New Year's Giveaway: Change How Your Kids Play Games in 2013 with the MG Portable Android Wi-Fi Game System (ARV $149.99) [CLOSED]
Thursday, December 20, 2012
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The next “surprise” in the box was the very noticeable lack of a charger. I spent a few moments looking about to make sure I didn't drop it someplace. After reading every word on the box I noticed it is in fact not supplied. The instructions state to use any standard mini USB adapter. Before I got outraged over the situation, I realized I had a half dozen such chargers about the house. Anybody progressive enough to be considering a device like the Play MG probably does too and it stopped being an issue.
The Play MG looks great and feels good in your hands, just as a portable gaming device should. Although substantially smaller than traditional handheld gaming devices, the buttons and shape feel right. Although the screen is smaller than most dedicated gaming devices, it is in tune with screen sizes of similar sized Android phones (which is the point).
The screen is bright and the pixel density is superb making for a great looking experience. The performance of the unit is at least as good as any late model smartphone and keeps up with the screens quality. There is nothing worse than a great screen coupled with a slow processor, no such problem with the Play MG.
The device feels and looks like any Android smartphone using a late edition of the OS. If you have an Android phone you already know how to use the Play MG. I was up and running in minutes as a result. Downloading apps is as easy as it is on your phone, in fact its the exact same process, and I like that.
Setting up the Play MG for my kids could not have been any easier. My unit came with a plethora of pre-installed apps to get us started. In fact, my kids have yet to request anything new as they aren't through with the included apps yet! Combine the loaded apps with my existing familiarity with the Android OS and it was a total snap. I will warn you against linking any of the apps with any accounts you use on your smartphone however. My Play MG attempted to set itself up as my smartphone was, not something I want for a device primarily for my children's use, but I suppose a nice feature if I was the sole user of the Play MG.
The only issue we had was the initial version of the OS that shipped with the unit had some stability issues. I should say for full disclosure that our unit was a pre-retail demo unit and these things are to be expected. After the update was available (and easily applied) we have yet to have any issues.
Overall the Play MG is an excellent idea and a well executed product. My kids love to play it as much as my phone leaving us all much happier. This aspect alone is worth the price. In a way, the Play MG is as much of a gift for mom and dad as it is for the kids. You can currently buy the Play MG directly from PlayMG or from Amazon for $149.99. It is a bargain compared to a top tier smartphone.
Thank you to the PlayMG Corporation for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
A little while ago we received the Play MG Android based pocket gaming system to try out. At the time I was very excited to have a device I could hand off to my kids instead of my smartphone. After spending some time with the Play MG I can say it performs as advertised and has not disappointed.
The Play MG comes in a clever yet simple drawer-style box with just a few items inside. The most notable item in the box is a debit card. The SpendSmart Mastercard creates a “digital wallet” that your kids can use to buy apps without pestering you when they want a new app that is not free. Once the SpendSmart card is loaded with money you can see your balance prominently displayed on the units main home page. Your kids will always know how much they have left to spend.
The next “surprise” in the box was the very noticeable lack of a charger. I spent a few moments looking about to make sure I didn't drop it someplace. After reading every word on the box I noticed it is in fact not supplied. The instructions state to use any standard mini USB adapter. Before I got outraged over the situation, I realized I had a half dozen such chargers about the house. Anybody progressive enough to be considering a device like the Play MG probably does too and it stopped being an issue.
The Play MG looks great and feels good in your hands, just as a portable gaming device should. Although substantially smaller than traditional handheld gaming devices, the buttons and shape feel right. Although the screen is smaller than most dedicated gaming devices, it is in tune with screen sizes of similar sized Android phones (which is the point).
The screen is bright and the pixel density is superb making for a great looking experience. The performance of the unit is at least as good as any late model smartphone and keeps up with the screens quality. There is nothing worse than a great screen coupled with a slow processor, no such problem with the Play MG.
The device feels and looks like any Android smartphone using a late edition of the OS. If you have an Android phone you already know how to use the Play MG. I was up and running in minutes as a result. Downloading apps is as easy as it is on your phone, in fact its the exact same process, and I like that.
