The Night Before Christmas – A Modern iPad App for Kids

Christmas just isn’t Christmas without the classic poem by Clement Clarke Moore and app developer One Hundred Robots recently released its version of The Night Before Christmas for the iPad.

Today’s kids experience Christmas entertainment in a whole new way with the use of iPads, iPhones and iPods.  This Christmas app will entertain kids of all ages with its sharp, colorful graphics and two reading modes:  ”Read to Myself” and “Read to Me.”  Move through the story page by page as you read or listen to the text and then tap the arrow to advance.  Animated features provide a movie like feel sure to keep kids interested and engaged.

If you’re looking for a Christmas app to enjoy with your kids, check out this modern version of The Night Before Christmas in the App Store.  It’s available for $1.99.

Upcoming iPad 2 Details Continue to Leak from Suppliers

It’s a well honored tradition, the closer we come to an Apple gadget refresh, the more rumors we hear from both reputable and unknown sources.  With the iPad 2 just around the corner, rumors have gone from a trickle to a steady stream with suppliers divulging choice details on Apple’s upcoming tablet revision.

Based on a report from Reuters, several suppliers have indicated they have already begun ramping up production for the iPad 2.  The suppliers say that the new iPad will included several new design features such as a slimmer case, a lighter weight, a higher-resolution LCD display and a front and rear facing camera.

We previously reported that suppliers for the PCB, Cameras and LCD displays have already been selected and begun working to meet a first quarter iPad 2 production date. Based on current reports the following vendors will contribute to the upcoming iPad 2: Ibiden, Tripod Technology,  TTM Technologies, Largan Precision, Coretronic, LG Display and Chimei Innolux.

Reuters spoke with Steven Tseng, an analyst at RBS in Taipei, who said, “It makes sense for these suppliers to begin delivering their goods in February… I think Steve Jobs will announce the new product in January, and we should see the new product hitting shops in about April.”

Tseng’s predictions line up with the other rumors we have been hearing and matches Apple’s tendency to release new products on an annual schedule.

Young Adults with Autism Develop iPad Apps at nonPareil Institute

Impressive!  That’s my one word description of the work that’s being done at the nonPariel Institute on the SMU Campus located in Plano, TX.  The nonPariel Institute was founded a year ago to provide technical training to adults on the autism spectrum, but they’re doing a whole lot more than that, including teaching students how to develop iOS apps.

I visited nonPariel Founders Gary Moore and Dan Selec, as well as a few of their students, yesterday morning and was inspired by what I saw.  This non-profit organization is committed to helping solve the challenges of post high school adults affected with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by creating a safe environment for students to train, work and live.

Currently in its first phase of operation, nonPareil is training students in state-of-the-art technology, game design, iPad and iPhone app development, 3D modeling and other cutting edge applications.  The skills learned by students attending the programs are intended to be a stepping stone to employment. When I stopped in, students were busy working in teams to develop their first iPad app which they hope to release in the near future.

Continued training and app development will not only teach vital technical skills and boost the confidence of students but also help fund the continued growth of this wonderful program.  I’ll keep you updated on the impending app release and provide you with all the details once the apps hit the App Store.

In the mean time, you can get more information about the nonPareil philosophy, its phases of operation, funding vision and donation opportunities on their website – http://www.npitx.org/.

PadGadget Weekend iPad News Roundup – Dec 12, 2010

In case you missed them, here are some of the most popular articles on PadGadget from the past week December 5 – 12, 2010).

ISOTONER smarTouch Gloves – Gear ReviewUpcoming iPad 2 Details Continue to Leak from SuppliersJailbreak Detection API Disabled in iOS 4.2Google Chrome Tablets to Compete with the iPad?iPad WiFi Woes: Slow WiFi with iOS 4.2.1?‘Infinity Blade’ for iPad and iPhone Available NowGoogle Docs’ Full Desktop Version Now Works on iPadPantone iPad & iPhone Cases from Case Scenario

PadGadget iPad App Deal Alert – Air Harp HD

Looking to make some festive holiday music on your iPad this winter season?  If so, we’ve found a deal on the perfect iPad music app.

