Movie Reviews For Families

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We have talked before about selecting movies that are uplifting and portray good family values–for example, “Using Movies From the Lord’s Side of the Line,” “Best Positive/Uplifting Movies Ever,” and “Taking Control Back from Hollywood.”

This article highlights several sites that review movies from a family perspective.

1. The Mormon Movie Guy (mormonmovieguy.com) provides Hollywood film reviews from a Latter-Day Saint perspective. On his About page, Mormon Movie Guy Jonathan Decker says he has “a passion for cinema and especially for pointing people to great films that they might otherwise overlook.” In an article about what makes media good, Jonathan mentions that many Latter-Day Saints “have a mental moral checklist; this is to say that we look for what is absent (sex, harsh profanity, glorified and sadistic violence, etc.). While this is important, we may not focus enough on what is present in the films and TV shows we watch. A film can be inoffensive without uplifting the soul.” He defines truly good media as ”media of substance which, to paraphrase Elder Ballard, uplifts, entertains, and accurately depicts the consequences of moral choices.” He provides a content overview as well as messages to discuss with the family.

2. Common Sense media (CommonSenseMedia.org/reviews) uses a ratings scale of 1 to 5, evaluating positive messages, positive role models, violence, sex, language, consumerism, and drinking/drugs/smoking. Each rating has a explanatory paragraph. It also brings up questions that you may want to discuss with your children after the movie.

3. Kids in Mind (kids-in-mind.com) rates questionable material in 3 categories: sex & nudity, violence & gore, and profanity. It also details in a comprehensive all the instances of such content in each category.

4. Deseret News Family Media Guide (deseretnews.com/familymedia) is in its beta stage. It uses content descriptions and 1-to-10 scales from Kids in Mind, but it has a few unique features–a “What do you think this movie should be rated? feature to see how other voters think and a “worth your time” scale recommendation.

5. Focus on the Family’s Plugged In (pluggedin.com) site covers all the topics needed. It had a brief plot synopsis and reviews all the positive and spiritual elements of the film. It also delineates the sexual, violent, crude/profane, and drug/alcohol content. It neatly wraps up the package with a conclusion that ties all the elements together to help you decide if this movie is worth watching.

6. Movie Mom (blog.beliefnet.com/moviemom) provides age ratings. The site addresses the same basic categories as other sites, but also writes a full review of the movie and provides family discussion topics and suggestions for similar movies.

7. Parent Previews (ParentPreviews.com) ties with Common Sense Media for the best overall balance of breadth and depth. Each movie gets an overall grade, as well as a grade in four classes: violence, sexual content, language, and drugs/alcohol. It has a “talk it over” section with discussions questions. It also has suggestions for similar films.

Try these out and let us know which one  you like the best? Thanks to “{A&E} Finding Clean Movies” from LDS Living, Jan/Feb 2012, p. 27. If you have questions or want to recommend other review sites, please comment below.

Click up to 3 favorites below or leave a comment. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

from LDS Media Talk http://ldsmediatalk.com

Music Smasher searches Spotify, Rdio, MOG and more in one shot

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/16/music-smasher-searches-spotify-rdio-mog-and-more-in-one-shot/

When it comes to streaming music services are you something of an agnostic? That's not necessarily a bad thing -- Spotify, Rdio, MOG, Grooveshark, etc... all have their strengths and weaknesses (Spotify, for example, is a great source for Norwegian black metal). The trouble is, it's neither fun nor easy to jump from app to app, web site to web site just to find what you're looking for. Music Smasher simplifies things by letting you search most of the big sources in online streaming tunes simultaneously. It trolls the four services mentioned earlier, as well as SoundCloud and Bandcamp. Well, it searches Grooveshark in theory, but every query we tried simply returned undefined results. Hit up the source to try it out for yourself.

Music Smasher searches Spotify, Rdio, MOG and more in one shot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

HP unveils Z1 all-in-one workstation: 27-inch IPS display, starts at $1,899

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/14/hp-unveils-z1-all-in-one-workstation/

If you fancy yourself a power user, HP's got a "world's first" trick up its sleeve that might lure you in. Earlier today, the Palo Alto outfit took the wraps off its newest all-in-one, the HP Z1. This workstation is a mere distant cousin to HP's consumer-focused Omni and TouchSmart lines -- not that that's a bad thing. The machine comes sporting a 27-inch, 2560 x 1440, IPS display, the back of which snaps open for easy access when making hardware tweaks and, if you wisely choose to take the premium road, you could be walking out with a quad-core Intel Xeon CPU and NVIDIA Quadro graphics, as well as your choice of a 160GB or 300GB SSD for storage. Needless to say, it all depends on how much dough you're willing to part with. HP says the Z1 is expected to ship around April, with the lowest-end model starting at $1,899. It'll be a while before you can get your hands on one, but in the meantime you can keep yourself entertained by checking out those glossy press shots below.

