Friday, February 11, 2011
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: The Stay at Home GeekMom has a new home!
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: The Stay at Home GeekMom has a new home!: "Please come and see my new website - I just gave ti a great new look, got myself a logo, and I'm already bringing you the best exclusive con..."
The Stay at Home GeekMom has a new home!
Please come and see my new website - I just gave ti a great new look, got myself a logo, and I'm already bringing you the best exclusive content, app reviews, contests and everything iPad and iPhone
www.sahgeekmom.com!
www.sahgeekmom.com!
Friday, February 4, 2011
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: iPhone and iPad to the Rescue or How I Saved My Sa...
Kis's home with a cold? Weather keeping them indoors? Read about the Sanity Saving Apps for Parents and Kids!
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: iPhone and iPad to the Rescue or How I Saved My Sa...: "iPhone and iPad to the Rescue or How I Saved My Sanity Today Snow Day Madness I had a bunch of organized reviews and a big feature article ..."
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: Contests and Giveaways! Updated 2/3 9:20 AM EST
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: Contests and Giveaways! Updated 2/3 9:20 AM EST: "This page will be updated as often as needed - please bookmark if if you want freebies and like contests! Please read Contest Rules at the B..."
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: It’s Not an App or a Game, it’s a Real Toy and a R...
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: It’s Not an App or a Game, it’s a Real Toy and a R...: "It’s Not an App or a Game, it’s a Real Toy and a Real Treat! Pt 2. A SAHGeekMom & Pump Featured Article. by: Playti..."
It’s Not an App or a Game, it’s a Real Toy and a Real Treat Pt 2
It’s Not an App or a Game, it’s a Real Toy and a Real Treat! Pt 2.
A SAHGeekMom & Pump Featured Article.
by: Playtime Theater (Seth and David) Make Believe Worlds, LLC.
Price: 2.99 (Introductory Sale!)
Version 1.0
Platform: iPad Only
MultiPlayer & MultiTouch
SAHGeekMom gives it 5 STARS
Pump Insists Playtime Theater gets an unprecedented 6th STAR!!
Recommended age: 7 to 107 (4-6 with adult help)
What’s Missing and What’s Coming
As David is quick to admit, the first question every user asks is why can’t I save more than one story and why can’t
I save my child’s work.
This is a big drawback. For now the best way
to keep your child’s hard work is to use you video camera or smartphone to film
your screen.
But don’t worry. The guys at Playtime
Theatre are currently at work on adding both of those features, as well as
having a YouTube channel to showcase user’s creations. This is already in the
works and should be part of the first update.
David Katz, co-developer says:
The answer for now is only one at a time. But that will be
addressed in the next version. Most people carry cell phone video cameras
nowadays and an easy solution right now would be to video your child's play to
keep it forever. We also are asking our users to send us some funny or creative
videos that they have done with their Kids. We'd like to post those on
our YouTube channel.
He also offered some
tips as to how to get the best video (which you will need to do to enter the
contest, See my CONTEST PAGE for detailsJ
iPhone 4 takes great video. I actually used
a rubber band and tied my iPhone to a microphone stand. There probably is a
more elegant way, but it worked. The iPad emits a lot of light, so you really
don't need to worry about lighting too much, other than possibly overexposing
by or being too close to the iPad and going out of focus. Experiment and see
what works.
Sharing:
We all love to show off our kids and their accomplishments
across the social media platforms. For many of us W/SAHM’s it borders on a
full-time occupation, so obviously when you discover your daughter is going to
be the next Spielberg (or Bergman) you would want to be able to show your
friends and family.
across the social media platforms. For many of us W/SAHM’s it borders on a
full-time occupation, so obviously when you discover your daughter is going to
be the next Spielberg (or Bergman) you would want to be able to show your
friends and family.
Again this is something Seth and David are
working on. The YouTube channel, as I said is in the works, but in the future
they are going to be adding more exporting options. They do have some user
video live, you can find them on YouTube here. Personally I just want a Facebook
upload, but for now we’ll just have to wait.
working on. The YouTube channel, as I said is in the works, but in the future
they are going to be adding more exporting options. They do have some user
video live, you can find them on YouTube here. Personally I just want a Facebook
upload, but for now we’ll just have to wait.
