NBA MATH HOOPS APP

It is amazing how kids can be so in tune to the analytics of sports yet think math is boring and uninteresting. With math skills and scores on the decline and showing historic lows in schools across the country, Learn Fresh, a national education nonprofit dedicated to enhancing students interest in STEM  and developing social-emotional achievement with children, has created a learning tool that utilizes the excitement of basketball to make practicing math problems fun. Partnering with NBA Cares, Hasbro, and NBA/WNBA teams to create basketball themed apps that are both educational and entertaining. NBA Math Hoops apps have kids enjoying engaging in math through competitive basketball themed games.

Available for FREE to be used by students in Grades 3 - 8, there are two apps to choose from both of which are available for Apple and Android devices. These learning apps star NBA and WNBA players and and utilize real statistics. Both apps reinforce fundamental math skills in a fun, data-rich environment as well as assist kids with building fluency through engaging gameplay. Suddenly fractions, decimals, percentages, and exponents are just a part of the game, and students are freed from the anxiety that often comes with traditional math learning. 

Students start off with NBA MATH HOOPS and can continue expand upon that experience with Learn Fresh's follow-up app NBA MATH HOOPS SKILLS & DRILLS. The NBA Math Hoops App features a digital board game with real-time NBA and WNBA player stats. Kids can spend as little as a few minutes at a time or a whole weekend with this fun and educational app, and they can play independently or as part of a class assignment. NBA Math Hoops Skills + Drills App is a complementary app that similarly hones elementary and middle school math skills through basketball mini-games. Boths apps are available to download for FREE on the App Store and Google Play.

NBA Math Hoops App • Free • Grades 3 to 8

Download the NBA Math Hoops Mobile App for free in the App Store and Google Play. The playful program helps build fluency with fundamental math skills through a fun, basketball-themed game with authentic NBA and WNBA player statistics that update in real-time! Compete in Quick Play or League Play modes and enter a classroom code to play in a league format with your peers. Great for use in the classroom, after school, or in-home learning environments.

NBA Math Hoops Skills & Drills App • Free • Grades 3 to 8

Ready for some drills? NBA Math Hoops Skills + Drills App helps young learners build fluency with fundamental math skills through a fun, fast-paced game that simulates the NBA All-Star Skills competition. The app complements the core NBA Math Hoops App and is designed for students looking to take their mental math and NBA Math Hoops play to the next level. Available for free in the App Store and Google Play.

While the game may use stats to make math less intimidating to students, NBA Math Hoops has some scored some impressive stats of its own: Students completing the full program demonstrate 35% improvement in math fluency and 18% improvement in data analysis skills, and a whopping 92% of educators report that students find math more accessible, relevant, and engaging through the program. As a parent, I've always been a fan of making learning both entertaining and educational so that kids consider schooling an enjoyable challenge rather than an uninteresting chore. So I'm geeked about the efforts of Learn Fresh in developing learning tools that embrace people's sports fandom to get them excited about math. 

If you know a child in third through eighth grade, encourage him or her to check out NBA MATH HOOPS! It is FREE, FUN and helps develop a fundamental skill needed to get ahead in today's society. Time to play some hoops!

HOW TO SOLVE RUBIKS CUBE

I have a love/hate relationship with Rubik's Cube. I love to play around with the puzzle but get infuriated that it always seems to end up a jumbled mess. And now my son want to join in the fun!

This year Rubik's Cube is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Wow! How time flies! I remember being in elementary school when these toys first came out. My parents said it was a fad but forty years later Rubik's Cube is still as popular as ever. Especially with people staying home during the pandemic and looking for ways to pass the time.

To mark this milestone year, the folks at Rubik's Cube want to make playing with the toy more entertaining and less frustrating for average joes like myself who stumble when it comes to solving the puzzle. So they're gone high tech! Now there is a FREE app that will walk you through solving Rubik's Cube.



Hold a Rubik's Cube you want to solve in the palm of your hand. The app will use your device's camera to track the moves you make on the real-life Rubik’s Cube and uses on-screen imagery to “paint” arrows on the Cube’s tiles via augmented reality to highlight which ways to twist and turn the puzzle.  The app’s audio and visual cues will give everyone the chance to solve Rubik's Cube.  Look for the Rubik's Official Cube app on Apple's App Store.

