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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SAHGeekmom App Reviews: COOTIES Review Updated 2/2 - Preview of Kid-Friend...: "by KYY Games, distributed by ClickGamer.com; Chillingo SAHGeekMom Score: 4 out of 5 stars (Great!) (updated 2/2 from 4 to 4.5 based on deveo..."
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: This Goes Here :D
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: This Goes Here :D: "Sorry for the formatting problems and for the posts being out of order, I am copying and pasting from WordPress and not everything is coming..."
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: EVEN NEWER! App Stalker Report for 2/1 - 2/2
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: EVEN NEWER! App Stalker Report for 2/1 - 2/2: "So many updates and sales and freebies to report, so little time. Today I review only app & games I already have, but I also turn you on..."
SAHGeekmom App Reviews: Contests and Giveaways! Updated 2/2 8:20 AM EST
win playtime theatre and dino rush! SAHGeekmom App Reviews: Contests and Giveaways! Updated 2/2 8:20 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..."
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
EVEN NEWER! App Stalker Report for 2/1 - 2/2
So many updates and sales and freebies to report, so little time. Today I review only app & games I already have, but I also turn you on to some sales and as always if I try it, you will get a full update tomorrow!
This morning the following apps were updated, went free, or went on sale:
So many updates and sales and freebies to report, so little time. Today I review only app & games I already have, but I also turn you on to some sales and as always if I try it, you will get a full update tomorrow!
This morning the following apps were updated, went free, or went on sale:
The Hands-Down Best EduApp No-Brainer: Dr Seuss's book Gertrude McFuzz. It's another perfect Suess Interactive book from Oceanhouse who also bring you other great titles for kids like the Berenstein Bears, and a lot of peaceful relaxation apps/books too. Well over 200 titles if you include iPone and iPad apps including lite versions and they are constantly bring out new content at very reasonable price. Speaking of which G. McF is on sale for a mere .99. SAHMGK and Pump give it 5 stars! Ages 2nd Trimester -Methusela
Second Edu-App No Brainer1: The SAHGM and Pump pick: MasterCode. It's free for a limited time and is a faithful rendition of the classic brain-building logic puzzle/board game MasterMind. I've only played a bit, but it's smooth and simple, with a fair amount of customizability for the look, but is a little lite on game-play features. I am hoping for an update with additional features especially a two-player mode soon. 3.75 Stars!
Another CREATIVE app Pump and I use together has been updated with new free and paid elements. I am talking about ScrapPad. While I found it a bit simplistic for my uses, the fun stickers and other embelishments you can add to pictures make it one of Pump's faves. 3.75 Pump Stars
A very sophisticated note-taking app that I plan to cover in a comparitive review soon, Notes Plus has been updated. It's pricey at 5.99, but the list of features is almost endless and now has both password protection (thank you) and background recording. I haven't given the update a test drive yet so for now I can rate it only on the previous version. It's ideal for High school and College! 4.25 Stars.
Facepad+ a facebook client for the iPad is on sale down from 1.99 to .99, but I'm not buying. The reviews are not great, and their free app suits my perpurposes just fine, and gets better user comments. It could be great, but it still lacks too many features to pay for. Don't recommend.
A solid Bubble Shooter, Double Bubble, went universal today. It's a great deal of fun. 4 Stars!
Tilt to Live, the incredibly well-received game has new free content in their update and an in-app purchase for additional levels. If you haven't tried this game that was on most top 10 Game of 2010 list's for the iPad and iPhone this year this is the time to do it. 4.75 Stars!
Silly but fun game, Coin Dozer, is brought to you today free by FAAD. It's a great wait to kill a few minutes. Pump enjoys it more than I do. 3.5 Pump Stars.
TweetPad, already free, now has a pull-down-to-update feature. Will it usurp Twitter's app as my fave? I'll let you know tomorrow. I would try suggest you try it, it's free after all!
FieldRunner for iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch needs no help from me to be downloaded. It is one of, if not THE most popular tower defence game for iPad and iPhone. It's been updated. Pump's dad let him play on his Ipod Touch and he loves it but preferred the now gone lite version to the full version on the iPhone. It gets 5 stars from most sites and since it is not my thing I will leave it at that.
A classic, Super Mega Worm dropped from 1.99-.99, it's fun. 3.25 Stars.