More More More!
As much variety as this app already has, you
are going to want more. Well more is coming both for version 1.1 and for a
little further down the line. David Katz, co -developer says
are going to want more. Well more is coming both for version 1.1 and for a
little further down the line. David Katz, co -developer says
We are working on
[a] castle courtyard, 3 towers, princess, prison, wizard, and a forest. As you
know these sets are complex and require a lot of labor to produce, so we really
need all the support we can to keep them coming! Most of the elements for the
additional sets have been drawn and we are beginning the coloring process now.
[a] castle courtyard, 3 towers, princess, prison, wizard, and a forest. As you
know these sets are complex and require a lot of labor to produce, so we really
need all the support we can to keep them coming! Most of the elements for the
additional sets have been drawn and we are beginning the coloring process now.
Seth Levine, the other co-dad-dev expands:
Future versions will include more stages,
costumes, props, sound effects and music (starting with the rest of the castle
world and eventually other worlds including Pirates [yay!] and Space).
costumes, props, sound effects and music (starting with the rest of the castle
world and eventually other worlds including Pirates [yay!] and Space).
There are a Few Bugs.
We have had instances of the app crashing
instead of playing back, which is very disappointing to a child especially.
Pump doesn’t really care about saving his work for posterity, but he likes to
view it over and over and show it to mom and dad. Repeatedly. As Murphy’s Law
would have it Pump made a terrific show using every feature for you all, but
after playing it once, the app failed and we couldn’t record it.
instead of playing back, which is very disappointing to a child especially.
Pump doesn’t really care about saving his work for posterity, but he likes to
view it over and over and show it to mom and dad. Repeatedly. As Murphy’s Law
would have it Pump made a terrific show using every feature for you all, but
after playing it once, the app failed and we couldn’t record it.
Seth Levine, co-developer, let me know,
however, that the issues is known and will be fixed in the next update. In the
meantime what seems to fix the problem for us is shutting down all other apps
running in the background and if that fails a reboot of the iPad does the
trick. If Pump feels up to trying again later after homework, I’ll update the
piece with his creation.
however, that the issues is known and will be fixed in the next update. In the
meantime what seems to fix the problem for us is shutting down all other apps
running in the background and if that fails a reboot of the iPad does the
trick. If Pump feels up to trying again later after homework, I’ll update the
piece with his creation.
Seth said Version 1.1 will include:
·
Bug fixes (The app was designed for an earlier
version of iOS that
Bug fixes (The app was designed for an earlier
version of iOS that
didn't have multitasking which allows the
app to stay running for long periods of time - this is the biggest bug fix in
the works).
app to stay running for long periods of time - this is the biggest bug fix in
the works).
·
The ability to save more than one show.
The ability to save more than one show.
·
An updated help system.
An updated help system.
·
If time permits, some more goodies too.
If time permits, some more goodies too.
A Quick Tip for Getting the Most out of Playtime Theater.
Seth and David both
wanted to make sure all their user know this.
wanted to make sure all their user know this.
One cool thing about our app is that it
takes uses the iPad's multi-touch
capabilities so you can move more than one character around at a time.
This is great for single users wanting to perform actions with more than
one character at a time, but it also allows more than one user to move a
character at a time so kids can collaborate and make shows together acting out
different parts.
takes uses the iPad's multi-touch
capabilities so you can move more than one character around at a time.
This is great for single users wanting to perform actions with more than
one character at a time, but it also allows more than one user to move a
character at a time so kids can collaborate and make shows together acting out
different parts.
A Development Team Worthy of
Your Support
Your Support
A few words about and from the Playtime Theater Devs
Don’t expect
many of this sort of full-length feature article on a single app from the
SAHGeekMom. I have multiple reviews to do daily, round-up app guides, and I
want to keep you posted on everything I can, while still being the same SAHGM I
am now, and there are only so many hours in a day, even for insomniacs! But
once in a while when an app and team blows both Pump and I away I will invest
my time to give you the complete picture and insight into how apps come
together. This is such a case:
many of this sort of full-length feature article on a single app from the
SAHGeekMom. I have multiple reviews to do daily, round-up app guides, and I
want to keep you posted on everything I can, while still being the same SAHGM I
am now, and there are only so many hours in a day, even for insomniacs! But
once in a while when an app and team blows both Pump and I away I will invest
my time to give you the complete picture and insight into how apps come
together. This is such a case:
As I said at the beginning, I really care
about who is behind the apps I buy. I promised to contact developers to let you
know if they are responsive and so I did. David was quick to reply with answers
to all my questions. He was affable, friendly, and genuinely interested in my
feedback and is in yours as well. Then I met Seth via Twitter and he too was a
really nice guy.
