Thing 23: Evaluate 23 Mobile Things

Thing 23! How can it be??

I enjoyed being able to spend some time playing with the apps presented in the 23 Mobile Things. Prior to starting the course I had played with apps a bit, but my experience and knowledge of them was very limited. I had a rough idea of what a few were and roughly how they might be described, but after completing the training I feel much more experienced with apps and feel like I could adequately describe what an app is, what it does, how it works, etc. I'd say as a result of this experience I have gained experience and understanding of apps and mobile devices which should help me have another tool in my technology tool belt so I can better assist my patrons with their technology questions and concerns. Although I didn't complete this training on an Ipad/tablet (used my cell phone), I feel like my increased understanding of apps will also help me be a better resource for patrons coming to the library seeking help with library apps, and e services apps (e-books, e-magazines, e-audiobooks, etc.).

Along the way I had the chance to explore a wide range of apps --everything from productivity apps to note taking apps to gaming apps. I enjoyed the variety, but as I had the chance to play I especially enjoyed the Redlaser app and Fooducate. I also discovered my new note taking app that I have been using ever since and really enjoying! Although I decided not to keep the majority of the apps I tried, I did decide to keep these three to use in my personal (and perhaps at some point professional) life.

I unfortunately am squeezing this in pretty close to the deadline, so can't say I've had a lot of time to connect with others while completing this training. I have flipped through a few posts from other random bloggers occasionally over the few months we've been working on this project which was fun because I was able to see their reactions and inputs into the training as well as how they perceived the apps. I had the chance to chat with coworkers a bit about how they were doing, but it was just general checking in, how's it going, what do you like? etc.

If another 23 Things program was offered I'd be interested in participating. I enjoyed the fact I could boost my technology skills by learning about apps in general (which I wasn't very familiar with prior to the program) and explore a wide variety of apps related to different interests. I think the parts that intrigued me most was technology and variety being mixed together.

My sentence: 

23 Mobile Things is an online adventure course linking library staff with technology, variety and fun so that they can better serve the public and have a little happy appy enjoyment along the way. 

Thanks all for organizing a great and educational experience! 

Courtesy to Google for the picture

Thing 22: Discovering Apps

As I've been working through the 23 Mobile Things website I've had the chance to discover many apps presented to me that I've been able to play with. It seems very fitting that our last "thing" be an app about discovering apps!

I decided to try the Droid of the Day app because I like the fact it is android friendly, targeted toward android only (no getting excited about an app and seeing it is Apple only!!) and introduces one new app a day making it easy, manageable and fun to learn about new apps. There is a lot of variety in the apps presented (games, note taking, productivity, etc.) which is nice so that there is something for everyone.

Upon opening the app, the app of the day is presented along with a brief description of the app. There is a thumbs up and thumbs down feature for like or hate, a link to share with others via messaging, email, etc., the ability to directly link with Google Play to download the app, a feature to flip through to the next app and a search function that allows me to search for apps.

There is also a handy app list, easy to use and adjust settings, a help section that contains FAQ's and brief user guide and a suggest an app feature. It is nice because the settings allow the user to adjust whether or not they would like daily notifications, as well as what kind of apps the user would like presented to them (can include or exclude certain categories) as well as what time of day the user would like to receive their reminders. It was nice to see so many settings that are able to be customized!

Although I like the ease of use of this app, and the variety it presents to users, I can't see myself keeping it as a means to discover new apps just because I don't tend to like to just look for apps to look for apps. If I figure I need something or want to be able to do something on my phone, I search for an app that fits what I am looking for. Although this isn't something I'm interested in keeping I can see where it would be very helpful for individuals who like to explore new apps and a very fun and easy way to do so!

Thing 21: Free-For-All

Prior to starting 23 Mobile Things I wasn’t really using Apps a whole lot because I didn’t know there were so many of them, how easy they are to use, and how useful many of them can be! 

