Comparison

Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl) vs Samsa

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl)

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Digital Mysteries: Jenny’s Shadow is a unique app for 7-11 year olds which allows pairs to work simultaneously on one iPad with a task mapped to the National Curriculum of Science. *To see our other mysteries for ages 7-16, scroll down to Developer Apps* Users are given illustrated slips of information which they read, organise into groups and lay out across the screen. These are all about Jenny and her friends doing an experiment at school. Whilst they are measuring their shadows outside in the school grounds, Jenny loses hers, so pupils are invited to help her figure out why. This task could be used to develop and reinforce understanding of the everyday effects of light (that light travels from a source; that light cannot pass through some materials, and how this leads to the formation of shadows; that light is reflected from surfaces) as well as periodic changes (how the position of the Sun appears to change during the day, and how shadows change as this happens). It could also be useful to stimulate discussion relevant to the theme of scientific enquiry as pupils must use their scientific knowledge and understanding to explain Jenny and her friends’ observations. The task is designed to encourage true collaboration between the students throughout, as well as provide moments for reflection, so it could also be used to support development of group discussion and interaction, as well as generic thinking skills. Once students have finished the task, they can generate a printable PDF report which outlines the session; the students involved, their notes, groups and answer, as well as colourful screenshots of each stage. They can also go to a Reflection Stage in which they can playback the process and discuss it as a group, with their teacher or even as a class. Who is this app for? Digital Mysteries: Jenny’s Shadow works well with those aged 7-11 years old. There are 18 slips provided, and in them, there are scientific facts with playful illustrations, information on the experiment, red herrings and also some background information on the people and activities involved. What’s different about Digital Mysteries? • Truly collaborative: It is unique in that more than one student can interact with it at once • Record of learning: Students can interact and have fun with exciting technology, then generate a printable PDF report of their session which shows what they’ve done • Cross-curricular: Mysteries come in various topics plus many are cross-curricular in themselves • Cognitive opportunities: The multiple discussion points, combined with the task’s open-ended nature, leads to students developing higher-level thinking skills • Reflection: Sessions are automatically recorded so students can playback and discuss what they’ve done, emphasising the importance of the process as well as the outcome • Speaking and listening: Due to its collaborative nature, each session aligns to this learning goal, plus ‘group discussion and interaction’ • Engagement: Working in pairs adds to the fun experience of problem-solving • Research: We’ve done years of academic research on how to make the most of touch screens for learning in general, and collaboration specifically What does a mystery consist of? • Illustrated slips of information: Short snippets to help students with reading • Open question: To maximise the potential of collaboration, discussion and expression of ideas, the nature of the task is usually open ended • Extras: Most tasks come with personalised hints for those who need them, e.g. suggestions for organising ideas or simpler stage introductions • Description: This gives teachers the information they need to plan their session including the curriculum point each task links to, the advised age range and possible learning outcomes

About

Samsa

Features
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Dějiny Prahy jsou spjaté i s jejím německým obyvatelstvem a jeho kulturou. SAMSA tě zavede na místa, jež nesou stopu této „německé Prahy“ – jsou spojená s činností německy mluvících architektů, výtvarných umělců, literátů, hudebníků, spolků, škol a dalších institucí. U každého místa appka nabízí německý text se základním popisem, informacemi k jeho dějinám a roli v kulturním životě, a několik současných i historických fotografií. Výklad stojí na ověřených zdrojích, ale nezahltí tě. Objevuj s mobilem v ruce pozapomenutou součást dějin města! Aplikace vznikla v rámci společného projektu Shromáždění německých spolků v ČR a studentů i učitelů germanistiky na Filozofické fakultě Univerzity Karlovy. Počet hesel bude průběžně rozšiřován.

Screenshots

Samsa4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Samsa at Free against Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl)'s $1.99. Samsa also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl)'s advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 16 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Samsa is free to download; Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl) costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl) ships an update every 3 months, Samsa every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on December 21, 2025 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 2 level
Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl) versus Samsa: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJenny's Shadow (Science/Engl)Samsa
Price$1.99Free — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 16 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperModular Software LtdDactylGroup

In-app purchases

None

Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl)

No in-app purchases

None

Samsa

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl) free?
Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl) costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Samsa free?
Samsa is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl) or Samsa have ads?
Neither Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl) nor Samsa shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl) or Samsa?
Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl) ships an update every 3 months, and Samsa every 16 months. Most recently, Jenny's Shadow (Science/Engl) was updated on December 21, 2025 and Samsa on October 26, 2026.

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