about who is behind the apps I buy. I promised to contact developers to let you
know if they are responsive and so I did. David was quick to reply with answers
to all my questions. He was affable, friendly, and genuinely interested in my
feedback and is in yours as well. Then I met Seth via Twitter and he too was a
really nice guy.
The first thing I learned was that
the motivation behind Make Believe Worlds, LLC. was to make something
their own kids would love. It’s obvious they care about providing us with the
best possible app and with the best possible inspiration. Seth told me:
the motivation behind Make Believe Worlds, LLC. was to make something
their own kids would love. It’s obvious they care about providing us with the
best possible app and with the best possible inspiration. Seth told me:
Being a dad helps me look at the world from
a kids perspective again and
a kids perspective again and
reminds me how important nurturing
imagination is for kids and adults.
imagination is for kids and adults.
I am grateful to my wife and daughter for
all the patience and support
all the patience and support
they've given us in this endeavor.
Apple was started by two guys that liked to
tinker and now with the App
tinker and now with the App
Store, they've created a place for other
tinkerers to share really great
tinkerers to share really great
(and sometimes not so great) things with the
world. They have provided
world. They have provided
the tools and resources for non-developers
like David and me to create
like David and me to create
an app for kids that is inspired by the toys
and activities we loved as
and activities we loved as
kids and that our kids love today.
David added,
We are a :"2 dad" company with day
jobs and represent the "little guy" We feel we have developed a
sophisticated app that offers a deep level of interaction and creativity.
jobs and represent the "little guy" We feel we have developed a
sophisticated app that offers a deep level of interaction and creativity.
When asked how they
compare themselves to apps like Toontastic they said that while they others may
have larger budgets, larger staffs and a marketing division, they are dedicated
to their craft, and are aided by the fact that they both work in ‘show biz,’ on
the editing side of things:
compare themselves to apps like Toontastic they said that while they others may
have larger budgets, larger staffs and a marketing division, they are dedicated
to their craft, and are aided by the fact that they both work in ‘show biz,’ on
the editing side of things:
I personally think that aspect and that we
are both Television editors with experience in post production is pretty cool!
are both Television editors with experience in post production is pretty cool!
SAHGeekMom thinks so too.
A final note from Seth:
We are busy parents with day jobs but we are
working hard and
working hard and
committed to updating the app in stages.
Speaking of time - we have to
Speaking of time - we have to
give a shout out to our artist Diane who has
been generating amazing
been generating amazing
hand drawn art in her spare time too.
We are very fortunate to be
We are very fortunate to be
working with her.
A Topical Tangent…
Remember as consumers
the vote you have that is heard the loudest is the one you cast with your
dollars. The best way of ensuring that people such as ourselves have a fair
chance in a market glutted with huge multinational corporate entities is if we
support each other.
the vote you have that is heard the loudest is the one you cast with your
dollars. The best way of ensuring that people such as ourselves have a fair
chance in a market glutted with huge multinational corporate entities is if we
support each other.
I am not condemning
corporate culture (at least not here, anyway,) but it’s a well-known reality.
In regards to the App Store neither Apple itself nor game powerhouses like EA or
Disney needs much help from the likes of me. They have the infrastructure and
insider information that gives them a tremendous advantage over everyone else.
corporate culture (at least not here, anyway,) but it’s a well-known reality.
In regards to the App Store neither Apple itself nor game powerhouses like EA or
Disney needs much help from the likes of me. They have the infrastructure and
insider information that gives them a tremendous advantage over everyone else.
That said, I think
everyone knows at least one app that went from small beloved project to
superstardom, Angry Bird, and Doodle Jump come to mind, as once independent
RovioMobile and LimaSky now have major distribution contracts and even feature
film tie-ins.
everyone knows at least one app that went from small beloved project to
superstardom, Angry Bird, and Doodle Jump come to mind, as once independent
RovioMobile and LimaSky now have major distribution contracts and even feature
film tie-ins.