One of the few apps I did use prior to starting 23 Mobile Things is an app called “Send Anywhere.” I started using this app because I had content on my phone and my computer, but no way to send it between them besides for email, but I didn’t want to have to send emails every time I wanted to transfer a file between the devices. I discovered “Send Anywhere” because it promised to provide an easy alternative to that…and boy does it ever!! I’m able to send items between the devices with just a few simple clicks. I pull up the file in the Send Anywhere app, and once the file is uploaded to their server I get a code that I enter into my other device. The download starts automatically and –viola!—the file has been transferred between devices. Quick, easy, slick and free!! 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estmob.android.sendanywhere

Thing 20: Games

Currently I don’t play games on my phone (or really my computer either except maybe some Mahjong—I mostly just stick to board games) so I found this thing to be an interesting dive into a whole new realm of digital gaming via mobile. I decided to try Frogger because I wanted a game that was simple enough (Temple Run sounded interesting, but a bit harder) since I’m not real experienced with gaming, but yet I wanted something that would be interesting and fun too. The description likened it to an old arcade game, which I do like, so it piqued my interest enough to try it.

I was a bit disappointed to see that Frogger required an active network connection in order to be able to play since I tend to skip on the data whenever possible (in order to avoid having to pay extra for it), but in a way, I can understand why you would need it. Wi-fi still works for the game, and I have a lot of access to wi-fi between home and work so that's a pretty convenient feature. The game itself is pretty basic which is great for me, but overall, not something I can see myself spending a lot of time with just because I'm not big on games and because while the game is fun, it's not very enthralling.

I can see where people might like to have free games to play (and certainly a lot of people take advantage of it, I know), but it's just not something that personally interests me much (there's a reason paperback books fit perfectly into purses, right??). Fun to check out, but not something I'll be keeping.

Thing 19: Hobbies

Although the apps listed under Thing 19 don’t really reflect my interests, they were interesting to read about nonetheless. It appears there is an app for almost everything!

Roadninja sounded interesting and would have been nice to know about before taking my last road trip! I decided to try it just for fun to see what it comes up with near my home.

Roadninja is an app that works while you drive. It will automatically locate you and select the nearest exit or it will let you manually select your nearest exit if it cannot locate you. You can easily select what information you would like to see (gas, food, hotels, etc.) as well as how far off the exit you want amenities to show and what daily deals are offered. The gas portion I found especially useful because I do a lot of driving and I enjoyed the fact that Roadninja gave me the name of the gas station and the price of fuel for easy comparison! That was cool.

I tried the app from the comfort of my home as I don't live too far off a highway; it has a lot of great features for the traveler. Not only does it show nearby food and eating establishments (among other things such as hotels, entertainment, etc.), but it also will pull them up on a map if you desire, give you an address, phone number, ability to call the establishment in-app, directions and the ability to share the destination with others via text, email, bluetooth, etc. Certain establishments also link to Google reviews for quick and easy way to read reviews about others experiences.

I could see myself occasionally using this app for work as I do travel sometimes in order to switch locations and sometimes need to stop for gas and food. Usually I have a rough idea of what is available in the area, but sometimes I travel to a new branch or a branch I am rarely at and am more unfamiliar with the area. There is a lot of info and many useful functions packed into this app. It's free, but could certainly be the travelers/road trippers dream come true! This is an app that (obviously) requires data as it works as you drive which I would find a difficulty in using as I have to pay for any data I use, however, for people who have data plans or don't mind paying for data, this could certainly be a great app! Bon voyage! 

Thing 18: Education

A lot of these look FUN…I was disappointed to see that a couple of the ones I really wanted to explore were Apple only or were incompatible with my version of Android, but I was still able to find plenty of Android apps for me to explore. 

Although a lot of these are for fun, I think a few of them could be used in group settings professionally at the library such as using the brain or science 360 app to jump start a program related to those topics (perhaps pulling it up on a presentation format with an Ipad and projector before delving into an author talk/books/learning activity related to the topic). 

