droolicious : didj

LeapFrog Sitewide Deals Extended But Going Fast

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Lisa tipped us off to the 25% sitewide sale at LeapFrog.com that was originally slated to end on Cyber Monday, but LeapFrog has kept the deal going on selected products while further slashing prices and shipping costs on others. The Leapster2 Learning System handheld pictured here, for instance, is now $10 its regular price of $69.99, and that's just the start.

Below, we've rounded up some other hot deals you'll find at LeapFrog.com today (which, incidentally, also happens to be Free Shipping Day). Midnight on Dec. 19 seems to be the ending date for most of these, so get to it!

Free shipping on all orders of $49.99 or more

Save 25% off Tag Reading System, Leapster2, Didj Custom Gaming System, and ClickStart My First Computer purchases, or snag a FLY Fusion Pentop Computer for just $29.99 (regularly $29.99)

Buy a Didj and a Crammer Study and Sound System together, and save $55 of the regular combined price of $155 (enter promo code HY8NDC)

Get a Tag Learn to Read Gift Pack (six talking books plus the Tag electronic pen reader) for $83 (regularly $119)

Save $72 on a Didj Hannah Montana Gift Pack (regularly $152) and $35 on a Star Wars-themed Leapster2 (regularly $104.98)

Just $39.99 (regularly $132.96 to $162.95) for the FLY Fusion Ultimate Homework, Writer's and Math Pro Gift Packs.

Babble Giveaway: Win a LeapFrog Didj + Hannah Montana Game! (Ends 12/1)

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:04:00 GMT

When we first got some hands-on time with Didj, LeapFrog's new learning-game system designed to knock that learning-averse DS Lite out of your kids' hands, we went gaga: Not only does Didj play like a typical high-quality handheld -- which is to say, it blows away the simplistic graphics and gameplay usually associated with learning games -- but it also packs enough character-based kid allure to keep little ones returning to it.

This week, in fact, LeapFrog announced the latest in its series of licensed games, a Hannah Montana title aimed at girls in 3rd through 5th grade, and we've got a copy of the game and a Didj to play it on ready to give away to one lucky Droolicious visitor!

To enter the contest, just email your name, address and daytime phone number to us at babblecontest@gmail.com. On Dec. 1, we'll draw one winner from the pool of entries to receive a brand-new Didj ($89.99 value) and Hannah Montana game ($29.99 value).

Here's the skinny on the game -- which helps to teach multiplication, division, vocabulary, and time management skills -- straight from LeapFrog:

Help Miley study so Hannah Montana can take the stage! Miley is scheduled to perform as Hannah Montana this weekend, but only if she passes her big test at school on Friday. With four days to go, can you help Miley make the grade? Use your skills to fly through quizzes and puzzles so the show can go on! Earn points as you play to customize the game with outfits, dance moves and special effects for Miley's concert, and choose the skills you need to study for school!

For the full specs on Didj and the LeapFrog Learning Path online tool exclusive to all three of the company's "LeapFrog Connected" systems, visit the LeapFrog shop.

Cram and Jam: LeapFrog's Crammer Study System Launches

Aaron Burgess — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Aimed at grades 3 through 8, LeapFrog's Crammer Study and Sound System rolls into stores today, and as with the equally impressive Didj we covered not too long ago, this one's as much a winner in design as it is in practice. Where the Didj sneaks curriculum-based learning into grade schoolers' hands through a vibrant, Nintendo DS-style shell, the Crammer is clearly designed for those kids' older siblings: The gadget looks like a cross between an iPod and a GPS device, and like the former, it also plays digital music files, making it the rare learning device kids won't be shy about showing off in the hallway at school.

Obviously, any music collection you load into the Crammer is meant to be secondary to the device's greater purpose, and given the storage space, we're only talking around 10 hours' worth of music, anyway. Navigating through a click screen, kids can access over 16,000 math, science, language-arts and social-studies questions, some examples of which the folks at LeapFrog were nice enough to provide for us (scroll to the bottom of this post if you're the impatient type). The Mac- and PC-compatible LeapFrog Connect Application, which comes bundled with the Crammer, also lets kids drill a little deeper into their test prep: Just upload content to the device via a USB cable to create your own digital flash cards for whatever subjects happen to be the current focus.

Like the Didj, the Crammer is also connected with the LeapFrog Learning Path, a free online tool that lets Mom and Dad track how kids' study habits are progressing. Data moves from the Crammer into your customized Learning Path every time the device is connected to your computer, and whether you choose to access the Learning Path through your Web browser (where you also get tips on learning enrichment) or through email progress reports, you can review what the kids are downloading and how they're using the data.

Available for $59.99 from the LeapFrog Store, the Crammer Study and Sound System also packs two games and a Spanish translator. You can customize the device with an accessory/skins kit ($12.99) and a soft case ($9.99), and if you haven't yet seen the frog/firefighter commercial that's been floating around, here's an extremely quick look at the Crammer in hand:

Last but not least, here's that sneak peek at the Crammer's questions we were promising -- check these out to see if you are indeed smarter than a 5th grader:

Grade 5 Science Questions:

1) What do creatures in the deep ocean use light for?
A) to lure in food
B) to see better
C) to signal danger
D) to read

2) Where is the Earth’s most carbon found?
A) In the atmosphere
B) In oceans
C) In fossil fuels
D) In plants

3) What is the name for the type of energy stored in chocolate?
A) Mechanical energy
B) Electrical energy
C) Chemical energy
D) Delicious energy

Answers:
1) A
2) B
3) C

Grade 5 Math Questions:

1) Find the next three numbers in the following pattern: 10, 11, 13, 16, 20...
A) 25, 31, 38
B) 24, 29, 35
C) 25, 30, 36
D) 25, 31, 40

2) A recipe calls for 2 pints of water, and you have a one-cup measure. How many cups do you need?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 8

3) In space, each point has 2 coordinates to describe its location.
A) True
B) False

Answers:
1) A
2) C
3) B – each has 3 coordinates

Grade 6-8 Math Questions:

1) Assume that 16% of the pretzels in a bag are broken. If a bag contains 177 pretzels, how many are broken?
A. 30
B. 11
C. 34
D. 36

2) What is the balance of the following bank account: $198 earns 15% interest for three years?
A) $290.27
B) $301.13
C) $305.45
D) $287.10

3) What is the area of a square field 50 yards on each side?
A) 50 yards
B) 100 yards
C) 6,250,000 yards
D) 2,500 yards

Answers:
1) A
2) B
3) D

7 Days of Educational Toys: LeapFrog Didj

Aaron Burgess — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:04:00 GMT

It's being promoted as an educational device rather than a Nintendo competitor, but one look at LeapFrog's new Didj Custom Gaming System makes it pretty clear this gadget is aiming to knock that DS Lite out of your grade-schooler's hands.

LeapFrog has traditionally been known for going lighter on graphics, but the Didj makes improvements both visually and educationally: Kids used to higher-end handheld gizmos will feel right at home with the system's high-resolution visuals, and the games' learning functions also aim to keep Mom and Dad in on the experience.

Though there's no wireless element, the Didj's computer connectivity (via an included USB cable) allows you to keep a short leash on how and what your kids are playing. You can choose the math and spelling skills you'd like the games to focus on, create custom spelling lists so Junior can practice for upcoming tests, and go online to track the kids' progress.

The LeapFrog Didj is $89.99, with accessories and games -- including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Indiana Jones, Nancy Drew and SpongeBob Squarepants -- starting at $23.99 each. Visit the LeapFrog store to stock up, and if you buy two or more games before Aug. 31, enter promo code FL8DJA at checkout to knock $10 off your order.