Woo Hoo! The LAST THING! Thing 23 - Evaluation
Based on the prompts, here are some of my thoughts about the process:
First, 23 Mobile Things Minnesota was not a "choice" in my particular case - I was participating in this project as a class assignment. One, this meant that I needed to work through the "things" faster than the actual deadline for the project. Two, I actually had an outlet beyond the blog to talk about this experience in a classroom setting. Would I participate in this type of project again? Sure - even on my own :).
The biggest thing that surprised me or became a constant reminder through this process is that NOT ALL DEVICES ARE CREATED EQUAL. I did my 23 things on Apple products, a 5th generation Touch and a iPhone 5. SEVERAL of the things in categories like education were iPad only apps. I couldn't even SEE them in my AppStore on either my phone or my Touch. While this may not be a barrier for most people doing the 23 things, I think it is important to remember that "just because it is an iOS app, doesn't mean it will work on all Apple products". I understand that the vision was probably that participants had access to an iPad...and I DID roll with it and did what I could with my non-iPad iOS experience. It was more a disappointment in not being able to try suggested apps rather than missing out on the 23 things.
I don't know if I had a favorite "new" app, but I am still ranting on the YALSA Teen Book Finder. Really. Someone needs to do an intervention in the IT/tech department at YALSA...
One sentence to describe my learning experience:
It was fun, challenging, eye-opening, and a great excuse to step beyond my normal mobile device habits!
All in all, it was a good experience for me. This was my first BLOG, my first experience with products beyond dedicated apps - for photos, video, audio - and for items like HootSuite. I didn't like everything I learned about but I WILL be using Road Ninja on a regular basis!!
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Thing 16
Thing 16 (the last Thing!!) - Audio
This was a hard Thing for me because I do not LIKE to listen to my own voice recorded. I know I am not the only one on the planet that feels this way...None the less, I chose Audioboo for Thing 16.
Things I liked - I liked the limit on the audio recording. One unique way I think this could be used is for practicing book talks. Book talks need to be SHORT AND ENGAGING. By using Audioboo, the app will help monitor the length of time spent talking about each book in the course of practicing a book talk.
I liked that you can share the audio you create with others. I also like that it can be used "in replacement" of video (book talks, book recommendations, etc) - there may be reasons why students won't, can't, choose not to do video.
What I didn't like - another log in.
I am doing this project as coursework for a class - one of the students mentioned last night how she was trying to REDUCE her digital footprint and how Heartbleed has added an extra layer of "UGH" to this project. I know you "could" sign in with your Twitter, but then I need to worry about Audioboo AND Twitter being secure.
I would probably use this app or something similar in a school library setting. I feel there are many applications for using small snippets of audio for notes, projects, book talks, etc. I am not sure how I would address the account situation...perhaps I would NOT use it if I was in a 1 to 1 school with iPads. Depending on the task, they could use the audio that is Apple dedicated - this would require more research and thought.
This was a hard Thing for me because I do not LIKE to listen to my own voice recorded. I know I am not the only one on the planet that feels this way...None the less, I chose Audioboo for Thing 16.
Things I liked - I liked the limit on the audio recording. One unique way I think this could be used is for practicing book talks. Book talks need to be SHORT AND ENGAGING. By using Audioboo, the app will help monitor the length of time spent talking about each book in the course of practicing a book talk.
I liked that you can share the audio you create with others. I also like that it can be used "in replacement" of video (book talks, book recommendations, etc) - there may be reasons why students won't, can't, choose not to do video.
What I didn't like - another log in.
I am doing this project as coursework for a class - one of the students mentioned last night how she was trying to REDUCE her digital footprint and how Heartbleed has added an extra layer of "UGH" to this project. I know you "could" sign in with your Twitter, but then I need to worry about Audioboo AND Twitter being secure.
I would probably use this app or something similar in a school library setting. I feel there are many applications for using small snippets of audio for notes, projects, book talks, etc. I am not sure how I would address the account situation...perhaps I would NOT use it if I was in a 1 to 1 school with iPads. Depending on the task, they could use the audio that is Apple dedicated - this would require more research and thought.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Thing 8
I've been holding off on Thing 8 because I wanted to find a product that included Instagram as part of the sites that are aggregated by the said product. I have ONE friend/family that dropped Facebook for Instagram and I am feeling the need to use Instagram as a way of sharing my daughter's life with him (he lives in California).
In the one aspect where I wanted to succeed, I failed for Thing 8. I tried Hoot Suite and Cloze. I kept going back to HootSuite, Googling about HootSuite, looking for a way to combine everything. It looks like you can POST to Instagram from Hootsuite, but you can't view other people's content from Instagram from HootSuite (another major feature I was looking for).
To be honest, I liked and disliked the HootSuite app - I liked the presentation of information relayed back to me from Facebook on the app. Facebook has screwed up what posts I see on my Touch or Phone vs. a PC with it's new algorithms or whatever system it is using to filter things FOR ME. I did not like the idea of trying to manage my digital life from the app. I felt the website (or do they call it a dashboard?) does a much better job of laying out what HootSuite is trying to manage for you.
That being said, if I DID have a job/career where I was in charge of several media platforms for a library, I WOULD use HootSuite to distribute the message. I like that you can set when and what types of content you want delivered when to social media outlets. In my personal life, I do not need HootSuite. I barely tweet, I hardly use Instagram, and I use Facebook daily. My level of "leveraging" social media does not warrent a product like HootSuite. But maybe someday...:).
In the one aspect where I wanted to succeed, I failed for Thing 8. I tried Hoot Suite and Cloze. I kept going back to HootSuite, Googling about HootSuite, looking for a way to combine everything. It looks like you can POST to Instagram from Hootsuite, but you can't view other people's content from Instagram from HootSuite (another major feature I was looking for).
To be honest, I liked and disliked the HootSuite app - I liked the presentation of information relayed back to me from Facebook on the app. Facebook has screwed up what posts I see on my Touch or Phone vs. a PC with it's new algorithms or whatever system it is using to filter things FOR ME. I did not like the idea of trying to manage my digital life from the app. I felt the website (or do they call it a dashboard?) does a much better job of laying out what HootSuite is trying to manage for you.
That being said, if I DID have a job/career where I was in charge of several media platforms for a library, I WOULD use HootSuite to distribute the message. I like that you can set when and what types of content you want delivered when to social media outlets. In my personal life, I do not need HootSuite. I barely tweet, I hardly use Instagram, and I use Facebook daily. My level of "leveraging" social media does not warrent a product like HootSuite. But maybe someday...:).
Thing 14
I was prepared to really NOT like any part of Thing 14. I use the video feature of the camera on my Touch and phone all the time. I was not ready to learn OR like a video app.
However - I tried Viddy for Thing 14. I was very surprised that I LIKED Viddy and think it has some potential applications.
What I liked - I liked the 30 second time limit. I think this would be really useful for creating mini book trailers for new items (or favorite items, or themed items...). I think this would be really useful to "show" what is happening in the library is a SHORT format that is not burdensome (or boring) for users, stakeholders, parents or potential users to watch. The 30 second time limit also cuts down on the storage for the device used for the video. The filtering was a nice touch as well - but Instagram already DOES a short video with filtering (I believe it filters...).
I think it has great potential in a school library for the same reasons as the public library stated above. The biggest issue with Viddy is that you need a username and password to use it. This may be a barrier or a nuisance in a school setting.
The sharing feature was "meh" for me - I do not normally share video content on any of the platforms available through Viddy. If I was using this for promotional purposes for my job, I WOULD like the direct linkage to those social media sites. My only concern would be how to share the content within the library website or space if a library wanted all their social media leading back to their website.
Viddy is a "keep, wait, and see" app. I'm going to test it out on my niece and nephew this summer and see what kind of reception it receives. For me? I'll stick with the plain camera video feature for now. I have enough trouble keeping tract of my digital media (cameras, Touch, phone, Instagram, etc) without adding another app to the mix.
However - I tried Viddy for Thing 14. I was very surprised that I LIKED Viddy and think it has some potential applications.
What I liked - I liked the 30 second time limit. I think this would be really useful for creating mini book trailers for new items (or favorite items, or themed items...). I think this would be really useful to "show" what is happening in the library is a SHORT format that is not burdensome (or boring) for users, stakeholders, parents or potential users to watch. The 30 second time limit also cuts down on the storage for the device used for the video. The filtering was a nice touch as well - but Instagram already DOES a short video with filtering (I believe it filters...).
I think it has great potential in a school library for the same reasons as the public library stated above. The biggest issue with Viddy is that you need a username and password to use it. This may be a barrier or a nuisance in a school setting.
The sharing feature was "meh" for me - I do not normally share video content on any of the platforms available through Viddy. If I was using this for promotional purposes for my job, I WOULD like the direct linkage to those social media sites. My only concern would be how to share the content within the library website or space if a library wanted all their social media leading back to their website.
Viddy is a "keep, wait, and see" app. I'm going to test it out on my niece and nephew this summer and see what kind of reception it receives. For me? I'll stick with the plain camera video feature for now. I have enough trouble keeping tract of my digital media (cameras, Touch, phone, Instagram, etc) without adding another app to the mix.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Thing 15
Thing 15 - Infographics
This Thing was really a bust for me. In the spirit of honesty, I am at the end of the semester and not as excited to dig and dig for something I like to replace the app I don't like. On to the apps.
One way this Thing was a bust for me was that I could only FIND ONE OF THE APPS on my iPod Touch. Once again, I don't have an iPad. The ONLY app my iTunes Store would recognize was info.Graphics. So, I tried info.Graphics.
The app is just "OK". It is easy to navigate, sorted by general categories like Technology, Movies, or Social Media. The infographics offered are OK. The options to "export" are OK - camera roll, Facebook or Twitter. OK.
What I didn't like: The app didn't have very many choices in terms of infographic availability. There are tons and tons of infographics out there - why just these few? The search function is non-existent - browse the featured infographics or don't look at any. The "share" feature has no choice for exporting to an e-mail. Why? Searching Pinterest will create a better selection of infographics than this app.
Where I think this app has potential: I think this app is a good tool for teaching students (or adults) about infographics. What are the things that make an effective infographic? What features need to be present to call a poster an infographic? What types of industries use infographics? This app works well for this application because the selection size is small. If students were allowed to pick their own infographic from this app, it would not take much work for the instructor to find it. This might be a decent app for examining and explaining infographics, but it is not good for finding information about a topic through an infographic.
This Thing was really a bust for me. In the spirit of honesty, I am at the end of the semester and not as excited to dig and dig for something I like to replace the app I don't like. On to the apps.
One way this Thing was a bust for me was that I could only FIND ONE OF THE APPS on my iPod Touch. Once again, I don't have an iPad. The ONLY app my iTunes Store would recognize was info.Graphics. So, I tried info.Graphics.
