pretty hardcore when she gets into stuff. She's told me herself that she'd get addicted if she ever started. So, what about your mothers?
Amazon drops 7-inch Kindle Fire HD's price to $179 for Mother's Day
Two can play the discounted-tablet-for-Mother's-Day game. Just a day after Barnes & Noble slashed Nook tablet prices across the board, Amazon has cut the prices of the 7-inch Kindle Fire HD to $179 (16GB) and $209 (32GB) for the occasion. Use the FIRE4MOM code at checkout until May 12th and you'll pocket $20 that could be better spent on flowers... or apps, for that matter. The sale isn't as far ranging as we've seen at the rival bookstore, but those whose moms thrive on Amazon Prime will likely be happy.
Talkcast tonight, 7pm PT/10pm ET: Mamas edition!
Not just Sunday, but Mother's Day Sunday! Once you've wrapped up brunch and presents for Mom, join us for the show tonight! We'll have a little news about system updates and new maps but mostly we want to talk to moms. We'll spend some time with a few of our favorites, provided they aren't still off getting massages or enjoying a Mother's Day that extends well into the evening. Kelly hosting the show means Kelly hosting the aftershow, and you know that's always a good time. Join us for the non-recorded, off-topic, random conversation. Since it's really all about you, the community, join me won't you? To participate, you can use the browser-only Talkshoe client, the embedded Facebook app, or download the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for +5 Interactivity, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the Talkshoe Web button on our profile page at 4 HI/7 PDT/10 pm EDT Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (Viva free weekend minutes!): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *8. If you've got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac, you can connect via the free X-Lite or other SIP clients (aside from Skype or Google Voice), basic instructions are here. Talk to you tonight!
5 apps for Moms on Mother's Day
It's Mother's Day here in the US and in a handful of other countries around the world. To celebrate this holiday, I've compiled a list of five outstanding apps that are perfect for all the iPhone-toting mothers out there. These titles will help Mom get organized, share memorable moments and have some fun. If you have any suggestions not on this list, please add them in the comments. Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms and Moms-to-be! iAllowance ($3.99) iAllowance is a versatile chore manager that lets you set up comprehensive chore charts for several children. Besides listing each child's responsibilities, you can assign a value to each task and let your child earn money, stars or time for each job they do. The app keeps track of each child's earnings, so you can dole out rewards when they reach a specified amount. iAllowance is chock full of features that'll make doing chores as much fun as possible for both parents and their children. Pic Collage (Free) Pic Collage is a free app that lets you choose the best photos of your kids and assemble them quickly and easily into a collage. You can import photos from your camera, your photo library or even Facebook. All photos are dropped onto the canvas and you can resize, rotate and move them to get the right look. Once you've arranged your photos to your liking, you can change the background, add some text and send the masterpiece off to the grandparents. Day One ($1.99) If want to remember those precious times with your kids, you can't go wrong with Day One, a terrific journaling app that makes it easy to jot down your daily thoughts. Day One's strongest feature is its cross-platform availability. You can use Day One on your Mac, iPhone or iPad and sync your entries across devices. Unfortunately, Day One doesn't let you import photos, so you can't add that precious photo of your baby to an entry. Photo support is on the developer's list of upcoming features, and, for me, Day One is such a good journal that I am wiling to wait. If image support is a must-have, then you should check out alternatives like MyOwnDiary HD, My Daily Journal or Dailybook for the iPad. SpellTower ($0.99) There are so many iOS games, but one that always seems to be at the top of my list is SpellTower. The word puzzle game challenges you to spell words using adjacent letter tiles. The game includes several modes including a Tower mode that lets you spell as many words as possible, and a Puzzle mode that adds a row of letter tiles every time you spell a word. There's also a local multiplayer mode, so you can challenge your spouse or kids. AllRecipes Dinner Spinner Pro ($2.99) AllRecipes Dinner Spinner is a cooking app that'll help you find the perfect meal. The DinnerSpinner lets you add an ingredient, shake your phone and retrieve a matching recipe. You can read reviews for each recipe and add the ingredients to your shopping list. If you're an AllRecipes member, the Pro version of Dinner Spinner lets you view your recipe box on your iOS device. You can also share your favorite messages with your family and friends via Facebook, Twitter or email.
