iPod Parental Controls

 Mobicip recommends www.iautism.info for App reviews that support children with autism and parents that have children with autism. According to their site, "the purpose of this blog is to work in this direction by collecting information related to the use of visual and tactile technology such as the iPhone, the iPod touch and the iPad for people with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorders)."

They ask and share, "Can cell phones and touch-type devices like the iPhone, the iPod touch or the iPad be used to enhance learning, communication and entertainment for people with ASD? Seeing the first worldwide experiences, the feeling is YES!, and even in a very notable way."

The iAutism blog was born on September 11, 2010 from the hands of Francesc Sistach and Susana Vila, parents of Sara, a beautiful girl with autism. The founders share, "for some years now there have been a few specific apps for people with autism (as well as for people with Down’s Syndrome, etc.) based on the iPhone and the iPod touch, many of which are beginning to appear now for the iPad. In addition, there are thousands of educational and entertainment apps, some better adapted than others for people with various disorders. In any case, as with any “new technology”, it will be good to study this thoroughly, to see how to integrate it into the environment of the person with ASD, to test it, and to help their creators to improve it."

We completely agree with iAutism.info about the importance of mobile education and we applaud them for taking the time to educate readers about helpful apps for children with autism and learning disorders.

It is never too late to say "Thank you" to our loyal fans, schools, students and online education bloggers. When you get a break, take the time to read the following articles about keeping online education safe and secure on mobile devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad), Windows PCs, and Ubuntu Linux netbooks, laptops, tablets or desktops. You might notice that some of these authors do not mention Mobicip Web filter HOWEVER these articles touch upon the problem  we solve and we are happy to share in order to keep the Internet safe and secure.

1. Parental Control on Smartphone

2. Mobile Malware Crisis? Not So Fast

3. How are you monitoring internet when kids play on your phone?

4. Tech Journal: Making the Web Safe for Your Kids

5. KinderTown Launches Educational App Store For Parents

6. Kids and technology: The new rules of online safety

7. Committee proposes purchasing iPads for teachers, every high school student

8. ERFAE members get student demonstration of tablet computers

9. How to share one Mac with your family

Jean, from Deepthoughtsbyjean.wordpress.com, recently posted a great blog titled: "Parental Control Resources for iPod, iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac".  She shares that she just got a new iPhone for her birthday (her first smart phone ever!) and her daughter inherited her iPod touch.  

Jean's immediate question was: "Are there any parental control options available on these devices?" And so her research began. 

For child Internet safety tips and advice, we recommend you read the complete blog here: http://deepthoughtsbyjean.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/parental-control-resources/

We recently received news in the Mobicip Forum that the App Store ratings are not accurate. For example, Bing is rated as 4+ and anyone can download and search.  This needs to be changed ASAP so that kids are not allowed to use this for open searches.  One of our customers recently created a Facebook page called "Protect Kids From the App Store" to promote safe browsing and downloading from the App Store.

Please read comments below from the forum thread:
Posted by Guest on Wed, 05/25/2011 - 09:22:  "Unfortunately, Bing is back to being rated 4+.  And worse, Bing is just the tip of the iceberg.  I would estimate that about 50% of the apps available on the App Store have an unfiltered embedded browser.  I have contacted Apple about the problem, and they say that they will work on a solution, but they are moving incredibly slowly.  I'm hoping that we can get enough people to put pressure on them (and maybe put them in the media spotlight a little), that they will make a concrete change in their policy.

To that end, I've started a Facebook Page called "Protect Kids From the App Store".  I've included a list of other apps that allow unfiltered access to the Internet (along with the number of links to get there).  If you would like to help, then please spread the word on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Protect-Kids-From-the-App-Store/137201153016417

Thanks for the help."

The Mobicip forum guest is absolutely right.  While Apple has corrected the ratings for most other browser apps (like Opera, Privately, etc.)  Bing and Google continue to be incorrectly rated at 4+.  It will certainly help if parents like you contact Apple and voice your concern.  Also, thank you for taking action and creating the "Protect Kids From the App Store" facebook page.

