Monday, June 1, 2009

iPhone Apps

I got the chance to try out a couple new apps for my iPhone the other day. I have to admit that my iPhone is as much a video game/toy/entertainment center for my little kids, as it is a phone for me. Yeah, I've got a couple apps on there that I use like Facebook and Twitter and this one that has a virtual ocean complete with crashing waves. But I have 2 pages of apps to occupy the little kids while we're out. I've gotta say, I'm loving this technology. When we're sitting in the waiting room at the doctor's office, I don't have to drag along coloring books, and crayons, and dolls, and cars, and activity books. All I need to do it pull out my phone and let the little kids watch a video or play a game when they're getting restless and we've already played "I Spy" 4000 times.

Color Now is one of the new apps I tried out. You can choose from 12 images (more to come later) to color. The images aren't well-known characters so my little kids were less than enthusiastic about them. You "color" the pages by touching the color crayon you want and then touching the section of the picture you want to color. There are no sound effects or music so it's a nice quiet game that can entertain the kids when they need to play quietly so you don't disturb others around you.



Although I love the idea of having virtual coloring pages for the kids, we found these particular pictures difficult for the little ones to color. They have a lot of really small spaces that my 3 and 5 year old lacked the coordination to "color". I think simpler, larger images would've been much easier and more enjoyable for the little ones to color. As it is, they lost interest in this app quickly. Now, if you're an older kid or an adult who likes to color, you'll probably like to play with this app.

The other one I checked was Stuck Genie. In this game, you maneuver a ball around a maze while picking up other balls on the way. You have to figure out how to move all the balls around the walls of the maze while scooping up every last one. There are numerous levels of increasing difficulty so you won't get bored. There are sound effects and music on this game, but you can control the volume on each. You can also type in your name and the app automatically saves your progress so when you get to level 23 and decide to take a break, you don't have to start all over at level 1 the next time you pick up your iPod/iPhone.



This game is too hard for little kids, but older kids and adults who like puzzle games, will love it! I'm personally addicted to I personally like this game. Savannah liked it so much, she put it on her iPod and my friend's 7th grader played it "to help me win a level", but had a hard time giving my phone back to me when he finished the level. It's a fun time-waster!


If you've got an iPod or iPhone, leave me a comment here and you could win both these new apps for FREE! I'll choose 2 random winners on Thursday.

67 comments:

  1. A few other 'must-have' apps are: Pocket God, Crayon Physics, Koi Pond, Yelp, AAA Discounts (Great for if you're a AAA member - it will tell you all the places near where you are that give AAA discounts!), Moron Test (fun and frustrating!) and Parking Lot!

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  2. Have an iPod thinking of getting an iPhone but that'll have to wait til hubs goes back to work.

    Hope your having a great day!

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  3. I just got an ipod last week for my birthday. They are such great time wasters. And I have to admit that I also have a bunch of apps just for my kids: Defend your castle, crystal ball and more. Also some Japanese language progrems. My favorite time waster though is Cooking Quest, a find the hidden oblect game.

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  4. Caroline from MemphisJune 2, 2009 at 4:54 AM

    Those apps look cool! I also have a few games on my iphone to keep my kids occupied. The penguin catapult game recently got us through a day of testing at the drs office. The kids like the iphone better than their nintendos...

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  5. hiya.are there any other fav games of your kids?i have a 4 year old and i would love to know if you have any recommendations.thanks

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  6. they sound like fun! especially, the maze one, i like puzzle-ish games

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  7. Not so much fun for the little ones, but the website I work for has ballroom dance lessons as a series of free apps. Just look for Ballroom Dance Channel under education. Tony Dovolani from Dancing with the Stars is one of our instructors on the rumba. There is even a feature where you can use your IPod/Phone as a virtual partner and dance with Tony.

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  8. Hubby has an iPod. I wasn't aware you could put apps on it, thought that was just for the iPhone. See how technologically savvy I am? :-)

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  9. We love ipods in our house and we love playing with my husbands iphone- I thought all apps were free- shows how much I know!

