App-tastic: This Rocks

I try not to fall for too many gimmicks when it comes to adding apps to my iPhone, but this one sent me hurtling in the way-back machine to a simpler time. Perhaps, the mid-1970s? It was a time when merchandising to kids was a much simpler, less insidious enterprise – but still deeply effective.

Magic Rocks. I wanted this product. And I wanted it bad. The box said it all: Grow a beautiful underwater garden in minutes!

If those words sound familiar to you, then I'm glad to know that I'm not the oldest human being alive. You probably also remember H.R. Pufnstuf, MAD Magazine and Sea Monkies (the original ones that read newspapers and had cute faces).

But Magic Rocks held such intrigue for me, their simple colored rocks transforming into beautiful towers of crystalized salts right before your eyes.

And now, two disparate worlds of modern technology and old-school chemistry have collided: I can now "grow" them with pixels rather than in a jar with a dandy iPhone app. Sure, the visceral experience is gone, but I can now add a clown fish and a scuba diver and annoy my friends on Facebook with updates and ratings of my spectacular rock gardens. I can even add my own photo as a background to my rocks. And my mom will be happy that there's not a gloopy mess on my bedroom dresser (oh, wait, just slipped back to that era again).

Isn't technology great?

App-tastic

I've been known to – uhm, jokingly – say that my iPhone is like a third child to me. So that makes my apps akin to those "I love yous" and syrupy hugs I get from other two (real) kids. The love flows freely from my human children, so I expect nothing less from my apps. Oh, sure, there's the occasional game or really useful application that's worth the 99 cents. But I figure that by limiting myself to downloading just the free apps that I probably cut down on the thousand or so distractions that could easily take time way from those "real" children I referenced earlier.

Thought I'd share a couple of fun and helpful free apps I've run across lately.

First off, find out where to dispose of old batteries and electronic equipment by downloading the iRecycle app from Earth911.com. You'll easily find recycling locations for everything anywhere in the U.S. I also found out that there was a free compost workshop on Feb. 20 in Burbank in the app's "Events" and learned that computers, batteries and televisions topped the list of most recycled materials in 2009 in the "Articles" section.

For the kiddos, bring books alive on your iPhone through Iceberg Kids' library of free digital books that include Curious George titles as well as The Pokey Puppy and the Mr. Men books (you can find titles to purchase for kids and adults, too). What makes this app cool is that it allows parents to record their own voices reading the books, creating a personalized element that is unique among kid-oriented apps. Here's the demo:


The Table of Contents makes navigating the books very "book-like," and it's easy enough for kids to flip through pages and follow along.

You just have to decide whether your young reader is responsible enough to take care of your "other" child. (I recommend keeping your iPhone in a very protective case and making them wash their hands first. But that's just me.)