Kids (and of course parents) take note, there is a whole new tablet in the offing in the form of LeapPad 2, which promises to take things forward from its hugely successful first gen version, the LeapPad. The latest iteration marks an all round improvement over the LeapPad that was launched in 2011 and had gone on to what its makers claim as the number one tablet for kid’s entertainment and education.
The new improvements of the LeapPad 2 include a faster and better processor, 4 GB of on-board storage (which is twice that of the LeapPad), and a whole lot of fun and educational games, apps, and other content. Battery has been improved to allow for longer run times, while there is a recharger pack option as well to ensure kids all the time they want with the device.
“LeapPad was one of the hottest products for kids in 2011. We took everything kids and parents loved about LeapPad and took it to a whole new level with the new LeapPad2,” said Greg Ahearn, chief marketing officer at LeapFrog.
The tablet also includes new higher resolution front and back cameras and video recorders that should provide further impetus to the creative side of the young minds. The fun does not stop there, as the Cartoon Director creativity app that comes pre-loaded on the device allows kids to make their own movies with the images they have snapped. The built-in microphone will also allow the kids to record their own voice and include their own narrative in the video to add a personal touch to it.
Apart from the Cartoon Director, other apps that the LeapPad 2 comes pre-loaded with include Pet Pad, interactive Art Studio, LeapFrog Learning Songs, along with one more app from a collection of 4 popular apps that can be downloaded free from the LeapFrog App Center.
Similarly, among the popular games that the LeapPad 2 comes loaded with include Letter Factory, Disney’s Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Olivia, and CrayolaArt Adventure, all of which have been specifically designed for kids aged three to five.
No matter how advanced it is, a tablet will be of little use if there isn’t enough content available to go with the device. The new LeapPad 2 excels here as its makers have come up with enough content in the form of games, music, videos, e-books, and more to keep the kids busy with the device. All the content that is hosted at the LeapFrog App Center has also been certified by LeapPad’s own highly experienced team of experts to be perfectly safe and age appropriate.
Another prime activity included in the LeapPad 2’s content is ebook reading, and there are enough available to suit every taste and individual requirement. As per LeapPad parlance, the Ultra ebooks are interactive story books that are advanced enough to adjust automatically to the child’s own reading pace. There are three different levels that progress from the simple to more complex words and sentences as the children’s own reading abilities improve. A unique feature to look forward to is the “Learn to Read Collection of Ultra eBooks” that includes 300 keywords to help early readers in developing phonics and decoding skills, sight word recognition, and reading comprehension. What should be more appealing to the kids is that classics from Fairy Tales to Adventure Stories are part of the new series.
The LeapPad 2 also boasts of nice music playback capabilities via its own music player. Coming this fall is a new MP3 Player that will enable students to download and manage their own music files.
“The incredible new features and breadth of content available on LeapPad2 offer kids more engaging experiences than ever before. Whether a game, video, music or eBook, parents trust LeapFrog will provide their children with compelling and age-appropriate educational entertainment on the powerful and kid-tough LeapPad2,” said Greg Ahearn.
The LeapPad 2 is available in green, pink, and a special Disney Princess bundle. Prices start at $99.99 for the base version, while the special LeapPad2 Disney Princess Bundle will cost $129.99. The tablet is deemed fit for kids aged 3 to 9 years.
[showhide type=’pressrelease’]LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. (NYSE:LF), the leader in educational entertainment, today announced LeapPad2™ is now available in green, pink and as a special Disney Princess bundle at retail and online. LeapPad2, the next generation of the #1 kid’s learning tablet, brings new features and an extensive library filled with the best learning and creative content.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090219/LFLOGO)
LeapPad2’s new front-and-back cameras and video recorders inspire kids to imagine and explore, while the faster LF 2000 processor ensures they get the most out of their tablet. LeapPad2 features a stylish, high-tech tablet design that is durable enough to withstand kid play. With double the on-board memory, kids can now keep more personal creations and downloads at their fingertips, up to 25,000 photos or 70 downloads. Parents will find more value with the longer battery life and a recharger pack option that allow more play time on the go. LeapPad2’s extensive library of hundreds of games, music, videos, eBooks and more are carefully designed and selected by LeapFrog’s highly experienced team of learning experts so parents can quickly and confidently find well-rounded learning solutions for their child.
In 2011, LeapFrog introduced LeapPad™, the #1 selling kid’s learning tablet that was recognized with more than 20 accolades including three prestigious awards from the Toy Industry Association: Educational Toy of the Year, Preschool Toy of the Year, and the ultimate recognition, Toy of the Year. The launch of the LeapPad2 set new records for LeapFrog by selling as many pre-sale units in just two days as the original LeapPad sold in its first week. Unveiled less than two months ago, LeapPad2 has already received high praise from parents, the media and industry experts.
“LeapPad was one of the hottest products for kids in 2011. We took everything kids and parents loved about LeapPad and took it to a whole new level with the new LeapPad2,” said Greg Ahearn, chief marketing officer at LeapFrog. “The incredible new features and breadth of content available on LeapPad2 offer kids more engaging experiences than ever before. Whether a game, video, music or eBook, parents trust LeapFrog will provide their children with compelling and age-appropriate educational entertainment on the powerful and kid-tough LeapPad2.”