The app is just "OK". It is easy to navigate, sorted by general categories like Technology, Movies, or Social Media. The infographics offered are OK. The options to "export" are OK - camera roll, Facebook or Twitter. OK.
What I didn't like: The app didn't have very many choices in terms of infographic availability. There are tons and tons of infographics out there - why just these few? The search function is non-existent - browse the featured infographics or don't look at any. The "share" feature has no choice for exporting to an e-mail. Why? Searching Pinterest will create a better selection of infographics than this app.
Where I think this app has potential: I think this app is a good tool for teaching students (or adults) about infographics. What are the things that make an effective infographic? What features need to be present to call a poster an infographic? What types of industries use infographics? This app works well for this application because the selection size is small. If students were allowed to pick their own infographic from this app, it would not take much work for the instructor to find it. This might be a decent app for examining and explaining infographics, but it is not good for finding information about a topic through an infographic.
Thing 21
FREE FOR ALL!!
I looked through all the pages of apps I have on my Touch and realized that I have already blogged on most of the apps I use the most (mostly I blogged in the Games Thing). But, I found a couple worth mentioning for this blog.
App 1: Buzzfeed. I don't watch TMZ, I don't read the gossip magazines, I have given up on trying to maintain a "competent front" of current social, style, and celebrity trends. HOWEVER, I really, really like looking at the Buzzfeed app. The app works similar to a "magazine app" like Flipboard except it chooses the content it shows you. I am unsure if it uses an algorithm that shows the most popular posts or the most recent, or a combination of the two. If you refresh the app as you use it, the thumbnails will change. Although a large part of the content is devoted to celebrities, quizzes, and generally ridiculous but funny "blogs", vines or videos, Buzzfeed does report on serious news and covers long form journalism. Every week there is a post about "Stories we are reading this week". I learned a lot about what was happening early in Ukraine from this app; also with Edward Snowden. I saw the story about the runaway bouncy house AT LEAST a full day before it showed up in my Facebook feed from another news organization. I feel it gives a good balance of the absurd and the important in one place.
App 2: DisBoards. This app probably might not apply to this discussion of apps to use for libraries and librarians. BUT the directions were to talk about apps you use/love and this is an app I use heavily.
DisBoards is a chat site/discussion board for all things Disney - mostly Disney World, but Disney Land, Royal Caribbean, Universal, and other topics are discussed on the site/app. It is also a website, but I feel the website to be too cumbersome and frenetic for me to use for any length of time.
Personally, I use the app for reading up on rumors or changes, restaurant reviews, resort reviews, general planning, and a little bit of drama - all discussion boards have a little bit of drama :). I found DisBoards because my first trip to Disney World was with my "entire family", parents, sister's family, us. I felt like the trip was kind of a "let down" because there was some planning miscommunication and I felt like I didn't know what I thought I needed to know to get the most out of my trip. The next trip, I did research. And research. And more research. And found this app.
I "might" recommend this app to others as a planning tool. As with all sites of this type, the mood has shifted from helpful to more critical. BUT the site is archived and there is solid, tested information about Disney properties as well as other travel "entities" for those looking for "real" information with varied viewpoints. Think of it as a really opinionated, real time, breathing guidebook app for Disney.
I looked through all the pages of apps I have on my Touch and realized that I have already blogged on most of the apps I use the most (mostly I blogged in the Games Thing). But, I found a couple worth mentioning for this blog.
App 1: Buzzfeed. I don't watch TMZ, I don't read the gossip magazines, I have given up on trying to maintain a "competent front" of current social, style, and celebrity trends. HOWEVER, I really, really like looking at the Buzzfeed app. The app works similar to a "magazine app" like Flipboard except it chooses the content it shows you. I am unsure if it uses an algorithm that shows the most popular posts or the most recent, or a combination of the two. If you refresh the app as you use it, the thumbnails will change. Although a large part of the content is devoted to celebrities, quizzes, and generally ridiculous but funny "blogs", vines or videos, Buzzfeed does report on serious news and covers long form journalism. Every week there is a post about "Stories we are reading this week". I learned a lot about what was happening early in Ukraine from this app; also with Edward Snowden. I saw the story about the runaway bouncy house AT LEAST a full day before it showed up in my Facebook feed from another news organization. I feel it gives a good balance of the absurd and the important in one place.
App 2: DisBoards. This app probably might not apply to this discussion of apps to use for libraries and librarians. BUT the directions were to talk about apps you use/love and this is an app I use heavily.
DisBoards is a chat site/discussion board for all things Disney - mostly Disney World, but Disney Land, Royal Caribbean, Universal, and other topics are discussed on the site/app. It is also a website, but I feel the website to be too cumbersome and frenetic for me to use for any length of time.
Personally, I use the app for reading up on rumors or changes, restaurant reviews, resort reviews, general planning, and a little bit of drama - all discussion boards have a little bit of drama :). I found DisBoards because my first trip to Disney World was with my "entire family", parents, sister's family, us. I felt like the trip was kind of a "let down" because there was some planning miscommunication and I felt like I didn't know what I thought I needed to know to get the most out of my trip. The next trip, I did research. And research. And more research. And found this app.
I "might" recommend this app to others as a planning tool. As with all sites of this type, the mood has shifted from helpful to more critical. BUT the site is archived and there is solid, tested information about Disney properties as well as other travel "entities" for those looking for "real" information with varied viewpoints. Think of it as a really opinionated, real time, breathing guidebook app for Disney.
Thing 18
Thing 18 is Education. For this app I tried Project Noah. I really wanted to try LIFE for iPad, but I don't own an iPad.
I was not "bowled over" by this app. From what I can gather, this app is a tool to document and share nature and wildlife in a photographic format. Users can earn badges by finding and taking pictures of different creatures, as well as embarking on "missions" as described by the app. I just couldn't get into it and found it a bit confusing in terms of "what am I supposed to do with this app?" And the reason the app is so confusing is that it is designed to be a companion to the Project Noah website; http://www.projectnoah.org/
The concept of the website/app is really cool; students, scientists, others who are interested in nature can document their natural environment through photographs and add to missions or animal groupings. There is also a feature where you can upload a creature that is unknown to you and others will tell you what the creature might be.
The pluses of the app: the photographs that have been submitted for missions are fantastic, high quality photos. If one chooses to allow location features, the app will feature missions close to where you are, such as Great Lakes missions, Critters of the Northwoods, or Birds of Wisconsin. Each mission links out to the mission website within the app - this might be great for use with an iPad, but not so great on a Touch.
App drawbacks: It seems that the user (me) needed to use the missions provided by the app or find a mission that was close to what you wanted to explore and tag along with the mission posted. The app is not explicit that it is designed to be a tool for the website until you are a few "clicks" into a mission. The app as a stand alone does not provide great instructions as to how to use the app. One other big drawback - you need to be "authenticated or signed in" to a social media tool to fully use the app (Google, Facebook, Twitter, those kind of tools).
Where I see this app as an asset: I think this app would be an AWESOME tool for an elementary or even lower middle school science project. Students could earn badges, participate in different missions and learn about native or local native critters and/or fauna while interacting in a greater "scientific" community. It would be a great tool for homeschoolers and something a public library could use as programming or a product they could suggest to parents.
The app has some promise, but it did not work for me without a scaffold where I would be using this app as a tool in a real project. Maybe when my daughter turns four or five, this might be a good enrichment activity for the family!
I was not "bowled over" by this app. From what I can gather, this app is a tool to document and share nature and wildlife in a photographic format. Users can earn badges by finding and taking pictures of different creatures, as well as embarking on "missions" as described by the app. I just couldn't get into it and found it a bit confusing in terms of "what am I supposed to do with this app?" And the reason the app is so confusing is that it is designed to be a companion to the Project Noah website; http://www.projectnoah.org/
The concept of the website/app is really cool; students, scientists, others who are interested in nature can document their natural environment through photographs and add to missions or animal groupings. There is also a feature where you can upload a creature that is unknown to you and others will tell you what the creature might be.
The pluses of the app: the photographs that have been submitted for missions are fantastic, high quality photos. If one chooses to allow location features, the app will feature missions close to where you are, such as Great Lakes missions, Critters of the Northwoods, or Birds of Wisconsin. Each mission links out to the mission website within the app - this might be great for use with an iPad, but not so great on a Touch.
App drawbacks: It seems that the user (me) needed to use the missions provided by the app or find a mission that was close to what you wanted to explore and tag along with the mission posted. The app is not explicit that it is designed to be a tool for the website until you are a few "clicks" into a mission. The app as a stand alone does not provide great instructions as to how to use the app. One other big drawback - you need to be "authenticated or signed in" to a social media tool to fully use the app (Google, Facebook, Twitter, those kind of tools).
Where I see this app as an asset: I think this app would be an AWESOME tool for an elementary or even lower middle school science project. Students could earn badges, participate in different missions and learn about native or local native critters and/or fauna while interacting in a greater "scientific" community. It would be a great tool for homeschoolers and something a public library could use as programming or a product they could suggest to parents.
The app has some promise, but it did not work for me without a scaffold where I would be using this app as a tool in a real project. Maybe when my daughter turns four or five, this might be a good enrichment activity for the family!
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Thing 9
Thing 9 - PHOTOS.
Since I'm feeling a bit stressed about "goings on" in my life as a library student right now, let's cut right to the chase. I did not like any of the "proposed apps" for this Thing. I just could not get in to any of them. I have a hard enough time deciding what kind of filter to use when I remember to use Instagram.
BUT...I have two apps to offer up as alternatives for Thing 9. App One happens to be the ONLY app I have discovered, downloaded and USED from the AppsGoneFree app. The app is called Poetics. Basically, this is an app in which you take photos OR use photos from your device and add "magnetic poetry" to your photo.
This is a screenshot of the app:
This is a "fun" app that incorporates photo editing. I can see a market for the tweeny/teenies and also those who THINK they might want to scrapbook but have no time, patience, or inclination (me). I think this app would be really fun for book advertising; like one sentence or five words to describe a book (preferably new books) and post the photos on your library "Internet site", whether the website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, whatever.
Poetics is not always free. It was free during the promotion from AppsGoneFree.
The second app I tried for this Thing is thanks to my 7 year old nephew. He recommended Pic Collage when he and his sister were asking what all the apps were on my Touch. Apparently they use this app on their iPads at school - my niece and nephew attend a 1 to 1 school, except they are young, so their devices stay at school. I would say this is more of a traditional picture collage app. I only played a bit with this one, but I gave access to my photos, chose three, and made a quick photo collage of my daughter. In some ways, it is like a scrapbook, infographic, poster app. You can make a basic "photo collage" (think a Christmas Card photo collage) or use pre-made "posters" (think Pinterest inspirational pins) and add your own embellishments. I haven't figured out exactly what to DO with this app yet. Maybe this is how pinners make such pretty pins on Pinterest - I don't know. BUT, students are using this app in school for something. At least my niece and nephew are; with their iPads. At school. And at home with their iPods.
