iPad mini with Retina Display - STAPLES and Technology update

Last October, I wrote a post about Staples and Technology and shared with you what I was planning to purchased with the gift card I received from them.  However, I had to wait – patiently – until the product I had picked would be available at Staples.

The wait was longer that I expected…   It was originally announced that the iPad mini with retina display would arrive in November but the month came and went by quite rapidly.

To make the anticipation a bit more challenging, I had mentioned to my husband early in November that we should sell my iPod and iPad 1 on a used site.   What we didn’t expect was to sell both quite rapidly within a few days of posting the ads.   To our pleasure we even got a bit more than we were anticipating.

So selling the devices went well…   now I had to wait.  Fortunately, I was able to borrow my husband iPad2 in order to continue to track our homeschool days.  I would say that this app is definitively essentials for me.   

As I mentioned the month of November went by and still no news on when the iPad mini with Retina Display would arrive at Staples.   The once-a-year sale at Apple was tempting but we resisted – thanks to my husband’s wisdom.

Finally on December 4th, I decided to check the website of Staples to see if there was any changes.  And guess what…  I could see them on the site!  The iPad mini with Retina Display were available.  I quickly selected the one I was planning to purchase – the black 128 GB but unfortunately it was Out Of Stock.   Seriously?   Oh well.   I checked to see if the silver one was available and it was.   Should I purchase this one instead.   As I debated about my options, I realized that while I looked at both colors I preferred the silver one over the black one.   My choice was made.  However, I quickly discovered that I couldn’t use the gift card on an online order.  What?  So I called the store near my house and was told that the only possible solution would be to come in store, order it through the website and get it delivered there and once it arrives to return it in order to repurchased it with the gift card.  Are you following me here?

Step 1: Go to the store.  Purchase the item using the same online site which means I can’t use the gift card immediately.

Step 2: Get the item delivered to the store.

Step 3: When the item arrives at the store, go back to said store in order to return it.  Then repurchase it using the gift card.

Honestly, I find this is a long process.  But since it was the only way to get my iPad mini with Retina Display, I went along with it making sure that the manager of the store confirmed on paper that it would be okay to return and repurchase right away.   No problem I was told.  Okay.  Let’s do it.  So on December 4th, I drove to the Staples, ordered my iPad and waited 24 hours to get it.  Apparently the warehouse is in Montreal and I was told that the delivery would be the next day. 

The next day I got the phone call right after lunch that the order was in.  I went back to the store and dealt with the return/repurchase.   It didn’t took long and the staff at the store was very nice.   Finally, I had my iPad mini with Retina Display.  The box was small enough for me to slide it in my purse as I went back to my vehicle.

As soon as I was home, I decided to open the box (hey what can I say I waited a long time for this moment) and proceed to install some apps on it.   I liked the small device and knew that it would just be perfect for reading before falling asleep.  The iPod was too small for reading – I disliked it while my husband really enjoy reading with his iPhone – and the bigger iPad was just too big and would be too heavy for my wrists.  (In case you wonder why – I have an issue with my left wrist which develop tendonitis every once in a while.  It happens sometimes with the right one but not as often.)

That afternoon, I installed some apps, my music, some videos, books and so on.   With 128 GB of storage trust me that you have plenty of space to install whatever you want.   The main reason why I wanted to move to the new iPad mini with Retina Display was that not only it would be smaller to handle and carry in my purse but I could double the storage on one device instead of having two devices of 64 GB each.  

You must be wondering what I think of the iPad mini with Retina Display since it has been over a week I have it….   Two words.  LOVE IT!    It’s the best decision I have ever made.   I have everything in one device and it’s just perfect for me.   I am still discovering advantages of having it as I am writing this. 

Last week-end, I hosted a little birthday party for my sweet daughter.   She will be turning 6 next week and because her birthday is so close to Christmas, we decided to have her birthday party earlier in the month of December.   She wanted a Princess birthday party and I decided to make a Princess cake for her.    I had purchased a Princess Barbie and baked a “dress for it”.  She really loved her cake and I decided to use the iPad mini to take a picture of my princess with her cake. 

