I was busy with recent updates to Smart Tot Rattle when I was contacted by a teacher of special needs kids.  She had some nice things to say about her visually challenged students and how they are using and liking the Rattle app.  She asked me if I would consider doing an update to Rattle with the bright colored floating objects against some different solid backgrounds, all black or all white.

I am thrilled to hear from people who have used Smart Tot Rattle for their children or for their students.  I take each and every comment and rating I get in the App Store very seriously and I try to get an update pushed out to Apple as soon as someone points out a bug or gives me a suggestion. 

Creating the type of update that this teacher has suggested is a big task, it would amount to a totally new and different app.  I am excited to tackle the project, though and I thought I would ask if there are others who would like to see this type of an app in the app store. 

Are there any other suggestions for changes, improvements or additional features that any of you would find helpful?  Are you a teacher looking for apps for special needs kids or are you looking for apps for your own baby or toddler? Please be as specific as you can.  Let me hear from you in the comments! 

Thanks for your support!

Category : Apps For Babies &Apps For Children With Special Needs &Apps For Toddlers

A brand new game for iPhone and iPad is coming soon the the App Store.

Hippie Trip is a trip back in time to the days of bell bottoms and love beads…surfboards and VW vans.

Drawn like lemmings to the sea, hoards of Hippies are rushing to ride the waves.  But wait!  A dangerous cliff lies between them and their destination.  Your far-out mission, should you choose to accept it, is to save the Hippies!  Tap on their vans to stop them before they plunge over the edge.

This is an exciting game of fast reflexes…starting out deceptively slow and then quickly gaining momentum as more and more Hippies rush headlong to their doom.  And watch out for those sneaky dune buggies.  They dart across the sand when you least expect it.

I submitted the game to iTunes on Monday and the status is still “Waiting For Review”.  I think that the app review process is taking longer than it normally does, probably due to the rush of developers updating their apps to take advantage of the new iPad’s retina display.  This is causing a backlog of apps and I can imagine that the staff at Apple is scrambling to get caught up.

For any developer, the wait is torture.  This being my second game to be released, I am on pins and needles!  I hope I get approved, and I hope you like Hippie Trip.  It has been a blast to develop!  I would like to thank my programmer, Andrey, who has been so super to work with, and my talented graphics guy, Jonathan, who put the happy face on Hippie Trip.  I am proud to deliver this little game to the world…as soon as Apple will allow.

Category : Best Apps For Kids &Best Apps For Parents

For those of you with very small children in the teething stage, this will be good news! Fisher-Price, in the toy business since the 1930s, appears to be stepping into the 21st century with its new accessory for the iPhone and the iPod Touch. The case turns the iPhone into a crib toy for children ages 6 months and up.

The Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case will be sold for $15 in October.  The case is durable, with rings that will likely keep teething babies occupied. There’s a protector film that will keep off unwanted drool. The back comes off with a key or coin, a precaution designed to keep the phone safely tucked away. The case will also protect your device from an occasional drop, although I wouldn’t recommend giving your iPhone to your babies while the are sitting above a hard surface…on a blanket , on the floor is more sensible!

Beyond the fact that the case turns the phone into something that’s nearly indestructible, it can control what the kids get their fingers on. For instance, when the phone is in the case, a toddler can’t touch the home button. So when a baby is playing with one of the great apps for kids , like Smart Tot Rattle, he or she can’t get out of the app without the help of a parent.

If all the baby wants to do is play with whatever is on the screen, is the extra plastic necessary? There are other baby-proof solutions available. For instance, BubCap requires more pressure to close out of an app, without all the extra fanfare.  Bubcap is a great option for toddlers. It makes the Home button inaccessible to little fingers while still allowing you to navigate your device.

Category : Apps For Toddlers &Best Apps For Kids Blog

The update for the iPhone version of Smart Tot Rattle, the educational app for babies and toddlers, is now in the App Store so please, go check it out. New to this version are enhancements to the security features of the app. It now takes three taps to access the Settings menu and the More screen. This will prevent your little ones from accidentally exiting the app.

Another feature of this update is the More screen is now populated with some awesome apps for your consideration. Please tap three times and check them out!

Thank you again for trying the iPhone app, Smart Tot Rattle!  Please take a moment to rate and review.  It really helps us get the word out.

Category : Apps For Babies &Apps For Toddlers &Best Apps For Kids Blog

The newest update for the Smart Tot Rattle on the iPhone…version 1.0.1 is just about complete and ready for release.

New in this Smart Tot Rattle update version is a feature which makes the app more secure.  We have added a feature which will take 3 taps to access any of the menus inside of the game.  This is to make it a more enjoyable experience for your child.  No more accidentally exiting the game!

We have included an enhanced settings menu which you can access by tapping 3 times on the settings icon from anywhere inside the app.

Tap three times on the “i” icon to access the More screen.  On the More screen, we have recommendations for more great apps for your library.  Apps like BabyBump, the top pregnancy tracker on the App Store and a fabulous bed time story that you can personalize with your own voice and video!  Just click on the picture of the app on the More screen and you will be taken to the App Store to learn more.

Enjoy and if you like it, please leave a review and a rating of the Smart Tot Rattle update. It helps us deliver more great apps for your Smart Tots!

As always, Smart Tot Rattle is free of advertisements.

Category : Apps For Babies &Apps For Toddlers &Best Apps For Kids Blog

By Best iPhone apps at AppStoreHQ

The free FBI Child ID app for iPhone and iPad provides a convenient place to electronically store photos and vital information about your child so that it’s literally right at hand if your child goes missing. You can show the pictures and provide physical identifiers such as height and weight to security or police officers on the spot. Using a special tab on the app, you can also quickly and easily e-mail the information to authorities with a few clicks.

What is really great is that the app includes tips on keeping children safe as well as specific guidance on what to do in those first few crucial hours after a child goes missing. Links to additional resources for families and victims are provided as well.

You can create as many child profiles as you need. It is easy to take up to date photos of your child with your iPhone camera from inside the app. You can be assured that no information about your child will be collected or stored by the FBI unless you provide it during an emergency.

Category : Best Apps For Kids Blog &Best Apps For Parents