My favorite robots

My love for little robots has flourished thanks to the people of iRobot and hexbug.
My husband brought home Roomba to our family and it has been a great addition. This little guy fits under our beds and couches and rids our house of the scary dust bunnies collecting under these hard to move items. He runs every other day on set schedule and returns to the dock to recharge. But its only when I am emptying the bin do I see just how well this works at picking up the dust, cat hair, dropped and hidden food from my toddlers, and just all around dirt. I have gone from vacuuming everyday with my cleaning companion Dyson to just about once a week. I know it seems a bit extreme to have to vacuum so often, but when you live with 2 cats, 2 toddlers and 2 people in the house whose allergies hit the roof when the dust levels increase in minute increments, then vacuuming everyday everything is just second nature.
I must warn that the little toys that my toddlers use to "test" the Roomba do get sucked up, so make sure to pick up the little things before the robot "eats" them! Battery life is impressive and my wood floors covered with area rugs do get a thorough cleaning, as proven by the tracks he leaves. I am particularly impressed in the kitchen area where everything from outside dirt to dropped food to kitty litter ends up and gets sucked up without abandon. I love it. I haven't had to sweep a floor at all!!!
On to the Hexbug. My children saw these at Radio Shack when we were shopping for a birthday present for daddy, we got one, a purple Nano. Well 2 Hexbug Nanos and 2 extra battery packages later and the kids are thrilled and distracted. So much so that the kiddos gave one to their friend for a birthday present. I do love how the little robot drives itself around unpredictably on the floor and tables. The kids laugh and giggle at their little friends and have even turned to taunting the cats with them. I recently saw that Hexbug has added more creatures to its family and am preparing to add to our small collection at home.

iPhone 3GS

Well I upgraded my oldschool iPhone to the 3GS one just in time to see the 4GS get released a few weeks later. I must say that I am fairly impressed with the speeds at which this does operate. I am eager to purchase the Nike shoe inserts to try out the technology there. I am sold on the video recording, the kiddos have made some nice home videos on the fly for me! Big plus - I no longer have to use an adapter to plug in my Shure headphones to get some tunes.
I have on occasion experienced some technical glitches with my new device since day one that I have had worked on at the Genius Bar, not completely ridding it of its flaws, but making them more tolerable. I have been using my iPhone inside the Otterbox Defender series case (in black) and no matter what way I used the button, I could not get the iPhone to respond consistently. Then I took the case off, and still had the problem. It was happening when I pushed the button on the left side, apparently it only liked to be pushed from the center, not something I can definitely make happen while inside the case. Well, the patient Genius Bar gentleman heard my pleas, took the phone apart and the button now works on the left side, but will not always respond when pushed at the top. Annoyance level downgraded.
Not sure if anyone else has had the problem because I haven't looked it up, but sometimes my iPhone shuts off the app that I am in. For instance, I will be trying to read a news article in AP, and as its trying to load, the app shuts down. Or I am trying to get the weather for today and it closes up.
My hubby told me a few days ago that I have to upgrade to the 4GS so that he can use an app with me that I can't get on my 3GS...I told him I'd have to think about it!!!
I always look forward to the software upgrade releases in hopes that the thing that isn't working for me gets fixed, so keep it up geniuses at Apple, you are appreciated!