This is an example of a Pic Collage (the pretty kind). This is not my OWN creation - mine was not pretty like these.
Since I'm feeling a bit stressed about "goings on" in my life as a library student right now, let's cut right to the chase. I did not like any of the "proposed apps" for this Thing. I just could not get in to any of them. I have a hard enough time deciding what kind of filter to use when I remember to use Instagram.
BUT...I have two apps to offer up as alternatives for Thing 9. App One happens to be the ONLY app I have discovered, downloaded and USED from the AppsGoneFree app. The app is called Poetics. Basically, this is an app in which you take photos OR use photos from your device and add "magnetic poetry" to your photo.
This is a screenshot of the app:
As you can see, there are many editing options for the photo, similar to other photo editing apps.
This is (hopefully) a link to my completed Poetics photo in Instagram - because DESPITE my learning through 23 Mobile Things, I can't get my own picture off Instagram at the time of this blog post. Grrr.
Poetics PhotoThis is a "fun" app that incorporates photo editing. I can see a market for the tweeny/teenies and also those who THINK they might want to scrapbook but have no time, patience, or inclination (me). I think this app would be really fun for book advertising; like one sentence or five words to describe a book (preferably new books) and post the photos on your library "Internet site", whether the website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, whatever.
Poetics is not always free. It was free during the promotion from AppsGoneFree.
The second app I tried for this Thing is thanks to my 7 year old nephew. He recommended Pic Collage when he and his sister were asking what all the apps were on my Touch. Apparently they use this app on their iPads at school - my niece and nephew attend a 1 to 1 school, except they are young, so their devices stay at school. I would say this is more of a traditional picture collage app. I only played a bit with this one, but I gave access to my photos, chose three, and made a quick photo collage of my daughter. In some ways, it is like a scrapbook, infographic, poster app. You can make a basic "photo collage" (think a Christmas Card photo collage) or use pre-made "posters" (think Pinterest inspirational pins) and add your own embellishments. I haven't figured out exactly what to DO with this app yet. Maybe this is how pinners make such pretty pins on Pinterest - I don't know. BUT, students are using this app in school for something. At least my niece and nephew are; with their iPads. At school. And at home with their iPods.
This is an example of a Pic Collage (the pretty kind). This is not my OWN creation - mine was not pretty like these.
Pic Collage IS free, but there are in-app purchases available. This would be something that would need to be addressed in a school environment or if the library was using "library owned devices" with this app.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Thing 12
Thing 12 is all about Books. Oh how I wanted to LOVE this Thing. Instead I ended up irritated and borderline angry.
For Thing 12, I tried the YALSA Teen Book Finder.
First, let me say that I really like YALSA as a resource for content - book lists, ideas, programming, etc. However, they are really not good at presenting their content in a usable digital 21 Century format. They are REALLY NOT GOOD at this and the YALSA Teen Book Finder is just another symptom of this epidemic.
Let's start with the features I liked: I like that when you open the app, there are Hot Picks. I like that you can "favorite" books and save them. I like that you can "share" books through Facebook or Twitter. And I like the ILLUSION that you can find the book you are looking at through the app.
What I didn't like: The "find" feature really killed this app for me. Let's say I am trying to locate Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. I know that my local library has this book - I have shelved it with my own hands. This is a screen shot of the Book Finder App from my iPhone:
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For Thing 12, I tried the YALSA Teen Book Finder.
First, let me say that I really like YALSA as a resource for content - book lists, ideas, programming, etc. However, they are really not good at presenting their content in a usable digital 21 Century format. They are REALLY NOT GOOD at this and the YALSA Teen Book Finder is just another symptom of this epidemic.
Let's start with the features I liked: I like that when you open the app, there are Hot Picks. I like that you can "favorite" books and save them. I like that you can "share" books through Facebook or Twitter. And I like the ILLUSION that you can find the book you are looking at through the app.
What I didn't like: The "find" feature really killed this app for me. Let's say I am trying to locate Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. I know that my local library has this book - I have shelved it with my own hands. This is a screen shot of the Book Finder App from my iPhone:
I live where the red dot is located. According to the YALSA Teen Book Finder, I need to drive an hour to find a copy of this book, when I KNOW this is clearly false advertising. I was SO disgusted. I understand that there must be some algorithm or system for YALSA deciding which libraries to cull from. But honestly. Eau Claire is the "seat" or headquarters of the library consortium that I use. Eau Claire isn't even pegged on the map. AGH!!!
Maybe this app works great in Chicago, New York City, or Texas but it sure isn't worth a hill of beans here. There are better products for making lists for reading or sharing what you are reading. Isn't Facebook a dying application for teens? What about Flickr or Tumbler or Pinterest??
I know the app is pretty new - OK. I guess it isn't that new. Looks like the app was first "published" in 2012. I was going to give them the benefit of the doubt, with the push and advertising of the app happening last summer (2013). Maybe I am misunderstanding the purpose for the app: an app for ADULTS looking for teen books?
Although this is not directly related to the app, I think this permeation highlights what I see as the main dysfunction with YALSA. They create great lists, great programming, great ideas for getting teens involved in the library but they put no effort into creating an IT infrastructure that is searchable or usable to anyone under 30. None of their award lists are "searchable" or manipulable. If you use the search bar to find, say I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga, the site will return search results but you still have to search through the list to find what you are looking for. This is so frustrating to me. Once again, maybe I am missing the point of YALSA - teen content for ADULTS that have time to sort through lists and lists and blogs and blogs?
OK. Enough ranting. I think the YALSA Teen Book Finder has promise; with a serious upgrade and many more features, or at least using WorldCat or a better search algorithm to allow users to actually SEE what libraries have the book you are searching for. And someone needs to work on getting the YALSA site to work like a 21 Century website.
Thing 11
Unlike most other bloggers for 23 Mobile Things, I do not live in the Seven County Metro and I do not have a MELSA library card. So, I chose to look at the apps that the library I normally use offers for its patrons - Overdrive and Freading. I use a Wisconsin public library as my primary library; I am "bucking the instructions" for this blog and am writing about the two "book" apps that my library offers through it's consortium instead.
Overdrive is probably a familiar app to anyone and everyone who might read or stumble across this blog. I've been using the Overdrive app probably since 2010 (through the bad and the good). I am not a huge fan of the e-book on my iDevices (too small a screen), but have used the app pretty extensively for ebooks, from when there was a glitch and you could "have" the e-book on your iPod forever to the current version. Overdrive's search function isn't fabulous for new discovery of content but it works well if you know what you are looking for. The new versions of the app have really improved the user experience in terms of item delivery (no more downloading to Adobe and then transferring to your device). I would recommend this app to patrons for any device they may own. One caveat - I have not had the opportunity to use the 3M Cloud, so I cannot compare content or experience.
The second app, or my "new app" is Freading. Freading is a sister site to Freegal, a music service. In my case, one of the Eau Claire libraries subscribes to this service, so libraries in the consortium have access to the service. Freading is a "pay as you use" model, with patrons receiving tokens they can use to check out books, token amount depends on the content. From what I understand, the consortium pays for usage of the content. Unlike Overdrive, the content is always available for checkout. But, none of the Big 6 publishers are taking part in the service at this time.
Turning to the app, frankly, I think the app sucks. The only part of the process, from discovery to checkout, to reading that is available through the app is reading. All searching, selection and checkout needs to be done through a web browser (which is not mobile compatible). Then, during checkout, you are allowed to choose Overdrive OR Freading as a reading app for the content. The app does not offer as many options as Overdrive. The only options for the reader are a Table of Contents and text size - no bookmarks, no highlighting, no search, no options.
At this time, I would not recommend the Freading app to anyone, unless it was a librarian or an app developer working on ideas to help improve the app. As far as Freading content goes, I am not overly impressed yet. But the option to choose free e-books from the library beyond Overdrive is a good option for the user. I will be checking back on this service and it's app as time goes on.
Overdrive is probably a familiar app to anyone and everyone who might read or stumble across this blog. I've been using the Overdrive app probably since 2010 (through the bad and the good). I am not a huge fan of the e-book on my iDevices (too small a screen), but have used the app pretty extensively for ebooks, from when there was a glitch and you could "have" the e-book on your iPod forever to the current version. Overdrive's search function isn't fabulous for new discovery of content but it works well if you know what you are looking for. The new versions of the app have really improved the user experience in terms of item delivery (no more downloading to Adobe and then transferring to your device). I would recommend this app to patrons for any device they may own. One caveat - I have not had the opportunity to use the 3M Cloud, so I cannot compare content or experience.
The second app, or my "new app" is Freading. Freading is a sister site to Freegal, a music service. In my case, one of the Eau Claire libraries subscribes to this service, so libraries in the consortium have access to the service. Freading is a "pay as you use" model, with patrons receiving tokens they can use to check out books, token amount depends on the content. From what I understand, the consortium pays for usage of the content. Unlike Overdrive, the content is always available for checkout. But, none of the Big 6 publishers are taking part in the service at this time.
Turning to the app, frankly, I think the app sucks. The only part of the process, from discovery to checkout, to reading that is available through the app is reading. All searching, selection and checkout needs to be done through a web browser (which is not mobile compatible). Then, during checkout, you are allowed to choose Overdrive OR Freading as a reading app for the content. The app does not offer as many options as Overdrive. The only options for the reader are a Table of Contents and text size - no bookmarks, no highlighting, no search, no options.
At this time, I would not recommend the Freading app to anyone, unless it was a librarian or an app developer working on ideas to help improve the app. As far as Freading content goes, I am not overly impressed yet. But the option to choose free e-books from the library beyond Overdrive is a good option for the user. I will be checking back on this service and it's app as time goes on.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Thing 22
Thing 22 or Discovering Apps
Time for another "honest blog" - I was not excited about this "thing". Due to the nature of being a student at St. Kate's, I feel like I am already being deluged with e-content, app or otherwise. I've also tried to shy away from actively seeking new apps. Perhaps I can explain this better below.
For this app, I looked at Apps Gone Free. There is nothing "wrong" with this app. I like it "OK". The synopsis of apps is adequate; it seems like the steps from viewing the app to the App Store is seamless. But the reality is that I already have more apps than I use and when I am currently seeking out apps, they are for something specific (like a class application). I may come back to this app in the future, but right now this app is just "too much" for me. Then again, I do have the push notification activated (for purposes of this blog). Maybe I would not feel so pressured if I turned off the push notification :). Although it is not for me, I would recommend this app for a person trying to maximize their Apple experience - especially those people that have or take the time to look at "new" apps on a regular basis.
