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New LEGO Building Instructions App Available!

by on January 3, 2020
in LEGO Games & Apps

Back in June of last year, we discussed some cool new features that were added to the LEGO Life app (see: LEGO Life App Instructions Plus & More!). Just to recap, the LEGO Life app is a very basic online community app for children ages 5+ to take part in challenges, watch videos, and share their creations, while their online safety and privacy is fully protected. Although the app is meant for kids, the new features added last year made it interesting to adults as well. The app’s QR code reader allows you to easily access the digital building instructions for recently released sets (alternatively, you can use the search feature to access building instructions for older sets without the special QR code). For sets released in 2019 and beyond, you could also access interactive building instructions with zoom, rotate, 3D view, and ghost view modes making it much easier to build complex sets. And some of the sets come with ideas for alternate projects.

To make these advanced features of the LEGO Life app accessible to teen and adult builders without having to navigate through the kiddie interface, LEGO recently released a new app called LEGO Building Instructions. With the LEGO Building Instructions app you can access Instructions Plus, including the 3D building experience for sets released in 2019 and beyond, PDF building instructions for sets 2015 and beyond, the search feature to explore LEGO sets, and the save feature to save sets to you LEGO account (when signed in with your LEGO ID).

The app is really easy to use with only four navigation buttons; search, access your collection, scan, and log in/out of your LEGO ID. You get started by scanning the QR code found on the front cover of the instruction booklet, or by searching for the set number, or by browsing through themes. Most of the sets will just have the standard PDF building instructions, but some of the sets also come with the Instructions Plus experience with 3D building, zooming, rotating, and enabling ghost view to see your progress as you build.

Although you don’t have to log into the app with your LEGO ID to use the features, I do recommend it, as this allows you to save your sets and access them across devices and apps. (If you already built up your set collection under the LEGO Life app, it will automatically sync with the LEGO Building Instructions app once you log in.) If you would like to learn more about the Instructions Plus experience, go to our review here: LEGO Life App Instructions Plus & More!

Some things to keep in mind when using the LEGO Building Instructions app. You will need a stable internet connection to use it (it’s needed for downloading instructions). The app is very new, so there may be some glitches. I didn’t have any major problems with it, besides that it sometimes restarts itself. The team behind the app is continuing to make improvements to the features. They are also adding more sets to the database. Please note that new sets are only available in the app after their official release date. So, if you bought a set a bit early at a retail store, you will not be able to access it through the app just yet. If you have any thoughts and recommendations for the app team, you can leave it under the review section of the download page.

If you are interested, you can download the free LEGO Life app via Google Play for Android devices, the App Store for Apple devices, and Amazon for Kindle tablets. At the time of this writing, the LEGO Building Instructions app is only available at Google Play for Android devices (just follow the link), but I’m sure it will be added to other devices soon.

When I was reviewing the new features of the LEGO Life app, I was thinking to myself that it would be so nice if these features were accessible to teen and adult builders without the LEGO Life interface. And here we are! So far I’m very happy with the app, except that I have noticed that many of the sets that are available with Instructions Plus in the LEGO Life app, are not yet available with the Instruction Plus advanced features in the LEGO Building Instructions app. However, as mentioned above, the team behind the app is still working on this. If you would like to see all the sets available with Instructions Plus, you can check them out on this page.

I mostly build new sets from paper building instructions, but I also appreciate digital building. It’s especially helpful when more than one person is working on different parts of the same set. And I like Instructions Plus with 3D building and other advanced features. They are helpful when building complex models. Anyway, if you’re interested check out the app and let me know what you think.

And you might also like to check out the following related post:

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January 2020 – New LEGO Sets & Promotions

by on January 1, 2020
in LEGO Sales & Deals

Happy New Year! Now that we are in 2020, there is a lot to talk about. First of all, LEGO just released a huge number of sets, including some really great ones, and there are also a couple of promotions we can take advantage of. So, let’s dive right in!