For fun I decided to try the Fooducate app because I am trying to eat healthier, and Duolingo to help practice my Spanish from high school (plus I just like to learn new languages). 

Duolingo is fun and easy to use. I was able to connect it to my Google account without ever using an email address or password to sign in which I thought was great. The program has fun graphics and is game-like which makes learning language concepts fun. The app allows the user to learn in a variety of ways by seeing the text, selecting text, typing text and listening to native speaking. I like that you can test out of a level instead of having to play through which is convenient if you have a basic beginning background in a language. The one thing I didn’t care for was the daily reminder that would pop up asking me to practice, but that is small and only an annoyance. There could be a way to turn off the daily reminders in settings, but I didn’t look as I don’t plan to keep the app.

Fooducate is an interesting app that I think is very nicely laid out and I could see being very useful. Often there are foods (like produce) that don’t have nutrition labels. You know they are healthy, but what vitamins do they contain? What calories? What is a serving size?

To use Fooducate you can either create an account or use your facebook log in and fooducate will let you access its database to research different types of foods (everything from produce to string cheese to ice cream. The food index is wide and deep covering not only foods themselves, but also letting you choose a brand name of the food too. If you search for a food type it gives the food a letter rating (A, B, C, etc.) and an explanation of the rating based on how healthy it is for you. Nutritional information is provided in detail including serving size, calories, fat, cholesterol, etc. 

Fooducate gives you several different options for searching for food in its database. You can search by category (meat, breads, dairy, etc.), search by food name (ex. Green peppers), or you can take a picture of the barcode of the item. I admit I was a bit of a skeptic at how well this feature would work, but after trying it a few times I was impressed.

Fun questions related to the food item are at the bottom of the page and are interesting to read through. There are also interesting facts related to the health of the food or ingredients in the food. 

Although both apps I explored were lots of fun, I don’t see myself spending a lot of time playing with Duolingo just because I don’t try to spend more time on my phone then I have too. I can see where this would be a useful app for individuals learning a second language who would like some variance in their practice aside from the usual exercises provided in a book or on CD.

I pretty much fell in love with Fooducate because it gives me a quick and easy way to learn more about the foods I am eating (and how some food choices I think are healthy may not be as healthy as thought!), tips to eat better and a way to easily track my diet and see the overall picture. This will be an app to keep.

Thing 17: Connecting to Community

Thing 17 was fun to explore…I was excited to see apps dedicated just to MN and although these are probably more useful in my personal life, there could maybe be times when I could connect it professionally as well (perhaps suggesting the Beer App to patrons I know attend brewing events at the library).

I was super excited to see hiking apps as well as a Minneapolis Skyway app and Going Out. Unfortunately, the Minneapolis Skyway app is Apple only and Going Out isn’t compatible with my device. In light of this, I wanted to try the MN Museums app, but it was so large (28M) that it wouldn't fit on my phone so I decided to skip it and try the Think Hopkins! app instead. 

Think Hopkins! was fun to play with. I've been to Hopkins several times so am vaguley aware of the area and what there is to do, but am by no means an expert. I thought it was nice that there were lots of nice pictures of the city, parks, etc. when the app first opened. Upon opening there were several choices to choose from  --quizzes, activities, arts, dining, shopping, history, cinema, more.  

I deiced to start with the quizzes. I was given the choice of 4 different quiz types to choose from --picture, Hopkins history, life in Hopkins, and shopping and dining. I tried each of the quizzes and all were well done with great pictures, a good assortment of questions and interesting trivia.

Next I tried the activities section and was given a list of sample activities one can do in Hopkins such as "Go snow sledding, Ice skate or play hockey, Take the kids to a playground, etc." and as I clicked into each activity a map popped up with options for where one could do each of the activities. The map was excellent because it utilizes Google maps. If the location of interest was a place --such as the Hopkins Pavilion-- a map as well as information about the destination was available and appeared to link directly to the locations website.  

I explored each of the other tabs (arts, dining, shopping, history and cinema) and all had similar features in regards to ability to quickly and easily gain information, good maps and pictures. The more tab gave the ability to turn the apps gps feature on or off, send to a friend or contact the app creator by email.

