Android Pad Kids Applications

[Burnsy]

We about to buy or first android pad.  One of the big uses will be so the little princess can play learning type games on it.  Can other uses please link up some good apps of this type for 3 to 4 year olds?  I was thinking about some of the categorisation and matching games as well as number and letter tracing and recognition stuff.

[SteveandViv]

You mean a Galaxy 10.1 ? or similar. There are a few good word games my kids play but as I use it for work as well they tend to use their laptops ,ore often. I'll have a look at what they are playing and post up

[Burnsy]

Yeah Steve a galaxy or other non ipad touch pad.  That would great if you post up some ideas, I have no idea where to start looking given I have never had anything that has "apps" before.

[Swannie]

We about to buy or first android pad.  One of the big uses will be so the little princess can play learning type games on it.  Can other uses please link up some good apps of this type for 3 to 4 year olds?  I was thinking about some of the categorisation and matching games as well as number and letter tracing and recognition stuff.

Burnsey, have a look at the ASUS Transformer prime mate.

Greg

[Burnsy]

I will check it out.  I think we will just get a bottom of the range 16 gig one though, we look at the Galxy ones today.

[Ozdakar]

We use an Asus Transformer for the little guy, We have some picture matching games & drawing ones that he really likes.

If you go looking around the Android market you will find hundreds of free games, Just need to take the time to have a look through them and find what you think is appropriate.

Also the battery lasts for around 8 hours with the keyboard attached so all good for the price.

Cheers
Andrew

[cancan]

Also if the children are using it make shaw you have a password on the app market and also set it up so it requires a password for any payment.

I downloaded a free game for my girls but they accidently managed to purchase some "game credit" which of course cost us.

I have locked it down so cant happen again but can be a trap although it is a pain when I want an app but better safe than broke.

[SteveandViv]

I will check it out.  I think we will just get a bottom of the range 16 gig one though, we look at the Galxy ones today.

Can I ask that you really think hard before getting the 16gig. There is an amazing difference in storage form that to the 64. I know they cost a lot more but you get a lot more.

Just wanted to point that out as we tried both at work and the 16 is now a paper weight. Might be fine for the kids so hard for me to give a proper argument and besides, I don't have a beer in my had and we aren't standing around the camp fire

[Burnsy]

It is a good point thanks Stebe and one we have been considring ourselves.  It is not that much more for the 32 or 64 if you consider the cost and pain of dealing with memory chips to make up any shortfall so I would be thinking you are on the money.

Pretty much got it down to the Transformer 64Gig  or the galaxy 64 gig.  The transformer seems cool but at the end of the day we both have laptops so probably don't need another keyboard PC??

[jetcrew]

Also if the children are using it make shaw you have a password on the app market and also set it up so it requires a password for any payment.

I downloaded a free game for my girls but they accidently managed to purchase some "game credit" which of course cost us.

I have locked it down so cant happen again but can be a trap although it is a pain when I want an app but better safe than broke.

This is very very very good advice, try telling your wife it was not you who downloaded the adult content app. Then your 6 y/o tells you there is a mummy and daddy game on the ipad.

Oh yeah it's happened. ( not me a mate ) yeah right

Lock the app store with a password and also watch out for your home wifi network , ours hooks up as soon as we walk in the house so the kids can acess the home network and end up online . we now disable the wifi network unless we choose to go online. This has to be done on each ipod/pad or whatever you buy. Also watch the kids phones that have wifi they can sit in thier room hooked up to the net.

A family friend recently was shocked to find out thier daughter had been online for a year in her room because the home network had no password on it and with 200gb they left the homeshare password on a sticky note in the drawer in case they forgot it. Another family friend had to alert the parents to the acccount she had craeted on facebook etc.

JET

[Estelle]

Our Grandkids (2.5years) hit buttons on the iPad and it often comes up requesting the password to purchase 'extras'.

Good to see so many not going the Apple way of buying unseen. Unbelievable the number that do. Oh boy, a new Apple iPad, gotta have it.
I think our iPad(1) will last us some time yet.

[Ozdakar]

Pretty much got it down to the Transformer 64Gig  or the galaxy 64 gig.  The transformer seems cool but at the end of the day we both have laptops so probably don't need another keyboard PC??