➡ FREE LEGO KEYCHAIN: January 1-12, you can get a free LEGO keychain with a blue or purple 2×4 brick with purchases of $35 ore more (or while supplies last). It’s not a particularly exciting freebie, but LEGO knows that with all the exciting new sets they don’t have to give us an incentive to shop. This offer is valid on all purchases at official LEGO stores and the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ FREE LEGO YEAR OF THE RAT: January 13-26 you can get a free exclusive #40355 LEGO Year of the Rat set with purchases of $80 or more (or while supplies last). This is a more interesting freebie with a brick-built rat to celebrate the Chinese New Year. This offer is valid on all purchases at official LEGO stores and the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ FREE LEGO STAR WARS SET: For the entire month of January, you can get a free exclusive #30624 LEGO Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi set with LEGO Star Wars purchases of $40 or more (or while supplies last). This promotion started last month to celebrate the 20th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars. This offer is valid on all LEGO Star Wars purchases at official LEGO stores and the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ FREE LEGO HIDDEN SIDE SET: Between January 24 and February 29, you can get a free exclusive #40408 LEGO Hidden Side Drag Racer with purchases of $45 or more (or while supplies last). This offer is valid on all purchases at official LEGO stores and the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO MODULAR BUILDING AVAILABLE: The latest in the LEGO Modular Buildings collection, the #10270 LEGO Creator Expert Bookshop is now available. This is a lovely set with a bookstore on one side and an apartment on the other side. The buildings are on two 16×32 baseplates, so you can put them next to each other on either side, or in between your other LEGO Modular Buildings. The price is $179.99. Available at the LEGO Creator Expert section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO ARCHITECTURE SETS AVAILABLE: We get two new LEGO Architecture sets this year, the #21051 LEGO Architecture Tokyo Skyline and the #21052 LEGO Architecture Dubai Skyline. Both are quite colorful with interesting designs. They are priced at $59.99 each. Available at the LEGO Architecture section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO BRICKHEADZ SETS AVAILABLE: We talked about the four new LEGO BrickHeadz sets a couple of days ago, so you can check out the review, if you like. They include the #40383 LEGO BrickHeadz Wedding Bride ($12.99) #40384 LEGO BrickHeadz Wedding Groom ($12.99), the #40436 LEGO BrickHeadz Lucky Cat ($9.99), and the #40379 LEGO BrickHeadz Valentine’s Bear ($9.99). They are available at the LEGO BrickHeadz section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO CREATOR 3-IN-1 SETS AVAILABLE: All of these sets come with instructions for three alternate models, so they are great for learning building techniques. The seven new sets are as follows: #31099 LEGO Creator Propeller Plane ($9.99), #31100 LEGO Creator Sports Car ($9.99), #31101 LEGO Creator Monster Truck ($14.99), #31102 LEGO Creator Fire Dragon ($19.99), #31103 LEGO Creator Rocket Truck ($19.99), #31104 LEGO Creator Monster Burger Truck ($49.99), #31105 LEGO Creator Townhouse Toy Store ($39.99). Available at the LEGO Creator section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO CITY SETS AVAILABLE: Twenty new LEGO City sets are available, from small $10 all the way to $100. Some of the highlights include the #60253 LEGO City Ice-Cream Truck ($19.99), the #60267 LEGO City Safari Off-Roader ($19.99), and the #60258 LEGO City Tuning Workshop ($99.99). And there is also the usual assortment of police and robbers sets. You can find them all at the LEGO City section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO DISNEY SETS AVAILABLE: We get nine new LEGO Disney sets, including the new LEGO Disney Storybook Adventures with super cute new micro-dolls! Here