App Store staple, Stair Dismount, also was updated today and remains free as ever. 3 Stars.
Finally here's one to avoid at all costs, even for free. A pseudo-lego building game called Blocky has a free and paid version. I tried the free one, it does nothing. Don't waste your time. Frankly Lego, IMO should be played hands-ons. It's probably the single best toy ever, no?
Has anyone Tried Shakespeare Bits? I am dying to, but @ 14.99 the asking price is too steep, even for a Bard-worshipper like me. Still if anyone has seen it I would love to hear your thoughts.
Ok that's it from me for tonight. I have to postpone the second part of my article on Playtime Theater but you can see part one here. Part 2 will go live tomorrow. The devs needed some time to get their prize sorted out and to tell the truth I got called to pick up a sick Pump at school today and that but into my blogging-time. I will make it up to you with fantastic content in tomorrow's sequel.
Don't forget to check my Contest Page often and to check my updated App Stalker Report from 1/31 -I have updated my reviews and given more ratings. There were quite a few keepers so check it out!
As always I welcome Devs to contact me if you need a review. Follow me on twitter @sahgeekmom or email me at sahgeekmom@gmail.com
Remember, use AppShopper to track apps and see changes in the App Store, and rely on AppAdvice.com Apps by AppAdvice.com or just visit their website for the most comprehensive app reviews and guides. Learn more about App Stalking here: App Store Stalking: Everything You Need to Know to Keep it Simple
Pump is still sick and we're getting over 30cm of snow (Thanks Weather HD!) so that's it for me for today. Goodnight, and happy app hunting!
The SAHGeekMom
This morning the following apps were updated, went free, or went on sale:
So many updates and sales and freebies to report, so little time. Today I review only app & games I already have, but I also turn you on to some sales and as always if I try it, you will get a full update tomorrow!
This morning the following apps were updated, went free, or went on sale:
The Hands-Down Best EduApp No-Brainer: Dr Seuss's book Gertrude McFuzz. It's another perfect Suess Interactive book from Oceanhouse who also bring you other great titles for kids like the Berenstein Bears, and a lot of peaceful relaxation apps/books too. Well over 200 titles if you include iPone and iPad apps including lite versions and they are constantly bring out new content at very reasonable price. Speaking of which G. McF is on sale for a mere .99. SAHMGK and Pump give it 5 stars! Ages 2nd Trimester -Methusela
Second Edu-App No Brainer1: The SAHGM and Pump pick: MasterCode. It's free for a limited time and is a faithful rendition of the classic brain-building logic puzzle/board game MasterMind. I've only played a bit, but it's smooth and simple, with a fair amount of customizability for the look, but is a little lite on game-play features. I am hoping for an update with additional features especially a two-player mode soon. 3.75 Stars!
AND
If you have a younger child you might prefer a MasterMind clone more suitable for pre-k and kindergarden. Check out Crack the Code. You can start with a very simple 3 peg board. But it can get as complex as you decide. It's pretty customizable for a game of this type. 4 Pump Stars It's free to try.Another CREATIVE app Pump and I use together has been updated with new free and paid elements. I am talking about ScrapPad. While I found it a bit simplistic for my uses, the fun stickers and other embelishments you can add to pictures make it one of Pump's faves. 3.75 Pump Stars
A very sophisticated note-taking app that I plan to cover in a comparitive review soon, Notes Plus has been updated. It's pricey at 5.99, but the list of features is almost endless and now has both password protection (thank you) and background recording. I haven't given the update a test drive yet so for now I can rate it only on the previous version. It's ideal for High school and College! 4.25 Stars.
Facepad+ a facebook client for the iPad is on sale down from 1.99 to .99, but I'm not buying. The reviews are not great, and their free app suits my perpurposes just fine, and gets better user comments. It could be great, but it still lacks too many features to pay for. Don't recommend.
A solid Bubble Shooter, Double Bubble, went universal today. It's a great deal of fun. 4 Stars!
Tilt to Live, the incredibly well-received game has new free content in their update and an in-app purchase for additional levels. If you haven't tried this game that was on most top 10 Game of 2010 list's for the iPad and iPhone this year this is the time to do it. 4.75 Stars!
Silly but fun game, Coin Dozer, is brought to you today free by FAAD. It's a great wait to kill a few minutes. Pump enjoys it more than I do. 3.5 Pump Stars.
