Crayon Physics Deluxe just launched its HD version for iPAD, in addition to its iPhone version. Started as a game on the internet years ago, it is a physics-based puzzle game. In the game, you get to experience what it would be like if your drawings would be magically transformed into real physical objects. In this app, kids will solve puzzles with your artistic vision and creative use of physics. The objective of the play is to make the red… Read more

Toca Boca just released a new app Toca Tailor Fairy Tale, and it is FREE.  Toca Boca is known for developing apps with open-ended free play.  I have reviewed their Toca Doctor, Toca Store, Toca Kitchen, and Toca Hair Salon.  None of them disappointed me.  In this new app Toca Tailor Fairy Tale, they bring the old-fashioned dress up play onto iPhone/iPAD, and with so much more!  For example, kids can take pictures of any objects they like and then use them as design patterns for the clothes.  I… Read more

GMAT Prep helps students prepare for the tests in three ways: lessons, study questions, and mimic timed tests. It is a great app to have if you are preparing for the test.  It works on iPhone, iPod, and iPAD.  Originally priced at $7.99, it is FREE for one day only! Introduction on App Store: Although the GMAT is a difficult test, it is a very learnable test. GMAT app presents a thorough analysis of the GMAT and introduces numerous analytic… Read more

Feed Garfield is a cute physics-based game app for kids and adults.  Kids have to find ways to deliver food into the lazy cat’s bowl directly, and collect the 3 lasagna on the way.  Kids learn strategic planning and simple physics while having fun with Garfield and Odie.  There are 45 fun and mind-boggling stages in the app. The app works on iPhone, iPod, and iPAD.  It was $0.99.  It is FREE for limited time. Instroduction on App Store: Feed… Read more

I have been looking for deals on good educational apps today, since it is Cyber Monday.  I am going to share a couple I believe are the best values.  The first to share is Chemist.  It is like a Chemistry Lab on your iPAD.  You can test out your chemistry hypothesis without worrying the potential explosion.  It is a perfect gift for those who are taking chemistry classes.  However, younger kids in elementary school can also explore some elements and experiments on their own. The usual price… Read more

Albert is a collection of 20 mini games.  The first 10 games are free.  From turning off an array of alarm clocks to help Albert sleep more, to moving the slippery soap to the bathtub so Albert can have a bath, to calling the dog to stop before he steps over the cliff, … all games are creatively designed with ingenious use of the device’s functions, such as touchscreen, accelerometer, or microphone. In addition to the games, I really like… Read more

Do you like to take your laptop with you when you travel?  Now, if you have a smart phone, be it an iPhone or an Android phone, or if you have a tablet, such as an iPAD, you don’t have to take your laptop with you anymore.  Use LogMeIn, you can remotely access your home and work computers and work on the computer like you are sitting right in front of it.   It is FREE. The introduction from App Store… Read more

It is amazing to realize that there are so many different things you can do with your mobile devices.  You can not only play games on the two-dimensional screen, you can actually use your mobile devices play games outside of the device screen.  One thing I discovered is the Toy Helicopter Remotely Controlled by an iPhone.  As you guessed you have to download an app to make it work.  With the app, you can use your iPhone to control the helicopter going up… Read more

I have been following Melissa Taylor’s ImaginationSoup for a long time.  She has tons of creative ideas for getting kids to read.  Now she condensed all her experience and knowledge on helping kids read into this wonderful book Book Love: Help Your Child Grow from Reluctant to Enthusiastic Reader (Can’t find it? Here is a similar one).  It is a Kindle book, but you don’t need a Kindle device to read Kindle books.  You can read Kindle books on almost… Read more

Peterson Birds of North America is FREE for two days only. It is based on Peterson’s comprehensive bird guide for North America, including 810 birds. Usual price is $15. I don’t know when it started being free, so I don’t know when the price will be up. If you are into birds, or you know someone who likes birds, this is a must have app. It is also a good holiday gift. If you don’t want the person see the… Read more

For so long, I forgot I had Kindle app on my iPhone and iPAD. With the app, I could download a Kindle book from Amazon on my iPhone and iPAD. In fact, Amazon has Kindle apps for all different devices: iPhone, iPod, iPAD, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Mac, Windows 7, XP, Vista, and Windows8. Here is the website if you need more information on Kindle apps. They are all free. Once you installed the Kindle app on your device, you… Read more

Weird But True is a cool app to have around handy. It is FREE on App Store. Based on the National Geographic Kids magazine and best-selling book franchise, the app has more than 300 Weird But True kid-friendly facts! There are wachy sound effects with each fact. You can also search facts based on your interest: alligator, Mars, waterfalls… Introduction on the App Store: ★Winner of Spring 2012 Parents’ Choice Award ★ New York Times App to Keep Kids Happy… Read more

A while ago, I reviewed three baby-friendly iPAD cases. For babies, the cases must have drop protection and water proof. For older kids, there will be less drools or spills (they still happen, but are more manageable if you set up good house rules, such as no drinks while using iPAD). Today I recommend four iPAD cases for older kids. All these four cases have good drop protections, but offer no water proof. Gripcase: the case is made of shock… Read more

Toontastic is an app teaching kids storytelling by letting them make their own animated movies. Different from StoryKit and Educreation, the little figures in the app have moving parts – you will not only see the boy move around, you will see his legs move while he is walking. Another big difference between Toontastic and StoryKit or Educreation is that Toontastic provides guideline of story telling, and does it in a very fun way. When a child is ready to create a… Read more