iPads, Reading and Grade 1

Today was my first day using the iPads with the Grade 1 students. I was absolutely amazed at the level of engagement of the students and how interactive the apps were.

We decided to show them 2 new reading apps we got called Pop Out Peter Rabbit and iReading Stories Collection. Both were free and of course had lots of in-app purchases which can get expensive quickly if you are not careful. The books both had characters that you could touch and move around and made fun noises. The books had options to read it by themselves or have it read to them.

Overall, I thought it was a fabulous way to get students interested in reading. I am curious to find out if there is a better comprehension with all the interaction compared to just reading it. This will be a research question and some action research we'll hopefully investigate this year.

Here are couple of photos and videos from the class.

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New School Year-iPads!

We are back up and running with a new school year. Our iPod Touch pilot program has been extended to iPads. We got 25 iPads (iPad2) to use in elementary as well as another set to use in Middle School. We are all very excited about it as there are plenty of amazing apps that are especially geared towards the iPad. With the increase in screen size, resolution, battery life as well as camera, there are loads of possibilities.

We are hoping this continues with a gradual move to a 1:1 environment (at least I hope!). We will continue with iPods of course but we'll have to change the name of our blog now. Yay!

Stay tuned for some posts from our success in Grade 1 so far.

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There's a Demon in my iPhone! - Demon Cam for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad

Apple's iPhone. So slim, so sleek, so sweetly demonic? When your inner demon calls you; unleash the devilish beast within you with Demon Cam - fiendishly scary software from Video Copilot for iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad.  Conjure your favorite entity and implant him (or her) onto your own body!




Demon Cam works by rendering the devil in HD video right on your iPhone or other iDevice. Face tracking is automated so that your very own "personal demon" morphs right along with your face.  Beautiful graphics, and high-quality sound, allow you to create a stunning video to share on Facebook, or to send a haunted email to your friends. 

Demon Cam is only $.99 cents (for a limited time) and a small 20mb download, (you never knew demonic possesion could be so cheap did you?)  Have a question? don't forget to ask the Answer Ball!

Get Demon Cam

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C5 iPod Touch In-Ear Headphones

Bowers & Wilkins has released its new iPod touch In-Ear headphones called the C5. The C5 features a Secure Loop design which is an ingenious innovation where a cushioned adjustable loop sits comfortably against the inner rim of your ear. This, together with the tungsten balanced design, holds C5 in place for improved sound, and also makes it ideal for use while your are moving and during other activities. Read more...

The C5's inner casing is weighted with Tungsten, ensuring they are balanced towards the ear, not away from it. So the in-ear headphones will stay securely inside your ears throughout even the bumpiest bus ride.

The C5's Apple approved cable comes with its own remote control and microphone, allowing you to control your music effortlessly, and switch seamlessly between listening to music and making calls.

There is a Micro Porous Filter that acts as a diffuser, enabling C5 to deliver pristine, natural audio, while also providing a more spacious performance than previously possible from in-ear headphones. Together with C5�s noise-isolating design, this allows users to lose themselves in flawless audio.

Bowers & Wilkins' C5 In-Ear Headphones will be available in August and are priced at $180.

Technical Specifications:

• Model: C5
• Technical features: Secure Loop design, Micro Porous Filter, Neodymium magnets, CCAW coil, Ultra light 9um thick diaphragm, Transparent twisted cable (OFC), iPhone compatible remote control
• Description: Intra aural (ear canal) headphone with noise isolation
• Drive units: 2x 9mm
• Impedance: 32 ohms
• Frequency range: 10Hz to 20kHz
• Distortion (THD): <1%
• Sensitivity: 118dB/V at 1kHz
• Inputs: 3.5mm stereo mini jack (on cable)
• Cable length: 1.2m
• Weight: 20g
• Finish: Black Gloss

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Xcode 4.1 Update - Free Download for Mac OS X Lion, from the Mac App Store

Courtesy of Apple

Xcode 4.1 the new update for Mac OS X Lion, is now available from the Mac App Store as a free download.  The new update which developers can download (2.96 GB) for Mac OS X 10.7 or later, adds new features for OS X Lion including: 

• Key binding support for customized behaviors
• SDKs for OS X Lion, and IOS 4.3
• Interface Builder for Auto Layout and Aqua controls such as NSPopover
• Increased stability, and bug fixes

Xcode which used to cost $4.99, is now being offered as a free dowload to entice even more Apple developers to write apps for the ever-expanding Mac App Store.

Download Xcode 4.1

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