At Mobicip, we are very lucky to serve quality customers. They are a great support team, they notify us when they need help and they let us know when they are satisfied and happy. We are grateful to have an open communication with our customers and supporters. Our number one goal is to provide safe and protected mobile learning and browsing. Thank you Sandy Plains Elementary School Principal Harry Walker, The Daily Digi and WickedLocal.com! Please review and visit their sites below:

"It (Mobicip) might be the answer for schools like ours who are struggling with the idea of letting our kids take their IPods home at night.  I'm not as worried about devices being damaged as I am about kids being exposed to inappropriate content.  Until we address how to help kids self-filter on the Internet, this might be the next best thing.  Check it out: http://www.mobicip.com"
- I Teach Therefore IPod

"Mobicip is an app that I use on all i-devices (iPod Touch, iPhones, iPads) that has parental control settings and you can also view histories.  I know there are similar apps for other mobile devices, but don’t know their names.  It lets filter YouTube as well.  The app is free but you do have to sign up for a paid account for it to work.  It becomes the default internet browser on those apps after you deactivate Safari. I’ve been really glad to have it on our devices and know that my kids are safe in their surfing."
- The Daily Digi

"You can also install an app like Mobicip on your child’s iTouch or iPhone, which replaces the Safari browser with a more child-friendly one and provides reports for monitoring your child’s Internet-related activities."
- WickedLocal.com/Cohasset

Daniel Nations from About.com Guide published a great article about iPad Apps.  Thank you Daniel for listing Mobicip Safe Browser on your list. Please visit About.com to read "Best of the iPad App Showcase."

In the article, Daniel mentions "Safe Browser. For any parent who worries about what their child is viewing on the Internet, there is the Safe Browser from Mobicip. With high praise from the New York Times and CNET, the Safe Browser allows you to filter your child's web browsing."

Please visit About.com to read the complete article, http://ipad.about.com/b/2011/05/09/best-of-the-ipad-app-showcase.htm
 

FoxNews.com recently published a great article in their SciTech section called "App Reviews for the Modern Digital Mom".  Visit FoxNews.com to watch the two-minute clip and read about "The role of the modern mom."

You can read a section of the article below, however, please visit FoxNews.com to read the complete article: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/05/05/apps-modern-digital-mom/

"The role of the modern mom can seem like a constant juggling act managing the chaos of family life on a daily basis. As a digital mom, the only thing you need in your hand to balance is your smartphone-- hooked up with a few apps to help simplify your life. Here’s a fistful of apps to help you coordinate and protect your family.

Safe Browser
Think safety first. Are your kids always clicking around on your iphone or ipad? As protector, you can guard them against inappropriate content online with the Safe Browser App—offering parental controls for your device."

Please visit FoxNews.com to read the complete article: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/05/05/apps-modern-digital-mom/
 

Thank you Laptop Magazine for another great article.  Parents and Educators will appreciate your recommendations and tips. Please read a section of the article below and the complete article: "How To Set Parental Controls and Block Content on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch on blog.laptopmag.com.

"One of the big concerns about kids using mobile devices is that it’s not always easy to monitor Internet access unless you’re literally looking over their shoulder. Preventing this is easy (just turn off Safari), but if you want your children to be able to access safe content, consider an alternate browser. There are several such browsers listed in the iTunes store, but most have mixed or very low reviews from users. The best of the bunch appears to be Safe Browser by Mobicip."

Please visit blog.laptopmag.com to read the complete article!

Suren Ramasubbu, Mobicip CEO and founder, is hosting a panel discussion at the Mobile Learning 2011 Conference in Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday April 6th, 3pm - 4pm.  If you are interested in mobile learning, the on-site registration is open April 6th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix.  You can find more information below and here too: http://mobile2011.org/schedule-materials/

Session Topic: From Device Management to Implementation
Panel Host: Suren Ramasubbu
Location: Curtis Room
Session Description: The ecosystem of applications, device management, and wireless connectivity is making the deployment of iPod touches in the classroom popular. The panelists will discuss how their programs evolved from concept to reality, cover acceptable use policy, security and deployment management, and anecdotal evidence of the benefits derived by students participating in the program.
Platforms Addressed: iPod touch, iPhone, iPad
Time: 3:00 - 4:00pm
Presenter: Suren Ramasubbu, Mobicip.com, CA
Date: Wed. April 6th