We all know our see the
power of the public, else how could Justin Beiber have gone from YouTube
sensation to the mega-pop-star he is so quickly, but we don’t often think about
how decisions about what to purchase effect what fad we will next be served and
saturated with. If you want the best to shine, not just the richest, support
independent everything, including app development.
power of the public, else how could Justin Beiber have gone from YouTube
sensation to the mega-pop-star he is so quickly, but we don’t often think about
how decisions about what to purchase effect what fad we will next be served and
saturated with. If you want the best to shine, not just the richest, support
independent everything, including app development.
Pump’s Points
A final wrap up by the real expert
SAHGM:
Is this game easy or hard?
Is this game easy or hard?
Pump:
It was kinda hard in the beginning ‘cause you have like a million hats and
dragons and swords and girl stuff and you have to choose it all and make
everything. But now it’s easy. (He made me a movie for this review in 10
minutes and it was great!)
It was kinda hard in the beginning ‘cause you have like a million hats and
dragons and swords and girl stuff and you have to choose it all and make
everything. But now it’s easy. (He made me a movie for this review in 10
minutes and it was great!)
SAHGM: What is your favourite thing about it?
Pump:
The cool dragons and the sounds and the swords and night-time and the monsters
and all the dragons ekspecially [sic] when they have fire.
The cool dragons and the sounds and the swords and night-time and the monsters
and all the dragons ekspecially [sic] when they have fire.
SAHGM:
What would change if you could change something?
What would change if you could change something?
Pump:
I want more characters and stuff and I need more, you know, like places for
them to be. [He means backgrounds.] And for it not to lose my movies. They should
fix that first.
I want more characters and stuff and I need more, you know, like places for
them to be. [He means backgrounds.] And for it not to lose my movies. They should
fix that first.
SAHGM:
What would you like to tell other kids?
What would you like to tell other kids?
Pump:
This is really fun and you can make really fun shows with dragons and knights
and monsters!
This is really fun and you can make really fun shows with dragons and knights
and monsters!
SAHGM:
What would you tell parents?
What would you tell parents?
Pump:
You should buy it for your kids if they love monsters and dragons and making
shows and stuff. It’s ok for girls too because they have girl stuff.
You should buy it for your kids if they love monsters and dragons and making
shows and stuff. It’s ok for girls too because they have girl stuff.
Don’t Forget Check out: It’s Not
an App or a Game, it’s a Real Toy and a Real Treat Pt 1, for screen
shots, a how-to video and more.
an App or a Game, it’s a Real Toy and a Real Treat Pt 1, for screen
shots, a how-to video and more.
OK, that’s it from The
SAHGeekMom for this week. Between all this writing, the blizzard and Pump’s
being sick, I have avoided my real life for too long and weekends are always
frantic. But check my blog
often for updates on my various contest and for the odd App Stalker Report or Edu-App No
Brainers, of even a story about my Uncle Joe’s Cabin in Abitibi-Témiscaminque
(Kidding! Don’t panic!)
SAHGeekMom for this week. Between all this writing, the blizzard and Pump’s
being sick, I have avoided my real life for too long and weekends are always
frantic. But check my blog
often for updates on my various contest and for the odd App Stalker Report or Edu-App No
Brainers, of even a story about my Uncle Joe’s Cabin in Abitibi-Témiscaminque
(Kidding! Don’t panic!)
Thank you all so much
for your interest and support and to the developers my thanks for all the swag
and support. To get up-to-the minute updates subscriber to my rss feed or the
blog itself, or better yet follow me on Twitter @sahgeekmom. I am always
tweeting
for your interest and support and to the developers my thanks for all the swag
and support. To get up-to-the minute updates subscriber to my rss feed or the
blog itself, or better yet follow me on Twitter @sahgeekmom. I am always
tweeting
As always developers are
welcome to contact me if they want a review, email mailto:sahgeekmom@gmail.com.