If you truly want to become a wizard at solving Rubik's Cube, there is also a new free tutorial on the official YouTube channel. It turns out solving this puzzle is all about algorithms. This video points out what these are and how to use them. Practice while watching this video and you can absolutely master the Rubik's Cube. Plus learning by the video feels a lot less like cheating then when you use Rubik's Official Cube app.



Get your Cube on with these great tutorial tools! These are going to save my son a lot of agony that I've gone through as he begin to play around with this addicting puzzle himself. If you've ever stumbled at solving Rubik's Cube you will definitely want to check out this app and video. For more information, go to rubiks.com

Zoobe expands its app lineup with Hello Kitty products

Have you heard of the Zoobe app?   It is an innovative voice-messaging service for Apple, Amazon and Android mobile devices that allows you to record a message and have it communicated to others through a cartoon featuring a popular animated character synced to your voice.  These cartoons are quick to create and the Zoobe app connects to the world's leading messaging and social media platforms for easy distribution of your animated message to friends and family.  Animated characters you can choose to feature in your Zoobe messages include characters from the movies Hotel Transylvania, Ice Age, Ghostbusters, Paddington Bear, and The Smurfs, among other options. It's a pretty impressive app!



Expanding on the success of the Zoobe app, its developer has just announced a partnership to create a new series of digital products utilizing Sanrio GmbH's brands starting with HELLO KITTY. Under the deal, Zoobe Message Entertainment will create products featuring these globally beloved brands both in 2D and 3D animation. “Hello Kitty StoryGIF app” was the first product to result from this new partnership launching last week on iMessage, Apple’s long-awaited and stylish messaging platform that now includes stickers, apps and other fun features.  The Hello Kitty StoryGIF app allows users to select from over 50 adorable animations and multiple upcoming themes to create and text unlimited customizable and socially shareable StoryGIFs featuring Hello Kitty and friends. After its initial debut on iOS devices it is also now available for Android as well.

“Hello Kitty’s continued global allure to fans of all ages is astounding,” Zoobe Message Entertainment CEO Naz Amarchi-Cuevas told A Geek Daddy. “These quick-text GIF stories are snack-sized treats that bring Hello Kitty to life in a whole new way. They connect the brand via emotion and humor through playful story-telling with the expressive animations.”

“This new StoryGif app by Zoobe is like nothing currently on the market,” Egita Di Filippo, Head of Digital Content, EMEA for SanrioGmbH added to the discussion. “We are excited to be on the forefront of a new digital movement with Zoobe, who is leading the way in the marketplace; bridging the messaging world, consumer products and entertainment. Our fans are already in love with the  Hello Kitty StoryGIF app, and having as much fun as we did in the development of it, by spreading our company’s motto “Small Gift, Big Smile!” through animations in their messages.”

Zoobe’s next Sanrio StoryGIF apps are expected to feature Mr. Men & Little Miss, Gudetama, and Chococat in the coming weeks. Each app will be followed by themed packs to further contribute to the story creation.

TALKING TOM GOLD RUN

There's been a heist and it is up to you to track down all the stolen gold in the newest addition to the popular Talking Tom and Friends mobile app video game franchise.  Talking Tom Gold Run, from Outfit7, begins with a robbery causing the players to run as fast as possible to retrieve the fallen gold bars, dodge obstacles and collect rewards.  Each component of the game allows players to "Go for the Gold" as they help Talking Tom and Friends utilize the gold they've collected to build their dream homes.  Featuring seven worlds to unlock, as a player progresses in building his or her character's house new building upgrades, characters, and running segments become available within the game.



With Talking Tom and Friends apps reaching more than 4.5 billion downloads worldwide you know Outfit7 is doing something right when it designs these video games for mobile devices.  For example, Talking Tom Gold Run expands beyond the standard mechanics of a runner game by giving players a reason to run in the dream home construction aspect of the game.  Vibrant graphics combined with intricately designed levels don't just provide for fun game play but also allow players to experience an ongoing story through the eyes of Talking Tom and the gang.

"Talking Tom Gold Run draws the player in with an interactive storyline, top-notch graphics and iconic characters that users have come to know and love," founder and CEO of Outfit7 told A Geek Daddy. "We guarantee the gamer will never get bored with so many unique worlds and segments to unlock."