Gallery: HP Z1 press shots

Continue reading HP unveils Z1 all-in-one workstation: 27-inch IPS display, starts at $1,899

HP unveils Z1 all-in-one workstation: 27-inch IPS display, starts at $1,899 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Aereo puts TV antennas in the cloud, streams OTA broadcasts on the internet

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/14/aereo-puts-an-antenna-in-the-cloud-streams-ota-television-broad/

We've all heard about SlingBox, that nifty bit of kit that lets you stream your cable or satellite television to the mobile device of your choice, and now a new company called Aereo aims to provide a similar service for OTA broadcast television. The service costs $12 dollars a month and will launch March 14th, but is only available to folks in New York City through Aereo's HTML5-powered website. It'll stream all the major networks, and also offers a cloud-based DVR service on the internet-connected device of your choosing, whether it's a media streamer, phone, tablet or TV. Aereo's powered by large devices containing tons of tiny, dime-sized TV antennas connected to the cloud, with individual antennas corresponding to individual users -- giving each the ability to tune into one channel at a time. Intrigued as much as we are? Learn all about Aereo's new service at the source link below.

Aereo puts TV antennas in the cloud, streams OTA broadcasts on the internet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

2012 HDTV pricing leaks out for Panasonic, Sony, Sharp and Samsung

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/2012-hdtv-pricing-leaks-out-for-panasonic-sony-sharp-and-samsu/

The madness of CES 2012 is long over and now that we've seen all of the new HDTVs, it's time to find out when they're actually going on sale, and for how much. HDGuru has just dug up advertised pricing for some of the new models from Sony (BX, EX and HX lines) and Sharp (640, 745, 844, 847 and 945), while US pricing and ship dates for Panasonic's new plasmas have been revealed by Value Electronics. For Samsung, some of the new HDTVs have already showed up for preorders at retailers like Vanns, including the top of the line 75-inch ES8000 priced at $7,999, while a more reasonably sized 46-inch model is $2,699. Sony's prices range from $399 for the KDL-32BX320 to $2299 for the KDL-55HX750, while Sharp's range from LC-46-L540U for $1,099 to the LC-80LE844U for $6,499. Most of the ship dates are still TBA, although Panasonic is planning to unleash the ST50 later this month, followed by the UT50 and GT50, then the top of the line VT50 in May. While we wait for official announcements, you can hit the source links below for more details, and let us know if you've seen any other 2012 model information peeking out early.

2012 HDTV pricing leaks out for Panasonic, Sony, Sharp and Samsung originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Record-breaking freefall advances space suit technology (video)

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/freefall-requires-custom-spacesuit/

Jumping to Earth from the edge of space is no mean feat. Not only are you dropping like a stone, there's also the minor issue of your blood boiling as you do so. These are challenges daredevil Felix Baumgartner and the Red Bull Stratos team will be taking head-on -- literally -- with their record-breaking 120,000 foot "spacedive." To ensure Baumgartner lives to claim his honors, the Stratos team is using a custom spacesuit. It's designed by the David Clark Company, which made the first pressurized suits for World War II fighters, and includes a gas-filled bladder and integrated valve to maintain pressure over the various altitudes. While Baumgartner hopes to set new freefall distance, and time (5 minutes 30 seconds) records, there'll also be a lasting contribution to science, with team medical director Dr. Jonathan Clark hoping the developments can lead to advances in space travel and tourism. So in the future when you're opening your pretzels, looking down upon the Earth, raise a complimentary glass to Felix

Continue reading Record-breaking freefall advances space suit technology (video)

Record-breaking freefall advances space suit technology (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Vonage Mobile app allows free calls and texts worldwide to fellow Android and iOS users

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/vonage-mobile-app-allows-free-calls-and-texts-ios-android/

Looking to save some coin on those international calls to your mates in Brussels? Vonage has just rolled out new Android and iOS apps that do just that. The Vonage Mobile app offers free talk and text for corresponding with fellow app users worldwide by way of WiFi or data connection. Need to update app-less Auntie Em while backpacking through the Swiss Alps? The outfit says it'll save you 70% over major carriers and costs 30% less than Skype. For calls to folks without the app, users can add calling credit in either $4.99 or $9.99 increments right from the iTunes store or Android Market. The software also makes use of your existing number and extensive list of contacts without the need to create another username. Right now, calls to any phone in the US of A, Canada or Puerto Rico are free from the app for a limited time -- so long as you stay under 3000 minutes per month, of course. Hit the source link or PR below for more information before heading to your app repository to snag the free download.

