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LeapFrog® Tag Reading System (16 MB) by LeapFrog
List Price: $49.99Our Price: $44.99You Save: $5.00 (10%)Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Toy See more product details
Product SummaryManufacturer: LeapFrog Brand: LeapFrog Release Date: 2008-06-08 Model: 30704 Product features: - The amazing touch technology of the Tag Reading System encourages a child's love of reading as words talk, pictures sing and stories live out loud
- The Tag library includes over 20 books and games featuring characters from TV, movies and classic tales
- Tag storybooks and learning activities
- Children learn to read through an exciting and interactive experience in which they can also earn online rewards
- Parents can connect the Tag Reader to the online LeapFrog
- Help children build vocabulary and reading skills such as word recognition, reading comprehension and phonics skills
- Learning Path to see what their child is learning, and explore ways to expand their child's learning journey
Accessories:
Toys and Games Reviews of LeapFrog® Tag Reading System (16 MB)Customer Review: Little Brother Is Watching You Summary: 3 Stars
My little girl got a Tag for Christmas because we had a pretty good experience with our older kids using the previous generation - the ones where each book came with a cartridge. What a difference a few years make :)
The 'system' consists of the large pen-shaped Tag that, when loaded with the proper software from the LeapFrog Web site, has the ability to 'read' the books that LeapFrog makes available and sound words, read a page, provide sound cues for illustrations or even little parts of illustrations and challenge the kid to a game by asking questions in response to which the child has to point to specific graphic elements on the page. There is also an option for the Tag to tell the complete story in the book. The package includes the Tag, a USB wire, one small book preloaded on the TAG, software on a CD. Batteries (2 AA's) not included. Additional books or certain non-book Tag-compatible issues are available [...].
My girl enjoys using the Tag but she needs encouragement and supervision. In other words, she was not yet wow-ed by it to the point that she would ask for the opportunity to play Tag on her own. However, when we are playing, she is quite proud when she can sound the words correctly and then checks them with the Tag and finds that she was right.
Almost as important as the product itself is the LeapFrog Connect Web site. This is where, in exchange to exposing themselves to LeapFrog marketing, parents can download content to support newly purchased books into the Tag, get tips and read articles on child learning and keep track of the child's progress.
The following is my brief evaluation of the Tag (pluses mean 'I like' and minuses mean 'I don't like'):
+ Well designed, pen-like Tag makes learning fun.
+ The available books are interesting and not boring, they can keep a child playing.
+ Updating the Tag online with new book material is easy.
- The Tag's memory is only a few Megabytes and it is therefore limited to holding only 5 books at any given time (if you have more than 5 books, you will have to constantly delete and add books off your computer). This is not acceptable at a time were a Gigabyte of memory costs only a couple of dollars and one Gigabyte would probably be sufficient to hold dozens of books loaded in the Tag. This takes away one star because it's a major inconvenience that could have been easily avoided and almost no cost to LeapFrog.
- I have some very serious privacy concerns on LeapFrog's keeping track and keeping records of my child and, presumably, hundreds of thousands of children's learning habits. Apparently, every time a parent connects the Tag to download another book, the Tag reports back to LeapFrog on everything the child has done since the last report. The LeapFrog's site shows me exactly how much time my girl spent reading, playing games, the number of questions she answered correctly and so on. I have no idea who has access to this information or how it is used or how it may be used in the future. My email to LeapFrog sent 4 days ago, asking for clarifications on this matter went unanswered so far even though the site promises a reply within 48-72 hours. I will have to take at least one star away to account for what appears to LeapFrog's grabbing private information without clearly explaining how a parent could prevent the information being taken by LeapFrog if the parent so wished.
This is my unanswered email to LeapFrog and the reply I received:
Please clarify where the child's progress records are kept.
Are they saved on my computer or is LeapFrog maintaining a database of each child's progress (which would make the system more portable).
If LeapFrog keeps records of all child's activities, is there an option to stop that and keep such records private?
Your quick response if much appreciated.
Regards,
- AD
Response (Bill)
Your child's progress records are kept in LeapFrog databases, which are private and only accessible with your [...] user name and password.