At the Mobile Learning Experience 2011 experience the latest in teaching, learning and mobile computing. Interested in iPods, iPads, netbooks, laptops, and phones? Excited about mobile technology for teaching and learning? Want to connect with other educators and learn from their successes and challenges? Then participate in the Mobile Learning Experience:
April 6th: 1:00-7:30pm
April 7th: 9:00-5:00pm
April 8th: 9:00-3:30pm
Onsite Event Registration – April 6th: 12:00-1:00pm, Phoenix, Arizona, Hyatt Regency – Downtown

 

Thousand Oaks, CA - Suren Ramasubbu, mobile Internet safety expert and CEO of Mobicip.com, says the #1 way parents and educators can protect their mobile kids as their use of mobile web devices grows is simple.  “Implementing YouTube content filtering is the #1 way parents and educators can ensure their children’s safety when they access videos on the #2 search engine on the World Wide Web. Mobile learning and education is the future and it’s not going away. But as mobile learning and use of the web anytime evolves, the Internet is evolving too.  User-generated content takes prime of place on the modern web, especially on sites like YouTube.  We can’t control the content other people post on YouTube, but we can control what our kids view.”  

Suren’s company, Mobicip.com, the leading Internet safety and parental control service for mobile devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, just released a YouTube filter for parents and educators to ensure their children’s safety when they access videos on the popular site.  Mobicip is the only content filtering company that offers this type of YouTube content filtering solution.  The YouTube filter is a feature of the Mobicip Safe Browser app, which is available for download from the Apple App Store.

Parents and educators want to allow kids to be on YouTube for education and fun but they also want to block only objectionable videos and not the entire YouTube site.  Keeping children safe is a challenge when the content is updated dynamically and inappropriate videos can be displayed or accessed by chance. But this problem can be solved with the right technological support. “We cannot be afraid of the technology our kids are adopting, in many ways faster than we do.  Instead, we need to embrace technology and find new ways to protect our kids.  That is why Mobicip has developed a new feature to separate and analyze YouTube content dynamically and block only the objectionable ones for a specified age-level,” says Suren. “It is neither sufficient nor fair to shield YouTube completely from young users; parents and educators adding YouTube content filtering is the answer.”

Mobicip’s Safe Browser for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is based on a path-breaking dynamic cloud content filtering engine, designed to provide a safe, secure and educational Internet for families and school-age children anytime anywhere.  Because Mobicip is a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, its intelligent real-time analysis engine has no noticeable slowdown or impact on the performance of the mobile device even with the new YouTube content filtering feature addition.

Visit the Mobicip blog or Mobicip YouTube Channel to learn How To Setup YouTube Filtering Using Mobicip.

Mobicip’s Safe Browser app is available on the iPhone App Store, and the Premium subscription can be purchased at www.mobicip.com. The full press release is available at www.mobicip.com/press.
 

About Mobicip’s Web Filtering and Dynamic Parental Control Software
Mobicip is the most popular content filtering solution available on the App Store. The best-selling Mobicip Safe Browser app has been consistently rated among top paid apps, downloaded and used by tens of thousands of parents and several K-12 schools and school districts in the US, and was recently recognized by the 2010 Parents’ Choice Awards as a Top Mobile App. Mobicip's dynamic content filtering includes a new YouTube filter for parents and educators to ensure their children’s Internet safety while they are on one of the most popular sites on the web. In addition to enabling online learning by supporting iOS-based devices, Mobicip partners with schools like Comal ISD to create custom app solutions that further enable online learning.  Learn more at www.mobicip.com.

Media contact: Nicki Gauthier / Mobicip / 501-I South Reino Rd. Ste 212. Newbury Park CA 91320 / Email: pr@mobicip.com  / Phone: 805-380-5687 / website: http://www.mobicip.com/

Suren Ramasubbu, Mobicip CEO and founder, is co-presenting at the CUE annual conference in North Palm Springs, CA on Friday March 18th at 2:30 to 3:30 PM PT.  If you are in the Palm Springs area and interested in learning about mobile education, the on-site registration is open in the Oasis 1 room, Palm Springs Convention Center.  You can find more information below and here too: http://www.cue.org/conference/attend/.

