A host of new apps let you indulge your inner film director. They do for video what Instagram does for photos.

Shoot video, add cool transitions and effects, all on your mobile device. They also make it simple to share your masterpiece with friends on your social networks like facebook or twitter. It's as easy as the push of a button (or the tap of a screen). HLN digital lifestyles expert Mario Armstrong demonstrates two of these cool tools on his iPad.

For more information check out: socialcam.com or Animoto.com.

Filed under: Uncategorized

1. KHANAPP:
- about 150,000 videos are watched everyday by students to help them with a variety of subjects
- covers K-12 math, science topics such as biology, chemistry, and physics, and even reaches into the humanities with playlists on finance and history.
- every single problem can be broken down, step-by-step, with one click. If you need more help, you can always watch a related video.
- get badges as rewards, some students spend hour after hour watching physics videos to earn Khan Academy badges.

2. Brainpop:
- creates animated, curriculum-based content
- include movies, quizzes, experiments, timelines, activity pages for hundreds of topics
- content is aligned to academic standards

3. PBS's Word World – awesome word game for young kids
- targeted to 3-7-year-olds
- based off the highly successful PBS show Word World
- kids try to spell words and then squeeze them to reveal the shape of the word

A good site to find apps and resources is: eduTeacher.net

Posted by: Mario Armstrong - HLN Digital Lifestyle Expert
Filed under: Uncategorized

It's Good Friday and I hope you get some time with your family this weekend. What will you be doing?
Don't let my "Eastery" outfit scare ya this morning. It's a little... peachy.
Ready to get informed for the ride to work?

Did George Zimmerman use racial slurs moments before shooting Trayvon Martin? Check out the new interpretation of the 911 call.
You listen and decide.
--
Speaking of listening... there's new tape allegedly showing a former saints coordinator encouraging players to hurt the opposition. Do you get the feeling from the tape that it was overt or disguised as encouragement?
--
And still more "gotcha"-type tape emerging.
This time listen to employees joke about the overspending scandal, in the federal agency in charge of *saving* money.
--
Playoffs in college football? Yes please! Get in on this debate of whether the BCS should look more like March Madness.
--
The Masters is under way...the azaleas are blooming. Watch for info on whether Tiger Woods is flowering into a champion.
--
And then, see if there's someone like this in your family this holiday weekend:
Baby boomers are spoiling their grandkids like never before.
--
Okay gang! Let me know when ya pick up the deluxe version of my debut album (she's a sanger? Yes... and I'm not sure, but I think that's better than a singer!) at iTunes right now or in the candle aisle at Walmart. Two new songs have been added! One is a Beatles cover! One is about a killer bride! Produced by the fabulous Victoria Shaw.

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Extras • Uncategorized

Ready to rally this Wednesday morning?

Here's an empowering thought
You may not able to choose what happens to you, but you can choose how you react.
Hope that helps today

In the news today:

A Santorum surprise: he sweeps the south (how’s that for alliteration?) in one of the closest races of the primary season,
So after hearing from Mississippi and Alabama voters... is anyone dropping out of this race? Hear it from the candidates themselves
--
Then we ask the pointy-heads:
Are conservatives being heard or are Gingrich and Santorum splitting the vote thus giving Romney the eventual win?
Our Country Votes
--
New this morning: the Secretary of Defense is in Afghanistan for an unannounced visit
But will it do anything about concerns and anger over a rogue U.S. soldier who's accused of going on a killing spree
--
A devastating bus crash takes the lives of victims who are mostly children
--
Who ARE these people stealing laundry detergent? I'm not joking
And they apparently have an affinity for one brand
--
I'm already behind
How about you and your bracket choices for the NCAA after night one?

--
It’s the end of an era – say bye-bye to the print version of the Encyclopedia Britannica
--
Stocks go gangbusters, hitting levels not seen in years. (the Dow about 5 years, the NASDAQ not since 2000)
--
Oh, don't ya love this?
Record high temps across the country... today some places will be 20-25 degrees above average.
Bob's got the latest.

