Heidi Part II – iOS App Review
We recently interviewed the developer of this app, Katrin Draemann Barothy of JustKidsApps, you can read that here. It explains the background to this incredible app, from the original thoughts, to the design and production and finally to sales and marketing. It offers a great insight into app development.
Following our interview we were so enthralled we couldn’t wait to begin our review. This is the second in the abridged series of Spyri’s classic novel Heidi by e-book developer JustKidsApps, the story moves from the Swiss Alps to Frankfurt where the heroine must stay with a wealthy family and as a companion to Klara, a 12-year-old wheel-chair bound girl, but becomes homesick.
Clear Text
Like the first book, the sequel adopts the same intriguing formula of clear on-screen text, interactive characters and useful narration option (in either English or German) to aid either young readers (from 4 or thereabouts) or those who are older but struggling.
Narration
Although the writing style used is accessible and appropriate for the age-group, use of the narration option will enable younger readers to get the most from the story.
That’s not just for the pronunciation of some of the character’s names but also for continuation of text that accompany’s each page of illustrations. If you’re unfamiliar with the layout you might overlook it but this is an e-book, so it’s nicely interactive.
Sound Effects
There are sound effects for readers to enjoy, from the ‘meowing’ of kittens through to door chimes, ‘tick-tocking’ of wall-clocks and, at times, even supplemental conversations. But these aren’t overdone and distract in anyway. And, you can take the narration at your pace, it stops after the two pages of text, and only resumes after you ‘turn the page’.
Conclusion
In all, there are 29 pages each with a high quality illustration while the special effects and narration have all been recorded professionally, but it seems a little unconventional to split the story into three parts. In any event, it doesn’t really detract and may even be used to a parent’s advantage, if a child is somewhat reluctant when it comes to reading stories. Part III and the last in series will be available in September 2011.
To conclude, this is a classic story, narrated, edited and illustrated in the most beautiful way. This book brings joy to whoever has the pleasure of owning it.
Both the iPhone and iPad versions of this app available at a discounted price of 99c and $1.99 respectively. These prices are set to increase after 30 June 2011 to $1.99 for the iPhone version and $3.99 for the iPad version.
Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