is the list: #43170 LEGO Disney Moana’s Ocean Adventure ($9.99), #43173 LEGO Disney Aurora’s Royal Carriage ($9.99), #43174 LEGO Disney Mulan’s Storybook Adventures ($19.99), #43175 LEGO Disney Anna and Elsa’s Storybook Adventures ($19.99), #43176 LEGO Disney Ariel’s Storybook Adventures ($19.99), #43177 LEGO Disney Belle’s Storybook Adventures ($19.99), #43178 LEGO Disney Cinderella’s Castle Celebration ($29.99), #43182 LEGO Disney Mulan’s Training Grounds ($29.99), and #43183 LEGO Disney Moana’s Island Home ($29.99). Visit the LEGO Disney section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO FRIENDS SETS AVAILABLE: We get fifteen new LEGO Friends sets, including the five new LEGO Friends Play Cubes we talked about yesterday. Here is the list of regular sets: #41389 LEGO Friends Ice Cream Cart ($9.99), #41390 LEGO Friends Andrea’s Car & Stage ($19.99), #41391 LEGO Friends Heartlake City Hair Salon ($19.99), #41392 LEGO Friends Nature Glamping ($29.99), #41393 LEGO Friends Baking Competition ($39.99), #41394 LEGO Friends Heartlake City Hospital ($49.99), #41395 LEGO Friends Friendship Bus ($69.99), #41396 LEGO Friends Puppy Playground ($9.99), #41397 LEGO Friends Juice Truck ($19.99), and #41431 LEGO Friends Heartlake City Brick Box ($39.99). The bakery set and the hospital are particularly interesting! You can find them at the LEGO Friends section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO HIDDEN SIDE SETS AVAILABLE: The second wave of LEGO Hidden Side collection includes six new sets. They work with the LEGO Hidden Side app for an augmented reality experience, or could be used for traditional building and play. #70427 LEGO Hidden Side Welcome to the Hidden Side ($19.99), #70428 LEGO Hidden Side Jack’s Beach Buggy ($19.99), #70429 LEGO Hidden Side El Fuego’s Stunt Plane ($29.99), #70430 LEGO Hidden Side Newbury Subway ($29.99), #70431 LEGO Hidden Side The Lighthouse of Darkness ($49.99), and #70432 LEGO Hidden Side Haunted Fairground ($49.99). They are available at the LEGO Hidden Side section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO MINECRAFT SETS AVAILABLE: We get six new LEGO Minecraft sets, including two bigfigs; the #21156 LEGO Minecraft BigFig Creeper and Ocelot ($14.99), and the #21157 LEGO Minecraft BigFig Pig with Baby Zombie ($14.99). Regular sets include the #21158 LEGO Minecraft The Panda Nursery ($19.99), #21159 LEGO Minecraft The Pillager Outpost ($29.99), #21160 LEGO Minecraft The Illager Raid ($59.99), and #21162 LEGO Minecraft The Taiga Adventure ($9.99). Available at the LEGO Minecraft section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO NINJAGO SETS AVAILABLE: The new assortment includes fourteen new sets, including three of the brand new Arcade Pods for Jay, Kai, and Lloyd. The regular sets included rehashes of previous sets, but there are also some interesting new concepts, like the #71707 LEGO Ninjago Kai’s Mech Jet ($19.99), the #71708 LEGO Ninjago Gamer’s Market ($29.99), the #71709 LEGO Ninjago Jay and Lloyd’s Velocity Racers ($29.99), #71713 LEGO Ninjago Empire Dragon ($29.99), the #71710 LEGO Ninjago Ninja Tuner Car ($39.99), the #71711 LEGO Ninjago Jay’s Cyber Dragon ($49.99), and the #71712 LEGO Ninjago Empire Temple of Madness ($79.99). Visit the LEGO Ninjago section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO TECHNIC SETS AVAILABLE: There are eight new LEGO Technic sets. Two are small starter sets, but still with fun functions: #42101 LEGO Technic Buggy ($12.99), #42102 LEGO Technic Mini CLAAS XERION ($12.99). Three are pull-back racers: #42103 LEGO Technic Dragster ($19.99), #42104 LEGO Technic Race Truck ($19.99), #42106 LEGO Technic Stunt Show Truck & Bike ($49.99). The #42105 LEGO Technic Catamaran ($49.99) can float, and the #42108 LEGO Technic Mobile Crane ($99.99) is a complex large construction machine. The only motorized set is the #42109 LEGO Technic App-Controlled Top Gear Rally Car ($129.99) with the new LEGO Technic Powered Up components. Find them all at the LEGO Technic