TweetPad, already free, now has a pull-down-to-update feature. Will it usurp Twitter's app as my fave? I'll let you know tomorrow. I would try suggest you try it, it's free after all!
FieldRunner for iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch needs no help from me to be downloaded. It is one of, if not THE most popular tower defence game for iPad and iPhone. It's been updated. Pump's dad let him play on his Ipod Touch and he loves it but preferred the now gone lite version to the full version on the iPhone. It gets 5 stars from most sites and since it is not my thing I will leave it at that.
A classic, Super Mega Worm dropped from 1.99-.99, it's fun. 3.25 Stars.
App Store staple, Stair Dismount, also was updated today and remains free as ever. 3 Stars.
Finally here's one to avoid at all costs, even for free. A pseudo-lego building game called Blocky has a free and paid version. I tried the free one, it does nothing. Don't waste your time. Frankly Lego, IMO should be played hands-ons. It's probably the single best toy ever, no?
Has anyone Tried Shakespeare Bits? I am dying to, but @ 14.99 the asking price is too steep, even for a Bard-worshipper like me. Still if anyone has seen it I would love to hear your thoughts.
Ok that's it from me for tonight. I have to postpone the second part of my article on Playtime Theater but you can see part one here. Part 2 will go live tomorrow. The devs needed some time to get their prize sorted out and to tell the truth I got called to pick up a sick Pump at school today and that but into my blogging-time. I will make it up to you with fantastic content in tomorrow's sequel.
Don't forget to check my Contest Page often and to check my updated App Stalker Report from 1/31 -I have updated my reviews and given more ratings. There were quite a few keepers so check it out!
As always I welcome Devs to contact me if you need a review. Follow me on twitter @sahgeekmom or email me at sahgeekmom@gmail.com
Remember, use AppShopper to track apps and see changes in the App Store, and rely on AppAdvice.com Apps by AppAdvice.com or just visit their website for the most comprehensive app reviews and guides. Learn more about App Stalking here: App Store Stalking: Everything You Need to Know to Keep it Simple
Pump is still sick and we're getting over 30cm of snow (Thanks Weather HD!) so that's it for me for today. Goodnight, and happy app hunting!
The SAHGeekMom
This Goes Here :D
Sorry for the formatting problems and for the posts being out of order, I am copying and pasting from WordPress and not everything is coming over properly. But I tidied this up and since it is this morning's post, I want it up here where you can see it.
Enjoy and thank you for bearing with The SAHGeekMom as I learn the rope
And even still, there are so many hidden surprises to be found by tapping around, like an animated cannon and drawbridge, a door that magically transports the character into the castle, hilarious little scenes in the windows etc. that I only discovered about 65% of them.
Thankfully there is now also a video tutorial to make sure parents know exactly how this works:
Enjoy and thank you for bearing with The SAHGeekMom as I learn the rope
It’s Not an App or a Game, it’s a Real Toy and a Real Treat: Playtime Theater part. 1
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
- SAHGeekMom gives it 5 STARS
- Pump Insists Playtime Theater gets an unprecedented 6th STAR!!
- Recommended age: 7 to 107 (4-6 with adult help)
When I first started thinking about what I really wanted to do with my blog I discovered I had 3 priorities:
- To share my awe and wonder for the iPad and the apps that make it shine
- To seek out the highest quality apps with educational value and replayability for children and parents
- To promote apps by independent developers who are responsive and dedicated
Playtime Theater fits my criteria so perfectly it can serve as the gold standard for subsequent reviews because this is truly my definition of a 5 star app.
That doesn’t mean it has no problems, quite the contrary, Playtime Theater is a work in progress. But I can say with as much certainty possible that the app will mature quickly and that it will not be one abandoned by its developers in two months or even two years. This one is a keeper.
I had to take some time to seek out David and Seth, the two dads behind this amazing new app, and they have generously shared a lot of information about themselves, their product and their future plans.
About Playtime Theater:
Playtime Theater is a virtual puppet theater, with a medieval castle theme, which allows you to create very elaborate scenes with an amazing assortment of puppets, costumes, props, sound effects and music. You can then record your creation with your dialogue and play it back fully animated.