I will admit that I am quite impressed with the quality of the photos taken with the iPad mini with Retina Display.    The technology for these small cameras has gone a long way since it first appeared on the iPhone.   Before I would find the picture too grainy but now it is clear and stunning.    I look forward to explore new possibilities of photography with the iPad mini (and will admit that I need to practice to handle this way of taking pictures – it is quite different than my Canon!).

One of the build-in apps that I particularly find fun (and that my kids simply adore) is the Photo Booth.

With this app you can make a funny face or take a nutty picture of yourself, your kids or your friends and apply an effect to it.  You can have the thermal camera, the mirror, the x-ray, the kaleidoscope, the light tunnel, the squeeze, the twirl or the stretch effect.   You can also take a normal picture if your like.   But the effects brings the most laughter in my household – trust me.

Most people dislike change. But from what I have seen so far with the new iPad mini with Retina Display and the new iOS, I must say that I like what I have experienced so far.  I enjoy have the new design for the calendar, the contacts, the camera, the new look of the icons and so on.   Having a device back in my hands is very nice as well.  I find that I read more using the iPad mini than I was when I had the iPad 1.   This week, as we drove to the swimming lessons, the kids were able to listen to some Adventures in Odyssey.   They missed having the possibility of picking the episode to listen after I had sold my iPod.

I made wise decisions when I opted to get an iPad mini with Retina Display and choose to sell my previous devices.   The wait was worth it and I am enjoying my new tablet.  Now if only the case I ordered can arrive….  *grin*    I won’t complain because I got a really good price on it so I will be patient while waiting for it.

In the meantime, if you are wondering what to get to your love one this Christmas season (and you have the budget for it!  Don’t get into debt for this…) I would like to suggest that you consider getting an iPad mini with Retina Display at Staples.   Not only can you install the Kindle app on it and read but it can be used for numerous things as well – taking notes at a meeting, facebooking, finding recipes on pinterest, read the news, play games and much more.   You won’t be disappointed with the iPad mini with Retina Display. 

I want to thank Staples for the opportunity to do the Technology post for them and for the gift card they have send me.  With it I was able to reduce the price of the iPad mini with Retina Display when it came to purchase it.  

Disclaimer: Full disclosure, Staples provided me with a gift card to inspire me to share my experience. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Walt Disney World & More app

In my search for a versatile app that will help us to keep track of the places we will visit when we go to Orlando (hopefully in 2014), I have stumbled on Disney World Maps & More which includes maps from Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Downtown Disney, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Orlando International Airport, Universal Studios Orlando, Islands of Adventures, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, Polynesian Resort, Wilderness Lodge Resort, Beach and Yatch Club Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge, Coronado Springs Resort, Swan and Dolphin Resort, Contemporary Resort, Port Orleans Resort, Caribbean Beach Resort, All-Star Sports/Movies/Music Resorts, Pop Century Resort, and Boardwalk Resort.

Each map is easy to navigate and will allow you to find where you would like to go in a matter of seconds. And the best part is that you can pinpoint the places you have visited so that when you go back another day, you know exactly what needs to be seen and experience.

 

How often when visiting theme parks, you end up with having to follow a map on paper and wondering where is the next attractions. This app will allow you to quickly search for attractions, restaurants and restrooms. The stores within the park are also marked down for a convenient shopping experience.

The major advantage in having the Disney World Maps & More on your iPod/iPhone/iPad is that you can quickly discover the wait times and the restaurant menus. It is definitively a handy-dandy app to own.

 

The app will allow you to search for places by alphabetical order, by category, or by location. You can prioritize the places you desire to visit by high, medium or low and quickly visualize your plan on the map. The app will also pinpoint your location on the map while using the GPS enabled iPhone. After all, it’s always nice to see visually where you are within the park compared to the place where you want to go. To be honest, I think this app will be a life saver for many reasons while we travel to Orlando and visit the Theme Parks. My only disappointment with it right now is the fact that it doesn’t display all the Theme Parks in Orlando (though it has more than just Disney). I would also like to have more places throughout Canada and the USA available with the app. For example, it would be nice to have the Toronto Zoo Map or Darien Lake.