Dear Aunt TUAW: What apps should I buy for Mother's Day?
Dear Aunt TUAW, Mother's Day is coming. What apps should I buy for the beloved of my life, the mother of my children. Tom
TUAW Talkcast tonight: Moms, Macs, and mirth at 10 PM EDT
Sunday night is the night that all of your favorite TUAW bloggers and commenters get together for the fun-filled hour called the TUAW Talkcast. Tonight's show starts at 10 PM EDT sharp, and we'll be talking about our mothers (hey, it is Mother's Day and we need to work that into this show somehow...) and as many Apple-related topics as we can possibly come up with. To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, the embedded Facebook app, or the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the "TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 10 pm Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VoIP lines (take advantage of your free cellphone weekend minutes if you like): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *8. If you've got a headset or microphone handy on your Mac, you can connect via the free Gizmo or X-Lite SIP clients; basic instructions are here. Talk with you then! Note: For those who want to listen to the show on iPads or iPhones without calling in, you can try this MP3 streaming link once the show begins -- we're not 100% sure it will work, but do let us know.
TUAW's tips for gifting an iPad for Mother's Day
Still searching for that perfect Mother's Day gift for your mom or wife? Why not get her an iPad? Buy Mom a computer? You're kidding me, right? The iPad's versatility lends itself to some computer-like comparisons. And a natural response to this would be: "Who would want a computer for a Mother's Day gift? That's tacky." This would be similar to Al Bundy buying Peggy a bowling ball, only because he wanted it for himself. Except that it isn't just a computer. As a consumption device, the iPad can also be seen as an appliance. No matter where you put it, it doesn't seem too out of place, and blends in with its surroundings well. This versatility, coupled with its ease-of-use, could make it an ideal gift for mom. Now getting an iPad alone would be tacky. There's little thought behind it. Why not go the extra mile and customize an iPad for her? This will take some legwork, however. But who cares. This is for Mom, right?
Talkcast reminder: Mother's Day edition, 10pm ET
Last week's show featured our own Mike & Kelly, and a surprise visit from guest Ged Maheux of the Iconfactory, talking about the release of Twitterrific 2 for the iPhone -- plus questions and calls from the audience. You can download the show from Talkshoe or subscribe in iTunes.We're back live tonight, and in honor of Mother's Day in the US we'll be talking about Macs and Moms: doing tech support for your parents, encouraging switcher Moms (and Dads), providing advice for would-be Mother's Day iPhone purchasers, and more. Your calls and contributions, as always, are extremely welcome.To participate on TalkShoe, you can use the browser-only client, or you can try out the classic TalkShoe Pro Java client; however, for maximum fun, you should call in. For the web UI, just click the "TalkShoe Web" button on our profile page at 10 pm Sunday. To call in on regular phone or VOIP lines (take advantange of your free cellphone weekend minutes if you like): dial (724) 444-7444 and enter our talkcast ID, 45077 -- during the call, you can request to talk by keying in *-8. Talk with you then! Recording support for the talkcast is provided by Call Recorder from ecamm networks.
It came from the Blog: Revenge of the Orc-Moms
Last Sunday, It came from the Blog celebrated Mother's Day by taking a bunch of female Orcs to the Barrens and telling "Your Mom" jokes. I had a lot of fun and discovered that my ICFTB guildies were very creative. Daniel Whitcomb also joined us with Okasama, his Orc-Mom.On Saturday, I was on the WoW Insider Show with Mike, Turpster, Amanda Dean and her mom, Linda Emrys and we discussed what we would be doing for the event. Turpster joked that we would be telling jokes such as "Your Mom is so supportive, she's like a suspension bridge." I contradicted him on the show, but he ended up being right to a point. Many of the jokes did begin "Your Mom is so cool..." and "Your Mom is so hot...", but there were of course plenty of "Yo mama is so fat..." and the like, as well.
Wii Warm Up: A day for moms
It's that time of year again: Mother's Day!So, we thought we'd ask: has your mother ever played the Wii? If so, what games does she like? If not, do you think there are any games she might enjoy? Perhaps Wii Fit?Go ahead and share any Mother's Day related thoughts here!