Overall, I must say I am very impressed with this app, especially considering that it has a very low download rate and is for a smaller suburb of Minneapolis. I think this would make an excellent resource for anybody moving into town or anyone who wants information about the area. I don't work at the Hopkins library often, but I would imagine that this might be a useful recommendation that staff there would appreciate!

Now if only there was one for my town!

Thing 16: Audio

Out of the couple of apps suggested on the 23 Mobile Things website I decided to try Ipadio because it appeared to have a lot of functions that a simpler app such as Audioboo doesn't have. It was quick and easy to install although I was surprised to see I had to register on the application, but that was quick and easy as well. Ipadio gave two options to record –audio and phone—that were easy to use. Recording was as simple as hitting a button or two…the playback feature was also handy as well so I could hear how the recording turned out. I only tried the audio option which worked very smoothly and I was able to make an audio recording. I decided not to try the phone option because I would have had to call a number and I have to pay for minutes on my phone. 

The app has a few settings to play with such as transmitting location as well as whether the app needs a pin to broadcast, but otherwise, is pretty simplistic. There is a nice “how to” tutorial showing how to use the app. There was also an editing function so I could edit my audio casts after I made them and an upload function so I could upload the audio casts directly from the app.

To be honest, I can’t ever see myself using this in my personal life…I just don’t have a need to record audio, however, it would be an app I’d consider if doing something professionally for work just because it is easy to use, and does have a few extra functions that go with it (and a “how to” section so I know how to use those extra functions!). The only downfall is that the phone recording option requires the user to make a call so will be inconvenience for individuals paying for minutes, however, there is an audio function to help avoid that. Overall a nice app!

15 Badge

Thing 15: Infographics

I was super excited to see that infographics made the list! I started working with infographics in college as I plugged my way through technical communication courses. A few fun afternoons were spent learning about infographics and making one of my one own. Infographics provide a fun, but informative way for people to see information. They are especially good for kids or people who prefer more of a visual learning style. 

I was sad to see that there are limited apps that work with Android (mostly Apple apps). Out of the four apps recommended on the 23 Mobile Things webpage I didn't get a chance to work with any of them because they were either Apple only, weren't compatible with my older version of android or there were a number of people reporting problems getting it to work (i Visual Info Touch Lite being the one) so I decided to skip it. Instead of using one of the recommended ones I decided to search for an Infographics app that would work with my older version of andorid and settled on Daily Infographic. Daily Infographic just launched on May 5, 2014 so I was interested to see how good the app would be, depth of the image library and how well it would work considering it is so new.

While browsing the app I noticed that there was a search option as well as an ability to pick and browse by category. It was nice to be able to flip through the infographics quickly and easily (just side swiping), and download them if I chose to. The infographics I found were very good quality, clear to read through when enlarged, related to relevant topics, and I think this is an excellent app if you are searching for an infographic to use, but can’t seem to find one.

Such fun! A whole afternoon would easily be wasted looking at these fun and intriguing, yet informative graphics Although I'm sad to see that the options are limited for individuals running older android platforms, there are still apps that work and fun Infographics to be explored. 

Thing 14: Video

After looking through the different app suggestions listed on I deiced to try Socialcam because it seemed like the app that had the least amount of limiting by number of videos, length of videos, etc. I downloaded and opened the app which was easy and I as I started to play with it, I realized why it is called Socialcam –because it really is meant to be more of a socializing camera then just a video recorder. There was the option to connect with friends, post to activity feeds, etc. but what I didn't realize until I made a video was that there didn't appear to be a way to just save the video…you have to upload it to the web. There was the option to set privacy settings for who could see the video –everyone, friends or only me –however I was surprised that it couldn't just be downloaded to the phone or my computer.