welcome to contact me if they want a review, email mailto:sahgeekmom@gmail.com.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
iPhone and iPad to the Rescue or How I Saved My Sanity Today (Plus Today's Edu-App No-Brainer 2/3)
iPhone and iPad to the Rescue or How I Saved My Sanity Today
Snow Day Madness 
I had a bunch of organized reviews and a big feature article I wanted to get up today, but The SAHGeekMom is a mom first. Life threw me a little curve-ball; instead of peacefully blogging, I had to fetch pump from school (again) b/c his fever came back and there is a huge blizzard here in Montreal that I had to make my way through. You can see my view from my windshield up top on the left. Let's say it was less-than-relaxing. I had to put everything on hold for the rest of the day. But once again my iPhone and iPad came to my rescue. Let me tell you how.Note: my iPad is not 3G, since 2 data plans is a little more than this SAHM can swing, but I brought it with me, along with my iPhone 4.
First I needed to close shop on Twitter and Facebook on the fly. I decided to try a new (to me, not new new) Twitter client called Osfoora, and was delighted at how simple it was to tweet, upload photos of the blizzard (it makes me feel better to share my pain @sahgeekmom) and to reply to to messages. I even did a few tweet-sizes app suggestions to assuage my guilt over leaving you all in the lurch today.
I love it so much wound up getting both the iPhone and iPad versions They have twitlonger support incorporated too, which for a wordy girl like me is essential. The app supports TextExpander (AWESOME tool for writers, check it out for Mac and IOS!) 4.75 Stars.
Osfoora is pricey though, @2.99 for universal app, and 5.99 for the HD vesion for iPad, so if you just want to tweet to some friends and keep up with your feed you probably don't need it. The free universal Twtiter App from Twitter is fine (4 stars).
Updating Facebok was not as much fun. I settled on Facebook Touch HD (formerly Facely) for my iPhone, but I still needed Video/Photo Uploader (I am 90% sure it used to be called iUpLoader??) to get my snowy pics posted. I give them both 3 stars, they get the job done, but if someone knows a great FB app for either platform please LMK!
Next I rediscovered an old favorite app for Pump which I was able to post on-the-run as my Edu-App No-Brainer of the day: WeetWoo!
Pump was sick, tired, bored and crabby which is reasonable for a 7 year old with a fever stuck in traffic and waiting rooms for 3 hours. This was not the day for a rousing game of World of Goo or Shrek Cart (he loves both, but I was aiming for mellow...)
I knew the solution right away, it was WeetWoo! on my iPhone. WeetWoo! is essentially a YouTube feed of kid friendly shows (ages 2-9,) but done up in an inviting and simple format. WeetWoo! allows you to pre-set an age range to ensure your 3 year old is not watching shows meant for 2nd grade, but the content across the board is wholesome. Once set your child can select the channel easily by themselves. Pictures next to simple words make it easy for a child to navigate the app. The channels are: Animals, Learn, Music, People, Places and Fun Shows, but even the fun shows are mostly PBS shows, not feature-length commercials for toys like the Bakugans or sickly-sweet and substance-less tripe like Disney Princess videos.
I really love the People channel. They have little animated cartoons about the likes of Leonardo DaVinci, Marie Curie and Benjamin Franklin. And Places is a great way to explore the world, we took a tour of Oxford, England today to see "Hogwarts!"
The app is not optimized for ipad so you have to put up with pixelation or use it in small format, but that is only for choosing the show. The video itself is streams from YouTube and the image quality can vary from pretty good to kinda grainy, but Pump doesn't mind. On either device he is just happy to have his own personal video store, and I am confident that I can trust him to choose appropriate shows for himself. They shuffle up the content too, so it's like a different video store every few weeks. Pump and I give WeetWoo! a perfect 5 stars for the iPhone and 4 Stars for ipad with the hopes that an update to universal will come down the line soon.
And thus Pump was entertained on the 30 (normally 10) minute drive to the doctor's office. Since we don't get Pandora Radio in Canada I was happily listening away to the Slacker Radio app which streams fro their main web site. I have a subscription and I absoutely adore this service.
