The new Flickr app

Have you seen the updated Flickr app for iOS devices yet? It's lovely! The improvements make browsing through gorgeous photos easier and even more enjoyable on your iPhone or iPad! It reminds me of Instagram, where your contacts' new photos are displayed on the home screen. But unlike Instagram, you can quickly browse through a person's feed just by swiping right there on the home screen - no need to tap on your contact's name to get to his page. Also unlike Instagram, you can zoom in on the photos in the Flickr app! Very cool.

Check out the new Flickr app in the App Store - it's free! And come see my Flickr account here if you're interested!

Discovering Digital Domino

Domino, my favorite interior design magazine, folded up years ago. The few issues that I own have been reread many times over, to the point that I can almost memorize its contents. So imagine my delight when I found out recently that Domino launched a digital version! Woot!!!

 

I downloaded the free iPad app. It's lovely! The digital edition is a joy to read - it's interactive and intuitive. Some text is cleverly hidden away behind icons so you can appreciate the photos more. A quick touch reveals the information. The layout changes with your iPad orientation - the app doesn't simply resize the photos, it actually rearranges the way the images and text are laid out on the page! But it does so in a very subtle way, you almost won't notice. Very smart!

 

There are two special issues available for purchase - Quick Fixes and Best Rooms ($6.99 each). I bought Quick Fixes first, and I'm thinking of getting Best Rooms as a Christmas present for myself this month.

Reading through the digital Domino felt like bumping into an old friend you haven't seen in years. You sit down for a long chat to catch up, and you hit it off right where you left off. When you get to the end of the conversation, you feel bitin, and can't wait for next time.

 

Bedtime buddies

Bedtimes used to be easy. Right after dinner, Ally would nurse and would fall right to sleep. She'd be off to dreamland before 8pm. But that was before her first birthday.

Now that she's a toddler, I'm lucky if she's in bed by 9pm. These days it takes more than a few rounds of breastfeeding, silly games, and bedtime stories before she dozes off.

Thank God for beautifully created interactive iPad books. It makes bedtime a little bit easier for a tired mom. We love the Playtales app - the books in there feature gorgeous illustrations, charming animation, and beautiful narration. Here are our favorite bedtime stories from the app. I don't mind playing these back over and over.

I fell in love with the painterly illustrations in Sleeping Beauty. Very whimsical and pretty. The background music is soothing - we keep the app running long after Ally has fallen asleep because of the lullaby.

Moon Secrets is perfect for our little moon. It came free with the app, I was delighted when I discovered it! Like Sleeping Beauty, the music playing in the background will lull you to sleep. It sounds like twinkling lights, or the music of the moon and stars - if they ever made a sound. Reminds me of the music box I had as a child.

Here are the other titles in our Playtales library. We only have a few in this app. All our other animated books are from Disney, which are not in this library.

Next time, I'll share with you Ally's favorite lullabies on Youtube. Kids these days - very techie! Haha.

Time for bed. Goodnight!