Setting up the Play MG for my kids could not have been any easier. My unit came with a plethora of pre-installed apps to get us started. In fact, my kids have yet to request anything new as they aren't through with the included apps yet! Combine the loaded apps with my existing familiarity with the Android OS and it was a total snap. I will warn you against linking any of the apps with any accounts you use on your smartphone however. My Play MG attempted to set itself up as my smartphone was, not something I want for a device primarily for my children's use, but I suppose a nice feature if I was the sole user of the Play MG.
The only issue we had was the initial version of the OS that shipped with the unit had some stability issues. I should say for full disclosure that our unit was a pre-retail demo unit and these things are to be expected. After the update was available (and easily applied) we have yet to have any issues.
Overall the Play MG is an excellent idea and a well executed product. My kids love to play it as much as my phone leaving us all much happier. This aspect alone is worth the price. In a way, the Play MG is as much of a gift for mom and dad as it is for the kids. You can currently buy the Play MG directly from PlayMG or from Amazon for $149.99. It is a bargain compared to a top tier smartphone.
Thank you to the PlayMG Corporation for providing a complimentary product sample for us to base this review upon and for providing an additional product for our contest prize.
Good luck in the drawing!
Published by Karen Coutu
3G2S Sponsors
Rearranging and deleting my apps.
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 12:09 AM
I worry that my child will drop my phone.
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 1:21 AM
I worry about breaking my phone
jjak2003 at gmail dot com
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 1:43 AM
he has accidentally called someone from my facebook contacts.
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 3:17 AM
My grandson tends to want to purchase games and has done so on his moms and also when he is finished, he calls people on her list. He is 5, loves the games but gets carried away with the phone
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 4:59 AM
that my phone will ring and they will answer on a client
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 6:41 AM
I'm afraid that they'll loose the phone or break it.
Thanks so much.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 7:18 AM
dropping my phone
kport207 at gmail dot com
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 8:33 AM
Missing calls.
Jennifer Rote
wildnmild4u at yahoo dot com
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 8:34 AM
Mainly I am worried about the phone getting damaged by being dropped.
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 8:39 AM
i fear they'll acidentally delete an app or contact
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 9:28 AM
I always get worried she can get on the internet when I'm not looking.
teatly AT gmail DOTT com
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 11:17 AM
ugg the download stuff all the time... drives me nutbars
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 11:19 AM
My main concern is that apps may be accidentally purchased.
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Breaking the phone, never having a charged battery
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 11:27 AM
I'm afraid that she'll buy too many apps that she'll only play once
abfantom at yahoo dot com
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 11:33 AM
I worry about breaking my phone
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Smart phones can be easily broken but this MG is great!
liljrSanchez@hotmail.com
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 11:46 AM
I worry about my phone being broken or them getting onto the internet.
(d schmidt in widget)
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 11:49 AM
The phones are so expensive and I don't want it broken, deleting stuff and privacy safety
@CathyCanton
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 11:59 AM
Making random calls to random phone numbers.
Kimberly Dsouza
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 1:34 PM
breaking it !
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 2:01 PM
Biggest issue is that they are likely to lay it down or drop it.
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 2:02 PM
I dont have a smartphone but I have an extremely smart son who is very into electronics and am very interested in this for him.
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 2:11 PM
This looks soooo cool! Great giveaway!
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Screwing something up
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 2:52 PM
I don't like that they can download anything that pops up.
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 2:52 PM
I don't let my kids use my phone for fear they might wander to something else or call someone!
onecheaplady@yahoo.com
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 3:00 PM
I worry that she might drop the phone.
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 3:44 PM
I hate that my child may download something and I will get charged for it!
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 3:54 PM
I dont have a smart phone so they can't play on it
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 4:04 PM
downloading apps and charging my account
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 4:46 PM
Using up my limited data when they want to go on the web some of the games they have to be on a wifi to play and it uses it up pretty quickly. I don't want them to accidentally hit a porn site, or erase my emails or purchase a game without my permission. There are some games the older kids can play and not the younger ones.
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 6:00 PM
the unwanted downloading and possibility of breakage.
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 6:15 PM
possibly breaking it debbie jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 8:32 PM
I worry that they'll lose it!