Air Harp HD is a fun virtual instrument for the iPad and best of all it’s free!  Air Harp HD is a great way to make some music and get into the holiday spirit. The app normally sells for $1.99 and will be on sale through tomorrow so go check it out in the App Store before the sale ends.

We use our PadGadget Apps Tracker to constantly monitor the App Store to find the biggest price changes on iPad apps. Our editorial team goes through the data, picks the best deals on the most interesting apps and then brings them to you on a regular basis.

Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin for iPad – First Look | PadGadget

The stores are full of pumpkins these days and many of us have plans to carve one in the next few weeks.  If your kids are getting antsy right now, take a look at the new iPad app from Parents magazine and Resolute Digital called Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin.  This cute little Halloween app will let kids design their own jack-o-lantern face right on your iPad.

Little ones playing with Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin have a number of options available to create their one-of-a-kind design.  They’ll start their pumpkin design by choosing from five different types.  Whether bright orange, white or speckled, there’s a pumpkin out there for every child.

The fun and creativity really begins with carving and decorating.  Kids may “carve” their design by hand or select from an extensive collection of eyes, noses, mouths and faces to create the perfect Halloween jack-o-lantern.  Each facial feature can be moved, enlarged, reduced, rotated or even deleted in order to produce the scariest face.  Not interested in “carving”?  Kids can choose to decorate their pumpkins with one or more of the seven decorative designs included in the app.

A great jack-o-lantern deserves a fun background and with 13 backgrounds to choose from, there’s sure to be something to tickle your child’s fancy.  Like most artistic iPad apps in the App Store now, Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin provides kids with the ability to share their spooky creation with family and friends via Facebook, Twitter and email.

Nothing can replace the stringy, slimy feel of pumpkin seeds and “guts” but Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin will let kids repeatedly create and design the perfect jack-lantern.  The people at Parents strive to provide moms and dads with relevant information and activities in its magazine every month and this Halloween pumpkin app is no exception.  If you’re looking for a fun Halloween pumpkin carving app for preschoolers or elementary age kids, give this one a try.  You can pick up Parents Carve-A-Pumpkin in the App Store now for $0.99.

From:ipad books

123 Glow HD for iPad – First Look | PadGadget

It’s October 1st and before we know it little ghosts and goblins will be searching neighborhoods for tricks-and-treats. I thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the Halloween related iPad apps available in the App Store and get ready for one of the best nights of the year.  Let’s start with a fairly recent addition to the App Store, 123 Glow HD by developer Steve Glinberg.

123 Glow HD is a kid’s painting app that lets little artists create fun Halloween artwork while also learning numbers, letters and colors in four languages: English (American, British & Australian), French, German and Spanish.  If you are familiar with other 123 apps, this one has the same great features with a Halloween twist.

My daughter loves using the palette of 30 glowing colors to “finger paint” pictures with 123 Glow HD.  It’s impossible for kids to go outside the lines and they’re able to blend the colors to create unique pieces of artwork every time.  There are lots of pictures and even stickers too!  With 20 different stickers, 14 Halloween drawings, 10 Autumn drawings, 10 Dinosaurs and 14 Shapes to choose from, kids will stay busy for hours.  On top of all that, they’re also able to add stickers to and paint on photos.  Use one of the ten included in the app or upload your own for a personalized touch.

The iPad version of 123 Glow HD is on sale for $1.99 (50% off) right now and an iPhone/iPod (universal app) version is coming soon.  If you’re a fan of the 123 apps, 123 Sticker HD is another great one that has a Halloween picture.  My daughter has spent hours playing with this app and it’s also available for $1.99 now.

 

iKnow Dogs HD+ for iPad – First Look | PadGadget

I’m playing with iKnow Dogs HD+ Dog Breed Guide and Quiz Game for the iPad by Alphablind Studio as I sit here with my dog Riley at my feet.  I love dogs and I’m impressed by the information contained in this app.  It’s an information packed dog reference guide that will tell you all you ever wanted to know about lots of different breeds.