There is another product that I have used since 2010 for app discovery, although I have used it exclusively as a webpage. Free App a Day, currently run by AppxChange, was my "go to" source. For a while, I received daily e-mails listing the free app of the day. Before my daughter became mobile (and before graduate school), I was more diligent with the webpage and the e-mails I received from the page. Several of my "old school" apps, including Sunday Lawn were apps promoted on this site. I used this resource to "try things" for myself and my niece and nephew before purchase. I like the e-mail "push" system. Then I feel like I can look now or look later. If I clear the push notification on the Apps Gone Free, I never go back to look when I have time (unless I open the app by accident). With an e-mail, it is on "my time". There is a FreeAppADay app, but I have not tried it. I cannot speak to the usability of the website these days, but I have used it extensively in the past and would visit it again, once I find myself ready to embark on "new app discovery".
Time for another "honest blog" - I was not excited about this "thing". Due to the nature of being a student at St. Kate's, I feel like I am already being deluged with e-content, app or otherwise. I've also tried to shy away from actively seeking new apps. Perhaps I can explain this better below.
For this app, I looked at Apps Gone Free. There is nothing "wrong" with this app. I like it "OK". The synopsis of apps is adequate; it seems like the steps from viewing the app to the App Store is seamless. But the reality is that I already have more apps than I use and when I am currently seeking out apps, they are for something specific (like a class application). I may come back to this app in the future, but right now this app is just "too much" for me. Then again, I do have the push notification activated (for purposes of this blog). Maybe I would not feel so pressured if I turned off the push notification :). Although it is not for me, I would recommend this app for a person trying to maximize their Apple experience - especially those people that have or take the time to look at "new" apps on a regular basis.
There is another product that I have used since 2010 for app discovery, although I have used it exclusively as a webpage. Free App a Day, currently run by AppxChange, was my "go to" source. For a while, I received daily e-mails listing the free app of the day. Before my daughter became mobile (and before graduate school), I was more diligent with the webpage and the e-mails I received from the page. Several of my "old school" apps, including Sunday Lawn were apps promoted on this site. I used this resource to "try things" for myself and my niece and nephew before purchase. I like the e-mail "push" system. Then I feel like I can look now or look later. If I clear the push notification on the Apps Gone Free, I never go back to look when I have time (unless I open the app by accident). With an e-mail, it is on "my time". There is a FreeAppADay app, but I have not tried it. I cannot speak to the usability of the website these days, but I have used it extensively in the past and would visit it again, once I find myself ready to embark on "new app discovery".
Thing 17
Thing 17 or Connecting to Community.
There were several apps offered up for suggestions on the 23 Mobile Things Website from different regions of the state.
I tried one "new to me" app and will comment on another app on the list I am familiar with.
For the "new to me" app, I tried UpNorth Explorer. To be honest, I am to the point in the semester where I needed something that "I knew something about" and wasn't starting from scratch. I lived in Duluth for nine years and my husband grew up in Superior, WI (and there is a family cabin by Solon Springs, WI in the mix). I fully acknowledge that "up north" is a big area, but I felt this familiarity with a section of what people classify as "north" would give me an advantage vetting this app.
Honestly, I thought UpNorth Explorer was awful. It seems like the app is trying to cover everything from Walker to Canada to Hayward Wisconsin - and supplying very little information in the process. There were very few restaurants and very few lodging options listed. The big areas of "up north" - Brainerd, Duluth, the North Shore, Bemidji were not even listed in lodging. These are "heavy hitter" tourist places and they were completely ignored by this app. I will give the app credit for having a small smattering of current events dispersed among the region - but still too large and area with too little content. I haven't figured out how locations are featured with this app - pay for content maybe? I would not recommend this app to anyone ever. I would rather they struggled with a non-mobile version of Explore Minnesota or Visit Duluth on a smartphone - anything would be better than this app.
On to the second app on the list. Another confession - I have not actually used this app on location due to spotty wifi service and no smart phone at the time, but I spent a few hours playing with this app when it first came out last summer. I am speaking of the Minnesota State Fair app. My favorite feature is the Food Finder. I am what I would consider a "dedicated" fair goer. With the exception of a few years in my 20's, I have been to the State Fair at least one time a year most years of my life - I am 38, so I would wager at least 34 visits so far. I mention this because I have a pretty good sense of where things are, where they were, and where things "should be". Back to the Food Finder - finding and REMEMBERING the new foods each year seems to get harder and harder for me to remember. As I said, I haven't actually used the app at the fair (yet), but finding the new food, or seeing the new foods per location will be a big boon my fair experience. There is also a handy map for those who are not as familiar with the fairgrounds as myself. I will definitely be using this app in the future and would recommend it to anyone that is visiting the fair with a smart phone - well anyone that likes to plan and not experience the fair "organically" or "spontaneously".
One tip I have that has nothing to do with the app, but everything to do with the fairgrounds. Visit the fairgrounds when the fair is not happening. It is much easier to "see" and understand the layout when A. you can drive on the roads and B. when you are not trying to take everything in at once.
There were several apps offered up for suggestions on the 23 Mobile Things Website from different regions of the state.
I tried one "new to me" app and will comment on another app on the list I am familiar with.
For the "new to me" app, I tried UpNorth Explorer. To be honest, I am to the point in the semester where I needed something that "I knew something about" and wasn't starting from scratch. I lived in Duluth for nine years and my husband grew up in Superior, WI (and there is a family cabin by Solon Springs, WI in the mix). I fully acknowledge that "up north" is a big area, but I felt this familiarity with a section of what people classify as "north" would give me an advantage vetting this app.
Honestly, I thought UpNorth Explorer was awful. It seems like the app is trying to cover everything from Walker to Canada to Hayward Wisconsin - and supplying very little information in the process. There were very few restaurants and very few lodging options listed. The big areas of "up north" - Brainerd, Duluth, the North Shore, Bemidji were not even listed in lodging. These are "heavy hitter" tourist places and they were completely ignored by this app. I will give the app credit for having a small smattering of current events dispersed among the region - but still too large and area with too little content. I haven't figured out how locations are featured with this app - pay for content maybe? I would not recommend this app to anyone ever. I would rather they struggled with a non-mobile version of Explore Minnesota or Visit Duluth on a smartphone - anything would be better than this app.
On to the second app on the list. Another confession - I have not actually used this app on location due to spotty wifi service and no smart phone at the time, but I spent a few hours playing with this app when it first came out last summer. I am speaking of the Minnesota State Fair app. My favorite feature is the Food Finder. I am what I would consider a "dedicated" fair goer. With the exception of a few years in my 20's, I have been to the State Fair at least one time a year most years of my life - I am 38, so I would wager at least 34 visits so far. I mention this because I have a pretty good sense of where things are, where they were, and where things "should be". Back to the Food Finder - finding and REMEMBERING the new foods each year seems to get harder and harder for me to remember. As I said, I haven't actually used the app at the fair (yet), but finding the new food, or seeing the new foods per location will be a big boon my fair experience. There is also a handy map for those who are not as familiar with the fairgrounds as myself. I will definitely be using this app in the future and would recommend it to anyone that is visiting the fair with a smart phone - well anyone that likes to plan and not experience the fair "organically" or "spontaneously".
One tip I have that has nothing to do with the app, but everything to do with the fairgrounds. Visit the fairgrounds when the fair is not happening. It is much easier to "see" and understand the layout when A. you can drive on the roads and B. when you are not trying to take everything in at once.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Thing 13
Thing 13 or "Presentations" was a tough Thing for me to work through. Why? Because I am not doing my 23 Mobile Things on a TABLET!!! I really wanted to try Educreations but it is ONLY available for the iPad. I tried Haiku Deck, but at this time, you can only create on an iPad. I did create a short presentation on Deck, but it would have been so much better if I had been on a tablet.
OK. Now that I ranted about not having a tablet to try this Thing, on to my experiences with the apps.
As I said above, I was not able to try Educreations. It looked like it was going to be so cool...
After my first experience (trying to download Educreations), I was excited that I could download Haiku Deck to my phone. My excitement was very short-lived - at this time, one can only VIEW presentations, not create them on an iPhone. The app assures me this feature is coming sometime in the near future. I did have the opportunity to try Haiku Deck on a borrowed iPad. The library I am doing my practicum at has an iPad that belongs to the library and I was given permission to download Haiku Deck and try it. It was so fun! I liked the clean simplicity of the presentation, the ability to drill down into images that fit with my pretend topic. I can see myself using this app again. However, due to my limited access to the app, I am unsure if Haiku Deck is best for every presentation application. I wasn't able to explore more deeply - can you add your own images? your own tables and charts? This is an app I will keep on my radar for when I have a tablet at my disposal.
My third choice for Thing 13 was Deck. Surprisingly, I feel that this app has the most promise in my life at the time of this blog. Deck really is like a streamlined automated PowerPoint presentation. I created a pretend presentation on my Touch with this app. I liked the simple interface - tap on a "bar", type your information, move to the next bar...select a theme, and preview. I used the paper airplane theme, which added "animation" without me going through the trouble of learning how to "animate" the presentation through keystrokes or another program. This app would work equally as well as Haiku Deck for certain presentations. My concern, which I was not able to answer on the Touch, was "how does one import charts, pictures, or other media?". Maybe this is a feature that is not available on the Touch but is available on the iPad. I can see myself using this app in the future.
Like other Things, and I'm sure most of Things I have left to explore, the nature of the device is beginning to color my experience with 23 Mobile Things. For these suggested apps, an iPad was an apple and my Touch was an Ugly-fruit.
OK. Now that I ranted about not having a tablet to try this Thing, on to my experiences with the apps.
As I said above, I was not able to try Educreations. It looked like it was going to be so cool...
After my first experience (trying to download Educreations), I was excited that I could download Haiku Deck to my phone. My excitement was very short-lived - at this time, one can only VIEW presentations, not create them on an iPhone. The app assures me this feature is coming sometime in the near future. I did have the opportunity to try Haiku Deck on a borrowed iPad. The library I am doing my practicum at has an iPad that belongs to the library and I was given permission to download Haiku Deck and try it. It was so fun! I liked the clean simplicity of the presentation, the ability to drill down into images that fit with my pretend topic. I can see myself using this app again. However, due to my limited access to the app, I am unsure if Haiku Deck is best for every presentation application. I wasn't able to explore more deeply - can you add your own images? your own tables and charts? This is an app I will keep on my radar for when I have a tablet at my disposal.
My third choice for Thing 13 was Deck. Surprisingly, I feel that this app has the most promise in my life at the time of this blog. Deck really is like a streamlined automated PowerPoint presentation. I created a pretend presentation on my Touch with this app. I liked the simple interface - tap on a "bar", type your information, move to the next bar...select a theme, and preview. I used the paper airplane theme, which added "animation" without me going through the trouble of learning how to "animate" the presentation through keystrokes or another program. This app would work equally as well as Haiku Deck for certain presentations. My concern, which I was not able to answer on the Touch, was "how does one import charts, pictures, or other media?". Maybe this is a feature that is not available on the Touch but is available on the iPad. I can see myself using this app in the future.