Talking Tom Gold Run is FREE to download on GooglePlay Store, Apple App Store, Windows Store, and Amazon.  It does include in-app purchase options so if your kids are playing make sure to keep your parental control feature activated on the mobile devices just to make sure mom and dad are approving of any purchases.  The game also contains social features which allows players to connect with friends through Facebook and share high scores.

I'm Lovin It - Skylanders Toys @ McDonalds

Now through Tuesday, July 5, 2016, Happy Meals at McDonald's restaurants across North America will feature toys inspired by the Skylanders SuperChargers video game.  Six different characters equipped in sky, sea and land vehicles will be available to provide a fun new SuperCharged experience in every Happy Meal.

While these toys can't be incorporated for use with the Skylanders SuperChargers video game itself they can be scanned with the McDonald's app to open up new exclusive games that can be played on a mobile device featuring the characters Gill Grunt, Jet Vac, Nightfall, Roller Brawl, Spitfire and Tarrafin. Each Happy Meal also comes with a character card that can be used to redeem a character on the Skylanders BATTLECAST mobile game. Portal Masters head to McDonalds before these collectible Skylander toys are gone!

For more information about the BATTLECAST mobile game, visit battlecast.com/download

INJUSTICE 2 Super Hero Video Game Arriving In 2017

For fans of DC Comics super heroes, 2013's INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US from NetherRealm Studios is one of the most action packed and immersive video game experiences to date allowing players to engage in combative competitions featuring these characters.  Similar to the dream sequence shown in the recent Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice movie this fighting game also has Batman battling Superman in a dystopian future  INJUSTICE takes place in an alternate reality from the primary DC Comics fictional universe where the Joker has tricked Superman into killing Lois Lane and their unborn child.  Fueled with grief, Superman becomes a dictator over the world ruling the planet as its High Councillor imposing his will over all of subjected humanity.  Batman doesn't let this go on without a challenge and leads a resistance that also includes Aquaman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman.  I've spent a lot of hours having fun playing this game on my PlayStation 4 and its mobile version on my iPad so it was exciting to find out that a new and improved sequel will be arriving in 2017.

Available for Playstation 4 and Xbox One, INJUSTICE 2 will feature a massive roster of Super Heroes and Super Villains allowing players to create the ultimate version of their favorite DC Comics characters personalizing them with unique and powerful gear that can be earned throughout the game.  INJUSTICE 2 will allow gamers to take control of how their characters look, fight, and develop through a variety of game modes.  The game will continue the cinematic story introduced in INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US as Batman and his allies work to putting the pieces of society back together while struggling against those who want to restore Superman's regime.  In the midst of this chaos, a new threat appears that will put Earth's existence at risk.



To get INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US fans excited about the upcoming sequel, players of the mobile app version of the original video game can now unlock INJUSTICE 2 versions of Superman and Aquaman through its in-game Challenge Modes.  The mobile device version of the game is available as a free download on the App Store and Google Play.  It does contain in-app purchases but casual games can enjoy the game without spending money as I've personally had a lot of fun playing it without buying any enhancements or power-ups.

For more information, visit injustice.com or follow @injusticegame on Twitter.

TRANSFORMERS: EARTH WARS

There is a new game available for iOS and Android devices featuring the TRANSFORMERS and I have to say its imagery takes me back to the 1980 toys and cartoons of my youth featuring these characters that transform between warrior robots and various types of vehicles.  Over the last 30 years there have been various updates and redesigns of the TRANSFORMERS in their Hasbro toy line, comic book series, movies and television shows; so I was wowed how in this app they resemble the original TRANSFORMERS of my childhood giving this real-time combat strategy game for mobile devices a cool retro vibe.  It even features the voices of the original Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) and Megatron (Frank Welker) from the 1980s cartoon that first made the Transformers a pop culture hit. While TRANSFORMERS: EARTH WARS may be filled with iconic characters and classic imagery from the Transfomers Universe it also is full of the newest generation of features desired in video games for mobile devices, such as vibrant 3D animations, which makes it great to play for both kids and kids-at-heart.