The Disney World Maps & More from UPinPoint.com is available for purchase for the price of 1.99$ US at iTunes.

Staples and Technology (GIVEAWAY)

I was recently approached with an opportunity to do a post on technology for Staples.   I was delighted and agreed to the offer they made.   In exchange of a generous gift card to the store, I would write a post on technology and also offer a giveaway to my readers.   Before I proceed to let you know about the giveaway, I want to tell you what I will be writing about.

Technology.  This word is well used in our home as we have a home business in IT.   My husband and I thought for quite some time what I could get with the gift card in order to write the post.  Our first thought was to take a Nexus tablet but part of us was hesitant as we were Apple owners with an iPhone, a couple of iPods and iPads.    Then my husband thought that it could be useful for him and the business to have a Microsoft tablet but realistically none of his clients approached him to designed a database for that device.   So our two first ideas were not the greatest ones.   Friends suggested a new printer – we didn’t need a new one.   What could we do…

The more the time went by while I waited for the gift card, the more one specific idea was coming to my mind.  I love my iPad but I really think it is bulky when I want to read before going to bed.   It was heavy and not quite easy to manipulate.  What if I decide to take the gift card, invest my special account money and sell my current iPad in order to purchase an iPad mini.    So I talked about the idea with my husband and he really liked it.   He had seen me trying to squeeze the iPad inside my purse and seen how heavy my purse had gotten when doing so.  He knew I wanted to read when in bed and that the first generation iPad – the one I own – was very heavy for my wrist.

So my next step was to let my contact know of our idea which was accepted.   Now it was just a matter of weeks before the official announcement of Apple about the new iPad mini came because after all it would be a little bit silly to purchase the current iPad mini when a new one is announced…   The announcement arrived on October 22nd, 2013 and the new iPad mini with Retina Display will be released in November which means – I have to wait a bit… Bummer!  But for the purpose of this review, I will be presenting the numerous differences between my current iPad (first generation) and the new one that I am planning to purchase when it comes out.

First of all, I really like the fact that the new iPad mini is thin and light which makes it very interesting for me when I want to slide it in my purse to carry it around. It weights literally less than a pound which is fabulous weight wise.  The size itself makes it more portable for me and easier to handle when waiting for an appointment or at the dance lesson of my daughter.  Right now, when I bring my first generation iPad, I usually hold it with both hands while reading because the weight hurts my wrist on one specific hand.   The smaller size will make it easier for me to handle with one hand if needed.  Below you can visualize the difference in sizes between my current iPad and the new iPad mini schedule to come out in November.

   

The new iPad mini is small to fit in one hand yet possess 35 percent more screen than a regular 7” tablet on the market.  The photo below show the difference of size between my current iPd (1st generation) and the dimensions of the iPad mini that will come out in November.

 

The second attractive feature for me concerning the new iPad mini is the 7.9 Retina display.  Apparently the photos will be more detailed and vibrant while the text will be crisp and clear.  The resolution of the screen is apparently higher than the one on an HDTV. 3.1 million pixels – four times the resolution of the previous iPad mini which is still in stores right now. 

Though the new iPad mini will have the new A7 chip, advanced wireless and the new iOS7, the thing that excites me the most on it is definitively the iSight camera with its 5 megapixel capability and the fact that I could take stunning pictures anywhere I am with the iPad mini.   Currently, the only device I have that has a camera is my iPod 4th generation and trust me when I saw the pictures are not that great.   I find them very grainy and not good quality.    The iSight camera  will offer 5Mp photos, autofocus, face detection, backside illumination, five-element lens, f/2.4 aperture, and much more.   Besides, I will be to do video recording as well with 1080p HD video recording, video stabilization, face detection and 3x video zoom.  I seriously think that this could replace my current digital camera.    Another fun thing that I will get with the new iPad mini is the Photo Booth – something that my husband has on his iPad 2 that is a ton of fun…   It’s easy to use and will bring laughter guaranteed in your household -  guarantee.  I will admit that I am a bit jealous of this fun app on my husband iPad but I am so looking forward in using it with my new iPad mini.