DS Daily: Mother's Day
It's Mother's Day today in the U.S. (and perhaps in other countries around the world, too), so it's only fitting to inquire about our readers' moms. So, does your mother own a DS? If so, what led her to getting Nintendo's handheld? What games does she like? (My own mom is a big fan of Tetris and Flash Focus, but that's about it.)Do you think the DS is a mom-friendly system? If so, what games do you recommend for moms? Also, share any other Mother's Day related thoughts here, folks.
The Daily Grind: Gaming moms are win!
We'd like to take this morning to /salute the gaming moms (and grandmas) out there. From some members of our staff who have gaming moms, to other members of the staff who are gaming moms, they are becoming more and more common in the MMOG/VW landscape. We know moms who run guilds in EverQuest, raids in World of Warcraft, create beautiful virtual world content in Second Life, mod large gaming forums, theorycraft, and everything in between! Today, we'd love to hear about any gaming moms you know; friends, guildmates or family! Do the gaming moms in your circle rock the arena? Are they the awesome guild moms who help new players out? Perhaps you are a mom who can tell us about your gaming life as a mom. Whatever the flavor, we here at Massively hope all the moms out there enjoy a day full of epic loot, good times, and lots of pampering! (Also, if you forgot it was Mother's Day in the US and Canada, you still have time to get to the store and get a card!)
OPPO pushes DV-980H upconverting DVD player for Mother's Day
Mum a little overwhelmed with digiframes? Fret not, as OPPO Digital is telling you straight up that a brand new upconverting DVD player is sure to make this Sunday one to remember. C'mon, even you know your mother wouldn't approve of spending a mortgage payment or two on a hamstrung Blu-ray player, and that much newer (and nicer) DV-983H just isn't worth the coin. Our only question is how desperate must you be (or overran with excess inventory) to pimp a 9-month old upscaling DVD player for Mom's Day? Ah well, we've certainly seen worse.
New York Times one half
With the release of Crosswords DS this week, will a $10 price cut compel you to buy New York Times Crosswords instead? Amazon's "Deal of the Day" happens to be everyone's favorite alf-loving crossword game (again). While $10 for any game is hard to resist, keep in mind that puzzles from the New York Times are tough -- make sure you have the mental fortitude before picking this one up. You might also want to note, though, that Mother's Day will be here soon, and this might make a nice, cheap gift for DS-owning moms.
It came from the Blog: Mother's Day event
You are cordially invited to join It came from the Blog for a very silly event on Mother's Day. We are going to pay tribute to the women who brought us into this world by going to the place where she is mentioned daily: The Barrens. I know, she's not exactly mentioned with respect there. But the thing about Ur Mom jokes is that they are jokes. No one in Barrens Chat has actually met your mother, let alone done that with her. And it's time we exact a little revenge for our dear mothers and show that they (and we) have a sense of humor about it.So go to Zangarmarsh server and make an Orc Female with a name that includes some form of "mother" in it. I made one named Mutti, which is the German word for Mommy. No, I'm not saying my or your or anyone's mother looks like an Orc Female. And I don't think my mom ever sported a belly shirt, let alone a mohawk and a nose ring. These females will not be representing the way your mom looks, but instead her inner warrior (or shaman or whatever).More details are after the jump.
More iPod touch refurb love at woot.com
Update: Sold out, folks -- sorry! We'll keep an eye out for more refurb deals.Looking to pick up a discounted, refurbished 16GB iPod touch? One-day discount vendor woot.com is offering the midrange version of the premium iPod for $290 + $5 shipping, comparing pretty favorably with Apple's refurbished sale price of $329/$349 depending on whether you get the $20 January Software Update bundled in. Judging by the description copy, the woot models don't have the update loaded, but that's still $39 cheaper than Apple's version and $79 less than a new unit, again discounting for the JSU.Like all Woot deals, this is good for today (Saturday 5/3) only and it's valid while supplies last. Mother's Day giftgiving got you scratching your head? Need another touch as your development unit? Looking for a movie player for long car trips? Might want to pick one up. I've gotten in the habit of watching TV shows on my touch during my NYC subway commute; a 44-minute Lost is just about right for the ride. 16GB would mean less shuffling of episodes... where's that rebate stimulus check again?Thanks Matthew
