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iPhone App Invented by 4th-Grade Whiz Kid

Plus, Check Out InventHelp's Top 5 Favorite Apps!

Remember what it was like to pass the days as a 9-year-old kid? We at InventHelp® fondly recall playing "tag" between episodes of cartoons and eating our PB&J sandwiches with the crusts cut off. Life was simple then! But, we weren't fluent in 6 languages and didn't learn how to use a computer at age two like whiz kid Ding Wen.

This 4th grade prodigy from Singapore is making headlines for his extraordinary free-time activity – writing applications for Apple's iPhone. His latest invention, Doodle Kids, has been downloaded a whopping 4,000 times from the iTunes store in just two weeks. The program lets novice artists draw on the iPhone's touch screen with their fingers, and once the "masterpiece" is complete, users just shake the iPhone to clear the screen. It's like a modern day version of one of our favorite childhood inventions, the Etch A Sketch®!

"I wrote the program for my younger sisters, who like to draw," Ding told MSNBC. You could argue that Ding's amazing design skills are a case of the apple not falling far from the tree – his father, Lim Thye Chean, is a chief technology officer at a technology firm and also writes iPhone applications.

Ding is already hard at work on his next invention, a science fiction game called "Invader Wars." Until Ding's new project is ready, here are a few of InventHelp's favorite iPhone apps to keep you busy in the meantime:

1. Pandora — This app is internet radio at its best. Is there an artist whose music you love and you're dying to find more music like it? Via a smartly designed rating system, Pandora can suggest other artists that you may like based on your preferences. And you can't beat the price tag: Free.
2. Shazam — Here's another great music application that's perfect for those of us who just can't "name that tune"! Have a melody stuck in your head that's driving you bonkers? Simply hum the tune into the iPhone, and the elusive jingle is identified within seconds. It's also useful when you hear a new song you love at the coffee shop but don't want to bug the barista.
3. Pedometer — Believe it or not, it's already February and some of us are actually sticking to our New Year's resolutions to get in shape! This application keeps track of distance covered while you're walking, jogging or running. Plus, it calculates how many calories you're burning. The interface is a helpful, interactive way to stick to your fitness goals.
4. a2z Convert — Not so great at figuring out what the temperature is when the thermometer is set to Celsius instead of Fahrenheit? This handy app converts 90+ units in 11 categories, including angle, distance, weight, energy and more.
5. UrbanSpoon — This app is featured in one of Apple's captivating iPhone commercials. Part restaurant finder and part slot machine, UrbanSpoon satisfies the most insatiable cravings for new restaurants in town.

These amazing apps are really just the tip of the iPhone iceberg. In the matter of seconds, your iPhone can become a remote control, a level or a compass. We at InventHelp appreciate that we live in such an exciting technical age. Be sure to check future newsletters or our InventHelp blog for the latest on apps, gadgets and gizmos!

Back to February 2009 Newsletter