Published by Backflip Studios (DragonVale, SpellFall, Paper Toss) and developed by Space Ape Games (Rival Kingdoms, Samurai Siege), TRANSFORMERS: EARTH WARS has players must choose to fight with Optimus Prime and the Autobots or Megatron and the Decepticons in a battle to decide the fate of planet Earth. Once allegiance has been sworn, gamers assemble a powerful team of playable characters, raid enemy bases for Energon stockpiles, and construct the Space Bridge to add reinforcements from Cybertron, all while playing in real-time against other players around the globe. The game is available now for FREE download on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and on Google Play for Android devices. There are in-app purchases within the game that allow players to speed up getting through the stages of the game or to enhance the characters to improve the game play experience for people who are into going beyond free-mode in apps like this.

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS: petMOJI Character Creator

Are you excited about THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS arriving at movie theaters on July 8, 2016?!  My kids have been drooling to see this movie since the trailers started popping up at theaters and on television last year.  Of course we're going to go see it!

While waiting for the theatrical release have some fun with ILLUMINATION'S The Secret Life of Pets petMOJI character creator.  Visit this special website where you can create a custom cartoon of your favorite pet.  Also keep an eye out for an app coming out soon for iOS and Android devices that will feature sticker packs and a custom keyboard. For more information, visit www.mypetmoji.com/

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS story revolves around a Manhattan apartment building where a dog named Max has his life as a favorite pet turned upside down when his owner brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke.  Max and Duke have to put their quarrels behind them though when they find out that an adorable white bunny named Snowball is building an army of abandoned pets determined to take revenge on all the happy-owned pets and their owners in their building.

Comedy superstars Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart make their animated feature-film debuts in The Secret Life of Pets, which co-stars Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Hannibal Buress, Bobby Moynihan, Steve Coogan and Albert Brooks.  Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy produce the film directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2), co-directed by Yarrow Cheney and written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio and Brian Lynch.

THE ADVENTURES OF PAN

** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

This week during bedtime instead of doing the normal story book reading routine with my 7 year old twins, we've been exploring a wonderful app called THE ADVENTURES OF PAN.  This app aimed for young readers between 6 and 8 years old allows children to participate in the telling of a magical tale through reading, engaging with interactive aspects on the screen and playing mini-games which help captivate the attention and imagination of young readers.  It is a whimsical story with wonderful graphics that has been a delight to read and my kids have looked forward to reading a new chapter every night.  Because there can be a dramatic difference in the advancement of literary skills from child-to-child in this age range, parents can choose to have their kids read along with the displayed text as a narrator tells the story or mute the sound to focus specifically on reading.  I really liked how each word of the story's text is highlighted as a narrator pronounces it.

THE ADVENTURES OF PAN follows the adventures of a panda named Pandora, who goes by the nickname Pan.  When Pan discovers she's not the orphan that the grandfather who has been raising her led her to believe, the fearless but reckless purple panda leaves her village to search for the parents she has never known.  As this trek begins, Pan befriends Chase, a warrior bunny, and Locke, an inventive fox who loves to create gadgets, who join the panda on her quest.  The trio of friends learn through a series of misadventures that Pan's parents are just missing but were captured trying to stop an ancient evil.  Now Pan, Chase and Locke must save the day while a band of obsessed ninja cats are constantly on their tails trying to stop them.

Pan's Story Trailer from Hullabalu on Vimeo.


Since its debut on iPad, THE ADVENTURES OF PAN has been releasing a new chapter, referred to as books, on iTunes every few months continuing the adventure.  It has been featured as both Apple's Editors Choice and Best New Kids App providing THE ADVENTURES OF PAN with some nice accolades. On May 26, 2016, app developer Hullabalu released Book 7: Han Awakening which will conclude Pan's saga.  Also beginning on May 26th, the app will also be available to use on iPhone in addition to iPads. So now app users can access Pan's entire adventure from either an iPhone or iPad.  Sorry Android users THE ADVENTURES OF PAN is currently an iTunes exclusive.

A nice way the app enhances the story is by sprinkling games and interactive features throughout each chapter of the saga.  For example in Book 1: The Fearless Beribolt, there is a boomerang training game in which users throw various items to try and dissolve as many clouds as they can before a timer runs down to zero.  My daughter really adored this mini game.  All together there are more than 100 fully-interactive cinematic scenes that children can manipulate to trigger a variety of special effects.

Another nice aspect of the app is how the artwork brilliantly pops off the screen at you.  This is due in part to all of the art being hand-drawn and painted. In fact everything involving the construction of the app including scripting, storyboarding, character design, voiceovers and engineering is done in-house by the Hullabalu crew.

