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iPhone vs. Android: MamaBear Weighs in on Smartphone Shopping for Your Kids

iphone vs android kids

It’s a must for the MamaBear team to stay up to date on the latest technology, news and developments in the mobile industry. We strive to deliver the latest technologies available in the major Android and iPhone devices that integrate with our MamaBear family safety promise. Lately we’ve had more than a few parents ask which phones we recommend, and why. Android phones and iPhones are by far the largest portion of the smartphone market. Here’s our comparison to help you determine the best option for your kids.

iPhones for Kids

Pros

There’s no doubt that the iPhone is incredibly popular in design. iPhones integrate well with other Apple products through use of iCloud and offers great device parental controls built in the settings. Kids love Siri and access to many well-regulated apps for hours of entertainment. The ability to save on data costs is also a nice benefit using imessaging when connected to WiFi.

Cons

iPhones are expensive. The designs are so popular that only 2-3 versions of iPhones are on the market and supported by Apple at any given time. Families are also finding that the new power adapter port on the iPhone 5 isn’t compatible with older iPhone technology like docking stations and power cords. Using iPhone with tracking and monitoring apps can also become a bit more difficult as developers have tight guidelines for app features.

Android Phones for Kids

Pros

Unlike iPhones, Android powered smartphones have a wide spectrum of models and prices from several manufacturers. This can give parents leeway to get the phone that fits their family’s needs well. Many Android powered phones tend to have upgradeable memory and are extremely customizable. Another big advantage that comes with Android phones is the insurance that mobile carriers often provide. Android phones are generally easier to insure against loss, theft and accidental damage than with the Apple replacement program. We also experience faster development cycles with greater opportunity to introduce in demand monitoring features like text message monitoring.

Cons

Android phones aren’t without their faults. In general, we’ve seen parents have more success with child safety apps than with built in Android settings. Unlike iPhones, Android phones have hundreds of makes and models. This can make research before buying quite a bit more difficult than picking the popular model in the store. The newest Android operating system aren’t uniform meaning owners of older Android models might have to wait for the newest platform updates.

Iphone Vs Android  for Kids – The Verdict

When it comes to smartphone shopping for the kids, we think the Android platform wins out. Ultimately, the generally lower price points, a wide range of options and ease of replacement makes Android the best option for kids of all ages. In addition, location monitoring, device monitoring also becomes more efficient with Android devices. iPhones are excellent devices and we are definately apple fans, but today we think the Android platform is the best option for our kids. We’re proud to have MamaBear on both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Check it out and let us know what you think!

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The MamaBear Worry Free Parenting App Can Make Checking In Way Easier for Kids

kids can easily check in with the mamabear app

I used to get into so much trouble for not calling my mom when I got to my friends house or to my intended destination when I was kid and given freedom to walk or drive somewhere by myself or with others. It really was the top reason for being grounded when I was younger. I’d like to think that if I had a tool like MamaBear, I’d have been in my room a lot less. The MamaBear App gives kids a way to check in and communicate with parents in an extraordinarily fast and discreet manner.

We designed the children’s logged in view of the MamaBear family safety app to be one of the simplest to use on an Android phone or iPhone. The three button design makes checking in with mom or dad only take a couple of seconds. Kids can check in by turning on the phone, opening the app and pushing a single button. That is literally all it takes for a parent to get a push notification update of the child’s well-being. And if your kids are like me when I was young, I’d forget to communicate at all with my mom, but you’ll still be able to see their location on a map and know they made it safely.

For some kids, particular social environments can feel awkward. Asking a child to take out the phone and actually call a parent to check in may not be a likely occurrence in many modern families. MamaBear makes this whole process easier while ensuring that our kids never feel put out by having to take a moment to check in with us. With a simple “Check In” button the kids can let us know we actually came to mind.

The other two buttons the MamaBear family safety app offers are the ones that might be even more invaluable to our kids – “Come Get Me” and “Emergency”. The “Come Get Me” button allows children to send a quick push notification to you without any conversation – the app will tell you right where they are. This works wonders for kids when doing activities with friends that will require an eventual pick up at an unspecified time. The app speeds up the pick-up process without the child spending time sharing location or what they need.

The most important function and the one we hope our kids never have to use is the “Emergency” button. This is a one button solution for kids in a variety of situations when they need our help. A push notification is quickly sent to the parent and all guardians on the account.

Kids may be resistant to parenting or safety apps like MamaBear. But arming our kids with MamaBear, even when they don’t think they need it, lets them know that we’re always there for them in every situation. As MamaBear continues it’s evolution we’ll be adding more benefits to the child’s log in view. Share your ideas and let’s get them on the roadmap.

To download MamaBear for your Android device click here.

To download MamaBear for your Apple device click here.

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MamaBear Family Safety App Featured on CFN13 News – Demo

The following video is a MamaBear app demo from CFN13 news in Orlando, Florida.

Many parents wonder if they should adopt a family safety GPS tracker app or service. There are many benefits to using a Family Safety GPS Tracker like MamaBear, but we know parents can always use a little more justification.

Visit our blog to discover the top five reasons why our customers use a family GPS tracker like MamaBear, in addition to a few tips on what separates the better family GPS tracker apps here.

The MamaBear Family GPS Tracker app is available for download on Android devices here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.geowaggle.mamabear

and on Apple devices including iPhones here:
http://itunes.apple.com/ke/app/mamabear/id542203931?mt=8

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MamaBear is thankful for YOU.

I make it a personal practice to be in a remaining state of gratitude, thankful for that particular moment, a lesson and wonderful people in my life. Our team’s vision at MamaBear is a world of worry-free parenting and we make sure every business decision, new feature, people we work with fits in our list of company values – family, safety, empathy, trust and privacy. These values are shared among our MamaBear customers that we feel most grateful for trusting us to be a part of their families.

We value family. Yours and ours. It’s our passion for family unity that keeps our team running full steam ahead. It’s the deep bond, love, trust and camaraderie shared in both an immediate and extended family that gives us all the instinct to keep each other safe. We’re thankful for technology that helps bring a family together, even when we’re far apart physically.

We value safety. Our biggest job as parents is to keep our kids safe and now with MamaBear our personal interest have become keeping more than our own kids safe but also all of yours. It’s a complex world with technology moving faster than most parents can keep up with. We’re here to simplify that for you.
We value empathy. Parenthood is a common sentiment that all of us with kids can relate. We love to share stories about our kids and family, it makes us smile, laugh and shows our compassion for one another. We’re thankful for the ability to use social media to gain new and different perspectives on all outlooks of life, share with our children and have an open mind to parenting insight from all corners of the world.

We value trust. Thank you for trusting MamaBear as a tool for your family’s safety. We’re thankful to be trusted by our family and loved ones and for trusting our parenting instincts that we know what is best for our children. We’re thankful for the peace of mind that allows us to trust our children, and for the tools that guide them to make good choices.

We value privacy. You’re trusting us with intimate details about your family’s locations and personal social activities. Your information is safe and secure. We don’t share your information with any third party. Privacy is a MamaBear priority.

Thank you MamaBear customers. We appreciate your support, feedback and trust. It’s my word that we work everyday with each of these values top of mind as we reach for a world of worry-free parenting.
With Constant Gratitude,
Robyn Spoto, President
MamaBear App