App Friday: Introducing the NEW #appfriday!

We’re Vlogging!

I think it’s time we got to know each other a little better. Here is a YouTube video explaining the evolution of our App Friday program. Thank you for your participation over the last year and a half – it feels nice to finally “meet you in person”!

You Are Invited to our Facebook Event

At 10:00am California (Pacific) Time on App Friday September 30th, we’ll be hosting a download party on Facebook. Developers and reviewers will be there to share app news and app deals, and the event is public and open to everyone. If you have questions about apps, or would just like to connect with others, this would be a fun way to get involved.

Featured Apps: Puzzingo, Free the Bee, Simplex Spelling and PictureBook

We’ve got several developers in the line-up this week with some amazing deals! Click the images for the iTunes preview, and please consider leaving a review if the app works out well for you. 

Puzzingo - Based on classic wooden puzzles in a circus theme, this app incorporates sound, music, interactivity, and basic vocabulary into the puzzle experience, along with mini-games. FREE this #appfriday.

 

Free the Bee for iPad - This app helps your child spell 3 letter words by having them select not only the first letter of the word but the last one as well. FREE this #appfriday.

 

Simplex Spelling HD combines a unique “reverse phonics” approach with contextually relevant spelling rules to teach kids “how to spell” English high frequency words in order to build a base foundation of spelling and reading fluency. $.99 (from $6.99) this #appfriday

 

Picturebook enables you to be your own children's book author on the iPhone and iPad. Create your own stories and download image libraries. FREE with 50% discount on IAP image libraries this #appfriday.

App Reviews

There are people in our network who focus on reviewing and evaluating apps for kids. I’d like to encourage you to get to know their sites and services if you are contemplating an app purchase. They will also share their perspectives at our Facebook Event. So thank you Carisa from Digital Storytime, Siva from Tech in Special Ed, Lesley fromBestAppsforKids, Marge from AppsForiPads, and Nathalie from Fun Educational Apps, Amanda from The iMum, Jeremy from Teaching All Students, (and many many more that I will add on a dedicated page) for your insight and involvement with family-friendly developers. Over the next several weeks, we’d like to get to know more reviewers so we can link you directly with the developers, and feature your reviews and efforts during the #appfriday Facebook events.

Message Board

The Apps for Children With Special Needs community is having an App Party this weekend to support fundraising of iPads for kids with special needs. If you’d like to crash the party, check out their Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/a4cwsn throughout the weekend. More details on their site, and via the twitter hashtag #ItsTime.

Link Exchange

If you have app news to share here on our post – feel free!  Include the app name & details in the “link title”, your email, and a URL to the app. ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

13 Replies to “App Friday: Introducing the NEW #appfriday!”

  1. Hi @amanda of imum – you bet, I’ll add you as I’ll be creating a separate page for reviewers and collaborators of mwa. Thanks! –Lorraine

  2. Wish you great success with your Facebook event, will defiantly stop by! Love the work you all do. Thanks for spreading the word about A4cwsn. Love what the iPad is doing for all children!

  3. That was really well said, Lorraine- yes by all means you should expect people to use their critical thinking skills to decide if an app is right for them. If anyone has complained about your wonderful work so far, that’s just unreasonable!!

    That said, if you’d like me to be an occasional reviewer, I would love to help particularly for apps in your network that have potential for language development. Thank you for all you do.

    Sean of speechtechie.com

  4. Got it – thanks for the reminder about those excellent sites. I updated the paragraph, but what I plan to do this week is dedicate a page on the blog for review & resource sites, and list you all there. Send me your logos too. –Lorraine

  5. Lorraine –

    I LOVE what you’re doing and wish this had been around when my girls were younger. Thankfully I have young nieces and nephews so I can utilize your site for their fun at my house. I’m working in developing video games now and our company would like to be included in your list of Members of MWA as well. Please send me more information about the requirements.

  6. Lorraine, I missed the meetup this week I hope we can get together next time and catch up:) Do you mind adding iKidApps.com to your list? Developers can submit information about their apps and as well as app video clips. We frequently highlight them on our best apps lists to give them visibility. Thank you in advance.

  7. Great idea and information sharing. I am sorry that I was tied up this am and just found out. Thank you for the event and for leaving the posts up. I will definitely be checking some links.

  8. @Lisa – see our about page which has a link to join our forum. @Berna, of course. I’ve added you to my contact list and will include you all in the invitation to our FB events and on a new page on my blog. Send me your logo to lorraineakemann@gmail.com. @Anna – thank you! –Lorraine

  9. Hey there Michelangelo. I enjoyed the *energy*. It will take a few weeks to see if the reviewers and developers benefit from being introduced earlier in the week. I think the post is a little cleaner, less text. Youtube could open up more awareness for us, but I need to keep a fresh list of topics to discuss. I liked it, but what really matters is if the devs / audience likes it, and if we create more value for all parties. Work in progress. –Lorraine

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