I promise you...

 

 

I wasn't an a4cwsn 'follower' or 'supporter' during this time. However, I have gone back to the absolute very beginning of a4cwsn being on facebook, and read every single post a4cwsn ever made. Well, minus the deleted ones, of course! (Yep, it took a while to read, don't worry though my kids are well taken care of - yep, I have that post from the 50/50/50 room too!) This however did make for interesting reading.

I came across a lot of what can only be considered empty and broken promises that a4cwsn made. What's most surprising to me is that this was all just forgotten.  This surprises me because I know these parents aren't stupid. These are smart folks we're talking about. 

I know that most of the current supporters didn't see these happen (or for that matter, not happen), or many other "promises" made. 

His biggest and loudest supporters are now gone. (We're the 'hatters').  At one time, when he'd ask for a show of who was on the page and reading, he would get well over 150 likes, closer to 200. 

It always baffles me that he gets away with this. When I stop and think about it though, it makes sense. 

It's a wash, rinse, repeat cycle. 

He gains followers, he makes promises, then he breaks them, just doesn't follow through on them, or changes the rules completely for them.  Followers leave, new ones replace them. 

If someone dares asks where something is/or at, depending on his mood and how he reads it, you'll get one of two answers:

1. I'm only one man and one computer.
2. How dare you question me!!

There never really seems to be a straight answer though.  

It's so frustrating to sit back and watch this happen from the outside now. 

Knowing that parents will get their hopes up. Only for the realization to strike.. it was all a lie. 

I was seriously considering posting links on this blog post to other pages where you can find love and support. Links to other avenues to get an iPad for your child.  But, I'm not going to.  Not because they aren't fantastic resources. I'm not going to post them because I don't want A4CWSN going to them and spewing crap. (It's been done before). 

You know, it absolutely drives me nuts that he gets away with it too.  I will be the first to raise my hand and take ownership for any and all actions I've done. Have I been in contact with developers? You're sure as shit I have been.  Have I explained to them how to file a complaint? Damn straight I have! Have I read their emails and cried because of the harsh words he's spewed at them for no other reason than they didn't agree with him? Yep. Done that too. 

So I'll end with this. 

If you're looking for some wonderful communities to join, to get honest reviews (ya know, the type that are honest and sincere, even if they were paid for- this means the good, the bad and the ugly), please contact me. At these pages you'll have a chance to win codes for your iPads, or just some resources to search and learn more about how to get an iPad. Contact me.  I will point you in the right direction.  No one begs for you to donate, everything is transparent and fair. None of this, let me pick the prettiest profile picture. No million hoops to jump through, no give me all your personal details, no post your story. No bullshit. Just honest, sincere people who want to help other special needs parents. That's it. That's all. 

Bells & Whistles

Recently, A4cwsn has been tweeting and posting on facebook information about a give away for a "loaded (used) iPad1".

 

 

 

 

Of course, my very smart friends took to twitter and responded with proper information that even though the iPad is "loaded" with apps,

1. If there were ever any issues with the iPad, one of the first steps Apple recommends is to SYNC the iPad with your computer and the attached iTunes account. 
2. When apps become updated you need the account name and password to update the apps.
3. That yes, the iPad could come with the apps, but they would lose the apps if they wanted to sync their own iTunes accounts to the iPad. 

In order to retain all the apps that came preloaded on the iPad that a4cwsn is giving away, the new owner would need the login name and password to the a4cwsn's iTunes account to sync or update the apps and the iOS (if/when there is a new update) on the device.

 

 

 

 

 

(Pics that a4cwsn uploaded to showcase the apps that would be preloaded on the iPad)

Without being able to update the apps as the developers update them they basically become obsolete.  There are sometimes glitches, making it so that you cannot access the app, there is updated information you won't have access to, etc. 

Initially a4cwsn replied that of course, we're wrong. That you just simply need to use iCloud.

Which is all fine and dandy, but you still need login information to get into iCloud.

Since we took to twitter to discuss this, suddenly a4cwsn wants to offer up a "year of access" to his iTunes account. 

Which is great, don't get me wrong, but what happens when that year is done?  Suddenly you're in the same spot you were, where you won't be able to update the apps, or if you have any issues with the iPad you would still need to sync it to your own account, losing all of those wonderful apps a4cwsn originally preloaded onto the iPad.

What about when developers stop making apps that are compatible with the iPad1? The iPad3 is rumoured to be releasing very, very soon.
The apps started with the touch screen iPod. Some apps you cannot download onto older generation iPods.  Some apps you cannot use to their full potential on an iPad1 because of the difference between an iPad1 and an iPad2.

Hey, while we're talking about long term promises, what happened to that a4 member that was supposed to get assistance from a4cwsn for a year? 

 

 

There were a few posts for about three weeks to followup, and nothing since. Not a word of an update. I bet most of the active followers on a4cwsn right now, don't even have a clue who the person who "won" is. Or even knew that it happened. 

