Latest news with #Pinwheel
Time of India
09-08-2025
- Time of India
Kylie Kelce's ‘kitchen phone' rule sparks heated parenting debate about screen time and kids
Kylie Kelce has stirred strong reactions from parents after sharing a rule she plans to enforce when her daughters are old enough to use mobile phones. On her podcast Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce, the mom of four revealed a strategy she believes will help her family create a healthier relationship with technology. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Instead of giving each child their own phone, Kelce says the family will have just one or two shared devices kept in the kitchen, on the main floor of the house. These phones will not be allowed in bedrooms, pockets, or private areas. They'll stay out in the open, where all phone use happens in common view. She explained that her goal is to create a setup similar to what she and many others grew up with a landline in the kitchen, a shared phone that wasn't glued to anyone's hand. 'We're trying to treat it like how phones were when we were younger,' she said. 'It stays in one place and it's there when you need it, not something you're fused to.' Reactions from parents: support, nostalgia, and some skepticism The idea has sparked a mix of praise and concern. Many parents applauded Kelce's approach, calling it a smart way to encourage mindful phone habits and reduce constant screen time. Several said they grew up in homes where the family shared one phone in a central location and saw value in returning to that model. 'It brings back memories of the kitchen phone with the long cord,' one person commented. 'You had to be thoughtful about every call because everyone could hear you.' Others said they had already adopted similar rules at home like keeping devices in shared spaces or limiting internet access and had seen positive effects on their children's behavior. But not everyone is convinced the system will work, especially as children get older. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Critics pointed out that teens are often good at finding workarounds, whether by using friends' phones, borrowing school devices, or creating hidden social media accounts. Some also raised concerns about how a shared phone would function with busy after-school schedules, group chats, or the need for privacy during sensitive conversations. Several parents also questioned how monitoring and safety would be handled without individual supervision tools or parental controls that come with personal devices. Looking for balance in a digital world Some families suggested alternative solutions, such as child-safe phones like Gabb or Pinwheel, which allow texting and calling but block internet access and apps. These phones give kids some independence while limiting exposure to social media and online risks. The discussion around Kelce's rule reflects a broader challenge many families face how to allow children access to technology without letting it take over their lives. With phones and social media so embedded in modern life, parents are constantly asking how much is too much and what boundaries will actually stick. Whether Kelce's 'kitchen phone' idea becomes a widely adopted model or simply sparks conversation, it clearly hit a nerve. In a time when devices are nearly always within reach, her effort to slow things down and bring phone use back into public family spaces is making people think again about how they want to raise kids in the digital age.
The Onion
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Onion
Jane Birkin's Original Birkin Bag Sells At Auction For $10 Million
The very first of the famed Hermès Birkin handbags, made for the late actress, musician, and model Jane Birkin, sold for $10.1 million, claiming the title of the most valuable handbag ever to be sold at auction. 'Well I bought the original Birkin bag from a guy on the 4 train, so somebody's lying.' Louie Shawky, Pinwheel Assembler 'I didn't realize Jane Birkin was named after a bag.' Zoltan Potoka, Weathervane Installer 'Just wait until I put my Vera Bradley duffle on eBay.' Lana Denheld, Stanza Redactor
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PNC Bank automates direct deposit switch for customers
PNC Bank is looking to increase its direct deposit market share by automating the payroll deposit switch process for consumers. The Pittsburgh-based national bank announced the launch of its new digital direct deposit manager on Tuesday. It gives PNC Bank customers the ability to automatically set up direct deposits for payroll, Social Security payments, gig work payouts or other regular income from the bank's mobile app. The upgraded deposit feature, referred to by the $554.7 billion-assets bank as PNC Direct Deposit, removes barriers to updating or changing the primary bank account for payroll deposits by combining the roles of the employer, the payroll provider and the bank into a single interface. PNC Bank built the feature through a partnership with the account-switching fintech Atomic, a company representative told American Banker. "This integrated direct deposit solution is just another example of how PNC is continuously enhancing and improving the client experience," Alex Overstrom, head of retail banking for PNC Bank, said in a statement. "By embedding direct deposit functions directly within the mobile app, our clients can seamlessly update and manage their direct deposit preferences without the hassle of filling out paperwork." In most cases PNC consumers using the direct deposit manager won't need to manually enter their routing and account numbers, which could reduce the risk of user errors and delays in receiving payments. The automated deposit switching feature covers about 85% of U.S. payees, according to a company representative. The bank still provides a manual direct deposit enrollment form option for any consumers whose employers aren't integrated into the PNC Direct Deposit platform. The bank previously offered this manual option for all users before launching its digital feature. Other account-switching fintechs such as Pinwheel and ClickSwitch have also been filling the direct deposit switching gap. Citizens Bank partnered with Pinwheel in 2023 to simplify payroll deposit switching for its customers as well. "Being our customers' primary bank is core to our relationship-oriented strategy, and the key to that is making it easy for our customers to manage their direct deposits," Overstrom said. "When we make it seamless for clients to choose PNC as their primary bank, they respond."