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  10. OH! OH! PICK ME! PICK ME! I am getting my iphone in the mail tomorrow, for my b-day....I am so excited I can't stand myself lol.

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  11. Oh, fun! I have an iPod Touch, and I love the arcade bowling. These look like they would be fun, too.

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  12. Both of those apps sound very cool- I'd love to win them! Thanks!!

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  13. My nine year olds like space monkey and the jigsaw puzzle on my Iphone, we also have a few mazes on there they will play with.

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  14. I would love to win some apps. I have had my Iphone for a week now and am still getting used to it and all it can do.

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  15. Dawn,
    my son is always bugging me for $$ for apps for his ipod, wouldn't it be nice to get a few free ones?
    thanks for the blog...you rock!

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  16. I have an iPod and am looking forward to upgrading to an iPhone in a week or two...would love to have these apps. I love FREE !!!

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  17. Technology? Ugh. I JUST figured out feeds. I finally subscribed to yours last night by the way :) Yay Me!

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  18. Have an iPhone; and would like to win a couple of news apps.

    Michelle

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  19. Neat game ideas! Can't wait to try them out.

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  20. We love the apps on my son's ipod, the whole family plays them. We would love to win these! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  21. Wahoo! I've got an ipod! And 5 kids! Sounds great!

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  22. Great suggestions! My son likes the ABC Animals App, Scoops game, an animal sound app I found (forget the name of that one). I recommend the App Sniper app. It helps you find apps that are on sale or free each day. It is really cool!

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  23. I'd love to have those apps on my iPhone. My favorite so far is Craigsphone (Craigslist) or Urbanspoon (to help decide where to eat). Check them out too.

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  24. Why did I not know you can add games to an iPod? I have had one for two years now. Thanks! I will be doing research now.

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  25. I don't have the iphone but I love to take my ipod for the same reason, it will keep my 5 year old entertained for quite a long time!

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  26. Thankfully I am not alone in my lack of knowledge about Ipods. I've had one for about two years and I had no idea you could put apps on it!

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  27. Yay I'm so glad you did an iPhone entry because I asked you 2-3 SSO's ago how you liked your iPhone and I'm so glad! I downloaded iFitness and Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader and love them both!

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  28. Hi Dawn,

    Those applications are so cool! I have the old fashion cell phone with no applications so, I'm really liking your iphone!

    for your SSO: When do your kids get out of school? Are they doing any camps this summer? How will you keep them occupied? Send all your suggestions my way... Nothing worse than 5 kids saying, "I'm bored."

    Take care,
    Lisa Kiesling, Dallas, Texas

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  29. My favs are Mancala and redbox (promo codes for free DVD rentals!) I only have two pages of apps for me and the other 7 are all games for my kids! I hope I win!
    Rebecca

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  30. I have an iPod Nano. However, my hubby has an iPhone...and like you, it has kept our daughter entertained and occupied when we are in places with a long wait time. :)

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  31. All of my kids (even the 2 yo) play with my iPhone and my husband's. Very handy while waiting anywhere -- restaurant, school event, etc. My addictions are Word Warp and Diner Dash, but my kids love Rick Rocketson and Pocket Tanks.

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  32. Pocket God rocks my socks! I'm really enjoying Trivial Persuit and the NPR app as well.

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  33. I am starting to think my 11 year old likes the iTouch better than his DSi.

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  34. My favorite apps are Stanza, Kindle for iPhone, and Enjoy Sudoku (quite addicting!)

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  35. i have the ipod touch to help entertain myself and my son while waiting (we each have one), awesome technology! so far i've pretty stuck with the free apps (there are tons are awesome ones!)

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  36. I love to entertain our 4 year old grands with the Iphone. We have a puzzle apt and that has been tremendous. I will check out I spy immediately.
    Susann in Santa Barbara, CA

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  37. My Dad writes iPhone apps! He's working on a game right now. He also has some iPhone apps that are already out. He was the one who wrote the original speed-dial app, and also he wrote HANDiBIBLE, HANDiBIBLE The Message, and also HANDiBIBLE German and Romanian. (Those are the Bible for iPhone.)