Like Pandora you select and artist or several artists and Slacker makes a cusom radio station for you. You can fine tune any station opting for/against news breaks from ABC, and you select whether you would prefer mostly hits or more obscure titles, newer or older songs etc. (You can create as many channels as you want and there are no ads in the paid service. I never even tried the free, so I am afraid I can't comment. )
I have many channels of my old favorite classic rock bands, singer-songwriters, and Grateful Dead-like stuff which are awesome, but I have also discovered that the world didn't stop making music in 1995. I heard some songs by jack Johnson when we saw Curious George the Movie and I knew I liked him. I started there and 3 months later I have all kinds of new CDs (yes I am Old Skool I like a tangible items to hold my music. But I am still lamenting the passing of the 8 track, so don't use me as a barometer.) Having the background music playing, via a cheap car kit, through my car stereo speakers is much more relaxing than hunting for a decent song on FM and then sitting through 3 songs you hate and a bunch of adverts. The app itself works flawlessly for me. It has never failed me once. You can even cache up to 12 stations for offline listening! SAHGM gives Slacker a 4.75 stars.
Next we arrived at the MD's; Pump was nervous and we had been squeezed in so we had to wait. So I broke out the iPad and we played Labyrinth 2 HD by Illusions Labs which is absoutely gorgeous. The game play is so life-like and there are a seemingly endless number of boards including the original Brio layouts we played as kids (and I hated them, the app is much mre fun than it's RL version for once) other users' creations, or you can even make tour own.
Even with all that, however, I feel it is overpriced at 7.99, so I tried Labyrinth Game HD by Eivaa Studios (a different company entirely,) for only .99 and while the options were more limited, the gameplay was easier for Pump in the less expensive version.
I confess SAHGeekMom loved Labyrinth 2 HD even if I did purchase it by mistake meaning to get the lite version ;). Both of the ball-in-maze games are great renditions of the original, and perfectly suited for keeping a child quiet while waiting.
I give Labarynth 2 HD 3.75 stars with hopes that they label the user boards more accurately and lower the price, and Pump gives Labyrinth Game HD 4 stars because he found it much easier to manipulate.
Finally when I got home, but still had to take care of Pump. I gave the new WordPress update a try and I like it. It's not great, but better than BlogSpot which kept losing my posts. It got the bare bones of this post up (I apologize for the poor editing, the iPad keyboard is less-than-stellar and so are my eyes at night!) and it saved my drafts, let me attach pics, and do other simple things.
But unless you can code, this will only get your words up to your Blog. You will still need to format it either on the WordPress site on the word processor or HTML editor of your choice. It is handy to be able to moderate comments and manage subscriptions on the fly with the iPhone. 3.25 stars.
When it was finally bedtime, we let OceanHouse Media's Dr. Suess: Gertrude McFuzz, on sale for only .99, read aloud to us, because I was too tired to focus my eyebals! As always the story was delightful and the presentation flawless. We both give every Suess book we have seen by OceanHouse 5 Stars.
And so with that I say goodnight. I am going to put on headphones and let Ambience put me to sleep. As the name suggests this is an app for creating an altogether astonishing assortment of ambient sounds, white noise, diurnal tones etc.
What makes Ambience different from all the other apps that combine etherial music, nature sounds and heartbeats to lull you into a relaxed state, is that Ambience has hundreds upon hundreds of sounds you can mix and blend to create the right background for the right mood. Once you create your mix you can save it as a fave for future use. As if the 99 varieties of cicadas alone, not to mention every other insect and bird, 400 ocean sounds, babbling brroks, snowy days, beachy nights, and everything else weren't enough for 2.99, you can buy even more sounds as in-app.
I have one mix for concentrating on reading, one that helps me sleep, and one that helps me not beat my head against the wall when I lose the whole day to winter and a flu! This one is another fave that gets a 4.25. Stars.
I'll be back tomorrow with more, but how much more depends entirely on how well Pump feels when he gets up. I'll keep you posted!
Have a great night
The SAHGeekMom
As alwasys I invite devs to send me anything you would like to have reviewed at sahgeekmom@gmail.com or on twitter @sahgeekmom
Don't forget to check out my contest page for winners and new giveaways, and my (almost) daily app stalker reports, as well as Part 1 of my feature article and review of PlayTime Theater, and my review of Cooties, updated with a sneak peek at upcoming changes from the developer posted today and of the smash hit creative-play app Make A Zombie, (which also helped keep Pump as happy as he could have been in the circumstances.)
Learn more about App Stalking or more about The SAHGeekMom too!
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