Thursday, September 25, 2014

Kids Tablets battle for the top Holiday toy 2014

Every holiday toy companies battle for the most wanted toy of the year by children across the US and beyond. Although toys do sell well into billions of dollars all year long, the one that makes it in Santa’s bag (or whoever brings the goodies) it’s what matters most. Why? In marketing it is known ad product placement. Once you have it your friends will want one too. Most toys manufacturers know this but it seems that kid’s tablet makers have been missing the boat year after year, or perhaps just did not care. Why? Most if not all big names out there rely on the main selling point: Education for children! That sells. Unfortunately at the moment the phrase become boring and kids just like parents want more. Sure education is good but is there more? The battle has begun:

Leapfrog, Samsung, Irulu and other brands have extended their educational apps to hundreds upon hundreds of apps to the point that like Samsung have ran into the apps for teens  and for this they had to create a tablet just for teens. Let’s not forget that each app cost parents’ money and slowly the river become dry and a kids tablet never made the top wanted toy.

Reinventing the kids tablet. You have to offer more and make it appealing.

Leapfrog turned the marketing around towards durability. Offering the LeapPad in an enclosed hard plastic case promoting the strength of the tablet worked. Others followed suit with kids tablet rubber cases. Slowly companies realized that improvements must be made and options to a kids tablet are endless. Wifi, parental controls, cameras, microphone, storage and processing speed became the ultimate battle for the top and it works. Leapfrog started using Zui for their internet browsing already filtered for kids. Samsung introduced the 10.1 inch screen, Irulu worked on the camera megapixels. Each offering something better than the next. For a kids tablet avid watcher this is quite exiting. Finally big companies are competing against each other to please their number one customers: kids.
The kids tablet derby! I would compare this runoff no better than the Kentucky Derby for kids tablets. They are neck in neck. LeapFrog LeapPad Ultra XFi (favorite) seems to be in the lead for the trophy running strong towards the top 10 kids toy of 2014. Kool, Samsung, Fuhu are not far behind and many more are closing in on the final stretch.  Some said that Leapfrog has it won and so it seemed until last week. Out of nowhere and unannounced here comes Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition. How and from where no one had a clue and its coming strong. Amazons advertising power is beyond reach to LeapFrog. They are neck in neck for the win. Who it will it be? Only Time will tell. It is fascinating to watch as a spectator.

Throughout all this competition to the top it has become the best year for a parent to explore the kids tablets world once again.

Katrin Hoffmann is an avid kid’s tablet reviewer at
Topkidstablet.com

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Best Kids Tablet protection with SquareTrade

Here at topkidstablet.com not only do we review the best kids tablets, we also at times, by accident brake them. We bought our first warranty with Square Trade 8 months ago when we purchased an LeapPad Ultra Kids tablet. Since then we have purchased several other warranties including two for our other kids tablets. We were taking packages out of the car from Black Friday and I dropped it. The screen shattered across the whole screen. I called Square Trade and told them my issue. I had looked for my receipt because I forgot to upload it to the website. No luck with finding it. The customer service rep said no problem, that I could use the one line entry from my bank statement from 8 months ago. He processed the claim, emailed a package label, I packaged the nook and dropped it off, and the full purchase price from 18 months ago was deposited into my Paypal account within 24 hours! No hassles, no interrogation, no fighting over not having the original receipt- just quick, friendly, efficient service! I will never buy another warranty from anyone else! This is the second time we have had to use the warranty service. The first time was just the same. I tell all my friends about Square Trade and EVEN people in the store getting ready to buy one from the “big box” boys. Make the right decision and go with Square Trade!
Let’s face it—warranties have gotten a bad name. But SquareTrade is changing that. With low prices, award-winning customer service, and thousands of 5-star reviews, SquareTrade delights Amazon customers time after time.
foursquare topkidstablet protection

Leapfrog LeapPad Ultra Resetting to Factory Settings (all models)

I have just realized that although we here at topkidstablet.com do a lot of kids tablet reviews, i have been caught off guard by a question received form a consumer. How do I reset a LeapPad Ultra to factory settings, shall I decide  to return the unit to the store or want to change owners?
In most electronics there is a pin hole where you can insert a thin object (A pin) in order to do a hard reset or factory reset. However on the LeapPad Ultra models this pin hole does not exist, therefore the below steps are necessary:
1.) If you already have an account with LeapFrog Connect, then connect your device to the computer (with the USB cord provided) and open the LeapFrog Connect software. If you do not have this available it can be downloaded here   Once connected to LeapFrog Connect click on your item in the middle of the screen (see below pic)!
LeapPad Ultra Factory Reset Step 1


2.) Once connected to LeapFrog Connect Account, click on the bottom left tab: On This Tablet
LeapPad Ultra Factory Reset Step

3.) Once in the: On this LeapPad page, click on the Settings Tab on the top right corner of the page
LeapPad Ultra Factory Reset Step 3

4.) By choosing the Settings Tab a new window will appear (see below pic)  choose:  Reset
LeapPad Ultra Factory Reset Step 4




5.) A warning window will appear to ensure that you do want the Reset option. Click on Reset to continue
LeapPad Ultra Factory Reset Step 5

6.) Once you click Reset, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN!! GO AWAY AND LEAVE IT ALONE!! GO PLAY OUTSIDE!!! It does take a few moments for the process to start. It can take up to 45 minutes to Reset. 
LeapPad Ultra Factory Reset Step 6

7.) Once Completed a Warning window will appear to let you know that no player is set up. This is ok!! Unplug the device and the Reset process has been Completed. 
LeapPad Ultra Factory Reset Step 7




Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition Release date October 2014

Big news from Amazon towards kids and parents alike. Seeing the attachment parents have had to their Kindle Fire HD, Amazon has moved a big step forward towards the kids. There are two new additions coming out October 2014. The much anticipated Fire HD Kids Edition 6 and 7-inch screens.  Prices 6inch $149 and 7-inch $189. The price is about $50 more than the standard HD Edition but for the price some great bonuses come included. For instance the subscription to Amazon Free Time Unlimited for a year is included. Furthermore more than 5000 games and books directly filtered for children is also available.
The software for the HD Kids Edition also has improved according to Amazon in their Fire OS 4.0. This has to be tested by kids and parents alike for a honest review.
The best we found about Amazon Kids Edition tablet? No advertising on apps or the system. Great thing from Amazon to keep it clean
The not so great? Bulky. Seems kind of big and heavy, however Amazon claims that is much lighter than the IPad mini.
Available to ship out in October. Available to order Now at topkidstablet.com
topkidstablet.com

Vtech partners with Boca Toca ! New Apps for Kids Tablets Available

In an exciting news from Vtech it has been announced their partnership with Boca Toca for their first Android supported kids tablet Innnotab MAX. Parents can now download a free app for their kids tablet after registering the InnoTab MAX on VTech’s Learning Lodge app store.
 Boca Toca is a well-known developer devoted to changing the role of play on digital platforms by creating fun, high-quality digital apps and toys that spark imagination and creativity, according to company spokesperson.
The apps available for the kids tablet will be Toca Lab and Toca Pet Doctor which lets kids care for, and help different sick or injured animals, including a dog a bird and more. Of course the apps can be purchased separately for $2.99
So what’s our verdict here at topkidstablet.com? Well it is a great news to know that Vtech is exploring new ideas and exiting for kids as well. Toca Lab is a well know developer with over 24 kids apps and 70 million downloads. We are sure that this is just the beginning of a wonderful relationship. 
Visit our choices for the Best Kids Tablets Reviews at topkidstablet.com

topkidstablet.com