iPad App Review - ABC 123 Blocks

~ Posted on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 11:55 AM ~

I've been doing iPad app reviews for a year now! And this is the first time my hubby MSN-ed me a link to this website saying 'Check out this website! It's so CUTE!' So, yeah, if my man said some website is cute, I have to check it out! And boy oh boy, it is cute! And they have loads of cute apps too! So yes, I told my hubby I'm so going to pitch this company and see whether I can review their apps or not! Few days later I got the reply and yes! This is the result! Below is the first review (I requested for 2 apps to review):

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* Title: ABC 123 Blocks = Learning Tool For Toddlers
* Price: $1.99
* Category: Education
* Updated: May 10, 2011
* Version: 4.0.1
* Size: 28.9 MB
* Language: English
* Seller: Playtend Apps LLP © 2009 The Guys In The Booth
* Rated: 4+
* Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.Requires iOS 3.1.3 or later.

Description from the product page:

"Help your toddlers and preschoolers learn and grow with ABC 123 Blocks, Learning Tool for Toddlers. It's full of educational activities optimized for early learning on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

 * ABCs - kids can flip through the letters of the alphabet and match them with images of animals below. A is for Alligator, B is for Bear, etc. Features sounds for both letters and the animals.
* 123s - kids can tap numbers, hear them pronounced and see animations illustrating the numbers.
* Shapes - kids can match triangles, rectangles, and circles and practice learning their colors.
* Music - kids can play a mini piano and experiment with composing their own songs.
* Letters - kids can trace the letters of the alphabet using the color of their choice. Also features full sound for the alphabet.
* Matching - kids can practice matching skills with an animal shapes puzzle that features hundreds of different configurations
* Coloring Book featuring dozens of drawings, as well as a full selection of colors and brush sizes
* Connect the Dots counting game featuring dozens of animal drawings"

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What's good?

* The illustrations are really cute and pleasing to the eyes!

* There are a total of 8 mini games in this app which I find some are suitable to what I've been exposing Ben to lately. Games such as Matching (where you match the animals to its shadows), Shapes (where you find and match the same shapes by its shape and colors), Coloring and Connect the Dots.

* I let Alyson (9 months old) played on the Music game and she just happily taps along hahah...

* I am impressed with Ben's performance in the Shapes game where I noticed him easily finding and matching the same shapes by its shape and colors. I have previously just let him try out 1 similar activities and those are on paper (from our activity book) and I'm happy to see him applying his knowledge in this app without much coaxing and teaching too! He matched the shapes so fast that I can't get a proper picture of him solving it! Arghhh!!

Room for Improvement?

* I would love it if the game selection is easier to choose. Instead of dragging and dropping the game icon to the center play area on the screen, it would be better if I just tap on the icon and the game loads into the play area.

* Other than the above, nothing to complain about!

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You can purchase the " ABC 123 Blocks = Learning Tool For Toddlers" app from the iTunes App Store.

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I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the promo code by the sponsor to redeem the application for free from iTunes Store in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous iPad Apps reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My iPad App Reviews"

I'm a full-time mummy

Baby Room Review - IPC Mutiara Damansara

~ Posted on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 8:59 AM ~

It has been a while since I blog about my review on baby room. If you are interested in my previous reviews, you can read them at my old blog as well which is at: http://imafulltimemummy.blogspot.com/search/label/baby%20room

I hope you enjoy reading my baby room review as much as I enjoy sneaking in my camera along with my baby and sheepishly taking pictures during the nursing session hehehehe...

Anyway, back to today's post. I have previously reviewed the baby room in IPC (used to be called Ikano Power Center) sometime in 2009, so here is the updated version with new pictures of the baby room!


When: 29th May 2012

Why: Family outing

Location: 2nd floor 

MY FEEDBACK

Location: There is proper signage that will lead you to the baby room

Facilities: Dustbin, mirror, sink, handwash liquid, towels, 2 diaper changing station, 2 sofas with 1 of them having a curtain around to cordon it off for breastfeeding mums. I love the new designs too! (They changed the curtain and sofa, yay!)

IPC Baby Room

Comfort Level: The room size is just nice, cosy, not too cold/hot/stuffy, nice setting and comfortable lit.

iPad App Review - The Singing Alphabet

~ Posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 7:06 AM ~

Here is a cute app which I got to review with Ben (with Alyson very interested!) in my search to get more educational preschool apps for him. Anyway, my review as below...

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* Title: The Singing Alphabet
* Price: $0.99
* Category: Education
* Updated: May 12, 2012
* Version: 1.1
* Size: 95.0 MB
* Language: English
* Seller: Ministry of Letters ltd
* Rated: 4+
* Requirements: Compatible with iPad.Requires iOS 4.3 or later.

Description from the product page:

"Did you know that letters could sing? Welcome to the Ministry of Letters' Singing Alphabet. We have worked with experts in child development to ensure this app will engage children with the world of letters and word making in a completely new and imaginative way. Our letters are fun and friendly characters that children will love playing with.

Each time a child presses a letter it will sing its phonetic sound. Your child can press as many letters as they want and the tune will always sound harmonious. Children can enjoy creating new songs with different combinations of letters or singing along with a single letter and practicing its sound!

They can explore making their own words by pressing the pen at the bottom of the screen to show the letters they have chosen. They can hear what the words sound like when they sing and enjoy playing with different combinations. Practicing the weekly spelling test with your child will never be so enjoyable!

This is a fun, engaging app to encourage children to really enjoy the alphabet and have fun making words. It entertains a range of ages with younger children discovering the alphabet for the first time and older ones competing to make the best words."

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What's good?

* I love the interesting and catchy tunes of the letters!

* I like the idea of teaching letters of the alphabet in this creative and fun way!

* Even my 9 months old girl can't resist and tap along!

Room for Improvement?

* I hope the length of the characters tapped can be extended more as I can't seem to type my first child's name, which is 'Benjamin'.

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You can purchase the "The Singing Alphabet" app from the iTunes App Store.

I'm a full-time mummy

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with the promo code by the sponsor to redeem the application for free from iTunes Store in order to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please do your own research when purchasing products, as your opinions may differ from mine. And if you'd like to read my previous iPad Apps reviews, you can do so by reading this post of mine called "My iPad App Reviews"

I'm a full-time mummy