Posted on December 21, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Data charges, and deleting contacts
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 7:31 AM
I'm afraid they will drop or lose my phone
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 9:42 AM
they use up my whole battery life
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 10:26 AM
I worry about him breaking the phone or purchasing something he shouldn't
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 1:12 PM
I worry about them finding something they shouldn't see.
bookloongmaicom
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 1:40 PM
hat apps may be accidentally purchased.
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 3:11 PM
breaking my phone
Posted on December 22, 2012 at 5:48 PM
I worry that they will drop it and break it.
april yedinak
Posted on December 23, 2012 at 9:47 AM
I don't like in-app purchases, they add up too quickly!
Posted on December 23, 2012 at 10:27 AM
A kid will surely drop a phone and break it.
Posted on December 23, 2012 at 8:11 PM
Them Breaking it!
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 9:33 AM
Dropping/breaking phone, deleting something, calling someone, purchasing something.... I can go on...
Posted on December 24, 2012 at 3:35 PM
I am worried about them clearing my contacts, losing my text messages, or just breaking it!
sherri419 at gmail dot com
Posted on December 25, 2012 at 4:14 AM
I'm afraid of her breaking it.
Entered under Jill L
Posted on December 26, 2012 at 7:49 AM
Definitely breaking it or replying to texts or emails hah.
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 11:06 AM
That the battery will get all used up. Or they may get "addicted" to it, like adults do.
Posted on December 27, 2012 at 7:23 PM
Spending too much time in front of a screen.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
Posted on December 28, 2012 at 2:51 PM
I would be concerned that they would spend too much time on it.
Amanda Sakovitz
Posted on December 28, 2012 at 3:03 PM
that he;ll drop it
nannypanpan@gmail.com
Posted on December 28, 2012 at 3:33 PM
I would be concerned that they would break it.
Posted on December 28, 2012 at 8:14 PM
I always worry about missed calls that may be important!
Posted on December 28, 2012 at 11:43 PM
I worry about missed calls.
ktgonyea at gmail.com
Posted on December 29, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Actually paying for an app and it charging to my phone
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Posted on December 29, 2012 at 1:22 PM
I want to make sure I do not miss any work calls on my smart phone
jennifer marie
lilnursejen at yahoo dot com
Posted on December 29, 2012 at 2:57 PM
My main concern is that they will drop it and break it or get yuckies on it .. juice, whatever, and ruin it!
Posted on December 29, 2012 at 7:17 PM
breaking the phone
Posted on December 29, 2012 at 8:38 PM
calling my coworkers.
Posted on December 29, 2012 at 11:24 PM
Breaking it.
Posted on December 29, 2012 at 11:41 PM
Buying games without permisssion.
Posted on December 30, 2012 at 1:59 PM
I don't want them buying games
Posted on December 30, 2012 at 5:13 PM
I am not really worried too much about my daughter breaking the phone, but I do worry about her unknowingly purchasing something that she didn't mean to do.
Posted on December 30, 2012 at 5:14 PM
My biggest concern is that they run my battery down all the time.
Posted on December 30, 2012 at 5:23 PM
I worry my kids will run up additional charges on my phone bill
Posted on December 30, 2012 at 10:01 PM
Ringing up charges downloading apps
Posted on December 31, 2012 at 12:12 AM
Accidentally calling 911
Posted on December 31, 2012 at 9:33 PM
This is probably going to sound horrible in these days but I dont have one so I guess no worries but is why I would love to win this for them
amy williams
sethandtjay@yahoo.com
Posted on January 1, 2013 at 8:20 PM
My main concern is that she will download a bunch of apps with ads.
Posted on January 1, 2013 at 8:33 PM
that he will drop it and break it
Posted on January 1, 2013 at 10:47 PM
Buy/Download apps ! Or delete my stuff ! Or heck ... break my phone !! LOL
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 10:08 AM
I think a big worry with kids using a smartphone is just the fact that they could easily drop it and break it. Its bad when they break their own toy by accident its horrid when you lose your own phone.
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 11:41 AM
We don't own one, so I'm not sure yet.
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 4:19 PM
My daughter leaves my phone laying around in strange places, so I'm always worried I'll step on it and break it.
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 9:00 PM
I worry that my grandson will drop my phone.