From a parent's perspective, I appreciated that THE ADVENTURES OF PAN is very user-friendly when it comes to children being able to scroll through its story and use its interactive features.  Kids can tilt and touch their way through each of the seven books in the app at their own pace which was the intent of Hullabalu when designing the layout for THE ADVENTURES OF PAN.  Plus as the father of both a son and daughter, I liked how the story features a gender-balanced cast to encourage it being equally of interest to both boys and girls.

THE ADVENTURES OF PAN is a fun, cute, age-appropriate story that is great for enticing children to read but is also nice if you are just looking to entertain your children and want to let them view it as a cartoon.  I always appreciate quality apps that contain a combination of educational and entertaining elements that my kids will both enjoy and learn from so THE ADVENTURES OF PAN gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval.

NASCAR DRIVERS MAKE GUEST APPEARANCES ON NICKELODEON'S "BLAZE & THE MONSTER MACHINES"

NASCAR fans will want to tune into Nickelodeon to watch with their kids six new race car themed episodes of the cable network's animated preschool series BLAZE AND THE MONSTER MACHINES which will be featuring guest voice appearances from superstar drivers Danica Patrick, Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott and Kasey Kahne. The first special, “Race Car Superstar,” premieres Monday, May 30, at 1:30 p.m. (ET/PT), followed by “Race to Eagle Rock” on Thursday, June 2, at 1:30 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.  The remaining four race car episodes will roll out this fall.   

In Blaze and the Monster Machines, the amazing monster truck Blaze and his eight-year-old driver AJ have adventures that explore the physics of how things move; tackle problems through scientific inquiry and mathematics; and discover the parts needed to make everyday technologies work. Each action-packed episode is filled with monster trucks, physical humor and upbeat original songs that contain lyrics which highlight a STEM concept such as adhesion, friction, force, trajectory and magnetism. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, all educational concepts important for developing high-tech skill sets.

In these race car themed specials, Blaze visits the town of VelocityVille, where all the cars love to go fast, and meets four new race cars: Rally (Patrick), a race car who is always first to the track and never misses a chance to hit the raceway; Dash (Johnson), a car that is fun, friendly, fast and the ultimate racing buddy for Blaze; Mark Set-Go (Elliott), VelocityVille’s sensational starter who kicks off each racing adventure with rock-star style and a signature rhyme; and Fender (Kahne), a car that rules the raceway, but is excited to share the track with Blaze.

In “Race Car Superstar,” a car named Speedrick puts locks on the tires of other cars so they are stopped in their tracks, forcing Blaze to transform into a sleek and aerodynamic race car to free his new friends.  Then, in “Race to Eagle Rock,” Blaze brings all of his monster truck pals to VelocityVille for a wild race to the top of Eagle Rock. After they all transform into race cars with supercharged engines, they have to find a way to avoid Crusher’s attempts to slow them down.

Tying into these race car themed adventures, the Blaze and the Monster Machines App is being updated to feature a brand-new VelocityVille location. This update will provide 15 new levels that focus on the STEM concept of velocity.  The app allows players to help Blaze and AJ compete against other monster trucks – Starla, Darington, Crusher, Stripes and Zeg – in one of six locations (The Badlands, Top of the World, Dragon Island, The Snowy Slopes, The Monster Dome or VelocityVille) and use blazing speed and problem-solving to overcome obstacles along the way. The update is available now on iOS and Google Play. Additionally, leading up to the Blaze and the Monster Machines race car specials, NickJr.com and the Nick Jr. App will feature an exclusive first-look at the race-inspired episodes starting Monday, May 23.

Nickelodeon and Fisher-Price will also be launching a new toy line based on the Blaze and the Monster Machines race car episodes.  Available nationwide in August, the collection includes: a Flip & Race vehicles assortment, Monster Copter Swoops, Flip and & Race Speedway and Transforming Race Car R/C Blaze.  The complete Blaze and the Monster Machines™ product line includes die-cast, mid-scale and feature vehicles, playsets, games and puzzles plus outdoor sports and party goods.

