Tech Review: Educational apps also entertain kids

Thanksgiving through New Year's typically sees families piling into the car or heading to the airport to visit friends and relatives. If you're looking for something to keep the kids occupied during long trips or holiday get-togethers, these apps can do double duty because they were developed with an eye toward entertainment and education.

Lego Juniors Create & Cruise

(iOS, Android; free)

The popular construction toys that have entertained kids for generations have built a popular new franchise on computers and mobile devices. Aimed at children 4-7, Lego Juniors Create & Cruise lets kids use their imaginations to build Lego cars and figures and then drive around and explore the Lego landscape. The free game has no in-app purchases or ads, a rarity among kids' apps.

Stack the States

(iOS, Android; $1.99)

This app, aimed at children 9-11, makes geography fun with five separate games featuring the 50 states. While kids are collecting and stacking states, they learn about state capitals, landmarks and where the states fit on a map of the United States. The $1.99 purchase price includes everything. There are no in-app purchases or ads.

PlayKids -- Videos and Games

(iOS, Android; free + subscription)

Kind of a Netflix for the 5 and younger crowd, the free app is a portal to a paid subscription service that offers unlimited downloads of educational games and TV shows. The developers say they choose interactive games that help "develop motor coordination and memory skills." Among the TV programs available are popular educational shows from PBS. A monthly subscription is $5. Once you download the games and shows, you don't need an Internet connection to play and watch.

Math Puppy

(iOS, Android; free)

Designed for kids 9-11, Math Puppy is a cute way to learn about arithmetic. The app has two games, each with several difficulty levels. Math Bingo lets kids fill up a bingo card as they correctly solve calculations. Math Challenge is a straightforward question-and-answer test that gives kids points for correct answers. The full version of Math Puppy (iOS, Android; $3.99) adds some features and removes the ads.

Tech bytes

Alert on PowerPoint files

If you routinely receive emailed PowerPoint files from co-workers or friends, make sure they come from a trustworthy source before you click on the attachment. Microsoft has issued a security advisory noting that hackers are sending emails with infected PowerPoint files that if opened could allow them to remotely control a computer. PowerPoint files can be recognized by their ".ppt" extension. -- PETER KING

Tough act to follow

Are important items on your Facebook news feed overwhelmed by uninteresting updates from casual friends? Facebook has added a feature that allows users to tune out news from "oversharers" who continually post about little Emma's third baby tooth or Uncle George's second colonoscopy. Facebook says the feature allows you to "see less from that person" on your news feed and makes it easier to unfollow and re-follow friends. -- PETER KING

Google updates flu tracker

Google is updating the software model it uses to estimate the spread of the flu to improve its accuracy. Google Flu Trends will now incorporate data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Google said. The flu model significantly overpredicted flu levels in the 2012-13 season. The service showed better results last year, Google said. -- Bloomberg News