Super Bowl Fans Smartphones Enhance Game

Sports

2nd in a multi-part series

Smartphones Essential for Viewing Experience

This year has barely started, yet it is already apparent that mobile devices will play a bigger role than ever before in the way we consume entertainment. In fact, new data just unveiled by SOASTA, a leader in digital performance analytics, indicates that nearly two out of three (63 percent) of smartphone and tablet users who plan on watching the Super Bowl this Sunday say online and mobile activities will be critical to their experience watching the big game. 

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MBE partnered with Verizon for this post

Technology has permeated every aspect of our lives. This is especially true when it comes to second screen experiences within the entertainment and sports arenas that make it possible to enjoy mega media events such as the Super Bowl in new ways with the latest advanced smartphones such as the Sony Xperia Z3v. 

 

I know for sure I'll be watching all the action and multi-tasking with my new Sony Xperia 3Zv smartphone in hand. Not only will I be directly interacting with the game, I'll also be taking photos with this phone's camera of all the healthy Super Bowl Party food I'll be serving including this delicious and colorful heirloom tomato, cranberry and nut salad. 

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According to the SOASTA 2015 Super Bowl Second Screen Study, fans will be online watching a live stream, while simultaneously sharing the game's best ads on Facebook and Twitter and keeping up with scores. In fact nearly half (46%) of smartphone and tablet owners plan on using mobile apps while watching this year's Big Game, an increase from 41% who said they planned to use mobile apps while watching the 2014 game.

Among other interesting findings of the SOASTA Second Screen Study

• Vast majority of millennial men (84%) and women (56%) expect to use apps to multi-task on their smartphones and tablets while watching the game
• One-third (32%) of smartphone/tablet owners say they will use social media apps like Facebook and Twitter
• 20% will use sports apps like ESPN and Sports Illustrated
• 19% will use apps to games such as Candy Crush Saga and Trivia Crack
• 18% will use video apps like YouTube and Vine
• 17% will check the weather apps
• 9% will rely on food delivery apps 
• 8 % will be recording the game 

I know I'll be doing lots of those Super Bowl tasks and more with my Sony Xperia Z3v this Sunday while watching the game. For example, I can't wait to take some photos in low light, which this phone's camera is quite adept at handling, and to try out the Face in Function that allows you to use both the front and rear facing cameras at the same time.

Sony Xperia Z3v smartphone, MommyBlogExpert.com

About Sony Xperia Z3v
The sleek and beautiful Sony Xperia Z3v is not only light and thin, it is also waterproof and features a tempered glass 5.2" Full HD TRILUMINOS display. Available from Verizon Wireless with a 2-year contract for $199, $24.99 with Verizon EDGE or $599.99 full price.

Image provided by Verizon Wireless

FTC Disclosure: I disclose that I am a Verizon Wireless Lifestyle Blogger #VZWBuzz brand ambassador and that I received the featured Sony Xperia Z3v smartphone from Verizon to facilitate this review post series. I did not receive any financial compensation. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Super Bowl Party LowFat Chip Alternative to Greasy Potato Chips + Free Coupon

Good Food

Get a $1 Off popchips Coupon

Besides Thanksgiving and December holidays, Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest food events of the year and it wouldn’t be a celebration without potato chips. In fact, over 28 million lbs or approximately 6.7 billion oily potato chips are consumed on game day alone.

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As you plan your Super Bowl party menu, consider popchips, which provide a better-for-you snack alternative to oily potato chips. In fact, if everyone switched out each of their fried potato chips with popchips on game-day, roughly 1 million gallons of oil would not be consumed. A much more healthier way to celebrate the great sport of football, don't you think?

Potato popchips are available in seven delicious flavors. My personal fave are the popchips sour cream and onion variety, so delicious they don't even require a dip to go with them that add who knows how many unnecessary extra calories. What's more is that popchips contain no artificial ingredients, no trans fat, no saturated fat, no msg and are certified gluten free.

Visit poppedvsfried.com to discover more #snackfacts and to learn how you can do your small part to decrease the amount of oil being consumed on game day. Just for visiting you'll be able to activate a coupon for $1 off the purchase of any two bags of popchips purchase.

FTC Disclosure: No payment or other compensation was exchanged in connection with this post and opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Dominos Quikly Pizza Big Game Giveaway - Win Pizza For a Year & Giftcards

Sweepstakes

In honor of the Super Bowl this Sunday, Domino's Quikly is back. That's right. The brand is going to be announcing the start of a very exciting and tasty giveaway that could start any time now. This Domino's Fan Perk is limited to just 200,000 participants so if you want to join in to for a chance to win, opt in now so you'll be notified when the contest starts.

