Tablet World.pdf

“Apps and
games that
make use of
tablet features
offer skills
a child is
unlikely to get
without some
help from
kid-friendly
technology”
tablets, and it’s what should differentiate
a tablet from other forms of kids’ play.
Nothing’s better for a child’s creative
play learning than a pad of paper and
some pens and pencils, and parents are
rightly wary about replacing these with
an app for drawing and colouring in. But
apps and games that truly make use of
tablet features such as still/video cameras
and microphones offer skills a child is
unlikely to get without some help from
kid-friendly technology.
It’s not just educational, of course.
Everything’s wrapped up in fun. The
Camera app, for instance, lets you add
wacky effects to pictures by clicking on
the Wand icon in the top left corner.
The InnoTab 2 looks much like the
first InnoTab, with a 5in screen, and it’s
equipped with a video player, art studio,
tilt sensor for motion gameplay, MP3
music player, e-reader, calendar, friends
list and notes app.
We like the InnoTab 2’s pull-out stand,
which means the tablet doesn’t have to
be held by the child all the time.
The InnoTab 2’s internal 2GB
memory is up from the original version’s
paltry 128MB, and can be expanded via
its built-in SD card memory reader. While the LeapPad 2 has twice this capacity,
it lacks this opportunity to add external memory.
Each InnoTab 2 can be personalised for up to four users with photo wallpaper,
a username and avatar, a voice greeting and typed greeting.
Games and apps
The new children’s tablet comes with a software cartridge ‘Read, Play & Create’
featuring three apps: an e-book ‘What’s That Noise’, colouring art app Colour &
Pop, and augmented reality-game Alien Rescue.
Also preinstalled: Face Race, a motion-sensitive tightrope-walking game;
and Art Studio, which you receive upon registering the device.
The InnoTab 2 also comes with two free games tokens. When you install the
VTech Learning Lodge Navigator on your computer you can download two of
a large range of games, normally priced around £3. This is also where you buy,
download and transfer apps and games (from 99p) to your InnoTab.
VTech has launched a range of new InnoTab software cartridges (sold
separately), including Pixar’s latest Brave, Hello Kitty, Thomas & Friends and
Jake and the Neverland Pirates. These cartridges are priced at £19.99, and each
includes an animated e-book, three learning games and two creative activities.
To further differentiate it from the LeapFrog offering, VTech has signed
partnership agreements that will give InnoTab owners access to a library of
videos or TV programmes, mini e-books and music content.
Age range
The VTech InnoTab 2, like the LeapPad2, is aimed at three- to nine-year-olds.
Three-year-olds won’t have much problem playing with the tablet, but children
over seven or eight might find it little toy-like. The LeapPad is more stylish than
the InnoTab, and smaller too, despite also boasting a 5in screen.
An Apple iPad or iPod touch might suit the older child, or any of the latest 7in
Android tablets would be suitable. Note, though, that such tablets have access to
the internet, and so you should consider setting child-friendly restrictions.
VTech InnoTab 2 REVIEWS
SpEcIfIcATIOnS
5in screen; 2GB storage;
1.3Mp rotating camera;
SD slot; 4x AA batteries;
30x60x280mm; 720g
TABLETWORLD 69