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Extras • Uncategorized

Fridays are so busy in my world! How about you?
In the news:
---
No relief at the pump this morning.
Tell us about the prices in your neck of the woods!
We will also look at what the President is saying about what we can do.
--–
The man accused of being 'the honeymoon killer' had his murder case thrown out of court.
That's even though prosecutors say he talked about life insurance.
so where does it leave the bride's family??

--–
Those new glow-in-the-dark Nike sneakers are out, as of this morning.
But you should see how police in riot gear had to break up one angry crowd!
---
Are you the kind who doesn’t like diet drinks. but you don’t want all the calories of the leaded stuff?
How about a mid-calorie fizz?
Apparently one of the big soda makers is jumpin' into that.
--
Big weekend – Academy Awards and the Daytona 500 On the red carpet: hear from the nominees about who they think they can take in the fight for an Oscar. Cute.
--
And the video you’ll be talking about all day -- a pharmacist uses pepper spray to scare away a would-be-robber - but it wasn’t people pepper spray.
It was BEAR pepper spray.

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Extras • Uncategorized

I’m watching two storms in the Lower 48 this morning, one in the East and One in the West.

A storm centered over the Great lakes has a cold front extending towards the Gulf Coast with rain and storms popping up all around. LA/MS seems to be getting the strongest storms this morning, but it could edge into TN, AL later today. Pockets of rain are sliding north through the OH valley and into the NE as well. Cold air trapped at the surface in New England has the rain switching to sleet, freezing rain, and all snow in ME. 3-7” is possible in northern ME today.

Dense fog has the visibility down in Central TX, watching for delays in Dallas and Houston.

The West has a storm rolling in with snow and valley rain in WA, OR, and ID. Rain will nose S into the Bay Area too. Those are the bullet points, I’ll see ya out there.

It’ll be interesting to watch the Denver forecast over the next few days. The Pacific storm will round down the Four Corners and turn into a big snow maker for the Front Range and Denver metro. 6-12” of snow is possible Thursday night into Friday, after a high of 52 today. Again, the Denver weather is crazier than a Charlie Sheen Saturday Night. Mile High, baby!

Filed under: Bob Van Dillen • Uncategorized • Weather

You may have a New Year's resolution to get fit... but a lot of people throw in the towel after only a few workouts. Health expert Bob Green talked to Robin Meade about how to get motivated to Live Better Now.

Robin: I think a lot of us need a little bit of motivation to get started on an exercise routine and then to keep on our exercise routine. How can we keep motivated?

Bob: It comes from you. What do you want? You have to, daily, remind yourself what is it in life that you want. And tie that intimately to your behavior. The first thing is really understanding how important your well-being is.

Robin: Can a motivating factor be something that's more tangible other than the 'greater good' of me?

Bob: Everybody needs their reunion they want to look good for, a wedding they want to look good for, we need those. The truth is, I never worked with anyone that made long-term changes that didn't have that revelation of what's more important than my well-being?

Robin: What if your motivation is as simple as, you're just bored? You are exercising and just bored with your routine? You should be changing it up how many months?

Bob: Even if you're not bored with your routine, I like changing something every five or six months. If you're used to walking on a graded treadmill, use an elliptical. Switch it around, throw in some kickboxing or some other type of class you like. That does two things: it gets your body in better shape because you train more muscles and stems that boredom.

For more advice, check out Bob Greene's new book, "20 Years Younger."

And click HERE to see all the ways you can Live Better Now.