Or, how about those folks who were supposed to get apps for a year. Yes, a few got half of the year, but as far as I'm aware, there are still some who got nothing. 

(I have screen shots of all the promised dates they would get the apps, but this post is already getting pic heavy, if you need to see them, though, let me know and I'll edit and post them!) 

But hey, most of you weren't there to see all of that right, so it doesn't matter? It's all a lie too, right? 

Shhh.. it's a secret!

Shhh, don't tell anyone!

I'm in private groups! On facebook! And just about everyone else I know is too! OMGZ! OH NOZ!

Yes, there are several people who have come together in a "secret, private group" on facebook. (Actually, there are several groups! *gasp!*)
We came together because we all saw what was happening. We were fortunate, I guess you could say, enough to see all the venom that had been spewed, and all the deleted posts.
2+2 was adding up to 4.

We never formed any group until we had all been black listed and banned though, just for the record (And hey, a thanks for that, because I've been able to make some amazing friends thanks to this AND I found a love for blogging!!).  All those months that he claimed there was a group trying to bring a4cwsn down? I have no clue about any of that. Neither does anyone I chat with.

Yep, we compared notes so to speak, and still do, actually.
Really, though, the only way you know you've been lied to is to compare stories with someone who's talked to the same person about the same thing.

We will never stop trying to piece the puzzle together that is a4cwsn.

And yep, we have all spent countless hours on google after our kids have gone to bed, or are taking a nap.
Heck, some of us have spent countless hours on the phone too!

Really though, when you're curious about something important, you research it.
To us, it's important to highlight the half truths and misrepresentations that have taken place.  As we've said, we don't want people to be scammed, or hurt.  Of course, your opinion of this, is yours to make. It's your opinion.  I'm also not going to sit here all day and try to convince you.

I will promise you however, I will search all that I can, and I will share it with the investigator, and I will share here on this blog.

And yep, that conversation Gary James posted on my blog this morning, absolutely did take place.
The 50/50/50 tour ended at the end of November. We hadn't contacted any developers then.
We also never told developers not to follow through on commitments made.
We did not contact developers until long after he had posted (numerous times) that he had secured apps for the iPads.
We haven't exactly been quiet about contacting developers though have we??

And really, how many developers does a4cwsn follow on twitter? Lots, right? They can easily see the storm that's been going on for months in their twitter feed.

I do have to say, that seeing a private conversation that took place on facebook posted on my blog is a little strange.  It's kind of like going out for dinner with a group of friends, only to realize someone recorded your entire conversation and posted it all over the interwebz.

Do I really care? No.  He's been using the same lines from that conversation for months to try and intimidate us all on twitter.

So yes.  There are several secret, private groups on facebook.  And yes, they're secret so that they are not searchable on facebook.
So what?

I bet even a couple of you who are reading this blog, will go to some secret group somewhere and discuss this post. Oh Noz! How scandalous!

Dear App Developers- An Update

First I'd like to take this opportunity to send a huge 

THANK YOU!!!!!!

To the Developers who took time to contact me. 

Secondly, to the update piece.  I had a member of the 50/50/50 iPad group get in touch with me. She wishes to remain anon and I need to respect that. 

She sent me screen shots of all the apps & app codes.  Far too many for me to edit and include in one post. It would be overwhelmingly pic heavy. 

So, what I did was crop out the name of the apps, and put them all together in one picture.  I will include several of the edited pics from the group with the codes as well just to back up what I'm saying is true.  

Please note the sections that are blacked out are done so for privacy reasons. 

  

Linky-do for previous post. 

Mobile Education Store

I recently blogged about Kyle Tomson from the Mobile Education Store (here)

He's the Founder and President and a special needs parent himself.
Personally, we have his following apps :

Language Builder
Conversation Builder
Speech Journal
Sentence Builder

He also has created other wonderful applications, which you can find linked above.

Kyle has been a huge supporter of A4CWSN (along with a host of other fantastic developers) and Personally, I cannot WAIT to use all of his apps on our new to us iPad that will be coming.
This weekend I was able to quickly use and check out some of his apps on A's borrowed ipad (which I hooked her up with all of the above mentioned apps as well), and I just can't hardly wait to really give them a go and use them. Not just with Monkey#1, but all of our monnkeys.
Speech Journal, especially seems like it will be a great fit for our monkeys.
I will for sure also be getting all of the other apps that Mobile Education Store has to offer.

Have you used any of Mobile Education Store's apps? If so, which ones? What's your favourite app? Why?

WOW!

WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW!

And no, I'm not talking about World of Warcraft.. lol

Just simply amazed. And feel SO full of LOVE!

In a previous post, I invited you all for the App Party. Tonight at said App party, my family won an iPad for our boys. <3 This weekend, we have also been fortunate enough to borrow an iPad from A. It's amazing to me what my guys can do with it! <3 I'm still at a loss for words. Thank you A4CWSN!