The Set
BackStage
There is at least one other app I can think of that does something similar and was featured heavily in the app store last week, Toontastic, (which is also a fab app – I will be covering it in a future post on other great creative-play applications for iPad.) But Playtime Theater is more compelling to Pump even if it’s more complicated at first glance.
What makes Playtime Theater unique, (genuinely unique as in one-of-a-kind,) is that it somehow manages to transcend being a digital app. If feels and responds, and more importantly kids respond to it, like a real toy. Owing in part to the hand-made look of the puppets and to the almost infinite ways you can customize your experience, it is more a hybrid of an old-time home puppet theater and a modern play-set like Playmobil makes, than a digital animation studio. (Playmobil Castle for Hanukamass was $195.00 CND plus tax.)
Current Features
You can:
Change the appearance of the main characters:
Choose Your Bit Players
You can select also one of several background soundtracks. It records
your voice as well, so you can dialogue and narration.
your voice as well, so you can dialogue and narration.
The Difference Between How a Child and a Parent Interacts with the Interface.
When I first looked over the app before setting Pump loose, I confess I was not entirely sure how to proceed. I had to look carefully at the in-app documentation to get started:
And even still, there are so many hidden surprises to be found by tapping around, like an animated cannon and drawbridge, a door that magically transports the character into the castle, hilarious little scenes in the windows etc. that I only discovered about 65% of them.
Thankfully there is now also a video tutorial to make sure parents know exactly how this works:
I completely expected to have to take Pump step-by-step through the process it took me about 30 minutes to get the hang of, but as I have explained, my policy is to let him interact with apps alone to gauge how intuitive they are for their intended audience, children.
So I sent him to his room to have a go at it, and was astonished by the almost preternatural quiet than descended over the house and the length of time he was gone. I gave it to him moments after he came home from school, even before a snack, and he didn’t reappear, seriously, for an hour and a half! If you have a 7ish year old child or one who was 7 once, you should be amazed. The most he can concentrate on any other non-physical activity is an hour, and really 30 minutes is about as long as he can truly focus.
When he did finally emerge from his room he was as excited as he has ever been to show off his play. Mind the video tutorial was not up, and he is a pre-reader in English so he had no instruction of any kind. (He goes to a French immersion school, he’s not daft!) Yet he managed to create an elaborate story using every feature including all the ones I had missed entirely.
Of course he discovered all the hidden treats I mentioned, not 65% or even 95%, but 100% of them. Here are just a few:
Tapping Windows Reveal Charming Surprises:
You can go from Day to Night and the Drawbridge,
Cannon and other props are fully animated.
Our favorite – you can see (and change) who’s peeking
out from behind the waterfall
I can’t explain it, but obviously for my son anyway, and likely your child too if they are in grade school and inclined towards gadgets, this game and its interface was quickly understood.
Huh!?!
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, like most young people he catches on to new gadgets faster than even his uber-geeky mom. Still when you check the app out I think you will happily surprised by how quickly it’s put to use and stays in use.
It also has one huge advantage over a deluxe playmobil-type set. No matter how much you spend on it, what you get is what you get. You are not going to regularly get packages with new men and parts; in fact unless you are more organized than I can ever hope to be, you will slowly watch the parts of your deluxe sets disappear as they get lost or broken.
This is not to say that digital toys are superior, we all know the value of imaginative play-sets and hands-on tactile experiences, but Playtime Theater is the closest thing you will find in the App Store to tactile experience which is why Pump and I both keep coming back to it.
Check Back This Evening for the Second Part of This Feature Story
Coming up:
- What’s Missing and What’s Coming with an exclusive sneak peek at version 1.1 and beyond.
- An interview with David and Seth, the 2-dad team behind Playtime Theatre
- Pump’s Points: Pump discusses what he likes and doesn’t like about Playtime Theater
- THE CHANCE TO WIN A FREE COPY OF THE GAME!
Chillingo's COOTIES Review Updated 2/4 – Preview of Kid-Friendly Features Coming Soon
UPDATE 2/4: KyyGames was kind enough to give me a sneak peek at their next update. I will reveal as much as I can soon, all I can say for now is get your little ones ready for a Cootie Attack. Follow me @sahGeekMom for more details COMING SOON - ONLY from the StayAtHomeGeekMom! Download it now while's it's still .99 cents, one day I suspect you will be paying $60 for a console version!
Previous Title: Cooties - Very Cute, Very Fun, but Not For Smallest People, Yet...