For more information about the show, visit www.nickjr.com/blaze-and-the-monster-machines

DC Super Hero Girls

My daughter had some allowance money she'd saved up burning a hole in her pocket to be spent and asked if we could go to Target so she could pick out a new toy to play with.  She was really excited to discover in the toy aisle a new type of super hero action figures that cater specifically to the interests of young girls and began jumping up and down holding the toy box yelling out "Daddy can I buy it!"  My little girl hasn't been particularly interested in super heroes because of the rough and tumble nature of many of the characters that includes a big focus on fighting bad guys while she herself has a more gentle side.  On the other hand, my daughter finds the stylish appearance of  the Super Girl action figure we brought home appealing and appreciates how the character's description puts a focus on utilizing her special abilities to solve problematic situations rather than engaging in fist a cuffs battle royal with evil villains.

The Super Girl toy my daughter bought with her allowance money is part of a new effort by DC Comics, a division of Warner Brothers, to get girls aged 6 to 12 genuinely interested in super heroes.  Warner Brothers has created a multi-media / toy product lineup called DC Super Hero Girls featuring teenage versions of popular comic book characters hoping to build a young female fan base for the company's entertainment properties.  The premise of DC Super Hero Girls is that age appropriate for young audiences versions of popular male and female comic book characters such as Bat Girl, Beast Boy, Cheetah, Flash, Harley Quinn, and Wonder Woman interact in light-hearted high school themed adventures.  Warner Brothers has partnered with Mattel to create 6-inch action figures, like the one my daughter bought, as well as 12-inch action dolls depicting the DC Super Hero Girls that are currently available exclusively at Target.  The toy line will be rolled out to other major retailers beginning later in 2016.  Additionally, Warner Brothers has released a series of video shorts to tell the story of the DC Super Hero Girls that can be viewed for free at dcsuperherogirls.com website or on their youtube channel.



In addition to the toys, DC Super Hero Girls will also have an app for mobile devices, a Random House middle-grade reading level novel series, a television show on Turner Broadcasting System's Boomerang cable network, and graphic novels from DC Comics telling stories featuring these young ladies during their formative high school years as they begin to discover their full super power potential.  At this point in their lives Harley Quinn isn't a villain but rather a mischievous class clown, Bat Girl is an A student technology whiz, Super Girl is the kind-hearted girl next door and Wonder Woman is the class president go-getter.



DC Comics will also be telling the Super Hero Girls story on Free Comic Book Day.  They'll be giving out a special free issue on May 7, 2015 during this annual event at participating comic book shops.  It will feature two stories from the upcoming graphic novel DC SUPER HERO GIRLS: FINAL CRISIS. In these stories it is the day before finals...and nothing is going right for the girls. These stories show how the DC Super Hero Girls find out that fun, friendship and hard work are all part of growing up!

DC Super Hero Girls encourage young ladies to get their capes on!  As a dad I like that DC Super Hero Girls promote that super heroes aren't just a genre for the boys to enjoy plus provides the message that girls don't have to choose between being strong or feminine as they can be both. So DC Super Hero Girls gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval.



#Mattel #DCSUPERHEROGIRLS

Odd Squad DVD: Dance Like Nobody's Watching

** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review**

My daughter's favorite television show is ODD SQUAD on PBS Kids and she wants to rush home from school everyday so she won't miss an episode.  Now I have to say that this is an applaudable selection not just because of ODD SQUAD'S educational focus but also because its episodes are so witty and well written that my wife and I will often find ourselves regularly joining our kids in watching the show because we also find it amusing and enjoyable to watch.  So our entire family was excited to receive the new ODD SQUAD dvd "Dance Like Nobody's Watching" which is now available to purchase on the Shop PBS online store and at various other retailers.

This dvd will let our kids watch some of their favorite ODD SQUAD episodes whenever they want.  "Dance Like Nobody's Watching" features 6 episodes from ODD SQUAD that all have a mathematical themed story and each feature musical numbers:

“Soundcheck”
Olive and Otto must figure out how and why things are disappearing around town when all Otto wants to do is listen to a song by his favorite band, Soundcheck.

“Soundcheck Part Deux”
When the members of Soundcheck go missing, Otto and Olive must bring them back together in time for their big concert. Otto uses his special superfan closet to help collect data to solve the case.

“A Case of the Sing-Alongs”
When Mayor Macklemore catches a case of the Sing-A-Longs, Olive and Otto must discover the cause before the Mayor sings his way out of his job!

“O is Not for Old”
The agents throw a surprise party for Ms. O and are having trouble making decisions about the details. They send O’Malley to delay Ms. O by various means while they try to figure them out.

