March 1999 Volume 80 Number 3 "serving the protectors"
ITBits
By By Mike Horsfall  (mich@picknowl.com.au)

My Secret Journal

Don’t go looking in the shops for this new release - you won’t find it. But look for Dolly Secret Journal and you will, because that’s what it was named by the marketing gurus. Distributor Roadshow Interactive and Smarty Pants have joined forces with Dolly® Magazine to market the product as being “A Private, Personal Electronic Diary just for Girls!” What can’t be worked out is why only girls need to be organised. Dolly Secret Journal is equally suitable for boys and girls. It’s targeted at ages eight to 16, and includes:

• Personal Journals for dreams, schools issues, home and friends.
• An address book with personal profiles.
• A scrapbook to collect favourite pictures or photos.
• Horoscopes, biorhythms and compatibility tests.

The information can be encrypted for privacy - great for the nosy brother or sister. There are also other special features that allow the owner to personalise her diary and, of course, there is also password protection.

All features are easy to use and installation is a breeze on any Windows 95/98 PC with CD-ROM support. RRP for Dolly Secret Journal is $19.95. Four different users can use the journal on the same PC.

Early Reading Skills With Madeline and The Learning Company

Madeline Classroom Companion hits the mark for early learning skills. The newest addition to the best-selling Madeline range of education software for young girls is suited to the six-to-nine age group. Madeline 1st & 2nd Grade Reading helps children (including boys) develop reading skills through a comprehensive program designed by top educational consultants.

Sixteen activity areas include multiple skill levels that give children unlimited playing time. There are printable exercises and certificates designed to encourage creative writing and extend the fun and learning away from the computer.

Information in The Classroom Companion spans two CDs and is suited to Windows 95/98 and Macintosh systems. The Companion is available now at a respectable $49.95.