While many parents are at least a little bit happy to have kids returning to school, a new school year also means new volunteer jobs for parents and volunteer coordination from the schools themselves. A new iPad app, Clipboard by VolunteerSpot, offers PTA members, coaches, fundraisers and class moms and dads a way to keep track of their obligations to their local schools.

The idea behind the app is to skip the sign-up sheets and mass emails in favour of directly accessing the necessary sign up information and then to let parents communicate efficiently with the right people to get the job done, be it planning a homecoming celebration or spending time as a classroom aide.

VolunteerSpot boasts that their coordination tools, which are primarily located on their website, ”boost administrative and management efficiencies by up to 85 percent and increase parent participation by 20 percent.” If you or your school use the service or the app, we’d love to know what you think in the comments.

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Clipboard by VolunteerSpot

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-08-06 :: Category: Productivity

Creators of Hitman, Roto-Moto, has launched a closed beta of their game, Heroes & Generals. The game is a massively multiplayer first-person shooter involving online fighting between the Axis and Allied forces in Europe.

The game involves both strategic elements and first-person shooter (FPS) elements. Each side sends reinforcements, tanks, and other support to battles going on in various cities. The FPS fights don’t necessarily have to be even, hence the need for support being sent to each side.

The game is actually a PC game but it will be offering a free companion app to the game called Heroes & Generals: Mobile Command. The app lets users access and view the campaign their playing in the PC version of the game. This includes viewing things like battlefields and supply lines on the map. It also allows players to chat with other players on their team when they aren’t even on the PC game – allowing constant communication to continue for a constant online war. A future update to the app will allow users to move and manage assault teams in the game and most other strategy elements (the non-FPS part).

To apply for a key to the closed beta, visit the Heroes & Generals website here.

If your love of the String Dance, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and NBA Mascots Who Should Never Dunk knows no bounds then you’ll be pleased to know that TBS has launched the brand new Team Coco app for the iPad. The app will feature full episodes of Conan, as well as bonus behind-the-scenes footage, video clips, and a full schedule of what guests will be appearing on upcoming episodes.

Perhaps the coolest feature of the Team Coco app is the inclusion of a sync feature which allows the app to function as a second screen for the show. While watching an episode fans can grab exclusive content and join the conversation surrounding the show in real-time. It’s the perfect companion for those who can’t get enough of the gangly redhead.

We’ll be interested to see what other late night shows consider a similar app, or if this remains largely the domain of Conan. Such an app likely wouldn’t work well for Leno or Letterman since they largely play to an older audience. Younger hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon have a limited app presence, but nothing quite the scale of Team Coco. In any case, kudos to Conan for being the first out of the gate with this.

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Conan O'Brien Presents: Team Coco

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-02-23 :: Category: Entertainment