And I will get Siri as well!   I have seen how useful this app can be when I see my husband use Siri on his iPhone.   Quickly I will be able to find songs, files, apps and so on.   With the numerous apps that we have on iTunes, it would be a breeze to find what I will need in a fraction of the time I used to with my older iPad.

The new iPad mini will also come with numerous built-In apps and it will also be possible to download a bunch of free apps from Apple.

Build-in apps

Free apps from Apple

   If you are wondering what the price will be for the new iPad mini with Retina display, I need to precise that the Apple devices are a bit expensive.   Having currently an iPad 64 GB, I was thinking of replacing it with the same size as I use mine quite a bit.   So imagine my surprise and delight when I realized that the new iPad mini with Retina display will also be offered in 128 GB.  No way!   See that the difference of price between the 64 GB and the 128 GB is only 100$ I think that I will sell my iPod as well.  That way I can have everything that I need – music, movies, books, and apps on only one device.  No need to carry both when I can have a flexible iPad mini with all the things that I would like to have.   It was just plain perfect!   The iPad mini will be offered in space gray or silver with Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi + Cellular.  I don’t need the cellular part so I will stick to the Wi-Fi only device.

Finally, how can I not mention Christmas in this post?   Christmas is less that two months away and some people might be wondering what to give to their love ones.  If you are tight financially stop reading right now.  I do not encourage getting in debt for Christmas.  However, if you are financially stable (and not already in debt) and you want to purchase something special for your spouse (and child - though I think that it a bit expensive for a child…) the new iPad mini and it’s big brother the iPad Air will arrive in stores in November – just in time for Christmas.  The new iPad Air and iPad mini are now announced on the Staples website.  You can learn more about them there or on the Apple site.

GIVEAWAY!

Staples has agreed to give away a router of the winner’s choice (valued up to 100$) from the selection found on their website.  Once the winner is annonuced he/she will have to go to http://www.staples.ca/Routers/directory_Routers_20051_1_20001 in order to select the router he/she wants.

When you choose a router, you need to look for the items that meet the needs of your home.   What activities will you use the router for?  Will you stream HD movies to the TV?  Do you want to connect mobile devices throughout your house?    It’s important to identify your need before purchasing one.  

A router is a great addition in your household when you have multiples computers and/or devices that can use the internet.     We have one in our home and it’s amazing how easy it is to get on the our devices to download emails, check our friends facebook status, access the internet for a quick search while homeschool and print from your computer wherever you are located in the house.  For our homeschool, to be able to access the internet from the living room and the dining room where we do most of our lessons is a must.  But accessing the printer is also a big deal as often when my kids are done with some of the things I have given them, they will request more pages for their grammar and/or writing book (which is reproducible by the way) and I will access the file on my PC in order to print it on the laser printer in the basement.   

Click on the image below to access the giveaway page on facebook!  Good Luck Everyone!

To my readers:  I engage myself in posting a 2nd post showing the new iPad mini that I will purchase in November when it becomes available.   No specific dates are mentioned at the time of the posting of this post for Staples.  However, I am looking forward to share with you my experience with the new iPad mini with Retina display.

Disclaimer: Full disclosure, Staples provided me with a gift card to inspire me to share my experience, as well as the router for the giveaway. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. To see their full line of routers, visit Staples.ca

Florida Theme Parks app

As I mentioned a couple of post ago, my husband and I are slowly planning a possible trip to Florida in 2014.  If things continue to go as they are going right now, our dream to bring the kids to Florida will become a reality.

So during the winter season – since our RV is hibernating – I will try to write about planning a trip with kids, how to be organized, apps that could be useful and so on.  To be honest, I am very excited about this possibility and look forward to see if we can bring the kids to Disney and other theme parks.

