I'm a gardener, so I decided to download MyGarden to my iPad. I like the option for a plant overview without logging in. The plant overview is kind of simplistic, with no info on zones or colors available. The plants are really oddly categorized, with some very, very specific varieties, along with "Phlox", which can have tons of sub varieties. Dare I say that I wish it were more like LC Subject Headings, with broader categories above more specific categories?
The sharing piece is not very interesting to me. There aren't very many people with particular plants in their garden, and there are very few of them in my zone. The people who aren't in my zone are pretty irrelevant to me. I suppose this could be useful if I had questions about killing Japanese beatles, but I don't think I would use an app for that. There are web sites that are much better for this purpose, and the U of M extension service and the Horticulture Society are much more relevant for Minnesota. I guess that although this is a hobby, it isn't something I consider a social thing. Or if it, is, it's social with my neighbors, not on the web.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Friday, June 13, 2014
23 Mobile Things #18 - Education
Based on the description, I chose to download Duolingo to my iPad and signed in using Google+. I used the Spanish module. I tried to test out of the first 7 skills based on my ancient high school Spanish. I got pretty far, but eventually failed. I tried the first lesson, and I liked the variation of multiple choice, translating, and choosing words between explanations. This seems like a great way to buff up my Spanish.
I also tried Fooducate. First I tried to locate it in the App Store using the iPad, but could not find it. When I went to their web site, it said the app was for iPhone, so I tried searching it in the App Store using my iPhone and found it. This app really wants me to upgrade. I'm using a Fitbit to track my food, but if I weren't, I might use this. Oddly, my breakfast cereal gets a lower grade on their website than in the app. What's that about? I like the listing of points and the ability to scan barcodes. I'll keep this in my weight loss arsenal for a while.
This was a fun and useful Thing.
I also tried Fooducate. First I tried to locate it in the App Store using the iPad, but could not find it. When I went to their web site, it said the app was for iPhone, so I tried searching it in the App Store using my iPhone and found it. This app really wants me to upgrade. I'm using a Fitbit to track my food, but if I weren't, I might use this. Oddly, my breakfast cereal gets a lower grade on their website than in the app. What's that about? I like the listing of points and the ability to scan barcodes. I'll keep this in my weight loss arsenal for a while.
This was a fun and useful Thing.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
23 Mobile Things #17 - Connecting to Community
I downloaded the Going Out app from the Star Tribune onto my iPhone. It's great! I can find movies, restaurants, plays, comedy, museums, and more. I like the ability to find restaurants by location, and then I can apply filters. I like the best bets. The app is easy to use and the person who designed it seems to think like I do. (That probably means that most people hate it, based on most of the apps I have used so far. :-)
I can't imagine how to use this professionally, but I will definitely be using it personally.
I can't imagine how to use this professionally, but I will definitely be using it personally.
23 Mobile Things #16 - Audio
For this thing, I downloaded SoundCloud onto my iPhone and created ANOTHER account. I've seen on Facebook that some of my son's friends use SoundCloud, so I was hopeful that it might be a good app. After I selected several categories to follow, the app went into lalaland while filling my Stream with the latest tracks from people you know. Did I select too many categories? Is my wifi too slow?
I was able to search for an artist and play a song. The controls are pretty straightforward, and I can see how I would make a playlist. When I went back to my Stream, it was finally full. Oddly, one of the items was the "General Prologue to Canterbury Tales" from Smithsonian Folkways, so I listened to that for a while. A book by Diana Gabaldon was also on the list, but it was unclear whether it was the whole incredibly long book or not.
The screens for 23 Things must show an iPad, because on the iPhone, when I tapped the Activity tab, all I got was a screen saying, "See Activity from people interested in your posts," with no Record option. There was a three dot icon option not on the iPad screen shot with account info that included a record option. I recorded myself playing Ashokan Farewell on the piano. It was easy. I could see using this to record a piece at a piano recital then posting it for family to hear.
I'm trying to think how we could use this in the library. Not too much comes to mind, but maybe if we had a reading of a banned book during Banned Books Week, we could post an excerpt of someone reading.
I was able to search for an artist and play a song. The controls are pretty straightforward, and I can see how I would make a playlist. When I went back to my Stream, it was finally full. Oddly, one of the items was the "General Prologue to Canterbury Tales" from Smithsonian Folkways, so I listened to that for a while. A book by Diana Gabaldon was also on the list, but it was unclear whether it was the whole incredibly long book or not.