Continue reading Vonage Mobile app allows free calls and texts worldwide to fellow Android and iOS users

Vonage Mobile app allows free calls and texts worldwide to fellow Android and iOS users originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Microsoft celebrating leap year right by launching Windows 8 Consumer Preview at MWC

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/microsoft-celebrating-leap-year-right-by-launching-windows-8-con/

Perhaps celebrating a push toward the mobile space with its traditionally desktop-bound OS -- or maybe just doing its best to further confuse the similar naming conventions with its forthcoming smartphone operating system -- Microsoft today sent out invites for a February 29th Mobile World Congress event that will see the launch of its Windows 8 Consumer Preview. Details are scarce about the two-hour event, but you'd better believe that we'll be there in Barcelona with bells on.

Microsoft celebrating leap year right by launching Windows 8 Consumer Preview at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Bridge the Gap between WHS, iTunes and Home Sharing

http://www.mswhs.com/2012/02/bridge-the-gap-between-whs-itunes-and-home-sharing/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MSWHS+%28MS+Windows+Home+Server%29

The Doc’s World explains his experience of using iHomeServer, a product which bridges the gap between WHS, iTunes and Home Sharing.

“…if you are in the iTunes ecosystem and running a Windows Home Server, you might look into this product to see if will benefit you as much as it did me.”

Its an interesting read and as the writer states, if you are a iTunes and WHS user as it allows these two platforms to co-exist and not only work, but actually complement each other.

You can find the article here.

Bridge the Gap between WHS, iTunes and Home Sharing is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

from MSWHS.com http://www.mswhs.com

Google (finally) brings Chrome to Android

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2012/02/chrome-finally-brings-modern-web-standards-to-android.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss

Google is finally bringing Chrome to the Android platform. A beta release of the increasingly popular Web browser was published this morning in the Android Market and is available to users who are running Android 4. The port includes Chrome's advanced HTML rendering engine and many of the browser's popular features.

The Chrome beta is designed to run on both phones and tablets. The tablet version of the user interface is nearly a perfect match of Chrome on the desktop, including the distinctive slanted tab design. The phone version has a more compressed interface, suitable for smaller screens, and includes the standard Chrome features such as the Omnibar and application shortcut pane.

Read the comments on this post

from Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com/index.php

Google Chrome browser arrives on Android (video)

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/google-chrome-browser-arrives-on-android-video/

The latest step in bringing Google-based unification has arrived. The Chrome browser is here on Android. This beta version is currently only available for that elite crowd of ICS phones and tablets and like its desktop progenitor, the synced settings and bookmarks are all in tow. Expect to see a new, more natural mobile view of the tab system. It'll also remember what you were last looking at on your desktop Chrome browser, and sync it across to your mobile device -- it's like Kindle or iBook's bookmarking system, but for the web. Your autocorrect content from the desktop is similarly synced. Expect to see the reappearance of link previews, something you may recall from the results of any Google searches, offering a brief thumbnail of a link's destination. We're giving it a good play-around right now, but while we get our first impression up, check the quick intro video after the break.

Update: Here's our hands-on. With video, naturally. Another more in-depth video from Google can also be found after the break.

Continue reading Google Chrome browser arrives on Android (video)

Google Chrome browser arrives on Android (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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from Engadget http://www.engadget.com

Archive TV with Windows Home Server 2011

http://www.mswhs.com/2012/02/archive-tv-with-windows-home-server-2011/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MSWHS+%28MS+Windows+Home+Server%29

The Digital Media Zone has put together a guide on how to automate recorded TV backups on Windows Home Server 2011.

All you need to accomplish this is separate storage drives in your WHS 2011 and Windows 7 running Windows Media Center.

In the guide the guys explain how to get this setup and running, which you can find here.

Archive TV with Windows Home Server 2011 is a post from: MS Windows Home Server - Your Personal Guide to Microsoft Windows Home Server!

from MSWHS.com http://www.mswhs.com