  A week ago, I have downloaded the Florida Theme Parks app to check it out.   The app was presented as though it contained numerous theme parks maps.  However, on iTunes I quickly saw that it a note dated June 5^th, 2012 was mentioning that some maps were outdated and a new release would come out.    This note should be removed because if you check out the What’s New in Version 1.5 which was uploaded on June 25^th, 2012, you will see that all maps are updated and it support the iPad Retina Display.

Now having said that, what can we find in this app?   Many theme parks maps are included in this app – Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Epcot Center, Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios (MGM), Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, SeaWorld Orlando, The HolyLand Experience, Busch Gardens Tampa, and Weeki Wachee Springs.

Once the app was installed on the app, I was able to browse it.   Essentially, the app will offer you the maps of the above mentioned Theme Parks in Florida as an image.  That’s about sums it all.   No way of pinning what you have seen or select places you want to visit with the kids.

I must admit that I am a bit disappointed with this app.   I expected a bit more but on the other hand it’s always nice to have the maps at the tip of your fingers if you need them.   Besides the app is absolutely FREE so you can’t complain much when you didn’t pay a penny for it right?

Anyhow, I find that having the maps in advance on my iPad is great because I can quickly determine if the theme park is work visiting or not.   Mind you most of the maps offered on this app are great for planning.  However, I dislike the advertisements showing at the top of the app when I use it.   Definitively not my piece of cake!

- See more at: http://blog.goodsamcamping.com/2013/10/florida-theme-parks-app/#sthash.8VYeBvUo.dpuf

A New Twist to Board Games

Board games is a fabulous way to occupy down times and rainy days. But we find that when you are traveling you need to think about what you pack in order to have place for all that you need. And with six people in the family it’s sometimes a tricky thing to do. Back in the day when I was younger and go camping with my parents, a board game or two would be brought as well as books to read. Fast Forward thirty-five years or so and you suddenly have a tablets that can contains numerous games and eBooks for your travels. Now please keep in mind that in this blog post I will not be talking about electronic games like Angry Birds, Cut the Rope or Fruit Ninja. No I am seriously talking about board games like the ones I used to grow up with – Monopoly, Scrabbles, Yahtzee, Trivial Pursuit, Risk, Battleship, Boggle as well as more recent ones like Pandemic and Wits & Wagers. For the purpose of this blog post, I am concentrating on board game apps that can be found on iTunes for the iPod/iPhone/iPad which is the devices we have at home.

Games we are more familiar with!

Monopoly

As per its real life board game, the Monopoly has more than one version on the tablets. You can play the regular Monopoly, the Monopoly Millionaire or the Monopoly Here & Now edition. You can also opted to go with Monopoly Hotels Moguls, Monopoly Slots or Monopoly Bingo is you prefer free versions.

Game of Life

 Game of Life is a great game to introduce children to the cost of living through the years. Though a bit silly this game is great for family time I find.

 

Boggle

One of the word games I played while growing up is also available for the iPhone/iPod/iPad. I remember shaking the plastic container of Boggle when I was younger. Now no need to pack up the box because it’s right there at the tips of our fingers…

 

Scrabble

Scrabble is very popular for lover of words. Unfortunately, at this point in time nobody wants to play with me. But it doesn’t matter anymore because I can play against the computer on an iPad version. Though my oldest son is somewhat interested now to play against me…

 

Trivial Pursuit

Not everyone like trivia questions. I know my husband dislike these but with this version for the iPad he doesn’t mind it. Trivial Pursuit is a game where you can test your knowledge and compete to win. Various in-app purchases can also be made to make the game more challenging: Encyclopedia Pack, TV Pack, Movies Pack, General Knowledge Pack, The Master Edition Pack, and Sports Pack.

 

Clue

Clue is another popular game from when I grew up. Though we didn’t have it when I was younger, I did get it when I was a bit older. Two versions of the game is available for the iPad - the original which has a cartoon look and Clue Secrets and Spies which allow you to stop the evil forces of C.L.U.E. (Criminal League for Ultimate Espionage) from sowing destruction across the globe. Clue Secrets & Spies is a different version of the well-known game. It offers a different twist to an older game that could bring some fun memories while you play with your family.