“Mystic Egg Pizza”
With the help of Odd Squad, Delivery Debbie and Delivery Doug must figure out why their food is disappearing.

I have to warn you that my kids have memorized the songs from these episodes and you could find yourself humming these tunes, like "Take Away 4" in the car or at work.  My kids favorites are the ones sung by Soundcheck.  Hmm I wonder if it is ODD that my kids are such big fans of a fictional boy band when they really don't care for the real musical performances?  Anyway the musical numbers are actually pretty catchy, especially the big Sing-Alongs episode finale, and reinforce educational math concepts which is definitely a good thing.



Geared for children ages 5-8, ODD SQUAD follows two young agents, Olive and Otto, who are part of an agency led by Ms. O that seeks to save the day using math when odd things happen.



PBS has also created a free augmented reality app for iPads and iPhones to go with the DVD.  As they release additional ODD SQUAD dvds, you will be able to scan each individual package to unlock a unique gadget with its own special abilities. For this particular dvd, the musical changeinator is made available from the ODD SQUAD laboratory to play around with.

Open the app and scan the back side of the dvd package.

Ms. O's favorite thing in the whole wide world will appear - a juice box.

Shoot the juice box with the musical changeinator and it will start dancing to a soundtrack playing from your device and emitting special effects on the screen.

You can also move the juice box around utilizing the camera in your mobile device so that it can interact with your surroundings.

ODD SQUAD: DANCE LIKE NOBODY'S WATCHING gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval for not just being educational but also  also very entertaining.  It is a show which can bring the whole family together to enjoy and learn from it.  I'd recommend picking up a copy of this dvd to have handy for summer break, especially if you are looking to amuse some kids during a long car trip and have an in-vehicle or portable dvd player to take along for the ride.

For those of you interested in joining the ODD SQUAD here is a badge that can can personalized courtesy of PBS Kids:

App provides tour of Detroit locations used in filming Batman V Superman movie

While I've been wanting to see director Zack Snyder's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice movie which is based upon the iconic super heroes of DC Comics lore because I've been following the adventures of these characters since watching their guest appearances on Saturday morning Scooby Doo cartoons as a kid, I'm also very excited to watch the flick to see how many local spots I can identify throughout the film.  The movie spent five months filming in Michigan using a film studio in Pontiac that I drive by all the time on my way to and from work and 40 remote locations that ranged from the Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum on the East Lansing campus of Michigan State University to multiple locations within Detroit including the popular Hygrade Deli in the city's Corktown neighborhoods to the historic Detroit Public Library building in Midtown.  For those fans who want to explore the real life locations portrayed in the fictional world of Gotham City and Metropolis from the movie there is a new app designed for iOS devices that can help with that.



The Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice mobile tour app from the Michigan Film & Digital Media Office debuted in coordination with the March 25, 2016 premiere date of the movie in theaters across the United States. The app features an interactive map that highlights 12 Detroit spots used for filming the Warner Brothers movie providing a summary about the Batman V Superman scene shot at the site and information about the real world location.  Movie fans and travel enthusiasts visiting Detroit can utilize the app, created by Grand Rapids-based Mutually Human, to take a self-guided tour exploring all the locations from Batman V Superman scenes shot in Detroit.  While using the social media functionality of the app you can earn rewards and unlock features while taking either a virtual or physical tour of the featured Detroit filming locations.

The Detroit locations featured in the app include the Fort Street Financial District (Downtown Metropolis), Guardian Building (Wayne Building in Gotham), World Trade Center (Wayne Building in Metropolis), Russell Industrial Center (Boat Yard), Masonic Temple (Diana's Hotel), Belle Isle Bridge (Washington D.C.), Ransom Gillis House (Abandoned House), Detroit Public Library (Museum Gala), Michigan Central Train Station (Abandoned Gotham Building), Old Wayne County Courthouse (Washington DC), and Hygrade Deli (Raffi's Restaurant).  In addition to the tour features of the app, users can also view video segments and photos from the movie and utilize the camera function to take your own custom Batman V Superman themed photographs.

To download the FREE app that is available for Apple devices visit batmanvsupermantour.com

Never misplace your keys, wallet or phone again with the Tile App

** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review **

Can you spot my wallet? It's become an unfortunate routine around our house that you'll often find me racing around looking for where I've misplaced my wallet, phone or keys.  Of course this normally occurs when I'm running late and have someplace else to be.  Did my wallet get buried under some clothes on my dresser? Did it get tossed in the laundry? Is it buried under some files on my desk?

