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Motherhood, Giveaways and Product Reviews

Testing Out the Palm Pre Plus…Mom-Friendly Features *Giveaway*

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This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Judy B (#60)!

So it’s week number three of my “test drive” and I’m converted.  I really only use my old phone to make calls because I haven’t imported all of my numbers from my old phone into the Palm Pre Plus.

I don’t know if I mentioned this in previous posts, but we are not Verizon subscribers.  Not yet.  But we are seriously considering making the switch.  We are no longer in a contract with our current mobile phone provider and are free to make a change.  Apart from the fact that the phone is user-friendly and offers a ton of features that make my life easier, the service I’ve experienced with Verizon has been very favorable.  Like any mobile phone service provider, there are spots where I don’t get reception.  But those have been very few and far between from my experience with Verizon.

This week I want to highlight some of specific features I think moms will appreciate about the phone.

I tend to be a bit on the disorganized side.  My husband and I utilize an online calendar via Google to keep track of our schedules.  I’ve had many phones with a calendar function but have never made use of it until now.  And that is because I didn’t have to do a lot of work to set the calendar up on the Palm Pre Plus (who has time for that right?).  Since I use an online Google calendar, I was able to sync that calendar into the one on my phone without re-entering any of the information.  If you have multiple online calendars (i.e. Facebook, etc.), you can sync all of those calendars into one calendar for easy viewing on the Palm Pre Plus.  Because the Palm Pre Plus can sync the calendars, I can enter information online via my Google calendar and then keep up with it on my phone.  And just like Google calendar, it’s able to color code individual calendars to keep everyone’s schedules distinct.  The phone also has 3 options for viewing (I prefer the monthly view for at-a-glance viewing and the daily view for a more detailed look at my schedule for the day).

Monthly View

Weekly View

Daily View

Color Coding and Calendar Viewing option

Syncing my calendars

I have lived in Southern California my entire life and still get turned around.  Last week I ended up in someone’s private community trying to get home (and I was less than 10 minutes away from my house).  A GPS is a must-have.  I’ve got play dates to go on, museums to explore with my kids, and new places to venture out to.  VZ Navigator is a paid service through Verizon which enables your phone to be used as a GPS (Global Positioning Services) device.  For $9.99 a month you get the following:

  • Heads-up, voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions with auto re-routing if you miss a turn.
  • Local search of nearly thirteen million points of interest (POIs) in the U.S.A.
  • Detailed color maps that can be quickly panned and zoomed.

I cannot function without a GPS, and I do have one in my car.  But I thought I’d try this one to see how it compares.  I like the fact that it’s up to date (as opposed to my GPS device which desperately needs an upgrade).  I can enter a partial address and it will find it for me.  I also ike the voice-prompted directions (this ensures that I’m truly hands free).  There are three things I would love to see improved.

1.  Continued navigation, even if I’m using another application (such as email).

2.  I’d love to have an audible notification upon my arrival to my destination.

3.  I’m not sure if it’s just with the Palm Pre Plus, but I have to click to confirm re-routing which doesn’t make it entire hands-free.

Here are some screen captures from my recent trips, using VZ Navigator:

Find a gas station, go shopping, or a restaurant near your location.

Thai sounds good!

Coffee break?

What’s the weather like today?

Where is the cheapest gas?

What’s new on the big screen?

The Palm Pre Plus allows you to organize, multi-task, schedule, and stay connected.  It truly is a “smart” phone.  Be sure to come back next week as I conclude my test drive.  That’s not to say that you won’t be eharing more about this phone…because you will.  The company is constantly working on upgrades to improve it’s usability.  In fact, I just got a message, notifying me that I have a new video capture update.  Since I haven’t even begun to explore it, I’ll save that for next week!  Here is a little video I made to show you the phone in action:


And for another perspective on the Palm Pre Plus (plus even more opportunities to win a Verizon GC), check out these fabulous gals’ reviews:

Busy Mom

Manic Mommies

Musings of a Housewife

Mom Generations

Mom Trends

Quirky Fusion

Win It! I have one more $25 Verizon gift card to give away.  Simply leave me a question you have about the Palm Pre Plus.  I will try to answer as many of them as I can in my last post.  But rest assured that the company is listening so this is a great opportunity have your question sent to the team I’m working with. Comments will close on March 14, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.  Please use the hashtag #VerizonPalmPrePlus

Bonus:  If you come back each week and comment, you’ll get an extra entry into the Palm Pre Plus giveaway.  You must comment on each of the four posts to get the extra entry.