[slideshow]
by KYY Games, distributed by ClickGamer.com; Chillingo
SAHGeekMom Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars (Great!) (updated 2/2 from 4 to 4.5 based on developer responsiveness and upcoming features)
Pump’s Score (he’s the 7 year old gamer-in-chief - see 10 Reasons or About SAHGM....) : 3.5 Pumps Up! (Very Good but Too Hard at Times, he'll Love the iPhone version and he has his own so I can use my iPad once in a while ;) )
SAHGeekMom Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars (Great!) (updated 2/2 from 4 to 4.5 based on developer responsiveness and upcoming features)
Pump’s Score (he’s the 7 year old gamer-in-chief - see 10 Reasons or About SAHGM....) : 3.5 Pumps Up! (Very Good but Too Hard at Times, he'll Love the iPhone version and he has his own so I can use my iPad once in a while ;) )
Recommended Age - Grade 2 to Retirement, Coming Soon Pre-K and up.
A word about planned updates left in comment by KYY and why I keep updating this review.
I am not usually so changeable, but I have upgraded my rating (not Pump's) 2x in 2 days for good reasons. Whenever a game or an app I have reviewed changes, updates, or just grows (or shrinks) on me I will revise accordingly. And if i discover a dedicated dev that will impress me favourably. Cooties is a good example of why to its best to give developers a chance to fix things or respond to your concerns before you leave snarky comments in the App Store ....
So, like, um, wow! Talk about a developer who cares about feedback, user comments and ideas. He took the time to read my blog and respond to my concerns and suggestions, and as you can see for yourself in the comments he is an affable open fellow who wants to provide both adults AND kids of ALL AGES with a quality game. I am confident it will be a 5 star keeper for everyone in your family soon!.
Thanks for the insider details, KYY! I'll be following this company on twitter eager to see what their next smash hit will be.
[1/27 original post.]
I saw Chillingo Tweet about a new game early this morning, called Cooties, that just hit the App Store today. Pump and I both have had great fun with Chillingo’s Sneezies, and the brief description gave me the impression this would be like Sneezies on steroids. Well it's not really like Sneezies at all, but this is definitely a 'pop and flick' game that is action-packed right from the start.
Before I go into picky mode, here is a bit about the game since it brand spanking new. (You can preview it - see the video below.)
In Cooties it is your job to save the organs (human organs, starting with Louie the Liver) from all sorts of germs (Cooties.). You have to pop, swipe, flick and use the ‘penicillin’ and other power-ups, to clear 100% of the germs before you lose your health. You have 3 tries to clear a level.
It sounds great, looks slick, I was ready to have some fun and I did. I did get frustrated only three levels into the game. But after messing around over the last week I have to say it grows on me. It's crazy frantic, but that's a good thing!
The game starts off in Liverpools and the level is divided into chapters. Each chapter starts off with a little comic strip, which is both amusing, and contains the tips you need to complete the level.
Ok to wrap up here’s:
The Good:
The game is adorable. The characters are appealing to little kids; they are so sweet they come perilously close to being saccharine, but they game has enough 'bad guy' germs keep it from spilling over the top of the kitsch-o-meter. In fact my son loves the darker scenes.
The soundtrack is the rare one I don’t immediately want to turn off; it is lively and fun. The game’s controls are super intuitive, and there is no learning curve to start play. You can jump in an get going right away.
Also the game has enough fans for someone to have sought me out to explain the gameplay on launch day. This did not come from the developers, which says something about its buzz.
Cooties is Game Center and Crystal enabled for leaderboards and achievements. The devs suggest you could play multi-player on one device, but I think the pace is too frenetic for that not to cause some bumps and pouts if your teammate is a child, although it is a better option than having them play solo and not get it at all.
The Bad:
The clues need to be clearer or more clearly ironic (think of the sign painter in World of Goo.)
We'd Like to See:
An EASY mode, like Sneezies has and if possible less Reading, or a read-aloud option in the Easy mode. My son really wants to play this every day, it's just too fast for him and every time he'd get past one level he would come to me to teach him the nest. No biggie, but I like for him to be able to play independently. And with his learning curve, like most kids, as soon as his motor skills are as good as mine, he will love it on the iPhone and he has his own so I can get my iPad back!
Check out the Video from Clickgamer.com:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWD4POaZ4po]
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