This week we launched our first App along with the super developers over at iPhoneAppSolutions and author Niall MacMonagle. YAY! We took the Poetry Now 2011 english text book for the Leaving Certificate (for higher and ordinary level) published by Celtic Press and transformed it from a book into an App. These are available on the iStore. Students can now study on their iPhones or their iPads – so if you see a teenager on the bus running her finger up and down the iPhone screen – she could be on facebook BUT she might also be reading the critical commentary on I Felt a Funeral in my Brain by Emily Dickinson…

There are many cool features in this App – but the coolest must be the split screen facility on the iPad – here you can read the poem in the top part of the screen and check the glossary or read the critical commentary in the lower half. You can share notes with friends and click to Wikipedia – if you want to do some research on a poem or poet.

We all love books – but don’t worry this development does not herald the end of books, but it it will mean that children will no longer have to lug heavy school books around in massive rucksacks. I can see the headlines – “Graphic Design saves the health of a nation!” The higher level version has the added bonus of HOW TO GET AN A1 this gives you all the secrets to getting that A1 – this is also available as a separate App. So get clicking!