Like other Things, and I'm sure most of Things I have left to explore, the nature of the device is beginning to color my experience with 23 Mobile Things. For these suggested apps, an iPad was an apple and my Touch was an Ugly-fruit.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Thing 20
Thing 20 - Games. Games, games, games.
Of all the Things, this is the Thing I have had covered since my first Touch purchase in 2010. I have a plethora of games between my three iDevices (some on all three, some on one or two). A lot of my game app "purchases" (free or paid) have been driven by the children in my life. My stepdaughter is 17, niece is almost 9, my nephew 7, and my daughter 3. Racing apps, Dora apps, Disney apps, a water slide app...
Getting back to the apps featured on the Thing 20 page on the 23 Mobile Things website, I am heavily invested time-wise in Candy Crush. I am stuck on Level 140 on my Touch. I'm also stuck on Level 40 in the "Owl World" or night world. I was introduced to Candy Crush by my stepdaughter. I believe the text I received from her was "Don't even try Candy Crush. You will be addicted."
I've been stuck at these levels for a while. My modus operandi with most games, is to be heavily invested, playing hours and hours and then one day I move on to something else and eventually come back and revisit the game. Card games, puzzle games - doesn't matter.
I have never used an in-app purchase (a matter of some pride for me) and until about a month ago, I did not use the Facebook arm of Candy Crush. I have never "done" Facebook games, but I also play Disney Hidden Quest occasionally and that game is heavily dependent on user interaction with others - boo. I like to play alone. I find that the Facebook arm "kills the joy" a bit. I feel pressure to respond to others help requests even though I am not currently in a Candy Crush playing phase. I also have another King app - Pet Rescue Saga. Also addicting.
One thing you might not know about Candy Crush is that when you download the app on another device, you start over. This is both a pain and a blessing. You get to play all those easy levels again, but you can't pick up and work on that hard level if you don't have a particular device with you. I've only used the "cheat sites" once so far. It was a level where you needed a particular combination to win the board that I was not getting.
Something I DO like, although I just said I don't like to play with others, is to watch other people play Candy Crush. I know this sounds weird. This past summer I watched my 20 year old nephew play Candy Crush for the first time on an iPad at the cabin. He didn't start at the beginning - he started on a level where someone else was stuck. His thought process and decision making about what colors to match, how to strategize was fascinating. He took minutes to decide on some of his moves. Candy Crush does have some "right ways" to do things but it gives each user the flexibility to chose their own path and still succeed - most of the time.
I wanted to mention a couple other games that are loved in this group of kids/adults beyond Angry Birds, Minecraft, Temple Run, and the usual. Disney Hidden Quests - a "search" game but does not lend itself to small children. You have to be able to read to play properly. Free Fall - a Frozen version of Candy Crush really. Lots of in-app purchases but if you are patient, you don't need them (just like Candy Crush). I really like Jewel Quest and Jewel Quest Heritage, but quite frankly the apps suck. Their PC games are great but the apps are just a "mobile version" of the PC game and they don't work that great on a Touch.
And Sunday Lawn (Donut Games) - a lawn mowing maze app. I KNOW it sounds dumb, but it is ridiculously addicting and fun. The goal is to mow all the lawn without killing your lawn mower. It's not exactly a maze, but it has maze elements. I found this app through Free App a Day many years ago (three iTouches ago). There is a "new" Sunday Lawn Seasons (in the spirit of Angry Birds Seasons) that has a snow blower and a grass seeder as the lawn mower. I play it for the challenge of making three stars, my daughter (age 3) plays it because she likes it and doesn't care if the dogs, or cats, or hedgehogs eat her lawnmower.
Someday I will get past Level 140 on my Touch. It might take until I "catch up" on my iPhone and my husband's Nook HD+, but someday...
Of all the Things, this is the Thing I have had covered since my first Touch purchase in 2010. I have a plethora of games between my three iDevices (some on all three, some on one or two). A lot of my game app "purchases" (free or paid) have been driven by the children in my life. My stepdaughter is 17, niece is almost 9, my nephew 7, and my daughter 3. Racing apps, Dora apps, Disney apps, a water slide app...
Getting back to the apps featured on the Thing 20 page on the 23 Mobile Things website, I am heavily invested time-wise in Candy Crush. I am stuck on Level 140 on my Touch. I'm also stuck on Level 40 in the "Owl World" or night world. I was introduced to Candy Crush by my stepdaughter. I believe the text I received from her was "Don't even try Candy Crush. You will be addicted."
I've been stuck at these levels for a while. My modus operandi with most games, is to be heavily invested, playing hours and hours and then one day I move on to something else and eventually come back and revisit the game. Card games, puzzle games - doesn't matter.
I have never used an in-app purchase (a matter of some pride for me) and until about a month ago, I did not use the Facebook arm of Candy Crush. I have never "done" Facebook games, but I also play Disney Hidden Quest occasionally and that game is heavily dependent on user interaction with others - boo. I like to play alone. I find that the Facebook arm "kills the joy" a bit. I feel pressure to respond to others help requests even though I am not currently in a Candy Crush playing phase. I also have another King app - Pet Rescue Saga. Also addicting.
One thing you might not know about Candy Crush is that when you download the app on another device, you start over. This is both a pain and a blessing. You get to play all those easy levels again, but you can't pick up and work on that hard level if you don't have a particular device with you. I've only used the "cheat sites" once so far. It was a level where you needed a particular combination to win the board that I was not getting.
Something I DO like, although I just said I don't like to play with others, is to watch other people play Candy Crush. I know this sounds weird. This past summer I watched my 20 year old nephew play Candy Crush for the first time on an iPad at the cabin. He didn't start at the beginning - he started on a level where someone else was stuck. His thought process and decision making about what colors to match, how to strategize was fascinating. He took minutes to decide on some of his moves. Candy Crush does have some "right ways" to do things but it gives each user the flexibility to chose their own path and still succeed - most of the time.
I wanted to mention a couple other games that are loved in this group of kids/adults beyond Angry Birds, Minecraft, Temple Run, and the usual. Disney Hidden Quests - a "search" game but does not lend itself to small children. You have to be able to read to play properly. Free Fall - a Frozen version of Candy Crush really. Lots of in-app purchases but if you are patient, you don't need them (just like Candy Crush). I really like Jewel Quest and Jewel Quest Heritage, but quite frankly the apps suck. Their PC games are great but the apps are just a "mobile version" of the PC game and they don't work that great on a Touch.
And Sunday Lawn (Donut Games) - a lawn mowing maze app. I KNOW it sounds dumb, but it is ridiculously addicting and fun. The goal is to mow all the lawn without killing your lawn mower. It's not exactly a maze, but it has maze elements. I found this app through Free App a Day many years ago (three iTouches ago). There is a "new" Sunday Lawn Seasons (in the spirit of Angry Birds Seasons) that has a snow blower and a grass seeder as the lawn mower. I play it for the challenge of making three stars, my daughter (age 3) plays it because she likes it and doesn't care if the dogs, or cats, or hedgehogs eat her lawnmower.
Someday I will get past Level 140 on my Touch. It might take until I "catch up" on my iPhone and my husband's Nook HD+, but someday...
Thing 19
OOH. Thing 19 may turn out to be my favorite "new" app for all of 23 Mobile Things!!
For Thing 19, I chose RoadNinja. In some features, I am still a "relatively novice" user on my iPhone. I've had the phone since November and I STILL haven't used a GPS feature. OK, I used it once but I didn't think I was very successful with it.
I live WAY north of the Metro, like I'm sure other bloggers out there do. I have my normal ways I go places (specifically) in the Metro, and normal exits I take (and those I never take). THIS is why I love RoadNinja. It TELLS me what is at each exit before I get off the freeway.
I will say that I have not actually had a chance to fully explore this app WHILE ON THE ROAD. Everywhere I have driven since I started exploring the app, I have been the driver and it is not safe or recommended to be playing with apps as you drive down the freeway. As I sit at home blogging, I can view the I35 exits near my home. This is ALSO interesting because I KNOW those exits and I wonder how the app chose the exit choices - there are more businesses at my "home" exit than what is listed.
Features I love: I love the DISTANCE to the gas station. In my younger years (OK, until my daughter was born which was only three years ago), I lived more on the edge in regards to my car's gas tank. As in "What does empty really mean? How many miles can I go on the low fuel light?". I also had a few cars with less than reliable fuel gauges, so I would clock miles - which varies depending on how you drive. I like to KNOW how close to the freeway the gas station is if I can't see it. This also helps with bathroom stops - once again in my youth.
I LOVE the map feature. I LOVE the gas price feature - well, my husband will love the gas price feature when we use the app together. I like the restaurant listings. It's like an interactive road sign that tells me exactly WHERE the businesses are at the exit. I also like that the app gives you options in advance. For example, if we are trying to decide to stop for a quick bite to eat, I can scroll through at look at the next four or five exits and decide instead of either picking an exit not knowing what is ahead or stopping at the same old place every time.
I think this will be a fun app to play with on any type of "road trip" - I don't count my drives to St. Kate's as road trips. This is something I will be recommending to my sister on her family road trip to Tennessee this summer (from Wisconsin).
One thing I DO wonder about is the process of what businesses get chosen for the app. As I said earlier, I KNOW there are more businesses at my "home" freeway exit. Why were some chosen but not others? I also wish this app covered more roads than just the main exits off the freeway - in my case, I35, 35W or 35E. This would probably make the app unwieldy, but I would LOVE an app like this for Minneapolis or St. Paul or other inner-ring cities that I frequent less.
RoadNinja is definitely a keeper.
For Thing 19, I chose RoadNinja. In some features, I am still a "relatively novice" user on my iPhone. I've had the phone since November and I STILL haven't used a GPS feature. OK, I used it once but I didn't think I was very successful with it.
I live WAY north of the Metro, like I'm sure other bloggers out there do. I have my normal ways I go places (specifically) in the Metro, and normal exits I take (and those I never take). THIS is why I love RoadNinja. It TELLS me what is at each exit before I get off the freeway.
I will say that I have not actually had a chance to fully explore this app WHILE ON THE ROAD. Everywhere I have driven since I started exploring the app, I have been the driver and it is not safe or recommended to be playing with apps as you drive down the freeway. As I sit at home blogging, I can view the I35 exits near my home. This is ALSO interesting because I KNOW those exits and I wonder how the app chose the exit choices - there are more businesses at my "home" exit than what is listed.