Socialcam may be a good idea for people who spend a lot of time socializing and posting fun videos for their friends, but this is an app I could never see myself using either professionally or personally. I don’t care to make videos personally, and make very few on a professional basis. The few videos I have made I prefer to be able to download to my computer for storage, for editing purposes and so that I can choose where to post it (Facebook, Twitter, Email, Company/School server, etc.), instead of to the website Socialcam selects for me. Although the video recorder does a good job of recording the video and sound and it was fun to explore a new app, I have to give a thumb down for Socialcam.

Thing 13: Presentations

If you’ve ever taken a class or attended a meeting you’ve no doubt seen a presentation. Wouldn’t it be nice to make a quick and easy presentation from your phone? With several free apps you can!

Many of the free apps highlighted on the 23 Mobile Things page are made for Apple, but there are two that work for Android.

Lensoo Create sounded interesting because of virtual whiteboard capabilities along with voice. Presentations can easily be shared via email, Facebook or Twitter. While this app sounds like it has many great features, it does sound like an app that would work better with a stylus which I don’t have. I looked into trying Deck Slideshow Presentations based on the description this was an app that was VERY, VERY EASY to use to create presentations. Unfortunately, when I tried to download both apps, neither one was compatible with my version of android so I had to go hunting for one that was.

I discovered that there are very few presentation making apps that are compatible with my version of Android, however, Presentation Maker is one I discovered that is. The description described it as an equivalent of the PC Powerpoint program.

The app has a very simple and intuitive lay out. The main screen opens to one of four options, one of which is a tutorial on how to use the app, however, it is so easy to pick up and use you can probably skip it and be fine most of the time.

The presentation maker is basic, which is what I was expecting for a phone model, however, it did have a fair number of features I was not expecting. It gave me the ability to choose between a plain color background (my choice of any color and any shade off the paint type wheel which I was impressed about), or an image (selected from either my gallery on the phone or taken by my camera on the spot). I have the ability to add different shapes, as well as text. I could modify text color, font, etc. All of the items were quick and easy to drag, drop and move. I could choose from one of several transitions in between slides and there is a transition button so I can see how my slide will look when finished. There is a save button as well as an edit button so it can be a work in progress. The only part I found tricky was that I didn't see any way to increase or decrease the size of the shapes and text, but that could just be my user error. 

While the app I tried is definitely easy to use and has many great features, I can’t see myself using it in my day to day life either personally or professionally. For many items that I may create professionally, I’d rather do it on a computer simply for ease of use, extra features and storage capabilities, however, for many people I can see how these apps would be useful when on the go. 

Thing 12: Books. Books, and More Books

Thing 11 covered ebooks available at local libraries, however, Thing 12 covers other apps that provide free ebook content. I found Thing 12 to be especially interesting because I hadn’t realized there were free apps to get ebooks from outside of the library. Although many of the titles are classics due to public domain copyrights, this could be very handy for when students need a classic for school, and the shelves are bare! I thought it was great that an audiobook app was mentioned as well as an app that features ebooks, but allows people to connect with each other via the app.

I decided to try Free Books. I thought it was cool that book covers were featured in the app. There were genres to click on and inside were blurbs about the genre that highlighted many book titles. Also included in the genre was the ability to browse books by book cover –great for people who like to browse visually (I know, I know, shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but…). This made it easy because often patrons will want books of a particular “type” so I really liked the genre browse-ability factor.

Once you find a book you like, you can click on the title and it will open some basic information such as author, year published, languages available to read in, description about the book is about, etc. There are also some tabs along the top that let you see what reviews others have given the book (stars and written reviews) and suggestions based on the current pick (which are pretty vague as it just reverts back to a couple of categories, but still somewhat helpful).

Downloading the book was a breeze; all I had to do was hit the download button and it appeared in the app under Library ready to be clicked and opened. The text is clear and easy to read, a good size for reading and keeps your place if you go out of the book and come back in.

I can’t imagine wanting to read a long book like this on a small mobile device such as a smart phone (maybe an ipad/tablet, but a phone seems really small), but I know that there are people interested in that.