With access to information on all dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and more than 1200 pictures of dogs and puppies to browse, you’re sure to learn a lot about man’s best friend.

Considering a dog of your own and not sure which breed best fits your lifestyle.  No problem, the facts contained in iKnow Dogs will help you make an informed decision and find the perfect companion for you and your family!

When you launch the app, you’ll pick between Dog Breed Guide and Quiz Game.  The Dog Breed Guide provides you with an alphabetical list of dog breeds to scroll through.  Once you select a breed that interests you, you’ll see pictures and several categories of information.  Get a general description, flip through pictures and find out details about appearance, temperament, characteristics, grooming needs, country of origin and more.

Think you can identify all the different dog breeds recognized by the AKC?  The multiple choice Quiz Game shows pictures of puppies and dogs and keeps track of your results.  Give it a try and see how well you do.

Additional features of interest include:

- Many additional breeds by the International Kennel Club FCI
- Upload your dog’s pictures and see them in iKnow Dogs
- Celebrity dogs, e.g., “Buddy” of Bill Clinton and “Purdy” of Brad Pitt
- TOP 20 most popular dog breeds in USA
- Save pictures to your photo library and share them with your friends
- Select Your favorite dog breeds
- Metric and US Imperial measures
- No Internet access required

iKnow Dogs HD+ Dog Breed Guide and Quiz Game has been featured in “New and Noteworthy“, “What’s Hot” and “Staff Favorites” in App Stores in over 40 countries.  This fun dog filled app works in both portrait and landscape mode and is perfect for all you dog lovers out there.  You can download it from the App Store for $4.99 now.

 

New ‘Pulse News Reader’ for iPad – Better and Faster | PadGadget

Pulse News Reader, one of the top-selling newsreader apps for the iPad, has been updated. The latest update (v2.0) is available now on the App Store, and for a limited time new users can download the app for $1.99.

The last 4 months have been an interesting ride for Pulse and its two developers at Alphonso Labs. Many of us gave great reviews to the app when it launched back in May. Then, Apple pulled it out of the App Store over the way content was being handled, and a few weeks later the app reappeared. Then, over the last couple of months a few RSS/news feed competitors, like Flipboard, came on board and created some stiff competition.

The new version, Pulse 2.0, expanded to 60 sources of news across five pages, or 12 feeds per page. The developer also redesigned the way you can manage news feed sources. You can press the wheel at the top-left and experience how the app lets you organize your feeds.

Another nice feature is “Pulse Bazaar”, which provides a way to browse and discover good news sources that you didn’t know about. Overall, the new update has made the app more robust and faster.

Editor’s Note: Pulse 2.0 is an iPad-only app for now. Alphonso Labs will release a new version for the iPhone and other mobile platforms in the next few weeks.

 

Bit.Trip Beat for iPad Now Available | PadGadget

The retro hit from Namco Bit.Trip Beat is now available on the iPad. If you’ve never heard about Bit.Trip Beat, the game is a skill-based, rhythm focused, overly colorful and extremely addictive twist on the old school Pong.

Each level of Bit.Trip Beat offers a specific tune, and you are offered an onscreen paddle that you can move across the screen in order to bounce off waves of incoming blocks to the beat of the music. Little by little, the patterns of blocks become more and more complex, and listening/reacting to the beat progressions will become increasingly crucial to progress through the game.

Like the Wii version of the game, Bit.Trip Beat features psychedelic graphics, and will put your coordination skills to the test. The game also offers a fun multiplayer mode if you feel like playing with others. Bit.Trip Beat is available in the App Store, and costs $3.99.

 

Sonos Releases iPad App

Sonos Releases iPad App – A Convenient Music Remote System

By Roberto | September 29, 2010 | no comments

Sonos has released their much awaited iPad app onto the App Store. Sonos’ app will turn your iPad into a very convenient mobile music controller for connected WiFi Sonos players around your house. You will be able to play your own music and stream music from a variety of online services. Stay tuned for our upcoming App Review later this week.