Battleship

Battleship is a popular game for fighting against an opponent. I still have the game I played with my parents while growing up and we even had an electronic game at some point. This new version of the popular game is perfect for two children to play against each other while traveling.

 

Risk

Risk… What can I say about this game? My husband introduced me to this game after I met him. It was (and still is) one of his favourite games while growing up with his brother. Nowadays, he plays non-stop with our four kids with this very strategic and conquest of the world. All my kids love it – even my five year old daughter who recently beat all the boys in the family!

Pictureka!

A newer game on the market that will help you become more aware of the little things around you. The object of the game is to find something as fast as you can before someone yell Pictureka! My kids enjoy playing this at home but we also have a version on the iPad which allows you to find things as fast as you can in order to go to the next level.

 

Yahtzee

Who have not played Yahtzee? This game was part of my childhood as well and I really enjoyed trying to get the best score while matching the dice to complete a specific challenge. The iPad version is similar and yet different at the same time. It’s very addictive and you have to compete against other characters in order to advance in the game.

 

UNO -Skip-Bo-Phase 10

Card games don’t take much space when you travel but why bothering with finding them at home when you can have them on your portable device. Or why not let the kids use the app instead of the real card while you are driving to your destination? That way you can be certain that you won’t lose cards during the trip! We are more familiar with UNO but I know that other families prefers Skip-Bo or Phase 10. I just wish that there was a version for Mile Bornes or Ratuki as well…

 

Wits & Wagers

We discovered Wits & Wagers about two years ago when I got a copy to review. At first my husband wasn’t thrilled to have a trivia game but this one comes with a twist. To play this game you don’t need to have all the answers to win. All you have to do is guess the answer of a trivia question, bet who answered the best and then win some chips. In the end, the person with the most chips win. I recently discovered that they have a version on the iPad which is fabulous when you want to have a quick fun game with the family.

 

Pandemic

Pandemic is a cooperative game that we recently reviewed. The challenge is simple – work together in order to keep four deadly diseases at bay and prevent a pandemic throughout the world. The game was highly recommended by a friend of ours who is passionate about gaming. And after trying it we think it is a fabulous game. Recently, the game was released for iPad and I think it is great that they have thought about this. It’s an amazing game to have and it will allows you to work together as a family in order to save humanity!

 

Games I have never played yet but heard great things about them!

Carcassonne

I’ve never played Carcassonne but I have seen how many kids and adults love playing it. Essentially, you have to build a medieval landscape, tile by tile, while claiming landmarks. The game apparently allows for many play styles and strategies. It is another social game for the whole family (and friends as well!).

Catan

Catan is another strategy game that I have heard off. Two expansions are available for purchase as well: Seafarers as well as Cities and Knights.

 

Ticket to Ride

I’ve heard of Ticket to Ride after Christmas last year when someone I know posted picture of her family playing it. My attention was picked and I checked it out. Essentially, you have to build a rail track between two cities. Various versions of the board games exist. For the iPad edition, you can purchase the original edition and from there purchase in-apps to ride the USA, Europe, Switzerland, or Asia. For the iPod edition, you can also purchase the Ticket to Ride Europe separately which also offers the Switzerland pack as an in-app purchase.

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In conclusion, these games are perfect to have on your portable device as you can play them anywhere you are. They are also great to have as they will help your kids (and yourself!) to develop some skills while playing them – strategy, rapidity, and so on – as well as encourage you to think about the consequences before making a move. On a regular basis, my kids play Risk with their dad and we are amazed on how strategically they think before placing their men in order to conquer the world. Such games on a portable device are also great to entertain the kids while driving long distances when you are traveling.

Our only problem is how excited the kids can become while playing and try to control their enthusiasm while we drive. As a homeschooling family, we also see some hidden advantages in these games. Yes they will allow our kids to develop strategy, critical thinking and rapidity as I mentioned before but without knowing they can be exposed to geography, quick observations, investigations, trivia questions of various sorts, life skills, and vocabulary.