Based on the extreme ease of use (why, oh why can’t Overdrive be so simple?!? I know, I know, copyright protections, but this was almost just TOO easy!), ability to browse by genre, ability to search by author/title (and it is very intuitive!), clear text, and the app remembering where you left off I’d have to say this is a most excellent app and I would highly recommend it for patrons looking to e-read some of the classics.

Thing 11 Library Reference

Thing 11 is interesting because while I help troubleshoot and guide people through using library apps I have very little exposure to them myself (aside from fixing problems!) just because I don’t have an e-reader, tablet, etc.

While reading through Thing 11, I did think it was interesting that the ELM portal was ingeniously designed to automatically adjust to each users device (computer vs tablet vs phone) and that the web address is the same whether a user wants to access the portal on a computer or a mobile device. That makes it super slick and easy!

As part of Thing 11 I downloaded a couple of counties apps since I tend to cross boundaries for work. It appeared that many of the counties (if not all), used Boopsie for an app provider. Boopsie is quick and easy to use. The app opens to a general breakdown of tabs such as hours and locations, search the catalog, my account, search the catalog, ebooks, etc. I find the apps easy to use because they are more basic breakdown of the library website, but still seem to have most if not full capability of the usual website.

Both the ELM Portal and Boopsie apps were interesting to learn about and I can definitely see myself keeping my boopsie apps so that I don't always have to log onto a computer the next time I want to place a request or check my library account. It was good to get a first hand experience so I can know what my customers see and can hopefully help them better in the future. 

Badge 10

Thing 10: Sharing Photos

Now that you've taken those photos you probably want to be able to share them with others. In the past, in order to share photos you had to download them onto a computer and then upload them to a website or email or print them, however, since so many people use mobile devices there have been apps created to help you easily and effortlessly take your photos from your phone to the web. Both apps recommended in the 23 Mobile Things look interesting, although I don’t have experience using either (I tend to keep a lot of my personal life off of the internet). I started this thing looking forward to learning more about each of them.

Prior to this thing I had heard of Instagram, but never used it. One of the librarians at work had recently done a presentation about Instagram for staff because she is working on trying to use it in a Summer Reading Program for teens. Upon playing with it I found it was easy, quick and fun to use and it was very convenient that I could link it to my facebook account. 

I have heard quite a bit about Snapchat, but again, hadn't played with it prior to this Thing. I thought it was interesting that you could set a time limit for how long the receiver sees the picture and that was kind of fun to play with. It felt that Snapchat was like a picture instant messaging service.

Like I said earlier, I don’t put a lot of my pictures on the internet because I tend to keep a lot of my information off of the internet for privacy reasons, however, I could see myself using Instagram as part of my professional work. It is easy, a lot of people are already connected and using it, it is easy to connect to social media and it’s free! While Snapchat was interesting, there really wouldn't be a lot of reasons to use a disappearing photo on a professional basis (and none I would do in my personal life either!) and the app has a somewhat poor reputation overall, so will probably consider using Instagram more than Snapchat although it was interesting to learn about both and play with each. Happy sharing! 

Thing 9: Taking and Editing Photos

One...two...three...say cheese!

With the increase in mobile devices, it seems there has been an uptick in pictures taken (check anyones' phone and you'll see what I'm talking about!). Almost all devices today have at least a basic camera built in for picture/video taking, however, there are many apps that allow you to customize your pictures with frames, stickers, B&W or color effects, words and other flashy options.

I like to take pictures of funny things and it’d be nice to at least be able to crop them if nothing else.

Two off of the list that I decided to try were Aviary and Color Splurge. 

I started off feeling very excited about Color Splurge and so-so about Aviary, however, once I actually started playing with them, my feelings about each reversed.

I started by playing with Color Splurge. I enjoyed being able to play with the B&W vs color portion, however, there are a LOT of ads with this app. I understand it’s free for me to download and use so there has to be some ads, but I usually just like the ones that roll along the bottom instead of the full page, jump out at you, ha-ha we made you click an ad! Types that appear in Color Splurge.