Posted on January 3, 2013 at 2:54 PM
Will download the wrong stuff off the internet
Posted on January 4, 2013 at 10:18 PM
I'm afraid that he will break it or make a phone call to someone in China :) (He's 5)
Posted on January 5, 2013 at 11:12 PM
My worry is my son will get on something streaming, I don't have much data
Posted on January 6, 2013 at 8:22 PM
I worry about them dropping it
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 10:49 AM
I'm worried they will get into my contacts and/or messages.
ericacarnes(at)gmail(dot)com
Posted on January 7, 2013 at 8:49 PM
my concern is that my son would get so addicted he would be doing it when he should be doing other activities/home work
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 1:58 PM
My concern is they would drop it and smash the screen.
Susan Chester
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 7:54 PM
I don't want it broken!
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:57 PM
scared I am going to miss a call for my daughter lung transplant and them breaking it
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 12:53 PM
accidentally charging for games.
dani marie ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 3:32 AM
I'm afraid my son will lose it.
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 3:34 PM
Violent tendencies
ky2here at msn dot com
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 6:04 PM
too expensive to get beat up playing games - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 7:10 PM
I am always afraid of them dropping my phone and breaking the screen. thuy vu
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 7:16 PM
Using up all of my data
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 7:41 PM
The biggest concern besides breaking it is getting into places they shouldnt or erasing things
ellen beck on rafflecopter
tannawings at gmail dot com
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 7:46 PM
Damaging the phone, of course. It's not really a toy.
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 7:49 PM
Def don't want it broken.
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 10:46 PM
I am always afraid that my phone will get dropped or broken. as I have had them drop one into a glass of water before.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 11:30 PM
My concern is that he could hit a link that takes him to inappropriate content
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 12:42 AM
My main concern is my kids getting into my work emails and text messages.
pauline15_01(at)hotmail(dot)com
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 3:10 AM
I worry about her Deleting games I forgot to protect
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:37 AM
i worry about them purchasing games..
cpsnsamples@aol.com
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 12:19 PM
I have a few, I'm worried she will drop my phone and break it, I'm also worried they will delete something important, and I'm worried I will miss a call when they are using my phone.
hd6719@gmail.com
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 2:19 PM
My boys like to punch buttons randomly and have deleted several of my apps
thank you
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 6:47 PM
Accidentally purchasing something, dropping and breaking it, calling someone...the list goes on!
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 8:58 PM
the data usage worries me.
eddingsfamily@prodigy.net
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 10:07 PM
Accidently buying something they shouldnt and hogging my phone
Posted on January 13, 2013 at 11:00 PM
I worry about what they can see or what they maybe exposed to.
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:00 AM
I worry most about them breaking it or losing it.
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:49 AM
I don't like letting her play because I use my phone for work.
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 5:20 AM
wrecking my phone
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 6:16 AM
Losing important data.
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 9:06 AM
i am concerned with our children getting to things that i do not want them to see. they do not need to be exposed to a lot of things that are on the net.
susansmoaks at gmail dot com
tony l smoaks on rafflecopter
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 11:27 AM
That he'll buy a bunch of crap on accident
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 12:59 PM
afraid they'll delete all my pics lol
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:08 PM
I do not have a smart phone yet but hopefully am getting one next month.I would be afraid the kids would delete my contacts or buy apps without my knowledge.
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:13 PM
I am always worrying about them buying apps using my account.
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 1:30 PM
I don't have any children, and don't have a smart phone. My fear is the charges that would rack up with new downloads.
Michelle Tucker
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 2:12 PM
Dropping and breaking it!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 3:05 PM
It's just a hassle when I need my phone!
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 3:09 PM
Worried he'll pay for games or break the phone
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 3:42 PM
Dropping it worries me the most
mightynaynay(at)cs.com
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 4:05 PM
The young ones dialing random numbers.
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 6:09 PM
I dont mind if one of my kids play games on my phones..it's just that the other one will want to as well, then a fight ensues. tylerpants(at)gmail.com
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 9:37 PM
Deleting important information from my phone.
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 9:55 PM
I'm concern about my kids breaking it. (Corey Olomon)
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:15 PM
Breaking the phone or buying things unknowingly through iTunes by mistake.
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:25 PM
I'm afraid my daughter will drop my phone
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:44 PM
Them making phone calls on accident, ugh! Has happened many many times.
Posted on January 14, 2013 at 10:45 PM
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