Finch is a virtual pet-keeping app designed to help the user practice their self-awareness and self-care skills. The player controls a small bird who will perform certain actions based on the input of the user. The bird will go on adventures, discover favorite foods, and ask the user for advice on different topics. Interacting with the bird will earn gems which can be used to purchase new clothing or accessories for them to wear and hold.
Shonen Jump is an app that allows the user to access and read manga comic books using their mobile devices and online. The user creates a Shonen Jump account and is then able to browse through lists of available manga that have been translated into English.
When the user selects a manga series that they want to try, they click on it and can read the free chapters or pay for a subscription to unlock the whole series. For parents, Shonen Jump has created a rating system for each manga based on what age levels each series is appropriate for. If the user wants to check a series out later, they can click on the heart icon to add it to their Favorites list. Manga can also be downloaded to read at a later date.
DailyBean is an app that allows the user to track their mood by clicking on different “bean emojis” each day that reflect different moods. When the user opens the app, they can click on the date on the calendar and then click on a range of emotions represented by the bean emojis. The user needs to select the emoji that they feel best represents their overall mood for the day. The bean will then pop up on the calendar so that the user can see how they were feeling each day in the month in one easy visual.
Animal Typing Lite is a typing exercise app that shows students their speed in the form of animals running across the screen. The animal you see on the screen reflects your speed in typing. Lessons start with the QWERTY home row and move into more complex lessons. Lessons can also be created and customized with the purchase of the full app.
Sushi Monster is a game created by the Scholastic educational team in which players must solve a series of addition and multiplication math problems. Numbers appear on sushi plates and are fed to a “sushi monster.” Players are given a series of products and sums. They must feed the correct sum or product of a combination of sushi plates (numbers) to solve the equation. Players are timed, and the faster they find the correct solution, the higher their score. However, more than quick mental math is required to succeed in the game.
There is No Game: Wrong Dimension is a puzzle game where you play as the “User,” a person who just wants to play a game. The Narrator, the other character, tries to convince you that the app you have downloaded is not a game at all and that you should just quit. The User and the Narrator get sucked into an alternate dimension that is full of different types of games. The two of you need to work together to defeat the evil Mr. Glitch, save the Narrator’s love Gigi, and get back to your home world.
iHeartRadio allows users to listen to broadcast radio through an internet connection and is available on a wide variety of mobile and home entertainment devices. The app allows users to tune in to an enormous selection of broadcasts ranging from local music, news, and sports talk, to international events. Additional features include the ability of users to create custom stations based on music artists and songs, browse photographs and videos of artists, and save favorite stations for later listening. Users may also use the app’s recommendation system to search out music for nearly any situation.
Bad Piggies is a unique puzzle game from the makers of the hit game Angry Birds, that has players building contraptions that must carry the “piggies” to their destination. Each level has a goal to reach, and players are given a set amount of material to use to build their creations. Players combine blocks, wheels, fans, and even TNT together to create mobile machines meant to traverse the length of the stage. While the main goal is to reach the destination at the end of the level, players earn more points by meeting certain requirements, like collecting star scrolls, reaching the end within a set time limit, or completing the level without using specific items in their contraptions.
Instagram is a fun tool for sharing classic or quirky looking photos instantly. The app has many different filter effects to choose from, allowing users to make their photos more unique and interesting. Instagram archives pictures like a blog space, where users can see the collection of all their photos, and can also follow photo streams of other users. Instagram can be linked to Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and other social networking accounts, as well, with settings that allow users to select exactly where to post each photo. Captured photos can be saved to the device rather than shared, and accounts cana be set to private as to not publish photos openly to the web. While the simple interface makes Instagram easy enough to use for ages 6 and up, we only recommend allowing young children to use the app in junction with an account managed by a parent or guardian.
Pinterest is a free content sharing social website where users can post images, recipes, poems, craft projects, and other creative ideas on “pinboards.” Users thematically organize their posts, or “pins,” to create a visually stimulating representation of their interests. Users often use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes. Users can also browse pinboards to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share similar interests.