Presentation Topic: Mobile Learning Using the iPod touch - In Hindsight
The ecosystem of applications, device management, and wireless connectivity is making the deployment of iPod touches in the classroom popular. The panelists will discuss how their programs evolved from concept to reality, cover acceptable use policy, security and deployment management, and anecdotal evidence of the benefits derived by students participating in the program.
Speakers: Suren Ramasubbu, Phil Hardin, Jennifer Wivagg, Susan Wells

Computer-Using Educators, Inc. is a professional organization of educators that supports the use of technology in education. For 30 years, technology-using educators have been meeting at the CUE Conferences to advance student achievement at all levels of education and to address the use of Education Technology in instruction, administration, curriculum and management.

Suren Ramasubbu, Mobicip CEO and founder, is speaking at CoSN 2011 Conference today in a session titled: "Mobile Learning Using the iPod Touch - In Hindsight".  Watch the session in a live online stream and learn about the importance of mobile learning and child Internet safety.

His Co-presenters are:
Phil Hardin (virtual presenter via Skype), Executive Director of Educational Technology, Rowan-Salisbury School Systems, Salisbury, NC

Jennifer Wivagg (virtual presenter via Skype), Instructional Media Specialist, Comal Independent School District, New Braunfels, TX

Susan Wells (virtual presenter via Skype), Principal, Gray-Culbreth Middle School, Chapel Hill, NC

Phil Hardin, Executive Director of Education Technology, Rowan-Salisbury School Systems, Salisbury NC

Start Date/Time:     Wednesday, March 16, 2011 10:00 AM
End Date/Time:     Wednesday, March 16, 2011 11:30 AM

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) is the premier professional association for school district technology leaders. CoSN is committed to providing the leadership, community and advocacy tools essential for the success of these leaders. Their mission is to empower K-12 school district technology leaders to use technology strategically to improve teaching and learning.

The Moms With Apps developer group has created a new iOS app available in the iTunes App Store. Moms With Apps is a catalog of great children's and family-friendly apps.  Parents and educators can search by educational category and age groups to discover and learn about new apps and developers. Apple has featured this app in iTunes at #1 in the Education section's New and Noteworthy list.  Mobicip is a long standing member of Moms With Apps and is featured in the new app under, App > Parents > Education > Mobicip Safe Browser.  The MomsWithApps new app is free and you can download it here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/moms-with-apps/id416039568?mt=8

To support MWA App Friday initiative, Mobicip is offering 10% off their premium service this App Friday. To get more information, visit http://momswithapps.com/2011/02/18/app-friday-mixeroo-ants-and-gunther/ and scroll to "SURF SAFELY."

Mobicip Safe Browser has been selected as a finalist in the 2011 About.com Reader's Choice awards in the Best iPad Browser category. Based on the nominations About.com received, Mobicip Safe Browser has made it onto the final ballot. Between now and March 8, About.com readers will be voting for their favorite iPad Browser, and About.com will announce the winner on March 15.

To vote for Mobicip Safe Browser, visit slide #8 and click "Safe Bowser" - http://browsers.about.com/od/allaboutwebbrowsers/ss/2011-readers-choice-awards-web-browsers-voting_8.htm

This best-selling Safe Browser for the iPad is based on a path-breaking dynamic cloud content filtering engine, designed to provide a safe, secure and educational Internet for families and school-age children anytime anywhere. Mobicip's dynamic content filtering includes a new YouTube filter for parents and educators to ensure their children’s Internet safety while they are on one of the most popular sites on the web.
 

Suren Ramasubbu, co-founder and CEO of Mobicip.com, will be leading a panel discussion on mobile learning at the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) conference in Austin, Texas. His co-panelists are from Comal ISD and Jim Ned CISD.  The discussion will be held on Thursday, Feb 10, 2:00 to 3:30 PM in 19B.  We are happy to share the discussion description and direct link on the Mobicip blog: http://m.core-apps.com/tcea2011/events/7594de645fc09ef6833ea1a76692b51e. 

Discussion Topic:  Mobile Learning Using the iPod touch? In Hindsight
Description:  The iPod touch is increasingly being adopted as a mobile learning device by schools. In this discussion, the panel will talk about the challenges faced from different perspectives - leadership, budget, policy, deployment, device management, classroom use, and results - based on the experience from two different school districts' points of view.

At TCEA, in Austin, Texas, attendees can learn from knowledgeable presenters and highly regarded educational technology experts in the country. TCEA has something for every educator who wants to maximize his/her skills and learn more about technology integration in the classroom. More than 400 concurrent sessions and workshops will be presented on subjects from the basics to industry-leading trends and hot topics.