Late last year Netgear announced firmware upgrades to several of their modems and modem/routers to include the Circle with Disney parental control app, now at JB HiFi you can buy the original Circle with Disney to add to any existing network.
At $169 it’s a great deal, though there is of course a monthly subscription to manage mobile devices on mobile networks but it’s outstanding value given all that the device and associated apps offer.
I tested it out on my Netgear modem last year and it proved to be a very simple way to implement time and content limits on the kids devices.
The Circle with Disney device is a small cube that requires only power and a network connection – plugging into your existing modem or router to provide a set of filters and controls on your existing network.
Once configured the Circle with Disney has a long list of features:
- Filter
- You can filter the type of content available by family member
- Pause
- Someone’s in trouble? Pause their connection, blocking the internet for one child rather than the whole family.
- Time Limits
- Set time limits per day child by child
- Rewards
- Someone’s been a good boy? Give them more time in the day, or a later bed-time.
- Usage
- Look at what the kids have been doing on their device – right down to the app.
- Offtime
- Set a “no internet time” on any given day.
- Bedtime
- Shut off the internet for the kids devices from a set time at night until a time you choose in the morning.
- History
- See which websites have been viewed and blocked on a device by device basis.
It’s comprehensive, and entirely app based – easy to setup, easy to use, a great investment for any family!