Features I love: I love the DISTANCE to the gas station. In my younger years (OK, until my daughter was born which was only three years ago), I lived more on the edge in regards to my car's gas tank. As in "What does empty really mean? How many miles can I go on the low fuel light?". I also had a few cars with less than reliable fuel gauges, so I would clock miles - which varies depending on how you drive. I like to KNOW how close to the freeway the gas station is if I can't see it. This also helps with bathroom stops - once again in my youth.
I LOVE the map feature. I LOVE the gas price feature - well, my husband will love the gas price feature when we use the app together. I like the restaurant listings. It's like an interactive road sign that tells me exactly WHERE the businesses are at the exit. I also like that the app gives you options in advance. For example, if we are trying to decide to stop for a quick bite to eat, I can scroll through at look at the next four or five exits and decide instead of either picking an exit not knowing what is ahead or stopping at the same old place every time.
I think this will be a fun app to play with on any type of "road trip" - I don't count my drives to St. Kate's as road trips. This is something I will be recommending to my sister on her family road trip to Tennessee this summer (from Wisconsin).
One thing I DO wonder about is the process of what businesses get chosen for the app. As I said earlier, I KNOW there are more businesses at my "home" freeway exit. Why were some chosen but not others? I also wish this app covered more roads than just the main exits off the freeway - in my case, I35, 35W or 35E. This would probably make the app unwieldy, but I would LOVE an app like this for Minneapolis or St. Paul or other inner-ring cities that I frequent less.
RoadNinja is definitely a keeper.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Thing 10
I am "skipping ahead" on my Things as I am struggling with Thing 8 at the moment.
For Thing 10, I chose Instagram. This is an app that I "get" but I never remember to use. I normally use the camera on my phone, not an app. I have a friend who dropped his Facebook but kept Instagram and I am "trying" to get into the hang of checking Instagram and remembering to take pictures with Instagram so he has access and can view photos of my 3 yr old (he lives across country).
I will admit I had trouble getting back into using the app in January (before I even knew I would be blogging about it). It is NOT intuitive to me and I really had trouble getting my phone to take pictures; perhaps that day the app was glitchy? The editing tools are cool. But to be honest, I do my editing on a computer in Picassa. I even download my iDevice photos and edit in Picassa when it comes time to print "real pictures" or make a photo book (and then I sometimes share them on Facebook after editing). Perhaps I am a Luddite and I have hit my capacity for "new"...!!
I know Instagram is big, and it does cool things with pictures but I am just not that into it. I want to use it as a way to share pictures (like Facebook) and move on. The people I follow on Instagram are mostly the same people I am friends with on Facebook and I tend to see their photos there. I will say I am STILL trying to figure out a way to manage Instagram with a "Thing 8" product...
In terms of library/work use, there is a place for Instagram. This is not strictly a "younger generation" app, but I think it would be a fabulous tool for teen programming and teen New Books or other teen "things". I also think it is a good photo editor for any photos that you are submitting to your library Facebook page; the sharing is seamless as Facebook owns Instagram.
Add this to the list of "I won't give up on this app" but I just CANNOT REMEMBER TO USE IT!!!
For Thing 10, I chose Instagram. This is an app that I "get" but I never remember to use. I normally use the camera on my phone, not an app. I have a friend who dropped his Facebook but kept Instagram and I am "trying" to get into the hang of checking Instagram and remembering to take pictures with Instagram so he has access and can view photos of my 3 yr old (he lives across country).
I will admit I had trouble getting back into using the app in January (before I even knew I would be blogging about it). It is NOT intuitive to me and I really had trouble getting my phone to take pictures; perhaps that day the app was glitchy? The editing tools are cool. But to be honest, I do my editing on a computer in Picassa. I even download my iDevice photos and edit in Picassa when it comes time to print "real pictures" or make a photo book (and then I sometimes share them on Facebook after editing). Perhaps I am a Luddite and I have hit my capacity for "new"...!!
I know Instagram is big, and it does cool things with pictures but I am just not that into it. I want to use it as a way to share pictures (like Facebook) and move on. The people I follow on Instagram are mostly the same people I am friends with on Facebook and I tend to see their photos there. I will say I am STILL trying to figure out a way to manage Instagram with a "Thing 8" product...
In terms of library/work use, there is a place for Instagram. This is not strictly a "younger generation" app, but I think it would be a fabulous tool for teen programming and teen New Books or other teen "things". I also think it is a good photo editor for any photos that you are submitting to your library Facebook page; the sharing is seamless as Facebook owns Instagram.
Add this to the list of "I won't give up on this app" but I just CANNOT REMEMBER TO USE IT!!!
Thing 7
Thing 7. PINTEREST!!!
I LOVE Pinterest. That might be an overstatement, but I like the concept of Pinterest and I like using Pinterest. I chose to focus on an app that I know instead of something else because I have been considering using it during my practicum.
I am not a "super pinner" by any stretch of the imagination but to give you an idea of my Pinterest stats:
This screenshot is actually FROM my iPhone, while I am blogging from my desktop computer. I wish I could write an entire blog about how I figured out how to do that :). To be a bit more specific about my stats; of those 1000+ pins, 161 of them are "library pins" and are either book lists, future library ideas or pins directly relating to my practicum this semester.
I believe I mentioned this in a previous blog, but I am a "collector"; I like to find first and come back and read later. I have found that this has been the most effective method for me during graduate school and having a small child. Pinterest allows me to do EXACTLY THIS. I would say that I have become more "pin savvy" the longer I have used Pinterest. I have been using the app/program since pretty early in it's inception; back when you needed an invitation to join the site. When I joined Pinterest, I would find something and repin. I still do this as my main method of discovery. However, I TEST the links before I pin. I want something to refer back to when I go back to my Pinterest boards. Dead links, potentially hazardous or blocked links, copyright infringement - these all put a damper on finding an actual recipe or more information on a pin.
As to uses in the library, the youth librarian and I have been discussing creating a Pinterest account for the library. The library does not have a Pinterest account and I felt that having boards for all the STEAM items would be an easy way to capture a wealth of online information without using a handout or hyperlinks on a page on the library website. The youth librarian is really excited about the prospect but I have not pushed or explored the idea further because of sustainability. This librarian is getting married and moving in the fall. If we create a Pinterest account, will someone else (or her successor) maintain the Pinterest account? Is the work of creating the account valuable to the library and its patrons or is it a good tool for this librarian and myself? I have not worked this opportunity through yet, but will be revisiting the idea before the end of May when my practicum ends.
One newer feature of Pinterest that I feel lends itself to collaboration is the ability to share boards without sharing the entire Pinterest account. I share two boards with the same librarian and we have used them to pin any and every idea we have seen regarding STEAM kits, ideas and resources. That way we can look at what each other is thinking about or trending towards without rehashing each idea in-depth every time we see each other. I think board sharing would be great for book clubs, curriculum development, programming brainstorming (like we are using it) or for anything personal project or idea with which you might want collaboration.
I LOVE Pinterest. That might be an overstatement, but I like the concept of Pinterest and I like using Pinterest. I chose to focus on an app that I know instead of something else because I have been considering using it during my practicum.
I am not a "super pinner" by any stretch of the imagination but to give you an idea of my Pinterest stats:
This screenshot is actually FROM my iPhone, while I am blogging from my desktop computer. I wish I could write an entire blog about how I figured out how to do that :). To be a bit more specific about my stats; of those 1000+ pins, 161 of them are "library pins" and are either book lists, future library ideas or pins directly relating to my practicum this semester.
I believe I mentioned this in a previous blog, but I am a "collector"; I like to find first and come back and read later. I have found that this has been the most effective method for me during graduate school and having a small child. Pinterest allows me to do EXACTLY THIS. I would say that I have become more "pin savvy" the longer I have used Pinterest. I have been using the app/program since pretty early in it's inception; back when you needed an invitation to join the site. When I joined Pinterest, I would find something and repin. I still do this as my main method of discovery. However, I TEST the links before I pin. I want something to refer back to when I go back to my Pinterest boards. Dead links, potentially hazardous or blocked links, copyright infringement - these all put a damper on finding an actual recipe or more information on a pin.
As to uses in the library, the youth librarian and I have been discussing creating a Pinterest account for the library. The library does not have a Pinterest account and I felt that having boards for all the STEAM items would be an easy way to capture a wealth of online information without using a handout or hyperlinks on a page on the library website. The youth librarian is really excited about the prospect but I have not pushed or explored the idea further because of sustainability. This librarian is getting married and moving in the fall. If we create a Pinterest account, will someone else (or her successor) maintain the Pinterest account? Is the work of creating the account valuable to the library and its patrons or is it a good tool for this librarian and myself? I have not worked this opportunity through yet, but will be revisiting the idea before the end of May when my practicum ends.
One newer feature of Pinterest that I feel lends itself to collaboration is the ability to share boards without sharing the entire Pinterest account. I share two boards with the same librarian and we have used them to pin any and every idea we have seen regarding STEAM kits, ideas and resources. That way we can look at what each other is thinking about or trending towards without rehashing each idea in-depth every time we see each other. I think board sharing would be great for book clubs, curriculum development, programming brainstorming (like we are using it) or for anything personal project or idea with which you might want collaboration.
Thing 6
Thing 6 is about creating and editing documents. It is a bit ironic I am writing this blog today because my practicum site had no internet for the afternoon and all my work is in Google Drive (no work for me this afternoon)!
For Thing 6, I chose Quickoffice to explore. Since I have been using Google Drive more steadily as it is easy to share with others (no worry of virus transfer - it's happened to me before) and I also have one computer with a faulty Office Suite I have not fixed as of now (crashing and losing work within items). I was interested to see how this integrates with Google on an Apple Device.
The things I like: I like that I can access and view all my Drive items in one place. The titles are easy to read and navigate. I like that I can create Office documents, should I chose to for any number of reasons. I like that the app will navigate you directly to your documents in the Google Drive app. I like the concept of Microsoft Office ON mobile Apple devices. I like the "Track Changes" feature in Word documents as well as the "Comments" option. I ALSO like the amount of editing choices, text size, spell check, that sort of thing.
The thing I DIDN'T like: I needed the Google Drive app installed ALSO in order to access my "stuff". I could have just used Google Drive when I started my app exploration if I had know this. I don't really know "what" to do with my Office Documents. From what digging I could find within the app, it looks like you COULD use other cloud storage than Google Drive but that will be going away in the end of March and was not free. It looks like Microsoft has it's own app, OneDrive for access to SkyDrive. I guess you could e-mail documents to someone from your device, but I don't have e-mail linked on my phone right now so I did not try that feature. Again, you could print the document but I do not have an Airprint compatible printer.
I mentioned that I might use Quickoffice for note taking in Thing 5. I think I would use this for longer more detailed notes that would be easily accessible in Google Drive - like some idea I was fleshing out or a detailed note I wanted that could be available to me anywhere with Internet service.