The Learning Path is accessible from any browser with your login credentials. There is an option to 'opt out' of the Learning Path, but it will not allow you to keep your data privately. It just discards all the data. The only way to view progress/Learning Path data is with the data in the LeapFrog database.
Please note that I am rating the Tag 'high' for both 'fun' and educational value but the 2 shortcomings: inconvenience and apparent loss of privacy lower the 'overall' score significantly.
Description of LeapFrog® Tag Reading System (16 MB)Introducing Tag Reading System, the revolutionary touch reading system that brings reading to life like never before. Tag engages children to make reading a rich, fulfilling experience. Children simply touch the Tag Reader (which looks like an electronic pen) to the book's pages, and words talk, characters sing and stories fly off the pages. With a huge library of hardcover books and games including favorite TV, movie and classic tales, each Tag Book allows children to learn at their own pace, building their skills and their confidence. Plus, by connecting the Tag Reader to the online LeapFrog Learning Path, parents can see what their child is learning -- and even receive recommendations on what books their child could read next! Includes Tag Reader, plus the "Ozzie and Mack" Book; additional Tag Books sold separately. Tag Reader requires two "AAA" batteries, not included. A unique touch and talk device that brings stories to life, the Tag Reading System works with a library of books and games from LeapFrog. Funny voice-overs and cool sound effects add to the fun of discovery, helping ensure that children four to eight love the way this interactive, educational system boosts their confidence and their reading level. 
The tag reader is designed to fit comfortably in small hands. View larger. | 
LeapFrog books include fun, educational activities. View larger. |  | What We Think Fun Factor: 
Durability:  (what this means)
The Good: Educational tool brings stories to life
The Bad: Supply of compatible books and games is not endless
In a Nutshell: The Tag reader is a fun way to keep kids interested in learning | At a Glance Ages: 4 to 8 Requires: 2 AAA batteries; setup uses a computer and the Internet |  | | Let's Play Tag! With a wide grip that's perfect for little hands, the Tag reader adds a unique element to story time. The included book, Ozzie and Mack, features the rhyming adventures of Ozzie Otter and his playful animal friends. Text for this book is preloaded onto the Tag reader, so as soon as you load two AAA batteries (not included) into the reader, the story can begin. A little camera in the tip of the reader identifies words and symbols on the specially printed pages, giving kids lots of options. They can pick between starting a story at the beginning and having it read all the way through, playing a page at a time, or reading themselves and using the Tag reader to hear single, tricky words spoken aloud. This last option inspires kids to try reading books they might otherwise avoid, since the Tag reader is always there to help them out. Young readers are sure to enjoy the way character voices add drama to their favorite stories, the way touching certain pictures inspires quirky sound effects, and the leveled activities included in LeapFrog books. Explore the World of Reading LeapFrog presents a library of books that are compatible with the Tag reader. Classics like The Little Engine That Could come to life, and kids' favorite characters, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Kung Fu Panda, help them connect with new stories. LeapFrog has even teamed with National Geographic Kids to present activity cards featuring different animals that the Tag reader brings to life. To use additional books and games, you'll need to install the LeapFrog connect application on your computer. Once this is done, it becomes easy to download audio for the books you have and put them on your Tag reader. Use the included USB cable to connect the reader to your computer, and drag-and-drop up to five stories onto it. Watch Children Fall in Love With Books Young readers may be too busy following the escapades of their new friends to realize they are building phonics skills, expanding their vocabulary, and improving their reading comprehension. The Learning Path can help you keep up with their progress. This parent-centered section of the LeapFrog connect computer application allows you to download education information from the reader to your computer and track your child's progress. Use it to help customize your child's unique learning journey and celebrate educational milestones. Overall, this innovative touch system makes reading an enjoyable experience, and there's plenty of room for the system to grow with your child's skills. Watching as children learn new skills and thinking up new ways to be involved in the learning process keeps adults on their toes. While the reader seemed quite durable, the imaginative world of stories that it opens up is a gift that will long outlast the reader itself. Although headphones are not included, the Tag reader is compatible with most headphones, so kids can concentrate on reading without being distracted or disrupting others. What's in the Box Tag Reader, USB cable, LeapFrog Connect software CD, and the book Ozzie and Mack.
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