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`Home : Better Living : Personal Technology
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`
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`Personal Technology
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`Kids and their parents will
`love the Z2 messaging device
`Saturday, April 12, 2008
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`BY CRAIG CROSSMAN
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`MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
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`When it comes to kids on computers, the most frequently used
`application aside from game playing is communication. Kids will
`spend hours a day sending instant messages (IM) to each other.
`On cellphones, texting is proving to be more popular with the
`small set than making calls.
`
`
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`Typing messages is more than just words. Along with the text
`comes emoticons, which are little faces that help to convey
`feelings such as smiling, frowning, tongue sticking out, the list is
`virtually endless. Sending photos and other graphic images further
`enhances the communication experience. If you're a parent with
`one or more computers in the home, then you probably know
`about most of this if you pay any attention to what they are
`doing on the computer. If that's the case, then you may be
`interested in a hand-held device that will let the kids send IMs
`and text without monopolizing the computer and keeping your
`costs to a minimum at the same time.
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`Billed as the "ultimate messaging device," the $150 ZipIt or Z2
`from ZipIt Wireless is a tiny hand-held device that lets your kids
`send IMs for free. The Z2 opens up like a laptop and sports a full
`QWERTY back-lit keyboard that's ideal for typing in dark places.
`The screen is a full-color, 2.9-inch LCD screen that easily can
`display colorful text and fonts, pictures, graphics and more. The
`rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts for hours.
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`The Z2 supports 802.11b and g Wi-Fi protocols and will work on
`your home's wireless networking with WEP and WPA security. In
`addition to working on any open wireless hot spots, Zipit Wireless
`has arranged for the Z2 to work for free with any of the
`thousands of McDonald's that offers Wi-Fi service.
`
`Setting up the Z2 is a piece of cake as well. If your kids already
`have an IM account on AOL/AIM, MSN or Yahoo Messenger,
`they're already set to go. The Z2 works with all of them, and
`they can chat with up to 99 users at the same time. All they
`have to do is log onto any of those services using their screen
`name and password. All of the names on their existing Buddy
`Lists will automatically transfer and be available to them on the
`Z2.
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`But unlike these services on a computer, they can chat only with
`their buddies and cannot be contacted by strangers looking to
`open a new chat with them anonymously. Parents might like that
`security feature. Parents also can control when the Z2 is active so
`that they can, for example, set a nighttime curfew to insure their
`kids aren't sending IMs in the wee hours.
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`Texting protocols work with the SMS texting platform and with
`more than 20 cell carriers, so they can send and receive text
`messages to just about anyone with a cellphone.
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`The Z2 sports a MiniSD card slot for storing photos or images
`transferred from computers. The card also can be used to store
`and transfer mp3 files. That's because the Z2 is also an mp3
`player. It also can stream music directly from the Internet. Just
`plug in any stereo headphones or ear buds and listen. So now
`the kids can chat listen to music and share photos from virtually
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`http://www.northjersey.com/betterliving/technology/17572994.html
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`4/12/2008
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`ZIPIT EX. 2042, pg.1
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`NorthJersey.com: providing local news, sports and classifieds for Northern New Jersey!
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`Page 2 of 2
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`the kids can chat, listen to music and share photos from virtually
`anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection.
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`There are no IM fees whatsoever. Texting fees apply. The first 10
`text messages are free, and there is an optional 3,000 messages
`for $4.99 per month. If your kids are into IMing and texting but
`you don't want them on the computer all the time or burning up
`minutes on an expensive cellphone, then the Z2 may prove to be
`the best and most economical way for them to communicate.
`
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`http://www.northjersey.com/betterliving/technology/17572994.html
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`4/12/2008
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`ZIPIT EX. 2042, pg.2
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