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pinwheel introduces a smartwatch for kids that includes an AI chatbot
As a parent, it can be daunting to hand over a smart device to their tween when a myriad of online dangers exist. Pinwheel, a kid-friendly tech company, is introducing a new solution for parents who want to stay connected with their children without giving them a phone. The Pinwheel Watch is a recently launched smartwatch designed specifically for kids aged 7 to 14, offering a child-safe alternative that prevents access to social media and the internet. It features parental management tools, GPS tracking, a camera, voice-to-text messaging, fun mini-games, and — here's a surprise — an AI chatbot. The smartwatch itself features a sleek black design and a screen that is slightly larger than that of an Apple Watch. It's currently priced at $160, with a $15 monthly subscription. It became available for purchase on last week, and we've been testing it over the past few days. In addition to a more standard set of parental controls, the feature some parents might be wary of is the watch's AI assistant, 'PinwheelGPT.' PinwheelGPT is designed as a safer alternative to typical AI chatbots, enabling kids to ask questions about various topics, including everyday curiosities, social interactions, and homework-related questions, the company claims. However, parents may already be cautious about AI chatbots, as they can produce misinformation. Parents could also argue that the friendly nature of chatbots can lead to unhealthy patterns, where children rely on these digital companions for interaction instead of engaging in face-to-face interactions with family and friends. The company explained to us that safeguards are in place; the AI is trained to recognize topics that may be sensitive or inappropriate for children, opting out of these conversations and encouraging kids to discuss such matters with a trusted adult instead. During our limited testing, we confirmed that PinwheelGPT successfully avoided answering inappropriate or violent questions. Additionally, parents have full visibility into all interactions with the chatbot, including both current and previously deleted chats, so they can step in if any red flags arise. 'We have not received any pushback from parents because it's possible, if they are concerned, to remove the PinwheelGPT from the watch or turn it off via your own controls,' said founder Dane Witbeck, who is a father of four. 'We do not use any personal data provided by any users, minors, or adults, in training AI models,' he noted. Witbeck's company launched its first child-safe phone in 2020 and, four years later, ranked No. 212 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America for 2024. Entering the smartwatch market seems like a natural progression, allowing the company to better compete in the approximately $100 billion smart wearable market against major brands like Apple and Fitbit. Pinwheel believes it's strategically positioning itself by focusing specifically on the kids category. It also differentiates itself from other similar devices, such as Fitbit's Ace LTE, which focuses more on tracking location and health metrics. In addition to the AI feature, kids and tweens can make calls and send texts on the watch by using voice commands or a keyboard. There's also a camera for video calls and selfies, along with a voice recorder app. Other apps include an alarm, calendar, calculator, and mini-games, such as a Tetris-like game. The parent-monitoring features are available through the 'Caregiver' app. This allows parents to create a 'Safelist' of contacts that their children are permitted to talk to, as well as reject certain phone numbers from being added to the list. Additionally, a Schedule tab lets parents set up different modes to ensure that kids stay off their devices during specific times, like when they're at school or summer camp. For instance, they can choose to limit contacts to only emergency numbers during the day and switch to 'All mode' later in the day, allowing their kids to access everything freely. If desired, parents have the option to monitor text messages, which could be particularly useful for those with younger children. Here, an AI text summary feature offers parents concise overviews of kids' text message threads. The Pinwheel Watch is available now in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the U.K., with plans to expand into additional markets soon. It will be available on Amazon later this summer, though the company has not provided a specific date. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
TechCrunch
03-07-2025
- TechCrunch