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  38. So many apps such little time : )

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  39. I recommend Tap Tap Revenge. It's like Dance Dance Revo, but for your fingers (or Guitar Hero for your fingers.)

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  40. Oh, and if no one else has mentioned it, you might want to clarify that apps are for the iphone and the ipod touch, not all ipods.

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  41. Brooklyn might like Bus (as in The Wheels on the), Peekaboo Barn and Ballonanimals. My 5yo's favorites are RhinoBall (a Disney Bolt game), Traffic Jam and Big Day (countdowns to birthdays, vacations, etc). I like word games and puzzles, so it's Tetris and Letter Bug that get me. And there's something gratifying about Bug Squash!

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  42. My son just bought an ipod. Surely he'll be loading it with games as soon as he can figure it all out.

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  43. cant wait to go thru these comments and see about some new apps!
    SEE? Now you understand why I lobbied for you to get an iPhone!

    Im thinking of getting an itouch to carry around so the lil kids dont screw up my phone.

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  44. Those are so cool! I wish I knew how to put games on my iPod!

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  45. I have been wondering something and wanted to ask your advice especially after reading your blog about keeping the kids busy with you iPhone. When my kids were little, I always brought activities wherever we went to keep them busy. Now it seems that they're not happy unless they're busy all the time. Did a create monsters?

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  46. I love my iPhone. I have several apps to keep my kiddos busy, too.My fave is called Fluid. With the update, you can even use your own pic!

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  47. Those sound like lots of fun!! I'd love to give them a try!!!

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  48. I'd be interested in having something to entertain the kiddos. Giving them my camera all the time is a disaster in the making.

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  49. I love my iphone too; my 8 & 10 year old love the game Flood (and it's FREE)!

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  50. We love find great aps for the kids (really us, but we say kids). :)

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  51. I feel I would quickly be addicted to Stuck Genie too!!

    SPepper22

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  52. My 13 year old daughter has an iPod, she would love these games!!!

    janicemitchell43@yahoo.com

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  53. i have an itouch, and in addition to games, i have downloaded books to read while waiting........

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  54. We are all about FREE Apps around here. My personal favs are the
    - AAA discount (great if you have AAA).
    - Directv, so if I am out I can set my DVR up to record.
    - AroundMe, for gas, food, etc ..

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  55. oh so cool - um, I didn't know you could play these games on an ipod??? Will an ipod nano work?

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  56. Those sound like fun! I'd love to get them for free!

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  57. My husband is partial to the star wars light saber download. If you could see grown men having a "star wars" fight with their phones, you would wet your pants laughing!
    Colleen

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  58. I just got my Ipod touch last weekend as an anniversary gift. I love it already but am definitely not too creative with my apps -- maybe this would help me branch out from my long-standing Bejeweled addiction!

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  59. Dawn - You have the best contests!... I have an iPod and would like an iPhone... so COME ON Random Integer Generator - Pick Me!

    Thanks!
    Christine

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  60. I got an Ipod a month ago, and its been another learning process.

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  61. I don't have an iAnything so don't enter me. I just have an SSO question. Have you had to change your phone number or other personal info due to all this fame?

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  62. We have both the iPhone and and iPod Touch...so my kids are really enjoying all the apps. We don't have these thought so PICK ME!!!!!
    Vicki in GA <><

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  63. I have an I pod and I love things that help me "waste" time.

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  64. My husband uses his iPhone to keep the kids quiet in church. Whatever works!

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  65. Oh my gosh, I don't have an iPhone, but I've played Parking Lot online & got "stuck in traffic" for over an hour. And I'm supposed to be working here! That game - seriously glad I lost the url - is AWESOME!!!

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  66. Love the iPhone!!! Thanks for sharing the apps!
    Thanks,
    Cathy

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