![]() Whenever an image appears on the screen, AlphaBaby plays a random sound from OS X’s default sound folders (/System/Library/Sounds, /Library/Sounds, or ~/Library/Sounds). (However, I found that once I used an iPhoto album, turning the feature off didn’t remove my photos from the “pool” of images.) You can also determine the ratio between how often AlphaBaby’s shapes and your own images appear, and you can have AlphaBaby assign each of your images its own key. However, you can instead use your own folder of images or even an iPhoto album via AlphaBaby’s preferences. When typing non-alphanumeric keys, AlphaBaby uses its own images by default-mostly simple geometric shapes. ![]() There’s also a Mode setting that lets you decide how AlphaBaby responds to key-presses: the slightly-misnamed Single Letter mode displays only a single item (letter or shape) at a time, dead-center on your screen Alphabet mode displays the letters of the alphabet and the numbers 0 through 9, one at a time and in order, regardless of which keys are pressed and Typing mode displays letters and numbers (non-alphanumeric keys function as a Space bar) in a fashion similar to a word processor-starting in the upper-left and continuing across the screen in lines. (The default is 30 you can also manually clear the screen at any time via a keyboard shortcut.) You can choose your preferred font and font size and whether to display capital letters or mixed caps. You can also determine how often-after how many items appear-the screen should be wiped clean. You can choose between a number of color palettes, including an Infant set that includes just black, white, and red. In my testing, the only keys AlphaBaby didn’t take over were Eject, Volume Up/Down, and Brightness Up/Down hopefully a future version can block these as an option (especially considering that kids love to play with shiny objects-like, say, a newly-ejected CD or DVD).ĪlphaBaby offers a number of useful options for customizing its onscreen display and actions, accessible by pressing Control+Option+Command+P to bring up the preferences dialog. (By default, pressing letters and numbers results in those letters and numbers appearing on screen pressing other keys or the mouse button results in random shapes.) Just as important, AlphaBaby locks the screen so that your baby or toddler can’t accidentally (or purposefully) exit AlphaBaby you have to press the keyboard shortcut Control+Option+Command+Q, or quickly type q-u-i-t, to quit. As your child presses keys on the keyboard, large, colorful letters and shapes appear on the screen, and sounds are played to go with them. ![]() When you launch AlphaBaby, it takes over your Mac’s screen and replaces it-Desktop, menu bar, Dock, and all-with a clean white background. This is where that beat-up keyboard in the basement comes in handy.) (Safe from a software standpoint, that is depending on your baby’s physical development, your keyboard may not fare so well. In short, AlphaBaby make it safe (for your files) and fun (for your baby) to bang away. It will be available in most music retailers in North America on Nevado Records.A fun solution to both concerns was recently suggested to me by an old friend and co-worker from theĮducational Technology Unit of UCLA’s GSE&IS: Laura Dickey’s AlphaBaby 1.51 ( payment requested). Yukon Blonde was formed by Innes, Scott, Jones, and Newton out of their love of nostalgic music and a need to make new sound in a screaming town.Īfter returning from a cross-Canada tour with Jon-Rae Fletcher, Yukon Blonde is settling down to record their debut full length album which is slated to be produced by Shawn Cole who helped Bend Sinister, YSP!WSD!, and Wintermitts. As AlphaBaby, (then a quintet) the band also released two EPs: “You Gentle Crustacean”, recorded by Colin Stewart of The Hive Creative Labs in Vancouver BC, and “AlphaBaby Live”, a homebrewed bootleg.Ī band that borrows from the best looking for influence in 60’s rock harmonies, thick yet simple hooks, and depression-era furniture upholstery, they have been compared to Supertramp, Fleetwood Mac, Crosby/Stills/Nash, and America. Going under the name AlphaBaby from early 2005 until late 2008, the band has conquered their fair city and toured through Canada extensively, playing some 300 shows whilst performing alongside bands such as Ladyhawk, The Constantines, Jon-Rae Fletcher, Magnolia Electric Co, Black Mountain, and Women. Yukon Blonde is Jeff Innes, Brandon Scott, Adam Newton, and Graham Jones – a band from the rolling hills of Kelowna, a city that enjoys, and is cursed by it’s own burgeoning scene.
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