I'm a full-time mummy

I came across this cute iPad app and requested for a review opportunity and the wonderful people at Oceanhouse Media generously sent me a promo code to download the "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" app for my review!

After a bit of a tiny weenie hiccup (my mistake really cos it's my first time keying in promo code to redeem an iPad app for FREE!) in downloading the app via iTunes (which I cleverly download and sync together with my iPad at the same time causing the screen not to refresh immediately), I managed to download the app successfully and it's really fast too!

* Price: $2.99
* Category: Books
* Updated: Apr 27, 2011
* Current Version: 1.08.1
* Size: 18.7 MB
* Language: English
* Seller: Oceanhouse Media, Inc.
* Rated: 4+
* Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later
* Extra Info: Editor's Choice Award-Children's Technology Review, #1 paid book app on iPad-Feb 2011 & Named one of "The Best Children's Books on the iPad"-New York Times

Description from the product page:

"As soon as they say good night to Mama, the five little monkeys start to jump on their bed. But trouble lies ahead as, one by one, they fall off and hurt themselves. Their Mama called the doctor and the doctor said, "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" This charming bedtime story is sure to send children giggling off to bed...hopefully without any clever new ideas!

New features in this omBook for your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch include professional narration, background audio and high resolution artwork for each scene.  To promote reading in young children, individual words are highlighted as the story is read and words zoom up when pictures are touched. By combining the original text and artwork with features that entertain and promote reading, this omBook appeals to readers of all ages."

I immediately got Ben to test out the app the moment he woke up from his sleep (as I downloaded the app around 2am Malaysian time... yeah, yeah, I sleep quite late... I know, I know!) So, if you're wondering what's wrong with Ben's hairdo, hope that explains it!

Ben checking out the app...

Cleverly pressing the "Auto Play" button!

Ben engrossed with the interactive story!

Why I choose this app for my review? Oh well, I feel that Ben should be able to relate to the storyline in this app as he really likes to jump on the bed in his playroom! I'm hoping he'll learn that doing so is dangerous and should not be repeated anymore!

My verdict:  

* Good: I love the app! It is engaging and interactive and I love that we can also touch the objects in each page on the screen and the words pop out to tell you what it is!

* Not so good: I feel that it should be less than 5 monkeys (perhaps 3?) in the story as it is quite long winded (or maybe cos we don't have much patience whooopsss...)

You can take a look at the video clip below which I took when Ben goes through the app for the first time. Noticed he doesn't talk much other than nodding his head when I talked to him? Oh well, Ben's like that when he's observing things. I know deep down he is absorbing what he's seeing and listening to each words. You can also see the words popping out when Ben touched the iPad screen as one of the monkeys fell down and bumped its head.

So if you're planning to purchase an e-story book for your child to be used on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, do consider this app! I mean, it is nice to be able to take part in the story (pointing out the objects and learning what it is at the same time) and so on.

You can purchase the "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" app from the iTunes App Store.

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"

Few weeks ago, I posted my review on this awesome product called "BubCap Home Button Covers" that help toddler-proof the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. The company that makes "BubCap" has graciously offered to let me host a giveaway of their products on my very own humble blog!

This is how BubCap looks like on my iPad...

I am so glad to be given this opportunity as I am really excited at the thoughts of my lucky blog readers / visitors who are going to win this awesome awesome product! I mean, if you are a parent or know of any friends or relatives who have children (especially toddlers), you will know how frustrated it is to see your / their children keep on pressing the Home button on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch devices and ending the app all of a sudden!

So, here we are, a big note of thanks to Paperclip Robot for their generosity in sponsoring not ONE, not TWO, but FIVE, yes I repeat, FIVE of their "BubCap Home Button Cover Intro Pack" for 5 lucky winners!  And that's not all, Paperclip Robot has recently added a new product into their line which is BubCap Max and yes, each of the winners will also get one of this as well!

In summary, each lucky winner will get:

* 2 Regular BubCap (least rigid model, which is great for most toddlers using an iPhone or iPod touch.)
* 2 Ultra BubCap (is more difficult to press through, and is best suited for toddlers on an iPad. Also works for older / stronger kids on an iPhone or iPod touch.)
* 1 BubCap Max (is the most difficult to press through, and is intended for older / stronger kids on an iPad)

So, that's a total of 5 BubCap (Intro Pack & Max) for each lucky winner of this oh-so-awesome giveaway!  

* Eligibility: WORLDWIDE

* Giveaway expires on 30th June 2011 (Malaysia time)

* You must fulfil the mandatory entry 1st (which is to provide your valid email address & answering the question), else you will be disqualified.

* Winner will be randomly drawn using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my email notification or a new winner will be drawn.

* Winner will receive their prize sent directly by Paperclip Robot.

** Note to Winners: Please note that I am not responsible for the sponsor companies that are mailing out the prizes. I run the giveaways and choose the winner via Random.org. Unless otherwise noted, the various sponsor companies are responsible for sending your prize to you. Please, please be patient with them. However, if you do not receive your product, kindly contact me so that I can liaise with them to remedy the issues.

To enter the giveaway, kindly click at the link shown below and the entry form will appear in a new window:

* BubCap Home Button Covers Giveaway Entry Form *

(Link has been disabled when entry closes at 12midnight past 30th June 2011)

It'd be great if you could leave me a comment once you have submitted your entry so that I can check and ensure it's safely tracked into my database.

So what are you waiting for?!! Hurry up! You have 1 month time from now to join in the fun and try your luck!

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a free product by Paperclip Robot 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.

(*Article first published as Product Review: BubCap Home Button Covers on Blogcritics.)

I  came across this wonderful discovery while I was browsing through the Internet one fine day (was looking for iPad apps to try out with Ben) and when I saw this BubCap Home Button Covers, I just went "Wow! What a genius! I've gotta try that!" And so here we are, after a few email exchanges with the wonderful people at Bubcap who generously offered to send me their products to try out!

Description from the product page:

"BubCap home button covers are just rigid enough to deter toddlers from pressing the home button, yet they are flexible enough that adults can activate the home button with a firm press. It's a similar concept to many child-proof caps for medicine bottles. BubCap is our less rigid model, which is great for most toddlers, particularly toddlers using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch for the first time. BubCap Ultra is more difficult to press through, and is better suited to stronger toddlers or youngsters who have a stubborn desire to press the home button. It is also preferred more often on the iPad (due to the iPad's shallower home button activation depth)."

The letter that came with the BubCap for my review

4 BubCaps provided for my review

And this is my product tester, Mr. Benjamin. He's VERY experienced in pressing the Home button on my iPad, so much that it annoys me as I had to navigate back to the app that was running earlier:

Now in case you are wondering how do we apply on the BubCap to the iPad... look at the pictures below...

Ensure the Home button is clean & dry. Gently peel the BubCap off...

Carefully align the BubCap on top of the Home button. Gently press on the BubCap for about 10 seconds.

I love this product! It really works and deters my toddler from happily pressing the Home button and ending the app which is running on my iPad!

It takes a little bit of getting used to the new layer on top of the Home button but after seeing how difficult it is now for your toddler to press the Home button, I'm glad I got the chance to try out this awesome product! You can see the 2 videos below to confirm with your own eyes how my toddler likes to press the Home button and then see his reactions after I stick on a BubCap!

BEFORE BUBCAP:

AFTER BUBCAP:

You can purchase the BubCap Home Button Covers from http://bubcap.com/purchase.html.

I received no monetary compensation for this review, I was provided with a free product by the sponsor 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.