Vote for Rockin’ Mama for the Hot Blogger Calendar

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

I wrote this review while working on a Verizon Palm Pre Plus campaign by TheMotherhood.com on behalf of Verizon Wireless and have been given a Palm Pre Plus (and prizes for giveaways) to facilitate my review.

Caryn Bailey
Latest posts by Caryn Bailey (see all)

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114 Responses to Testing Out the Palm Pre Plus…Mom-Friendly Features *Giveaway*

  11. i have found that Verizon has better service than T-mobile or AT&T – so props for that! I’m wondering if additional apps will be added? How many apps are available on the Pal Pre Plus currently?

    Reply

  17. Will the Pre+ get better reception that my regular phone? We are Verizon customers, but no, you can not always “hear me now”. Yes, we live in a tiny town in the Midwest, but were hopeful that when Verizon bought out our previous carrier that things would get better. They haven’t.

    Reply

  27. My husband has a Verizon hybrid product with push to talk through work.
    Does this have a push to talk feature? Thanks for sponsoring this contest.

    Reply

  30. Can you customize ringtones and text tones…I like having a particular song play when different members of my family call me…it’s like caller-id when I can’t find my phone but can hear it ringing, I know who is calling me before I find it.

    Reply

  33. Can you do more than 1 thing at a time? My phone will drop the navigation if I get a text message.

    Reply

  34. How shock resistant is it? I am rough with my phones so just wondering have you dropped it and did it work ok? Does it scratch easily?

    Reply

  35. Would love to help with some of the above questions! But, for the sake of the contest, how difficult is it to download music? BTW I am LOVIN’ this phone!

    Reply

  36. What about durability?? Sceen getting scratched, etc. My kids play with mine and I want to make sure if I did fork over the cash for one that it stayed nice (and working, but that’s another story! LOL).

    Reply

  39. I am a busy mom with a part time business. The Palm Pre Plus would be helpful to like up both sides of my brain!! The “PixelPipeline” would help for my blog/newpaper column and who couldn’t use the “Shopping Manager”??
    The Palm Pre’s the phone for me!!

    Reply

  40. would love to try this! i’m sick of missing out on emails sent to my home and i’m at a game that has just been canceled! How much does it cost (any additional $$) per month for service? thanks.

    Reply

  48. How much is the monthly fee? Also, is it intuitive? I hate wading through a manual – I want to be able to look at it and use it.

    Reply

  53. I forgot to ask what you think the “keyboard” is like. Did you have a hard time “typing”???

    Thanks!!! 🙂

    Reply

  60. Can you record video and then upload it to YouTube from the phone? I saw the commercials a few weekds ago and I was very interested. I just want a phone that takes good pics and video.

    Reply

  62. Here’s my question: do you think it’ll get all scratched up if I carry it around in my purse? My iPhone is totally destroyed from rubbing up against things in my handbag — you’d think I carry around serrated knives and sandpaper or something.

    Reply

  69. my question…the gps…I am the same way ..canoot go without gps…buttt my husband and I share one so if we had it on our phone that would work great…but is it really that easy..and i mean can you see it while driving?? does it distract you from the road more than a regular gps would? it just seem too small.
    [email protected]

    Reply

  81. How easy is it to type with? Mostly can it be done one handed. I tend to multitask and only have one hand free, if I am lucky.

    Reply

  85. Goddamnit! I want to know why I can’t transfer the apps that I’ve already paid for on my current phone onto any new phone, including the Palm Pre Plus. Why should I have to pay more than once for a program that is supposedly already purchased in ‘unlimited’ mode?!?!?! Way to milk every damn cent out of your customers, Verizon! Too bad I can’t switch because you’ve got the best network around…

    Reply

  88. My husband is good with gadgets, but I’m not ….does it work for those who don’t catch on quickly to these types of things? Also…if it has voice activation…will it recognize any voice? Because most phones, no matter how clearly I speak understand me – same with those darn menu systems on phones – when all you want to do is talk to a live person!

    Reply

  91. I have a prepaid phone (started out with Alltel, now I’m with Verizon due to the buyout). Can I use the Palm Pre with the same number and the pre-paid plan?

    Reply

  92. How is the incoming call sound? I have found it quite common for a lot of new phones to not get all that loud…and I hate speaker phone!

    Reply

  104. i dont have a cellphone myself because i hate when people call me..lol

    but my teenage daughters are on the verizon family plan and id like to know does it have a pager or something to find it when its misplaced..my kids are always saying ..have you seen my phone anywhere?? i get so sick of that 🙁

    Reply

  111. Also curious about battery life. Also, the max size card you can put it in for photos and videos?

    Thanks.

    Reply

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