Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

In our family we have three kids, ages 8 and twins that are 11 years old. Naturally they also have friends coming over all the time, many of the bringing their "devices" so they can all play Minecraft, Clash of Clanes etc. After using Open DNS (free) it has become clear we needed something with a better UI, preferably with an iPhone app that can remotely control the internet experience. I settled on "Circle" and it has now been installed for 2 weeks. Here's the good and bad: 1. INSTALLATION: As some fellow reviewers pointed out there is no traditional user manual in the package, which makes total sense since the manufacturer does not want to print a "dated" card for a product that by its design will evolve and constantly add new features. So, instead of looking at a printed card you only need to download the free App and follow the easy set-up instructions. Basically it took 15 minutes to set up and add all the devices in the house (couldn't believe we had that many devices...). However, this is just the beginning.... 2. CONFIGURATION: Each device must be added to either a "Personal Profile", "Home" or "Unmanaged Devices" (see screenshot). This is quite logical and very much follows the concepts used on any Mac OS X or Windows computer. On each profile you can then be set with the appropriate Filter setting, along with a start time and end day daily. As many reviewers have pointed out it seems very strange that the Developer have not added unique start and end times for weekends, this as iOS completely supports this functionality. Also the absence of "home work time" versus "play time" is missing. However, I am quite confident these two settings will be added over time as the App development work proceeds. They are the two only truly annoying features. 3. SETTING UP EXCEPTIONS: This is the most tedious part of having a truly well functioning Circle experience. I would strongly recommend to make the initial set up on a day when everyone will be home for the full day. After installing Circle and adding their device to their profile, sit down with each child and ask them to go to every website, open every game and do anything/everything they want to do on their device. This way you can easily sit next to them and create the "exceptions" they need to the standard filter system. Simply open the highly useful "custom filter" option and add the main URL as approved and they are set. This needs to be done for each "Profile". Plan on spending the better part of a day adding tons of these "custom filter" exceptions and the kids will embrace the Circle instead of having a bad week receiving calls to work where the child is upset because the are "blocked" on a harmless site. There is no way around this as unfortunately internet URL's never was set up with "PG 13" or "R" ratings etc. 4. UNMANAGED DEVICES & HOME PROFILE: In our family we have set my wife's and mine cell phone and Tablets to be "unmanaged devices", which means there is no block or limitations. The computers in the house are on the "Home" profiles as multiple users log on to them and there is no technical way to tell who is on the computer even if they open their own profile on the iMac for example (not Circle's fault, just technical limitations). 5. PAUSE BUTTON: This is the "secret sauce" in this product!!! With the "pause" button you can easily pause the internet for either all managed devices OR for an individual profile (all devices attached to this profile will pause). With this powerful tool in my hand (iPhone with App) I simply need to say "dinner in 2 minutes, internet is going off when the clock hits 6:15 (for example). Prior to having Circle this was a simple threat that was not heard with multiple follow-up threats happening. Now everyone immediately "saves" and logs out of their activity as they know that the internet will indeed be shut off... The Kids all despise this new level of control but as Parents we smile as we are finally in charge again! Press "paus" a second time and internet is back on. SUMMARY - NEGATIVE POINTS: The App lacks 7-day individual scheduling of times and the ability to do multiple blocks of time during each day. SUMMARY - POSITIVE POINTS: Overall this is a tool that every Parent should have and I have been wanting for years. If nothing else it gives us control of what is being watched, when and by whom. It also serves as a great way to the kids away from "Tablet trance". I told the kids this will stay "on" as long as I am paying for them:-) - The App is very simple and easy to use. - Pause button is a "killer app" by itself for Parents. - The Profile system is logical and nicely laid out - The hardware is compact, looks nice and features a terrific "backup battery" (kids already unplugged it twice).