Product Review “VTech InnoTab 3S: The Wi-Fi Learning Tablet”

When I was a kid we never used to have cool gadgets like this. My two year old daughter already knows how to use a iPad fully. She can unlock it, swipe through the pages/apps and open/play her games. This is unbelievable that today’s kids has this knowledge. I used to pretend to be superheroes running around in my backyard, but as they say “Kids these days”. I feel old. Luckily, the VTech InnoTab 3S: The Wi-Fi Learning Tablet is not old…in fact it is brand new and really cool. This device is a tablet and also a learning tool for our kids. It comes with a kid-safe WIFI connection, built-in camera/video recorder, eReader, Games, MP3 Player and Art Studio. It comes stocked with 20 apps that are already installed and it also included an expandable memory up to 32GB (along with the 4 GB of internal memory storage).

The InnoTab 3S: The Wi-Fi Learning Tablet promotes learning and as a parent, I am behind that full force. Only with the 20 apps that come pre-installed you are able to download more than 350 educational games, e-books, music and videos. These are specially developed around each child’s unique stage of development, age and interests. Some of the subjects that are tackles with these apps are reading, math, social studies, science, creativity, problem solving and more. Kids don’t need to panic though, these apps are fun and don’t feel like you are being forced to learn and be taught anything.

I am a IT guy, so the specs of this device are pretty cool. There is an improved 180° 2.0 MP rotating camera with enhanced photo features similar to the Kidizoom camera. There is a Kid Connect communication app, which allows a secure communication between a child’s InnoTab and a parent’s smartphone. Kids are allowed to browse the web with a kid-safe internet browser with VTech pre-selected and parent-approved websites. The display is a solid 5″ color touch screen. All I know is that if I was a kid and they had “toys” like this my life would have been shaped much differently so as a parent, I think that this is really cool to be able to assist in the development growth of my child.

Along with the apps that come pre-installed and are downloadable, you can also purchase themed software packs in the stores. Two of the VTech InnoTab Software packs that we were able to test out are “Minnie’s Bow-Toons” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”. In “Minnie’s Bow-Toons”, it is an e-book that tells the story of the TV episode a “Trouble Times Two”. There are three learning games focusing around teaching numbers and counting, shape matching, colors, and patterns. In  “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse”, you are able to use the touch screen or the tilt-sensor to play three educational games. There is also a e-book that tells a story of Mickey and Donald playing hide-and-seek around the clubhouse. These games are great and filled with fun Disney characters, music and sounds.

DVD Review "Charles Band Presents: Death Comes in 3s – 9 Film Collection"

Actors: Gary Busey, Tim Thomerson, Trent Haaga, Logan Alexander, Debbie Rochon, Angeles Vargas, Jackie Beat, K-Von Moezzi, Robin Sydney, Selene Luna, Tracy Scoggins
Directors: Charles Band, Peter Manogian, Sylvia St. Croix, William Butler, Craig Ross, Tammi Sutton, John Lechago
Number of discs: 2
Rated: R / Not Rated
Studio: Echo Bridge Entertainment
DVD Release Date: March 5, 2013
Run Time: 671 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I don’t know what it is about Charles Band and his crazy movies at Full Moon but they always draw me in.  I have been a fan of these films since I was tall enough (and probably too young) to see them on the video store shelves. This collection comes with nine horror films from three different franchises: Demonic Toys, The Gingerdead Man and Killjoy series. I mean how can you say no to killer toys, cookies and demon clowns? It is really a no-brainer if you are a fan of cheesy yet fun horror films.

Includes the films “Demonic Toys”, “Demonic Toys 2”, “Dollman Vs. Demonic Toys”, “The Gingerdead Man”, “Gingerdead Man 2: Passion Of The Crust”, “Gingerdead Man 3: Saturday Night Cleaver”, “Killjoy”, “Killjoy 2: Deliverance From Evil” and “Killjoy 3”. The main concern I have with this release is that it is technically not complete. “Puppet Master vs Demonic Toys” was released in 2004 and is not included here but that is most likely due to the fact that Echo Bridge does not own rights. Also missing is the new “Killjoy Goes to Hell”, which was just released late last year. Nonetheless, it still contains some very fun films and is a real great collection for any fan of Full Moon and Charles Band’s madness.

DEMONIC TOYS: A botched bust on a pair of arms dealers inadvertently leads to the awakening of a demon with the power to bring toys to life as his personal minions. DEMONIC TOYS 2: When an oddball group of characters gather to inspect an ancient puppet, strange things begin to happen. DOLLMAN VS. DEMONIC TOYS: Officer Judith Gray seeks the help of miniature-sized cop, Brick Bardo, and his equally small girlfriend, Nurse Ginger, when she runs into trouble with the evil Toys.

THE GINGERDEAD MAN: When the ashes of a deranged killer make their way into a secret gingerbread cookie mix, a mini-murderer is born. THE GINGERDEAD MAN 2: THE PASSION OF THE CRUST: The deranged cookie murderer “The Gingerdead Man” crashes a movie studio and leaves behind a trail of bloody murder and hilarious mayhem. THE GINGERDEAD MAN 3: SATURDAY NIGHT CLEAVER: The Gingerdead Man travels back in time to a 1976 roller-boogie contest where he causes more chaos than ever before.

KILLJOY: When an outcast is bullied to death, a killer clown exacts revenge in his honor. His name is Killjoy and he thinks murder is a laughing matter. KILLJOY 2: On a wilderness rehabilitation trip, a group of at-risk youth find themselves in the home of a voodoo woman where Killjoy’s spirit is summoned. KILLJOY 3: A group of unsuspecting college students accidentally open the portal to Killjoy’s demon realm and get trapped in a strange funhouse world with the killer clown and his friends.

When it comes to the “Demonic Toys” series, I have always enjoyed each film equally. They are all micro-budgeted but I love the use of the puppets throughout.  The first is the best in the series but I do have a special place for “Dollman vs. Demonic Toys”, even though it is barely an hour and focuses a lot of flashbacks.  The “Dollman” series has always been one of my favorites and it is fun to see him go against these killer toys! “The Gingerdead Man” is something that cannot enough be described to anyone without being looked at funny.  For this series, the best film is the first – did I mention that Gary Busey stars in this?  The second and third are both fun but very silly and over-the-top but don’t forget we are talking about a killer gingerbread man. Lastly, the “Killjoy” is a lot of fun.  Who isn’t afraid of clowns…even just a little.  Killjoy is a great character.  The first one is also the best but the second and third are a whole lot of fun as well.

Echo Bridge packed all nine of these films onto to two DVDs, which is quite a lot and I feel that the films themselves do suffer a bit.  “Demonic Toys 2” is a pretty rough copy of the film, probably the worst of the bunch.  It has a lot of transfer issues throughout. Though that is kind of expected these are not high-def films and where shot very low-budget. Besides the nine films, there are no other special features included on this release but that is expected with a massive 9-film collection like this.  Is it worth the price of less than $15? You bet you ass! Don’t miss this release for sure!

 

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