Pinwheel introduces a smartwatch for kids that includes an AI chatbot
As a parent, it can be daunting to hand over a smart device to their tween when a myriad of online dangers exist. Pinwheel, a kid-friendly tech company, is introducing a new solution for parents who want to stay connected with their children without giving them a phone. The Pinwheel Watch is a recently launched smartwatch designed specifically for kids aged 7 to 14, offering a child-safe alternative that prevents access to social media and the internet. It features parental management tools, GPS tracking, a camera, voice-to-text messaging, fun mini-games, and — here's a surprise — an AI chatbot. The smartwatch itself features a sleek black design and a screen that is slightly larger than that of an Apple Watch. It's currently priced at $160, with a $15 monthly subscription. It became available for purchase on last week, and we've been testing it over the past few days. In addition to a more standard set of parental controls, the feature some parents might be wary of is the watch's AI assistant, 'PinwheelGPT.' PinwheelGPT is designed as a safer alternative to typical AI chatbots, enabling kids to ask questions about various topics, including everyday curiosities, social interactions, and homework-related questions, the company claims. However, parents may already be cautious about AI chatbots, as they can produce misinformation. Parents could also argue that the friendly nature of chatbots can lead to unhealthy patterns, where children rely on these digital companions for interaction instead of engaging in face-to-face interactions with family and friends. Image Credits:Pinwheel The company explained to us that safeguards are in place; the AI is trained to recognize topics that may be sensitive or inappropriate for children, opting out of these conversations and encouraging kids to discuss such matters with a trusted adult instead. During our limited testing, we confirmed that PinwheelGPT successfully avoided answering inappropriate or violent questions. Techcrunch event Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $450 on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW Additionally, parents have full visibility into all interactions with the chatbot, including both current and previously deleted chats, so they can step in if any red flags arise. 'We have not received any pushback from parents because it's possible, if they are concerned, to remove the PinwheelGPT from the watch or turn it off via your own controls,' said founder Dane Witbeck, who is a father of four. 'We do not use any personal data provided by any users, minors, or adults, in training AI models,' he noted. Witbeck's company launched its first child-safe phone in 2020 and, four years later, ranked No. 212 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing companies in America for 2024. Entering the smartwatch market seems like a natural progression, allowing the company to better compete in the approximately $100 billion smart wearable market against major brands like Apple and Fitbit. Pinwheel believes it's strategically positioning itself by focusing specifically on the kids category. It also differentiates itself from other similar devices, such as Fitbit's Ace LTE, which focuses more on tracking location and health metrics. Image Credits:Pinwheel In addition to the AI feature, kids and tweens can make calls and send texts on the watch by using voice commands or a keyboard. There's also a camera for video calls and selfies, along with a voice recorder app. Other apps include an alarm, calendar, calculator, and mini-games, such as a Tetris-like game. The parent monitoring features are available through the 'Caregiver' app. This allows parents to create a 'Safelist' of contacts that their children are permitted to talk to, as well as reject certain phone numbers from being added to the list. Additionally, a Schedule tab lets parents set up different modes to ensure that kids stay off their devices during specific times, like when they're at school or summer camp. For instance, they can choose to limit contacts to only emergency numbers during the day and switch to 'All mode' later in the day, allowing their kids to access everything freely. If desired, parents have the option to monitor text messages, which could be particularly useful for those with younger children. Here, an AI text summary feature offers parents concise overviews of kids' text message threads. The Pinwheel Watch is available now in the U.S., Australia, Canada, and the U.K., with plans to expand into additional markets soon. It will be available on Amazon later this summer, though the company has not provided a specific date.
