Apps

Notability powerfully integrates handwriting, PDF annotation, typing, recording, and organizing so you can take notes your way!

This week you can get Notability for 80% off – for 99¢

I am starting to use Notability instead of Pages or Word. I highly recommend it and at this price, it’s an app that everyone should try. If you miss the special deal, it is still a special deal.

Notability is the perfect note-taking companion for iTunes U! Liberate yourself from piles of paper and books by keeping this data in Notability. Our full-featured and easy to use tool set enables all types of annotating and data capture. So what does it do?

Full-featured Handwriting

• Capturing ideas easy and awesome with smooth ink.
• Use the zoom window to quickly draw every detail.
• Check out the palm rest to protect your notes from unwanted marks.
• Copy, move and even re-style the color and width of any ink.
• Drag-and-drop thumbnails to reorder notes while adding or removing pages as needed.
• Choose a paper to fit your style and use a variety of pen colors and widths to create beautiful notes.

PDF Annotation

• Annotate PDFs.
• Record, type or handwrite on anything.
• Share your annotations with anyone using email or Dropbox and more.

Advanced Word-Processing

• Try the features like styling, outlining, and spell check as the perfect tools to get the job done quickly and accurately.
• Use bullets, bold, italic, underline, font presets, cursor controls, and more, seamlessly to help you create rich notes.

Linked Audio Recording

• Link audio recordings automatically to your notes.
• Review your notes, then tap a word to hear what was said at that moment.
• Use advanced audio processing features to create brilliant recordings in any setting.
• Use the recording feature to capture your own voice for memos, presentations, or speech practice.

Auto-Sync

• Auto-sync your notes to back up in the cloud.
• Easily collaborate at work or school sharing ideas and notes on the fly.

Media Insertion

• Enhance your notes by adding pictures from your photo library or from the iPad camera.
• Insert web clips, figures, and drawings to compliment your notes.
• Crop, resize, and draw on images to make them perfect. Your text will automatically flow around them.

Library Organization

• Organize, protect and share your ideas and notes.
• Drag and drop notes into a subject and use a password to keep notes secure.
• Auto-sync your notes to automatically upload to Dropbox, iDisk or WebDAV.
• Import notes, PDFs, and RTFs from the cloud or web.
• Share notes via Email, Dropbox, iTunes File Sharing, and AirPrint.

When I review apps, I want to find apps that meet multiple needs. Notability does everything students will need to keep notes and share with their teacher and peers.

So if you get a chance, download Notability to try while it’s at a great price. Go here to download: Ginger Labs

Since I am being asked to recommend apps for schools and districts, I thought it would be a good idea to put together some reviews of interesting apps. I also am finding that some apps are free for a short time. Here’s a fun app: Dr. Seuss Band that is free just for one day: Today at Oceanhouse Media

Anyone any age will love this. You can build your own wacky Dr. Seuss-like instrument and then play it by pressing the appropriate buttons. This is the Dr. Seuss equivalent of the Rock Band/Guitar Hero games combining hand-eye coordination with musical fun and it works very well, although it might be tough for younger kids.

There are in-app purchases with Dr. Seuss songs. Get this app today and then see if you want to purchase anymore apps. I’m thinking that they can all be unlocked just by completing certain accomplishments in the app.

From iTunes:

Experience the excitement as Dr. Seuss Band transforms your device into a vibrant, energetic musical instrument that all ages will enjoy! Jam along with playful Seussian melodies or create your own whimsical masterpiece. As you play, you’ll unlock new instruments, silly effects and catchy songs. Contains over 120 combinations of sounds, so you’ll always have something new to discover!

Features:

• 2 Ways to Play – Go for high scores in the Music Game or use Free Play to compose your own tunes.
• 10 Original Songs – Play along with the soundtrack from The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss’s ABCs, Hop on Pop and more!
• 5 Unique Horn Instruments – Play Seussian versions of the Trumpet, French Horn, Clarinet, Trombone and Flute.
• 10 Crazy Horn Effects – Customize the sound of your horn by adding fun effects like a Fish Bowl, Train Whistle, Reverb and more!
• Mix and Match Horns – Swap parts of the horn while playing to create over 120 Horn Combinations!
• 3 Difficulty Levels – Choose Easy for beginners, Medium for experienced players and Hard for experts.
• 26 Unlockables – Achieve high scores to unlock Songs, Horns and Effects.
• Gamecenter Leaderboards – Compare your high scores with the competition.

Additional features:

• Beautiful 3D artwork inspired by Dr. Seuss
• Whimsical music and sound effects
• Suitable for all ages

Some of the criteria I use for reviewing apps:

• age levels
• age appropriateness
• skill and reading levels
• skills attained
• independent learning
• content or standards met

My Dr. Seuss Band review:

• children of all ages who love Dr. Seuss
• visually intuitive
• increases music abilities
• encourages independent learning and collaborative play
• meets NETS for students on creativity, collaboration, and independent exploration

I encourage you to try this and download it today. If you get it for free, you own it forever. How cool is that? Get it here: Oceanhouse Media