Aviary is great and easy to use and has some of the basics which I found fun to play with (frames, etc.) and didn't have the ads that color splurge did. Cropping, enhancing and effects are easily provided and the user also has the option to pick from different frames and stickers which can be downloaded easily and for free. 

If someone is looking for picture enhancing and editing software on their phone, I'd have to say Aviary is the app to use because of the multitude of features offered as well as the lack of ads in the app. 

Now go take a selfie! 

Thing 8: Social Media Management Tools

It is no surprise to anyone that social media is big, popular and can be a really great resource! However, as social media has integrated into our lives we often find ourselves utilizing more than one social media service (Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Google+, Foursquare, tvtag, etc.). Of course this all comes with usernames and passwords and let's be honest...how many usernames and passwords can people be expected to remember?!? The beauty of course is now there are social media management tools that allow you to connect all of your social media accounts in one place easily with one username and one password! (Brillant!!)

The beauty of course is now there are social media management tools that allow you to connect all of your social media accounts in one place easily with one username and one password! (Brillant!!)

 Not only is this great for not having to lug a 10 pound notebook around to remember all of your usernames and passwords, but it also means that it is more efficient because you don't have to run from site to site checking things out, but can rather just access everything all in one place quickly and easily. 

Out of the three mentioned on the 23 Mobile Things page I chose to look at HootSuite because it said that it focused on people, and really, that is why I have social media--to help me stay in touch with all of my friends who live both near and far (several friends live in different countries and even on different continents!). 

For someone who has quite a few social media accounts, I could see this being a handy app. It is easy to set up and use. I connected my Facebook and it separated my news feed from my wall from my messages so that I could access each quickly and easily. I didn't have to log into anything, there is a check in feature, and there are options to switch between social media programs with only a few simple clicks. 

Although I can't see myself keeping this app just because I don't use social media all that much (mostly just facebook, a little linked in), I can see someone who utilizes many social media platforms enjoying this app. 

 Courtesy to Microsoft Word for the picture. 

Thing 7: Content Saving and Sharing

Thing 7: Content Saving and Sharing

Thing 7 is especially interesting for me because I work regularly for two different counties and infrequently (subbing) for a third county. As part of Job 1, I work as a traveling associate librarian so I travel to 2-3 job sites weekly. Job 2 I am anchored at one site, but am only there 3 days a week. In a typical week I work 3-5 different job sites for 2-3 different county library systems. While I love the travel and variety, this means that often nothing can be stored on a computer and needs to be “in a cloud” somewhere so that I can have access to it no matter which job site I am at for the day. I use a lot of email to do this and while that works well for certain items, for others it is just clunky, so I was excited to explore different “cloud storing” options that I might be able to use on a daily basis.

After reading through both apps, I decided to try Pinterest. This is an app that has received a lot of hype in recent years and I know a lot of my friends use it because they have their Facebook and Pinterest accounts linked. Nonetheless, I was kind of excited to try it and see what it is all about and see how I could incorporate this into both my personal and professional life. 

Conveniently, Pinterest is connected with Facebook so all I had to do is link my accounts for log in information (I chose not to publish my Pinterest items to Facebook). After a few minutes doing a general account browse through I decided to start checking out some categories and utilize the search feature to find topics that might be of interest to me. I must say, it's a lot of fun and I can see how a lot of people can easily spend a lot of time on this site! 

I think it's great because there are a lot of things offline that I look at, go "oh cool!" and want to file away for future use (gift ideas, decorating ideas, crafts, DIY projects, etc.), but then have a hard time getting said idea from book page to some place safe AND actually remembering to consult said spot when I actually am searching for the idea some umpteenth month later. Pinterest is convenient because all the ideas can be stored in one place (boards can separated into categories such as “crafts,” “cooking,” “DIY” etc., but it's all under the same account and the same website) and are easily accessible in the future so long as I have an internet connection.