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Check Out the Delish Prizes Up for Grabs

• Fastest Person Scores: FREE Pizza for A Year 
• 2nd Fastest Person Gets: A $100 Domino's Giftcard 
• 3rd Fastest Person Gets: A $50 Domino's Giftcard

Plus 50,000 additional winners will score 50% off One 1-Topping Handmade Pan Pizza!

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To Get in on the FUN

Click HERE

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FTC Disclosure: I disclose that I have opted in to be notified when this sweepstakes starts and am sharing the opportunity with MBE readers. No payment or other compensation was exchanged in connection with this post and opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

How to ID & Report IRS Phishing Scams to Protect Your Personal Financial Information Online

Security

It's approaching the end of January, and that time of year -- time to start thinking about filing your tax forms with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Lately, at the same time, the Internet has also become a hotbed for phishing scams trying to capture your personal information and even, quite possibly, to pocket your tax refund and much worse.

Example of a real Fraudulent Email

Don't fall for ANY "official-looking" emails you get that appear to be from the IRS. This includes ones requesting your personal or financial information as well as those containing malicious attachments, such as the one I received today (pictured above) claiming a criminal complaint against my company. That's because the official IRS website says they will never initiate contact via email. 

"The IRS doesn't initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. This includes requests for PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts." From the IRS Page on Phishing

What to do if you receive a suspicious email according to the IRS

• Don't reply
• Don't open any attachments
• Don't click on any links
• Forward the email as is to phishing@irs.gov
• Delete the email in question

Remember by reporting these scams you are making a difference, not only protecting yourself but also potentially protecting others as well. For more information on helping to combat phishing and avoiding scams masquerading as IRS communications, visit the IRS.gov page dedicated to identifying and reporting phishing and online scams.

FTC Disclosure: No payment or other compensation was exchanged in connection with this post and opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Avoid SuperBowl Party Overeating With 6 Tips for Your Family from Dr Steve Feyrer-Melk

Health

No matter whether you're rooting for the Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots, The Big Game creates the perfect excuse to be together as a family and share moments, laughs, and of course -- that All-American favorite: food. But did you know that the average fan eats 1,200 calories and 50 grams of fat during the typical Sunday Super Bowl game?

Image from FoodNetwork.com

This year, Dr. Steve Feyrer-Melk of Android Health & Fitness app Nudge provides the following tips to help you avoid overeating during your football watching celebration and stay healthy as a family.

Have a healthy mid-morning snack like a greek yogurt, or cup of cottage cheese. Don’t starve yourself and “save up” your calories. You want to go to the party in a state of nutritional equilibrium, not a caloric deficit. Olga Klyuchtis' healthy tropical smoothie is a great recipe that incorporates greek yogurt in a delicious way.

Hit the veggie tray! Try baking this Melissa d' Arabian Crispy Kale Chips recipe for a fun, tasty and anything-but-boring twist on the traditional veggie platter.

Avoid the chips and switch them for a yummy substitute like some delicious and colorful Oven Baked Carrots and Sweet Potato Fries and the aforementioned Kale Chips.

Avoid cheeses and sauce dips each tablespoon is most likely 50 or more calories of not-so-healthy-nacho cheese!

Choose whole grain buns and limit the number. If you can go without the extra carbs, definitely do it.

Choose snacks higher in protein like chicken wings, shrimp and lean meat. Try Serena Wolf's Summer Salad with Avocado and Grilled Shrimp or Olga Klyuchtis' Easy Baked Chicken Wings for healthy and flavorsome alternatives. 

Image from Nudge.com

About Nudge's Dr. Steve Feyrer-Melk 

Dr. Steve Feyrer-Melk is a health practitioner with over 20 years of experience and Chief Science Officer of Nudge, leading health app that collects and sorts data from the most popular health and fitness apps on the market. Dr. Steve currently practices at Optimal Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Center in Scottsdale, Arizona where he develops lifestyle and health programs for his clients.

As an FYI-- these recipes (except for the Kale Chips, which comes from FoodNetwork.com) were pulled from Sidechef.com, dubbed the “Siri of cooking apps.” SideChef reads aloud all recipe directions navigating you through each recipe to completion just like a car’s GPS.

FTC Disclosure:  Content for this post was sourced primarily from Dr. Steve Feyrer-Melk. No payment or other compensation was exchanged in connection with this post and opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's home page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.