Filed under: Bob Greene • Live Better Now • Uncategorized

Morning... cool last-minute gift idea for the organized person in your life who lives by lists: The boogie board.
It’s a $40 LCD screen scribble pad. Saves a few trees. I got it for someone on my list who lists what outfits to wear for each day on a vacation. No joke!
--
On the show this morning:
*Wal-Mart is taking some infant formula off its shelves after a baby died. Nobody is saying there’s a direct link, but tune in for more on what "Enfamil" is being tested for.
Here's what you need to know now: The lot number of the formula is: ZP1K7G.
If you still have questions, call Enfamil directly at 1-800-BABY-123 (800-222-9123).
--
Hear from the dude who had to help a mom give birth in the back seat of a pickup truck in the middle of a snowstorm.
(Better yet, let's hear from the mom!)
-–
*France is *paying* for tens of thousands of women to have their breast implants *removed.* It’s because of a cancer risk with a certain type of implant.
We ask if they were used in the U.S.
--
*This is such a waste!
A guy won a $350,000 Lamborghini… and promptly crashed it!
Everyone is okay, but geeeez.
--
If you haven't sent your Christmas gifts, get a move on! You'll see what "busy" means to one of the big shipping companies on its busiest day of the year!
-–
They're pulling a Cover Girl ad featuring Taylor Swift, all under the umbrella of "truth in advertising".
Check out what pointy heads felt was misleading.
--
How do you feel about the payroll tax cut fight in Washington? Sound off on our facebook page, send us an email, or tweet me directly: @RobinMeade
--
Talk with you soon.

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Extras • Uncategorized

How are you doing today? I hope great!

On the show today:
A 9th accuser has come forward to make allegations against former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
This boy says he was 12 when the abuse happened.. and it’s linked to Sandusky’s charity. Every angle on this story online: HLNtv.com/PennState
--
A big rain storm is cooking in the South. And as it moves, Bob says it’s going to turn to snow!!
Blechh
Tune in as we examine the storm’s path to see if it’s coming over your back yard.
-
Wow, was this elaborate!
Check out the big surprise for the family of one military member… and all the planning that went into it.
For more military homecomings and salutes click over to HLNtv.com/SaluteToTroops
--
Here's a 4-letter word you don’t mind saying:
FREE!!!… as in shipping.
And it’s apparently part of the deals in your holiday shopping.
-–
An airline wasn’t playing games – but Alec Baldwin was.
And that's allegedly what got him booted from his flight.
Get both sides of the story right here.
-–
It’s the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.
You’ll see how survivors are remembering the day and those lost.
It’s hard to imagine what our heroes from that generation went through.
---
Today, Blago learns his jail time for trying to sell President Obama’s old senate seat.
THIS should be interesting when he addresses the court.
-–
Lady Gaga at the White House. Did she find any little "monsters" there?
-–
It’s time to start the music to start the show. So see you then.

Today is the last day to vote for your Hero of the Year: CNNHeroes.com – no matter what your cause, you'll find a nominee you can get behind... military families, hunger, poverty, hygene, education... CNNHeroes.com.

Posted by: Anchor Robin Meade
Filed under: Uncategorized

Man, cruddy sleep last night. All makeup hands on deck to fix this sheet-marked face. Ha!
-–
New from overnight:

Police encircled the Occupy camp in LA outside city hall, and tensions mounted as they got ready to boot the protestors.
See the outcome there and in Philly, where similar Occupy evictions are underway.
-
How do YOU think the cities are handling the Occupy protestors?
Tweet me @robinmeade or go to HLNtv.com/robin to link to our Facebook or e-mail.
-–
Michael Jackson’s doctor has gotten the maximum sentence of 4 years after the judge seemed to throw the book at him.
But will Conrad Murray really serve his full sentence?
More on how SHORT his stay could be.

Side note: Did you SEE the judge give his tongue lashing to Murray? He left little doubt what he thought about the doc. If you missed it, we’ll show ya here.

Along those lines: What's your opinion of the sentence?
Tweet me @robinmeade or go to HLNtv.com/Robin to link to our Facebook or e-mail.
-
Herman Cain is reassessing his presidential run.
It could apparently hinge on whether the latest accusations (of a 13-year affair with an Atlanta woman) put a dent in his campaign contributions.
--
Shopping can be contagious… once you start.
---
A family gets lost searching for a Christmas tree (mind you, they weren’t at a lot – they were in a forest). Oh it must be a goodie of a 911 call.
--
Check out some of the neatest gadget gifts under $100. Got ‘em!

Filed under: Uncategorized