I need to have my ID with me for work to get past security with my phone at the court houses I visit.  As an attorney on the go without my iPhone accessible I'm at a real disadvantage because it contains my scheduling calendar and some important reference tools to make sure I'm always in the know.  So it can be a bit stressful if I've misplaced either my wallet or my phone when there is someplace I have to be.  So the Tile App has really come in handy since I've started using it.  You'll never have to worry about misplacing your keys, wallet, or phone again with the Tile App which utilizes small Bluetooth devices to help you keep track of them.

Attach a Tile to your key chain, place it inside a wallet, or attach it to another item you don't want to lose.  Then download the Tile App to your smart phone.  It is available for iPhones through the Apple App Store and for Android devices through Google Play.  Once you've synced your mobile device to a Tile you can locate an object that your tracker is attached to whether it is in your home, left behind somewhere, or swiped by someone with sticky fingers.

If the object is within your general vicinity the Tile App will ring it for you.  This is how I've had the most use of this service so far.  Open up the App and hit the find button associated with the object you are looking for.  It is possible to use several Tiles registered to different objects on the App so you may have multiple items to choose from such as keys, wallet, or a briefcase for example.  A map will show you the approximate geographic location of the object with the Tile so you can tell for example if you've misplaced something in the house or left it at some other spot you may have visited.  For example, I'd gone out one evening to pick up dinner for the family and after going through the drive through left my wallet in the car.  The next day I couldn't find my wallet and the Tile App was able to show me that it was in the parking lot where my wife works. Oh yeah, I left it in her car when I went out to get dinner the night before.  Swung by there and picked it up before heading to where I needed to be.  It is nice peace of mind to know through the Tile App that if you can't find something important like a wallet or purse that you'll quickly be able to determine if it got misplaced around the house or whether it is at a more distant location because it may have been left behind or stolen.

When things are closer by, such as buried under clothes in your bedroom or files in your office the map function will let you know the object is in proximity to you but isn't detailed enough to let you know specifically where.  So the App will ring your Tile for you.  Your Tile will begin emitting a loud ringing noise when you get within 100 feet of it with your phone.  I've quickly found my keys and wallet that I'd misplaced around the house on several occasion using this ring option.  In the past, I might have spent a half hour or more tearing up the house looking for my keys or wallet and in similar circumstances with the Tile App it took me 5 minutes or less to find what I was looking for. Tiny speakers in the Tile emit a 90 decibel melody that is easy to hear even if it is covered by laundry or may be in another room.

I'll be honest and admit that in addition to misplacing my wallet and keys I have a tendency to lose track of my iPhone.  Another nice feature is the reverse ring option.  Double click the "e" on your Tile and it make your phone ring, even if it is on silent mode, if it is within 100 feet of your tracker device.  That feature is something I really love because of my clientele I'm in court almost every day and if your phone rings you get fined or have it taken away so mine is always on silent.  It can be very frustrating trying to find a phone on silent because you can't call it and follow the sound.  There have been times I've panicked due to not being able to recall if I may have dropped the phone while out and about, set it down somewhere and left it behind, or it just is someplace out of view around my house or office and knowing I can't call the phone to track its ring.  I can now with the Tile App.  That is so great!

Check out this short video for a more detailed description of how Tile works:



Each of these Tile device that can fit into the palm of your hand costs $25 and the app is free to download and use.  The estimated battery life of a Tile is one year.  Once you've purchased a Tile you can order replacements for each device you've bought at a discounted price. Tiles are shipped for free, have a 30-day guarantee and one year warranty.

Do you know someone who has everything and is difficult to shop for?  Get them a Tile so they don't have to worry about losing the stuff they do have.  Tiles can be useful just beyond finding your keys, wallet, or phone.  Place one under a bike seat for example and if your bicycle gets stolen it can help the police find it.  Stick one in your car and if you forget where your parking space was it probably will be more useful than trying to beep your horn to find the vehicle.  Our family has to carry EpiPens for food allergies - here's a story  that our family can really relate to of how one family uses the Tile App to keep track of those which can be very expensive and are a necessity in an emergency. There are all sorts of ways these devices and app can be useful.

For more information or to purchase this product, visit thetileapp.com.