How are you entertaining your family on long drives or during rainy days? Do you play board games while traveling or at camping? If so, please share your favourite board games (or app games) that you like to play. I would love to discover new games for our future trips! Note: If you are interested in purchasing the games for your Apple device, simply click on the icons of the games throughout this post.

Atari Arcade

Atari Arcade
From Discovery Bay Games

About the product

Atari Arcade - Duo Powered lets you relive the fast-action excitement of all your Atari favorites—such as Asteroids, Centipede, and Missile Command—on your iPad. With its joystick and buttons, Atari Arcade lets you experience arcade games exactly the way they were meant to be played.

My Thoughts

While our kids go to Awana on Thursday nights, we try to find things to do together.  Often, we will go visit my in-laws this year but other times we take the hour and a half to do some grocery shopping.  One Thursday night about a month ago, we were at Wal-Mart to get a few things as well as check out a few things.    Near the toy section, there was part of the aisle dedicated to games based on the iPad and my husband saw the Atari Arcade.   He immediately thought it was  super cool and jockingly said to me “You should try to review this…” 

The next day, I emailed the company to see if it could be possible to review it as well as the Duo Pinball.  They agreed and sent me both of them.    I was very excited about this opportunity and waiting patiently (as much as I could…) to get the package.   He never asked me if I emailed them or not.    And I want to keep this a surprise.  

The packaging of the box has been thought so that the device doesn’t move around it.    Check out the Atari Arcade and its design below.

What I particularly like is the there are two switches on the side of the device that will help you secure the iPad when it is inserted in the Atari Arcade.    The control as well as the button are easy to handle and perfect for little and big hands.  Once you have inserted your iPad in it, you are ready to play.

 

I had downloaded the Atari’s Greatest Hits before unpacking the game and immediately loaded the game to try it out. 

Ataris’s Greatest Hits is the game that you can download for free on iTunes.   Be aware though that it’s free for the first game and if you want to unlock all the other ones (99 of them to be exact), you will have to pay 9.99$.  These 99 games are part of the classics from Atari 2600 and arcade games that you might have played in your youth.   Games like Asteroids which I excelled back in the days.   When I met my husband more than 15 years ago, I discovered that he still had the original Atari platform with numerous games including Asteroids.   I told him I was pretty good at it but he didn’t really believe me.   However, he recognized my skills when we played one day together.  He was impressed…   So I can tell you one thing.  When I give him this Atari Arcade at Christmas, I will also include an iTunes card so we can purchase the 99 games to play and have fun.  

Through the Atari Arcade device for the iPad and the Atari’s Greatest Hits app, you will relive the Golden Age of Gaming with a collection of the most popular retro games from the 70s and 80s.   This extensive catalog pays homage to each of the originals, with controls designed to mimic what Atari fans remember from 30 years ago!   Literally!   I never really played Missile Command when we had an Atari at home when I was younger but the graphics on the game I tried with the Atari Arcade were just like the game I used to play.   The Atari Arcade is easy to use and will bring tons of fun in your family.   If you want your kids to experience classic gaming experience, this device and its app are fabulous for this.   My kids are used to play with the Wii and I am quite impressed to see how Nintendo has improved their games since I had one in my 20s.   But this fun little arcade which fits the iPad in is a gem in disguise as it will bring my husband and I on a trip through time.   I look forward to see his face when he unwraps it on Christmas morning.  This Atari Arcade will also help my kids to develop a keep sense of strategy based on old games.   It will also work as a trip in history when playing with old games.   I could even ask my oldest to write a report on how gaming has evolved since the 70s.    (Yes I am sneaky sometimes…)  

If you have experience the Atari games back in the 70s or 80s and you have enjoyed it, this Atari Arcade will bring back memories to you.   If you have a love one who still has his old Atari device in the basement but also plays with games on his iPad, this would be a great gift for him this Christmas.    Whether for Christmas or a birthday celebration, the Atari Arcade will make a great gift to someone passionate about the old ways of playing games.

The Atari Arcade is available at your favourite toy store near you.   It is also available through the Apple Store or on amazon.com.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Discovery Bay for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.