In case you’re not familiar with Sonos systems, the company provides a modular set of digital appliances that work with end-user supplied or built-in speakers to form a zoned audio system. You can basically have different music zones around your house that may play the same or different audio.

I downloaded the app last night and started playing with it along with the two S5 systems that Sonos sent us for review. The Sonos iPad app features a very slick design, which makes the whole experience very easy to manage your music library as well as manage popular online music services like Rhapsody, Pandora, Last.fm and others. Via the Sonos app you can basically play your iTunes music library or any other music library you may have created, as well as play music from online radio stations and satellite radio subscriptions.

The Sonos iPad app is available now on the App Store for FREE. Keep in mind that you will need a Sonos music ZonePlayer in order to try all the features associated with this app. Stay tuned for our upcoming in-depth review, which will include the Sonos app and the S5 ZonePlayer.

Related Posts

• 

  Sonos Controller for iPad Coming Soon!

• 

  Sonos Controller for iPad Delayed!

• 

  Orb’s Music Player Fits Nicely With Your iPad

• 

  iDisk Update Enables Music Streaming On Your iPad

• 

  SpeakerCraft Brings High-End Audio to the iPad Masses

via padgadget.com

"How to Make Profitable iPhone Apps with NO Programming Experience"

Here's a sample of what we've put in the Guide -

• The Secret to How We Get Things Done 
• How to Set-Up Your App Business 
• How to Get in the App Store without a Business 
• Must Have Software and Resource Links 
• How to pick the right audience for your App  

Get a head start by sketching out your idea first 

How to install and test your new App 

How to market your App 

Does Your Doctor Use an iPad?

Apple’s iPad is popping up in different industries across the country and the medical industry is no exception.  ClearPractice, a provider of innovative software solutions for physicians and medical groups, announced its Nimble app for the iPad.  Designed specifically for the iPad, this comprehensive electronic medical record (EMR) application has the potential to transform the use of technology in the doctor’s office.

Nimble was designed to be a robust EMR solution for physicians regardless of their location.  According to Joel Andersen, President and CEO of ClearPractice, “We didn’t just replicate our existing EMR system on iPad, we took the opportunity to rethink the EMR experience and do all the things we could never do via other devices or platforms.  Nimble provides doctors instant access to the critical information and patient care tools they need regardless of where or when that care takes place – the point of care is now everywhere.”

Strong features provide doctors and their staff with the ability to do patient scheduling, lab order/reviewing, electronic prescribing, messaging and much more.  Nimble also seamlessly integrates with ClearPractice’s billing system and practice management software solution.  Connecting through Wi-Fi or 3G to the ClearPractice cloud eliminates the need for data storage on the device, making it both secure and HIPAA compliant.

Medical software companies have quickly realized the iPad’s potential and like ClearPractice have started integrating iPad support into their products.  Another medical software developer, MacPractice, recently updated their medical practice management and clinical software to support the new iPad as well.  Its software offers doctors assistance with patient registration, clinical recordkeeping, scheduling, ePrescribing, patient medical history and more. “We’ve been overwhelmed with requests from doctors who want to use MacPractice on an iPad,” said Mark Hollis, president of MacPractice.

With the popularity of iPads sure to continue, there’s no doubt major medical software developers will evolve their products to support the device and who knows, the next time you enter your doctor’s office, you just might find everyone using iPads.

"How to Make Profitable iPhone Apps with NO Programming Experience"

Here's a sample of what we've put in the Guide -

• The Secret to How We Get Things Done 
• How to Set-Up Your App Business 
• How to Get in the App Store without a Business 
• Must Have Software and Resource Links 
• How to pick the right audience for your App  

Get a head start by sketching out your idea first 

How to install and test your new App 

How to market your App 

Movie Collector User? Collectorz.com just released Movies HD for iPad | PadGadget

If you happen to be a Movie Collector Pro user, Collectorz.com just released CLZ Movies HD for iPad, the perfect companion to browse, sort and search your movie collection. If you have never heard about Collectorz.com’s Movie Collector, the service is a great way to keep track of your collection of DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs, especially if you own hundreds of them.

