“Wheels on the Bus” iPhone App Puts Kids in Driver’s Seat, Frees Parents
9:16 am, February 20th, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
“Wheels on the Bus” is an iPhone app in five languages, based on the nursery rhyme, with extras like instruments kids can play and a recording feature, hopefully providing hours of entertainment for kids and perhaps a bit of respite for parents.
My only reservation about the app, named “Staff Favorite” in iTunes and currently the number two paid education app, comes from the song itself, perhaps one of the most annoying kiddy tunes to ever hammer itself into the tired brains of parents. A friend of mine with a two-year-old daughter was so fed up with the ditty (the doors on the bus go open and shut, open and shut) that “Wheels on the Bus” became shorthand for “Mommy needs a few cocktails or something bad will happen.”
The “Wheels” app was created by three friends, all of them parents, with the intention of entertaining kids while saving “parents from meltdowns at grocery stores and restaurants.”
Reviews of the app give praise for the music and graphics — perhaps because the kids can play with it while parents are busy elsewhere.
Only time will tell if “wheels” will start driving parents crazy.
Available on iTunes, special offer $.99, regularly $2.99
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in News | Comment on this article
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TajMahalHotel, on February 20th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
[...] Speaking of musically crazed parents, I’m a little wary of the Wheels on the Bus iPhone app–though it’s received some good reviews and looks to be a well designed educational app, I don’t know that I could deal with that song over and over and over. This makes me wish iTunes had the ability to provide video clips of apps in addition to the sample photos. Anyhoo, it’s currently available at a sale price of 99¢ from its regular price of $2.99 (via Cult of Mac) [...]
Bites from the Apple: Cracks in the Mini Facade — What I Would Buy, on February 20th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
[...] Speaking of musically crazed parents, I’m a little wary of the Wheels on the Bus iPhone app–though it’s received some good reviews and looks to be a well designed educational app, I don’t know that I could deal with that song over and over and over. This makes me wish iTunes had the ability to provide video clips of apps in addition to the sample photos. Anyhoo, it’s currently available at a sale price of 99¢ from its regular price of $2.99 (via Cult of Mac) [...]
Bites from the Apple: Cracks in the Mini Facade | Appml, on February 21st, 2009 at 5:27 am
[...] of boring errands when their patience is at an end, I’ll whip out a little Wheels On The Bus [App Store link] or Pocket God. As any parent of young kids will tell you, one of the things they love to do is [...]
iWyre, on April 20th, 2009 at 11:19 am
[...] of boring errands when their patience is at an end, I’ll whip out a little Wheels On The Bus [App Store link] or Pocket God. As any parent of young kids will tell you, one of the things they love to do is [...]
Techeroid » Road Tested: Otterbox’s serious iPhone case, on April 20th, 2009 at 11:22 am
[...] a day of boring errands when their patience is at an end, I’ll whip out a little Wheels On The Bus [App Store link] or Pocket God. As any parent of young kids will tell you, one of the things they love to do is [...]
Apple User’s Blog » Road Tested: Otterbox’s serious iPhone case, on April 20th, 2009 at 12:04 pm