With my Transformer the keboard doubles the battery life, They are made to use the keyboard battery first then the tablet. Also I have found that if you run the tablet battery down it will recharge from the keyboard. To me this was worth the extra cost for the package.

Cheers
Andrew

[Burnsy]

We ended up with a 32gig Motorola XOOM. For $350 we figured it was a good entry price.  Very happy with it and easy to use. Can someone give me some basic instructions on how to rip dvd onto my pc and get them onto the tablet to watch, do I need an app to watch them and if so what is best?

[albany_nomads]

When I initially read the titled I had pictured Mike with his kids in his Jayco Dove saying   "Beam us up Scotty"   

[Bird]

I think its sad how kids these days need electronic everything 24/7, even when out camping... my 2 are the same...

You walk thru Box hill and every single asian with a pram has a kid +2yrs old with an Ipad watchin movies, etc... No time at all away from them.

What the hell did I/(or anybody else) do every month for 3-4yrs camping with the olds when I was a kid.... I had no brothers/sisters...

[Burnsy]

I agree Lost and our 3 year old would rather play with a bag full of plastic animals in the mud with blocks of firewood creating a zoo.  That said, if it is raining and we are couped up inside, or at the end of a long day when she just needs some quiet chill out time before bed, nothing beats a movie or a few puzzle / colouring games on a laptop or tablet. 

I like the fact that movies in the car along with a bag of snacks means we can drive for a few hours without having to stop or hear "are we ther yet".  I do conssider us lucky with number one as she will often chose just to play with a couple of dolls or other stuff in the car rather than always watching a movie.  Not sure number two will be the same - she hates the car, Easter will be a test with a few thousand kms to travel.

[Bird]

.... Easter will be a test with a few thousand kms to travel.

dont say things like that, I'll be jealous

[Estelle]

You walk thru Box hill and every single asian with a pram has a kid +2yrs old with an Ipad watchin movies, etc... No time at all away from them.

Serious? Those Asians!

Should take their prams away from them.

[Burnsy]

So come on, how do I get a DVD onto the tablet?

[Estelle]

So come on, how do I get a DVD onto the tablet?

I don't think there is such a thing as a DVD driver for a tablet (Android or other). Similar to printer drivers.

Hope I'm wrong.

The DVD will probably need to be part of a PC etc and the files copied via Dropbox or similar (the cloud).

[Burnsy]

I think you are right Estelle so I am chasing some advise on what program is best to use on my PC to copy the DVD's to a micro SD and what format I should put them it.  Also what app do I need to read and watch them on the tablet.

[Estelle]

Hi Burnsy,

Sorry, missed your earlier post.

Here is some info, but it isn't to a Motorola Xoom. Could work, but you never know.

Ed - the method for the xoom is in the column on the rhs.

http://www.any-video-converter.com/convert-video-for-android-epad.php

There should be cheaper methods.

Ed:  this one is specific to the Xoom.

http://dvdrippingsoftwares.com/convertdvd/motorola-xoom-video-converter.html

http://homeentertainmenttips.com/category/motorola/

[Estelle]

There seems to be several viewers on the Google android apps site. Some you can try before you buy. Usually the more stars the better, and read the reviews.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/category/MEDIA_AND_VIDEO?feature=category-nav

[SteveandViv]

This is very very very good advice, try telling your wife it was not you who downloaded the adult content app. Then your 6 y/o tells you there is a mummy and daddy game on the ipad.

Oh yeah it's happened. ( not me a mate ) yeah right

Lock the app store with a password and also watch out for your home wifi network , ours hooks up as soon as we walk in the house so the kids can acess the home network and end up online . we now disable the wifi network unless we choose to go online. This has to be done on each ipod/pad or whatever you buy. Also watch the kids phones that have wifi they can sit in thier room hooked up to the net.

A family friend recently was shocked to find out thier daughter had been online for a year in her room because the home network had no password on it and with 200gb they left the homeshare password on a sticky note in the drawer in case they forgot it. Another family friend had to alert the parents to the acccount she had craeted on facebook etc.

JET

I have my modem set to a schedule so that it only comes on line when we get home. I also have alerts set up when certain amounts of data are used and I also have a policy that excludes all mac addresses except mime ad the wifes.

If you want some screen shots let me know Jet.

I prefer o track their use rather than block all. So far there have been no gotcha

[Burnsy]

Thanks Estelle, I will have a go at ripping some DVD's tonight.