The app is easy to use: simply fire up Movie Collector Pro on your Mac or PC, and export your existing database and images to the iPad version of the app (the app supports direct import via WiFi, or you can also transfer your collection through iTunes)

Like its Mac/PC siblings, CLZ Movies HD allows you to browse your movies collection, and allows you to refine your searches by cover, title, year, format, length, year, index number, ratings… The app also supports cover flows, so you can browse your entire collection by simply swiping left or right.

Note that CLZ Movies HD is not a stand-alone app, as the app is an add-on for Movie Collector Pro for Mac or PC. The app was released yesterday, and costs $9.99.

"How to Make Profitable iPhone Apps with NO Programming Experience"

Here's a sample of what we've put in the Guide -

• The Secret to How We Get Things Done 
• How to Set-Up Your App Business 
• How to Get in the App Store without a Business 
• Must Have Software and Resource Links 
• How to pick the right audience for your App  

Get a head start by sketching out your idea first 

How to install and test your new App 

How to market your App 

Discovering Ancient Pompeii with iPad

The Project

The Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia (PARP:PS) is bringing to light a largely forgotten corner of ancient Pompeii that has great potential for enlightening Pompeian and Roman history. Through the full range of archaeological inquiry – archaeological excavations, structural and artefactual analyses, and geophysical surveys – we are revealing the dynamic structural and social history of an entire Pompeian neighborhood. The research area covers a working-class district (modest houses, shops, workshops, and hospitality outlets) that sat in the shadow of to the so-called 'entertainment district' - an area comprised of two theatres, a large public colonnaded courtyard (Quadriporticus), three temples, and a forum. Here was the social and cultural centre of Pompeii. This project thus presents a unique opportunity to examine the complex decisions involved in the planning, integration, and use of public and private space in the ancient city. The results are contributing to a more detailed and reasoned understanding of the roles that non-elites played in the shaping of an ancient city, and how these families responded to various Mediterranean-wide socio-economic developments.

In Pompeii — the longest continuously excavated archaeological site in the world — iPad is revolutionizing how scientists work in the field. Rather than recording notes and sketches on paper, researchers at the site use iPad and apps to capture invaluable historical data faster, more easily, and with far better accuracy.

See the full gallery on posterous

Salsa Fresca – First Look - Great App For Cooking Freaks

My family loves all different kinds of salsa we’re having a little get together this afternoon so I decided to give Salsa Fresca HD for the iPad a try.  This mouth watering new app by Technical Made Easy includes recipes, tips and even a little music to get you in the mood.

Salsa Fresca’s Main Menu includes five choices.  Select “Salsa Recipes” and a kitchen countertop appears with three different ways to access the 30 recipe selections.  Move around on the countertop by sliding your finger.  Tap the notebook paper and you’ll see a scrolling list of salsas together with a small picture of each one.  Tap the one you’re interested in making and you’re ready for some salsa goodness.

Do you prefer the more traditional cookbook?  Slide to the far right side of the countertop and you’ll see an open cookbook with a 30 recipe selection.  Cooks then get preparation instructions, a picture and the option to share your favorites via email.  Are you more of a visual person?  Browse the recipe selection by photo.  Scroll through the pictures, pick the one you want to make and proceed from there.

“Tips and Tricks” is the second choice on the Main Menu.  Here you’ll receive advice on how to roast tomatoes and chiles, information about tomatillos and more.  Next on the list is the “Scoville Scale,” a measurement of the spicy heat of a chile pepper.  Check out the intensity of your peppers using this scale and get ready to knock your socks off!

You’ll receive warnings about handling peppers and safe food preparation in “Precautions.”  Finally and admittedly my favorite part of the app (although I haven’t actually tested any of the recipes), “Music” gives you a little Latin beat to get in the salsa making mood.

Salsa Fresca HD is a nice app with easy-to-follow recipes and a good presentation.  If you like ethnic cooking and you’re looking for a new app, download Salsa Fresca HD and give it a try.  It’s available in the App Store now for $2.99.