First the iPad was a huge success in the consumer electronics space. Then it made major inroads in the enterprise arena. Now, it looks like it’s a big hit in a brand new, slightly unexpected area – among Orangutans at the Milwaukee Zoo.
Over the last six months these intelligent apes have been enjoying playing games and watching videos on the iPad at the zoo.
Orangutans, like their great ape brethren (gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans), are intelligent, inquisitive creatures — and, perhaps hinting at our shared genetic ancestry, they find the shiny, bright allure of an iPad almost irresistible. So far their favorite iPad pastimes have been games like Doodle Buddy and Flick Flick Football, and watching videos. One of the orangutans, a 31-year-old called MJ, is apparently a big fan of David Attenborough’s nature documentaries. “The orangutans loved seeing videos of themselves – so there is a little vanity going on – and they like seeing videos of the orangutans who are in the other end of the enclosure,” Richard Zimmerman of Orangutan Outreach said. “So if we incorporate cameras, they can watch each other.
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Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate it. And Happy Holidays to you all.
I’m enjoying this holiday season as much as any I can remember. We’ve been blasting Christmas music, decorating our house, driving round admiring Christmas lights on houses – and looking forward most of all to seeing our 8 year old have a blast today.
I hope all of you are enjoying family and friends and all the best of the season.
The 2011 Best App Ever Awards are up and running and now accepting app nominations. This is th fourth year for these awards, which recognize the best mobile apps and games, as chosen by users. I have always loved this aim of the awards:
Our Goal: Honor the best, not just the best selling
They used to be for just iOS apps, but this year the field has been opened up to Android apps as well. The awards cover a huge range – from overall winners in areas like Most Innovative App to app awards by categories. You’ll be able to nominate your favorite iPad, iPhone, and Android apps in categories like Best RSS Reader, Best Navigation app, Best Health app, Best Musical Instrument app, Best Calendar app, Best Writing app, Best Remote Access app, Best Photo Editing app, and tons more. I’d be hugely surprised if there’s not a category that fits your favorites.
Nominations are being accepted through December 31, 2011 – so go get yours in when you have a chance: http://bestappever.com/
Then come back here and tell us about your nominations.
A friend told me about this app that she had used with her 4 year old called Jelly Bean Count.
She couldn’t fault it so I thought we must give it a go. The idea is that you count the jelly beans of each colour, then using your fingers tap on the matching coloured circle.
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Wow. Here’s a giveaway you definitely want to check out. ZAGG are giving away an iPad 2 every hour on Black Friday.
It’s easy to enter by just submitting your full name and email address and you can enter once per hour and receive up to three extra entries per hour by sharing the giveaway page on Facebook and Twitter.
The giveaway starts at midnight tonight and lasts for the whole day of November 25 – the site’s server is in the Mountain time zone.
Here’s where you need to go to get in with a chance to win an iPad 2:
http://www.zagg.com/giveaway/ipad-an-hour/index.php