section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO TROLLS SETS AVAILABLE: This is a brand new LEGO theme, featuring super colorful characters and scenes from the Trolls World Tour story. There are seven sets in the collection: #41250 LEGO Trolls Techno Reef Dance Party ($19.99), #41251 LEGO Trolls Poppy’s Pod ($19.99), #41252 LEGO Trolls Poppy’s Hot Air Balloon Adventure ($29.99), #41253 LEGO Trolls Lonesome Flats Raft Adventure ($29.99), #41254 LEGO Trolls Volcano Rock City Concert ($39.99), #41255 LEGO Trolls Pop Village Celebration ($49.99), and #41256 LEGO Trolls Rainbow Caterbus ($39.99). They are available at the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO SPEED CHAMPIONS SETS AVAILABLE: We already talked about the five new LEGO Speed Champions sets. These are the first sets with the new 8-stud-wide base, which allows two minifigs to sit side-by-side. They look super cool, and a lot more accurately proportioned than the previous 6-stud wide vehicles. The sets are as follows (I’m shortening some of the names as they are impossibly long): #76895 LEGO Speed Champions Ferrari F8 Tributo ($19.99), #76896 LEGO Speed Champions Nissan GT-R NISMO ($19.99), #76897 LEGO Speed Champions 1985 Audi Sports Quattro S1 ($19.99), #76898 LEGO Speed Champions Jaguar Racing Set ($29.99), and #76899 LEGO Speed Champions Lamborghini Racing Set ($49.99). Visit the LEGO Speed Champions section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO STAR WARS SETS AVAILABLE: Star Wars fans get eleven new sets, including those from the new Rise of Skywalker film. There are some really cool sets in this wave, including a couple of awesome microfighters, the #75267 LEGO Star Wars Mandalorian Battle Pack ($14.99), the #75266 LEGO Star Wars Sith Troopers Battle Pack ($14.99), the #75270 LEGO Star Wars Obi-Wan’s Hut ($29.99), the #75272 LEGO Star Wars Sith TIE Fighter ($79.99) and the #75273 LEGO Star Wars Poe Dameron’s X-wing Fighter ($89.99). The last two sets are particularly interesting. Visit the LEGO Star Wars section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO DC SUPER HEROES MINIFIGS AVAILABLE: Collectors and DC fans rejoice! This is the first time we get a DC-themed LEGO Collectible Minifig Series! Each mystery bag contains 1 of 16 different superhero or villain characters from the DC Universe, including Aquaman, Batman, Bat-Mite, BUMBLEBEE, Cyborg, The Flash, Green Lantern, Metamorpho, Mister Miracle, Sinestro, Wonder Woman, Superman, The Joker, Huntress, The Cheetah, and Stargirl. Available at the LEGO DC Super Heroes section of the Online LEGO Shop.

➡ 2020 LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES SETS AVAILABLE: For Marvel fans, there are nine new sets, mostly junior-ized mechs and vehicles for younger kids. The mechs for Ironman, Spider-Man, Thanos, and Venom might be worth checking out for mech-builders. They are available at the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes section of the Online LEGO Shop.

There are also some other interesting miscellaneous items that you may like. This includes some new LEGO Classic brick boxes, the #40382 LEGO Birthday Set ($12.99), the #40385 LEGO Trophy ($12.99), and the very first #11010 LEGO White Baseplate ($7.99)! They are available at the new items section of the Online LEGO Shop.

And that should cover all the new sets for 2020. As you can see, there are tons of great sets to choose from. If you plan to make a purchase online, I suggest that you also check the discounted sets as well, because LEGO is still clearing out older sets from their inventory. They are available at the Sales & Offers section of the Online LEGO Shop.

What do you think? Are you planning to get any of the early 2020 sets? Which one(s)? Feel free to share and discuss your favorites in the comment section below!

And you might also like to check out the following related posts:

➡ LEGO SHOP IN USA: Online LEGO Shop USA

➡ LEGO SHOP IN CANADA: Online LEGO Shop Canada

➡ LEGO SHOP IN UK: Online LEGO Shop UK

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