How do you keep your precious voicemail messages?
If you’re like me, you’ve had voicemail messages from your loved ones saved in your mobile or home phone voicemail for some time. Unfortunately, voicemail is not like a safe, and sometimes these messages are deleted. If you want to protect your precious messages, there are solutions. I used a microphone connected to my computer and the Audacity app. I played the saved messages from my phone near the microphone to record them, then converted them into MP3 files that are now safe in my computer and its automatic backups. You can also do the same thing using two cell phones and an audio recording app, such as Smart Recorder or Recforge 2 on Android and Recorder Plus or Audioshare on iOS. Don’t dawdle too much and make these backups early this year to make sure you keep important messages from your loved ones! As for yourself, have you found another solution to keep your important voicemail messages?“My phone is not a toy!”
That’s what most of us say when we don’t want our kids to use our mobile devices. And it’s true, a $700 phone is definitely not a toy. That said, phones and tables are undeniably a source of entertainment for children. The occasional cartoon, a game now and then… Kids are increasingly comfortable with technology and are very skilled at using electronic devices. When they play under parental supervision, there’s no problem. But the truth of the matter is that we often hand over our cell phones when we need to occupy little ones as we rush to finish the dishes or change the younger sibling’s diaper. It’s also a go-to solution for long car rides or when confined home. You may be glad to know that you can limit how your phone is used by deactivating features and restricting access to certain applications. All this results in a “safer” environment for your kids. Here are a few free solutions that you might find useful. Apple owners will be interested in a cool feature that can temporarily turn your device into a single application: Guided Access. It’s great because young users can’t open anything that hasn’t been authorized by you. All they get is one game or application (like YouTube), and if they want to access something else, they will need your passcode or fingerprint. To access this feature, go to: Settings > General > Accessibility > Guided Access. You’ll notice that Guided Access offers other types of configurations, such as disabling certain commands or areas of your screen. It’s up to you to decide what you’d like to lock your kids out of. Android offers several different application management options. Samsung’s Kids Mode, which is available in the Play Store (where you buy apps for Android phones and tablets), allows you to set limits on how your device is used and decide which content your children can access. Obviously, the user can’t exit this mode without your PIN. Play Store actually has many applications that provide parental control. Note that free applications sometimes play ads or prompt you to pay for the “premium” version. Take the time to test the app before passing it over to your son or daughter. One thing is for sure: if you give an Android phone or tablet to your child, make sure you restrict downloads in Play Store to age-appropriate content. You can do this by going to: Play Store: Menu > Settings > Parental control. When you activate Parental control, you will have to create a PIN and select the right classification level for games and apps. Google has also just released FAMILY LINK, a new app that helps you analyze and supervise device usage. How much time does your child spend in front of the screen? What are their favourite apps? FAMILY LINK can even lock the device at certain times of day or manage purchases. Finally, it’s helpful to remember that kids are supposed to be bored sometimes. Letting them use your phone while they wait for the adults to finish eating might seem like an easy and practical solution, but idle time may also help develop their creativity 😉 Best of luck!988: New Suicide Crisis Helpline
988 is Canada's new helpline for anyone thinking about suicide or worried about someone they know. The line offers urgent and direct telephone and text support to people in every province and territory of the country. Dial 988 for free assistance, in English or French, 24 hours a day. Trained counsellors will answer calls and text messages, listening non-judgmentally and providing support. To find out more, see our article on useful numbers.