LeapPad2 includes extensive free content: a music player with five LeapFrog Learning Songs, a new Cartoon Director creativity download, an Art Studio, the popular Pet Pad writing game and choice of an additional download from the LeapFrog App Center.
Kids Can Create and Star in Their Own Cartoons
LeapPad2 includes a new high-resolution front camera and video recorder, in addition to a higher-resolution back camera and video recorder. These new features encourage kids to explore their creativity by snapping photographs of themselves and their friends or creating their own videos. With LeapPad2’s exclusive Cartoon Director creativity download, young storytellers will create, direct and narrate their very own animated movies as they build their movie set and customize actors. They can even make themselves part of the action by taking a self-portrait with the front-facing camera and recording narrative with the built-in microphone.
Learn to Read with the New Ultra eBooks
Unique to LeapPad tablets, Ultra eBooks are interactive stories that engage kids with creative tales and reading games. Each Ultra eBook automatically adjusts the reading level to challenge kids at just the right pace. Each story is written at three different reading levels, progressing from simple to more complex words and sentences when kids are ready. This year, LeapFrog is introducing a new Learn to ReadCollection of Ultra eBooks that features the 300 keywords for early readers to help build phonics and decoding skills, sight word recognition and reading comprehension. This new series includes story classics from Fairy Tales to Adventure Stories.
Dance, Sing or Sit Back and Enjoy
The new music player on LeapPad2 enables kids to easily manage their LeapFrog App Center songs. Additionally available in the LeapFrog App Center this fall, LeapFrog will launch an MP3 Player that allows kids to import and manage their own MP3-formatted music on LeapPad2. Kids can also watch videos from leading entertainment brands on LeapPad2’s high-resolution screen. Whether enjoying popular Sesame Street favorites, learning a new language with Little Pim or embarking on adventures with their favorite Nickelodeon characters, LeapPad2 offers a wide selection of engaging videos curated by LeapFrog’s learning experts.
Explore a Fast-growing Content Library
The LeapPad2 content library features hundreds of fun, educational games, videos, music, eBooks and more available through the LeapFrog App Center, online and at retail locations. This robust library is a combination of LeapFrog’s top quality educational entertainment and engaging content from the biggest names in children’s entertainment. All music and video downloads have been individually selected and tested by LeapFrog’s highly experienced team of learning experts to ensure they are age-appropriate and safe for kids. LeapFrog’s own learning content is grounded in the latest research and draws on a comprehensive curriculum that covers more than 2,500 skills across 100 skill categories. With learning experiences that automatically adjust to each child’s level, kids can explore hundreds of skills at just the right pace for them.
LeapFrog notably has added a range of rich content to the library specifically designed for kids ages three to five. Because these younger preschoolers engage in ways that are significantly different than their older counterparts, LeapFrog has now developed content experiences to meet their specific interests and learning needs. For example, the new Letter Factory game, based on the award-winning LeapFrog DVD, and Disney’s Jake and the Neverland Pirates both feature shorter audio instructions and interactive “clickables” that make the gameplay easier while they build early learning skills. Other titles including Olivia and CrayolaArt Adventure round out the new three to five age offerings.
Availability
LeapPad2 is sold at MSRP $99.99 and is recommended for children 3 to 9 years. The LeapPad2 Disney Princess Bundle is sold at MSRP $129.99. Downloads are priced at MSRP $5.00 and up and game cartridges at MSRP $24.99. New accessories for LeapPad2 include a video display case (MSRP $19.99), fashion handbag (MSRP $19.99), car adapter (MSRP $14.99), gel skins (MSRP $9.99) and much more. An optional recharger pack is also available at MSRP $39.99. LeapPad2 is now available at leapfrog.com, online and at major retailers in the U.S., Canada, UK and Ireland, and in other select other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Korea, Thailand and other Asian countries later in the fall. The LeapFrog App Center can be accessed through the LeapFrog Connect Application for the LeapPad2 tablet. For more information on LeapPad2, visit http://www.leapfrog.com/leappad2/.
About LeapFrog
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. is the leader in educational entertainment for children. LeapFrog’s award-winning product portfolio helps millions of children achieve their potential by delivering best-in-class curriculum through engaging content, fun multimedia learning platforms and toys. The Learning Path, LeapFrog’s proprietary online destination for parents and extended family, provides personalized feedback on a child’s learning progress and offers recommendations to enhance each child’s learning experience. Through the power of play, LeapFrog’s products and curriculum help children of all ages prepare for school and life success. LeapFrog’s products are available in more than 45 countries and have been used by teachers in more than 100,000 U.S. classrooms. LeapFrog is based in Emeryville, California and was founded in 1995 by a father who revolutionized technology-based learning solutions to help his child learn how to read. Come see the learning at leapfrog.com. [/showhide]
With a keen interest in tech, I make it a point to keep myself updated on the latest developments in technology and gadgets. That includes smartphones or tablet devices but stretches to even AI and self-driven automobiles, the latter being my latest fad. Besides writing, I like watching videos, reading, listening to music, or experimenting with different recipes. The motion picture is another aspect that interests me a lot, and I'll likely make a film sometime in the future.