The screens for 23 Things must show an iPad, because on the iPhone, when I tapped the Activity tab, all I got was a screen saying, "See Activity from people interested in your posts," with no Record option. There was a three dot icon option not on the iPad screen shot with account info that included a record option. I recorded myself playing Ashokan Farewell on the piano. It was easy. I could see using this to record a piece at a piano recital then posting it for family to hear.
I'm trying to think how we could use this in the library. Not too much comes to mind, but maybe if we had a reading of a banned book during Banned Books Week, we could post an excerpt of someone reading.
23 Mobile Things #15 - Infographics
Being more of a word person, I'm not really into Infographics, but I know some of our students would be. I installed Visualize on my iPad to try my hand at making a graphic.
I used background to select a corkboard, then selected a question mark icon. When I tapped for further effects, the app threw me out. I started over twice, but the same thing happened. I was able to make the icon smaller or larger, but the orange of the original icon was a limiting factor. The app helpfully offered to let me buy something better frequently. The same problem happened with stationery, talking bubble, and anything else under Gallery. I could draw, but as soon as I tapped futher effects, it threw me out. Ditto for Text.
I can see that it might be useful to make infographics for our library, but this is obviously not the way I'm going to do it. I guess I got what I paid for! I would be reluctant to try the paid version of this app since I can't really try the features.
I used background to select a corkboard, then selected a question mark icon. When I tapped for further effects, the app threw me out. I started over twice, but the same thing happened. I was able to make the icon smaller or larger, but the orange of the original icon was a limiting factor. The app helpfully offered to let me buy something better frequently. The same problem happened with stationery, talking bubble, and anything else under Gallery. I could draw, but as soon as I tapped futher effects, it threw me out. Ditto for Text.
I can see that it might be useful to make infographics for our library, but this is obviously not the way I'm going to do it. I guess I got what I paid for! I would be reluctant to try the paid version of this app since I can't really try the features.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
23 Mobile Things #14 - Videos
I had heard of Vine, so I downloaded it to my phone and created yet ANOTHER account. Vine was really easy to use. I liked the embedded tutorial that you almost could not avoid. However, the only interesting thing to videotape was my teenage son making popcorn, and he did not appreciate appearing in my video. He had heard of Vine, but did not want me to post. I totally understand. In fact, I think it's a great, easy way to take a short video, but I must be really old school because I don't understand who would want to view my videos, unless it's of some momentous event like first steps or graduation. Maybe a funny cat? But we don't own a cat.
Last year was the first time I ran into a patron who only wanted information in video format, not something they could read. I can understand this for people with learning disabilities, but for most people, I can't really fathom this. Video is hard to browse. You can't "scan" it the way you can scan a printed page. It takes way longer to view a video. It can be a legitimate source of information, but I can't see it as an efficient source of information. The same goes for Vine, which seems like the extended version of Instagram. None of the videos that Vine showed me were remotely interesting or funny.
I can't think of any way we could use this at work that we couldn't do better with a photo or screen capture.
Last year was the first time I ran into a patron who only wanted information in video format, not something they could read. I can understand this for people with learning disabilities, but for most people, I can't really fathom this. Video is hard to browse. You can't "scan" it the way you can scan a printed page. It takes way longer to view a video. It can be a legitimate source of information, but I can't see it as an efficient source of information. The same goes for Vine, which seems like the extended version of Instagram. None of the videos that Vine showed me were remotely interesting or funny.
I can't think of any way we could use this at work that we couldn't do better with a photo or screen capture.
23 Mobile Things #13 - Presentations
For this Thing, I downloaded Deck Slideshow Presentations onto my iPad. I liked that it didn't make me create an account to get started. (My Password Safe is getting way too much use lately!) It was really easy to create slides and apply a theme, although I was a bit disappointed that most themes required a fee. Still, I tried Stickies and Paper Plate and they were both pretty cool. Stickies reminded me of Prezi. I can see that some themes might be worth a fee. I like that it can export to Slideshare, Dropbox, email, and more.
The drawback to using this at work is that we're a seriously Microsoft shop, which makes it really hard to use an iPad to connect to a projector. I would definitely have to export these files. If I export as a Deck file, I have to use an Apple device to get the cool effects, which means problems using a projector. I could use it as a PDF or Powerpoint with a PC, but then I might as well use something else. Still, if I exported it to Slideshare, there might be possibilities. A conundrum worth contemplating.
The drawback to using this at work is that we're a seriously Microsoft shop, which makes it really hard to use an iPad to connect to a projector. I would definitely have to export these files. If I export as a Deck file, I have to use an Apple device to get the cool effects, which means problems using a projector. I could use it as a PDF or Powerpoint with a PC, but then I might as well use something else. Still, if I exported it to Slideshare, there might be possibilities. A conundrum worth contemplating.
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