Unless you are creating, editing and delivering the document from the device, I don't think Quickoffice has great value unless you are a die-hard Office user (and in that case you might have a product like a Surface Tablet). Then again, Apple products are not always "apples to apples" so perhaps this app has more/better features on the iPad than the iPhone.
For Thing 6, I chose Quickoffice to explore. Since I have been using Google Drive more steadily as it is easy to share with others (no worry of virus transfer - it's happened to me before) and I also have one computer with a faulty Office Suite I have not fixed as of now (crashing and losing work within items). I was interested to see how this integrates with Google on an Apple Device.
The things I like: I like that I can access and view all my Drive items in one place. The titles are easy to read and navigate. I like that I can create Office documents, should I chose to for any number of reasons. I like that the app will navigate you directly to your documents in the Google Drive app. I like the concept of Microsoft Office ON mobile Apple devices. I like the "Track Changes" feature in Word documents as well as the "Comments" option. I ALSO like the amount of editing choices, text size, spell check, that sort of thing.
The thing I DIDN'T like: I needed the Google Drive app installed ALSO in order to access my "stuff". I could have just used Google Drive when I started my app exploration if I had know this. I don't really know "what" to do with my Office Documents. From what digging I could find within the app, it looks like you COULD use other cloud storage than Google Drive but that will be going away in the end of March and was not free. It looks like Microsoft has it's own app, OneDrive for access to SkyDrive. I guess you could e-mail documents to someone from your device, but I don't have e-mail linked on my phone right now so I did not try that feature. Again, you could print the document but I do not have an Airprint compatible printer.
I mentioned that I might use Quickoffice for note taking in Thing 5. I think I would use this for longer more detailed notes that would be easily accessible in Google Drive - like some idea I was fleshing out or a detailed note I wanted that could be available to me anywhere with Internet service.
Unless you are creating, editing and delivering the document from the device, I don't think Quickoffice has great value unless you are a die-hard Office user (and in that case you might have a product like a Surface Tablet). Then again, Apple products are not always "apples to apples" so perhaps this app has more/better features on the iPad than the iPhone.
Thing 5!!
Yay! Thing 5! Time for a badge!!
Ok. Back to Notetaking.
For this Thing, I started with Remember the Milk. A) I kept forgetting to use it. B) It felt like I was seeing a layer of code every time I looked at the notes I created while testing out the app. I felt it was too difficult to use effectively right away and was not intuitive, so I moved on to Springpad.
To be honest, I really like using the Notes native app for iDevices. I know it is not fancy and there are no folders, but I normally use a note feature for a shopping list or something I think of on the fly, a book I hear about on the radio, funny things the kids in my life say, etc. I have even used it to "write down" ideas for my practicum as I think of them. I might even be more apt to use Quickoffice for longer notes (another "Thing").
Back to Springpad: I have not yet fully committed to this app. It feels a lot like Pinterest to me and I have already invested in that. It also seems to have some of the same features as Flipboard (presentation) and I pretty much abandoned that app. This app was not "different enough" for me to get really excited about learning it and either moving notes or creating all my new notes within the app. Where I think this app has real potential is with group projects, ideally work projects. I currently doing a practicum where the youth librarian and I are creating STEAM kits and programming. If I had known about this app BEFORE we started in January, I would have suggested we use this instead of Google Docs and Pinterset for collaboration. It is hard to know when your counterpart has read everything you add to a document beyond looking at a revision/view date on the document. I think Springpad provides a visual format to easily find things and probably is a great app. I will not give up on this app; but I am just not ready to invest myself in it until I have a purpose to dig in and really use it.
Ok. Back to Notetaking.
For this Thing, I started with Remember the Milk. A) I kept forgetting to use it. B) It felt like I was seeing a layer of code every time I looked at the notes I created while testing out the app. I felt it was too difficult to use effectively right away and was not intuitive, so I moved on to Springpad.
To be honest, I really like using the Notes native app for iDevices. I know it is not fancy and there are no folders, but I normally use a note feature for a shopping list or something I think of on the fly, a book I hear about on the radio, funny things the kids in my life say, etc. I have even used it to "write down" ideas for my practicum as I think of them. I might even be more apt to use Quickoffice for longer notes (another "Thing").
Back to Springpad: I have not yet fully committed to this app. It feels a lot like Pinterest to me and I have already invested in that. It also seems to have some of the same features as Flipboard (presentation) and I pretty much abandoned that app. This app was not "different enough" for me to get really excited about learning it and either moving notes or creating all my new notes within the app. Where I think this app has real potential is with group projects, ideally work projects. I currently doing a practicum where the youth librarian and I are creating STEAM kits and programming. If I had known about this app BEFORE we started in January, I would have suggested we use this instead of Google Docs and Pinterset for collaboration. It is hard to know when your counterpart has read everything you add to a document beyond looking at a revision/view date on the document. I think Springpad provides a visual format to easily find things and probably is a great app. I will not give up on this app; but I am just not ready to invest myself in it until I have a purpose to dig in and really use it.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Thing 4 - Keeping Up
Oh boy - "Keeping Up". This "thing" is something I have struggled with for some time. I do "okay" with my old content - Facebook, news feeds, things I have used for "a while". I struggle keeping up with the "new things" - Twitter, Instagram, professional literature (crow nesting)...
I have a StumbleUpon account, an Evernote Account, a Flipboard account, a sizable Chrome bookmark collection; and I have a Pocket account. I used to have a Google Reader account. I've used them all, but I fall back on Pocket and Chrome for keeping my "stuff" where I can find it.
In response to the apps suggested on the "Thing 4" webpage, I like Flipboard okay. I started using Flipboard as a tool to collect articles and "professional reading" I was required to report on for coursework; this was not long after Google Reader was killed. Flipboard is pretty. The magazine format is "easy on the eyes" but my personal preference is to see the articles in "text format" and then decide what to read. I always feel like I am missing something or haven't gotten deep enough in the content Flipboard provides to you (this is in reference to the "Flipboard recommends"). I subscribed to some content when I started my account, but I still found myself searching "outside" to get relevant content. I also saved some content to Flipboard but I was not confident that my stuff would be there when I went to look for it. I am also leery of linking my Facebook and Twitter to other apps - perhaps I would RAVE about how wonderful Flipboard is if I used it as a full reader for all my content.
Pocket - I LOVE Pocket. This is an app I would recommend for keeping up. Pocket is available across platforms and much to my surprise, has a bookmarklet for a computer (like StumbleUpon, Evernote, or other products). I have not used the bookmarklet, so I cannot speak to that. Pocked used to be called "Read it Later"; I think the name change happened within the last 6-8 months.
I started using Pocket because it was a SIMPLE way for me to save content I found on Twitter. (I am a "collect and save, then read" type of person). Pocket lists the article/content title and the website, similar to what a Google search result looks like. Pocket then links back out to the content you saved. I use the app pretty narrowly, but according to www.getpocket.com, Pocket has over 300 integrated apps - among those are Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, Flipboard, Google Currents...
I haven't given up any of my accounts that I listed at the top of this blog, and I may go back to Flipboard, but Pocket is my current app for keeping up, when I take the time to keep up beyond my ritual morning apps.
Pocket - check out this app!!
I have a StumbleUpon account, an Evernote Account, a Flipboard account, a sizable Chrome bookmark collection; and I have a Pocket account. I used to have a Google Reader account. I've used them all, but I fall back on Pocket and Chrome for keeping my "stuff" where I can find it.
In response to the apps suggested on the "Thing 4" webpage, I like Flipboard okay. I started using Flipboard as a tool to collect articles and "professional reading" I was required to report on for coursework; this was not long after Google Reader was killed. Flipboard is pretty. The magazine format is "easy on the eyes" but my personal preference is to see the articles in "text format" and then decide what to read. I always feel like I am missing something or haven't gotten deep enough in the content Flipboard provides to you (this is in reference to the "Flipboard recommends"). I subscribed to some content when I started my account, but I still found myself searching "outside" to get relevant content. I also saved some content to Flipboard but I was not confident that my stuff would be there when I went to look for it. I am also leery of linking my Facebook and Twitter to other apps - perhaps I would RAVE about how wonderful Flipboard is if I used it as a full reader for all my content.
Pocket - I LOVE Pocket. This is an app I would recommend for keeping up. Pocket is available across platforms and much to my surprise, has a bookmarklet for a computer (like StumbleUpon, Evernote, or other products). I have not used the bookmarklet, so I cannot speak to that. Pocked used to be called "Read it Later"; I think the name change happened within the last 6-8 months.
I started using Pocket because it was a SIMPLE way for me to save content I found on Twitter. (I am a "collect and save, then read" type of person). Pocket lists the article/content title and the website, similar to what a Google search result looks like. Pocket then links back out to the content you saved. I use the app pretty narrowly, but according to www.getpocket.com, Pocket has over 300 integrated apps - among those are Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, Flipboard, Google Currents...
I haven't given up any of my accounts that I listed at the top of this blog, and I may go back to Flipboard, but Pocket is my current app for keeping up, when I take the time to keep up beyond my ritual morning apps.
Pocket - check out this app!!
Thing 3
Well. After bearing my soul about my devices and device usage in "Thing 2", I am feeling more "on task" for Thing 3.
Before I dive into the app I used, I must say that I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted to try out Google Goggles. I REALLY wanted to try this app. However, the two "Android" devices we own in our household are proprietary and do not have a camera and I was not able to connect with my sister to use her Android device. I WILL be keeping that app on my radar in the event that I get my hands on an Android with a camera!
Now; Thing 3. I tried StandApp. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give this a 7 1/2. I liked the concept and I really wanted to like the app but...back to the beginning. I liked the five minute segments of "stand time" and felt the exercises I experienced were good and not "too weird" for a public place. I would say that the app was designed with a cubicle farm in mind. For me, this was a "wash" - I think it is great that all the exercises can be done in a small space, but it seems to "limit" or promote itself as an "office type" app. I liked the five minute timer for the "stand time". I did not like the death knell video at the beginning of the app. If you are using this app, you already know too much sitting is bad for you. I was also not crazy about the alarm feature. I originally set the alarm for a few days a week - days that I am home with my daughter. The alarm would go off a couple times, but if you don't respond to the alarm, it seems like the timer quits. It would be nice if the alarm features had more "teeth", like the alarm would keep going off until you cleared it on your phone/device.
I WILL keep the app on my phone. I like using it at my practicum site when I am doing computer work. It reminds me to get up and explore what else is happening in the library. I can see the value in an office environment; it does not work for me at home. In the workplace, I know there ARE programs out there for computer work stations - the youth librarian at my practicum site noted that her last library had pop-ups on their computers, reminding them to take a "wrist break". This app could work in a library setting - I don't know if it is the "best" product for the job.
Before I dive into the app I used, I must say that I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted to try out Google Goggles. I REALLY wanted to try this app. However, the two "Android" devices we own in our household are proprietary and do not have a camera and I was not able to connect with my sister to use her Android device. I WILL be keeping that app on my radar in the event that I get my hands on an Android with a camera!
Now; Thing 3. I tried StandApp. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give this a 7 1/2. I liked the concept and I really wanted to like the app but...back to the beginning. I liked the five minute segments of "stand time" and felt the exercises I experienced were good and not "too weird" for a public place. I would say that the app was designed with a cubicle farm in mind. For me, this was a "wash" - I think it is great that all the exercises can be done in a small space, but it seems to "limit" or promote itself as an "office type" app. I liked the five minute timer for the "stand time". I did not like the death knell video at the beginning of the app. If you are using this app, you already know too much sitting is bad for you. I was also not crazy about the alarm feature. I originally set the alarm for a few days a week - days that I am home with my daughter. The alarm would go off a couple times, but if you don't respond to the alarm, it seems like the timer quits. It would be nice if the alarm features had more "teeth", like the alarm would keep going off until you cleared it on your phone/device.
I WILL keep the app on my phone. I like using it at my practicum site when I am doing computer work. It reminds me to get up and explore what else is happening in the library. I can see the value in an office environment; it does not work for me at home. In the workplace, I know there ARE programs out there for computer work stations - the youth librarian at my practicum site noted that her last library had pop-ups on their computers, reminding them to take a "wrist break". This app could work in a library setting - I don't know if it is the "best" product for the job.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Thing 2 - Device Exploration
Thing 2: Mobile Device Tips
I have to admit that I was PRETTY EXCITED to dive in to this "Thing". I would consider myself a smartphone novice - I entered the smartphone world on Black Friday 2013 by purchasing an iPhone 5s. In contrast, I would consider myself an Apple "moderate". I am on my third generation of iPod Touch; I have used iTunes in three Windows operating systems and felt I had a good handle on what my iPod Touch could do.
I should also preface this mobile experience in stating that I still live in what I would consider a "multi-device" world. My household has four Apple devices, non of them a computer. I have a Nano for music; a 2nd generation iPod Touch for video and games that still work without updates (claimed by the three year old); a 5th generation iPod Touch; a new iPhone 5s. The latter two devices will feature heavily in my exploration of 23 Mobile Things.
I use my iPhone for calling, photo/video, Facebook, Pinterest and one or two other things. I have only downloaded 9 apps that were not stock on the phone. I will concede that this admission is weird. I am concerned about the storage size of my phone (only 8 GB). I am concerned about my data use. I am part of a shared plan and I want to get a feel for how much data I use before I go "lock, stock, and barrel" on app downloads. And my phone IS NOT A TOY for my three year old - no games, she leaves it alone.
My 5th generation iPod Touch is much larger in terms of storage and does my "heavy lifting". I've been using a Touch for e-mail, apps, Facebook, and a host of other things since 2010. I have learned different features as my use has grown and as updates have changed the iOS system.
Back to "Thing 2":
I started my inquiry with the 10 minute iOS 7 Hidden Features video. I felt the video was a wash in terms of learning "new" content. I do not use Siri; I do not care about Apple's dynamic wallpaper. I DID learn about the level feature on my iPhone. Unfortunately, the compass is not a dedicated app on my iPod Touch. This was one of many reminders that iOS 7 is not always the same across devices. I waited for information on "closing apps", but that information was not included in the video.
The one feature I found in the YouTube clip was the Safari feature to "grab" Tweets by using the Shared Links icon. I tend to forget about the new technologies in favor of "tried and true" (like Facebook). This tool will make it "easy" for me to see what is happening on Twitter without slogging through Tweet after Tweet - and feeling overwhelmed when I step away for a few days.
After the video, I moved on to the link from the Apple site with features for the 5s. I discovered many of the features highlighted by Apple on accident the first couple days using my phone and again when I upgraded to iOS 7 on my Touch. Things that were new - Mapping pictures. I have not figured out HOW I will use this feature beyond a folder on my phone or my Touch yet, but I tested it with our family vacation photos taken at different parks at Disney World. Cool feature.
One feature I was not using in iOS 7 was the dedicated Calendar feature. I imported my Google Calendar into my phone (I use the Google Calendar app on my Touch). It is weird and I do not know how I feel about it. However - if it edits well, I WILL choose to embrace the new look. The app for the Touch is glitchy and I have found myself using Safari OR using a computer to access my calendar until this point.
I also skimmed the "15 tips" and still didn't know how or why I would need to close apps. Until I read the Thing 2 post, I assumed that pressing the Home button DID close apps. So. I Googled. After reading two blogs, a short article, and a posting on the Apple Support, I still haven't found a "satisfactory answer" as to WHY one closes apps except to preserve battery life. I did close several apps on my Touch and this is a feature I will continue to use!!
Ultimately, I was hoping I would learn MORE tips and tricks - I was a bit disappointed with Thing 2. If I used my newer devices for music, if I used Siri, if I only owned one device and used it for everything, I believe this Thing would have been more fulfilling. It turns out I actually do know how to get a lot out of my iDevices. I just didn't know that I knew so much!
I have to admit that I was PRETTY EXCITED to dive in to this "Thing". I would consider myself a smartphone novice - I entered the smartphone world on Black Friday 2013 by purchasing an iPhone 5s. In contrast, I would consider myself an Apple "moderate". I am on my third generation of iPod Touch; I have used iTunes in three Windows operating systems and felt I had a good handle on what my iPod Touch could do.
I should also preface this mobile experience in stating that I still live in what I would consider a "multi-device" world. My household has four Apple devices, non of them a computer. I have a Nano for music; a 2nd generation iPod Touch for video and games that still work without updates (claimed by the three year old); a 5th generation iPod Touch; a new iPhone 5s. The latter two devices will feature heavily in my exploration of 23 Mobile Things.
I use my iPhone for calling, photo/video, Facebook, Pinterest and one or two other things. I have only downloaded 9 apps that were not stock on the phone. I will concede that this admission is weird. I am concerned about the storage size of my phone (only 8 GB). I am concerned about my data use. I am part of a shared plan and I want to get a feel for how much data I use before I go "lock, stock, and barrel" on app downloads. And my phone IS NOT A TOY for my three year old - no games, she leaves it alone.
My 5th generation iPod Touch is much larger in terms of storage and does my "heavy lifting". I've been using a Touch for e-mail, apps, Facebook, and a host of other things since 2010. I have learned different features as my use has grown and as updates have changed the iOS system.
Back to "Thing 2":
I started my inquiry with the 10 minute iOS 7 Hidden Features video. I felt the video was a wash in terms of learning "new" content. I do not use Siri; I do not care about Apple's dynamic wallpaper. I DID learn about the level feature on my iPhone. Unfortunately, the compass is not a dedicated app on my iPod Touch. This was one of many reminders that iOS 7 is not always the same across devices. I waited for information on "closing apps", but that information was not included in the video.
The one feature I found in the YouTube clip was the Safari feature to "grab" Tweets by using the Shared Links icon. I tend to forget about the new technologies in favor of "tried and true" (like Facebook). This tool will make it "easy" for me to see what is happening on Twitter without slogging through Tweet after Tweet - and feeling overwhelmed when I step away for a few days.
After the video, I moved on to the link from the Apple site with features for the 5s. I discovered many of the features highlighted by Apple on accident the first couple days using my phone and again when I upgraded to iOS 7 on my Touch. Things that were new - Mapping pictures. I have not figured out HOW I will use this feature beyond a folder on my phone or my Touch yet, but I tested it with our family vacation photos taken at different parks at Disney World. Cool feature.
One feature I was not using in iOS 7 was the dedicated Calendar feature. I imported my Google Calendar into my phone (I use the Google Calendar app on my Touch). It is weird and I do not know how I feel about it. However - if it edits well, I WILL choose to embrace the new look. The app for the Touch is glitchy and I have found myself using Safari OR using a computer to access my calendar until this point.
I also skimmed the "15 tips" and still didn't know how or why I would need to close apps. Until I read the Thing 2 post, I assumed that pressing the Home button DID close apps. So. I Googled. After reading two blogs, a short article, and a posting on the Apple Support, I still haven't found a "satisfactory answer" as to WHY one closes apps except to preserve battery life. I did close several apps on my Touch and this is a feature I will continue to use!!
Ultimately, I was hoping I would learn MORE tips and tricks - I was a bit disappointed with Thing 2. If I used my newer devices for music, if I used Siri, if I only owned one device and used it for everything, I believe this Thing would have been more fulfilling. It turns out I actually do know how to get a lot out of my iDevices. I just didn't know that I knew so much!
Monday, January 27, 2014
Thing 1
For Thing 1, we are supposed to "tell us what you hope to get out of the program".
I hope to learn about USABLE, highly adaptable technology that I can envision being used in a library. I am not currently working in a school library, although I do volunteer in a public library twice a week. It is sometimes hard for me to have the vision for HOW the technologies I learn about and discuss in coursework actually being implemented and used in the "real world".
I hope to learn about "real life" sustained implementation - as I alluded above, the five "w's", "who, what, when, where, why, and how" of positive sustained technology use. It is hard to be excited about learning something in a vacuum, without practical application.
And as I mentioned above, "highly adaptable" technology. I would like to learn technology that spans several library types, several device platforms, and can be molded to be used in many different scenarios. I would like to learn skills that can follow me into any job that I have after I am done with St. Kate's - school library or otherwise!
I hope to learn about USABLE, highly adaptable technology that I can envision being used in a library. I am not currently working in a school library, although I do volunteer in a public library twice a week. It is sometimes hard for me to have the vision for HOW the technologies I learn about and discuss in coursework actually being implemented and used in the "real world".
I hope to learn about "real life" sustained implementation - as I alluded above, the five "w's", "who, what, when, where, why, and how" of positive sustained technology use. It is hard to be excited about learning something in a vacuum, without practical application.
And as I mentioned above, "highly adaptable" technology. I would like to learn technology that spans several library types, several device platforms, and can be molded to be used in many different scenarios. I would like to learn skills that can follow me into any job that I have after I am done with St. Kate's - school library or otherwise!
More technology?? A.K.A - I have to start a blog?
I'm Sara, an "almost finished" (insert cheers) SMLS student at St. Catherine University. As a part of coursework at St. Kate's, specifically LIS 7250 - Curriculum and School Libraries I will be taking part in the 23 Mobile Things Program.
As a "relatively new" smart phone user, but a long time iPod Touch user (and Nook tablet), I am eager to see what kinds of things I will be learning to use; as well as what apps and "things" I already use or am familiar with.
New year, new you, new technology, new blog :).
As a "relatively new" smart phone user, but a long time iPod Touch user (and Nook tablet), I am eager to see what kinds of things I will be learning to use; as well as what apps and "things" I already use or am familiar with.
New year, new you, new technology, new blog :).
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