Also, it's just kind of fun to browse and see what ideas are out there for library bulletin board, book displays, crafts, story times and other library orientated services as well as browsing for some personal interests of mine such as crafts, DIY, creating natural beauty products and healthy cooking.

I'd say that Pinterest is a useful website/app that is fun and useful for both pleasure and professional ventures. While I may not be able to pin things that are not connected to Pinterest, the number of items on Pinterest are quite a few that I could easily see myself browsing and saving pins and then just resorting back to email or Google Drive for other “cloud” saving like I do now.

If you’ll please now excuse me I have some “pinning” to do!

Thing 6: Creating & Editing Documents

As part of my work, I travel around to several different libraries every week for work. I enjoy this, but it also means that I try to leave a lot of my documents, email, etc. "in the cloud" so I have access to them no matter which location I may be at for the day. While looking through the three suggestions for Thing 6, I must say that I was surprisingly intrigued by all three. Cloud on intrigued me because it was touted as being just like a desktop version meaning it would be very easy for me to pick-up and use. Quick Office looked interesting because it works with your Google Account which means it syncs with Google Drive. I had decided to explore SignNow, but apparently the app only works for Android devices running version 4.0 and up. I run a 2.3 so wasn't able to check out this app as I would have liked. 

In light of this, I decided to explore Quick Office. I was immediately impressed because upon opening the app, it looked very, very similar to Google Drive. As I dug further I could easily find the documents I already have uploaded to Google Drive, view them on my computer and make new documents. Everything syncs with my Google account which means that I can easily view files that are created, or edited from any computer (personal, work, friends), or from my mobile device. I think this is great because it fits extremely well with my "in the cloud" lifestyle and need for documents to be easily accessible no matter where I am at or what device I am using. 

Especially impressive is the fact that one can do documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Font style, color, highlights, and some special symbols can also be adjusted and there is even spell check!

Holy cowabunga, does Quick Office have it all and earns an A++ in regards to ease of use, flexibility, ability to customize, and extra features. Add the fact that everything syncs to your Google account or your SD card and you really couldn't ask for a better app, especially at just the right price –free. 

5 Badge

Thing 5: Notetaking

Thing 5 is oh so timely. I have been searching for an app that does note taking, but is not just bare bones. While I'm not normally too picky with most things on my phone, I am finding myself being very particular about finding a good note app just because I tend to take quite a few notes and use the note function more than any other app on my phone. 

I tried a free app called "memo" for awhile which wasn't bad, but it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. After trying "memo" I switched to "Color Note" which hasn't been bad either, but something is just not quite right in Denmark (or shall I say the library?). It has some to do list functions which is nice and a function for text, along with a few other features such as spell check and the ability to send the notes to others, but I'm still not 100% sold on "Color Note."

Bamboo paper looked more what I was looking for, but when I was reading more about the app and reviews it was apparent that it is more stylus friendly than typing. I would like to be able to use the app I select on my mobile phone so I'm seeking more of a typing friendly app as I don't use a stylus.

After looking through the remaining apps I decided to try "Springpad." It is nice because not only does it have the notepad feature, but it also lets you have a place to store info bits and sort them into categories such as recipes, notes, books, etc. which could be kind of handy. My favorite feature is that it is Google friendly meaning I can log into my Google account from my pc and be able to sync items from my pc to phone which is really nice. So far it seems very easy to use and intuitive which are big points for users. While the app has many nice features such as being very user friendly, ad free, a variety of choices for background and accent colors, ability to customize privacy options, add files, etc. I did not like the fact that you had to go into the app and then into a book and sort through the list just to see your notes...it seemed like a lot of extra organizing that wasn't necessary. 

Remember the Milk was nice because it was cloud accessible, however, I found the app to be much more of a to do list, which could be useful for others as it is very easy to navigate, has reminder options, etc., but wasn't exactly what I was looking for unfortunately. 

I ultimately decided to go with a free app called Note Manager that wasn't recommended by 23 Mobile Things, but was recommended at the Google Play Store when I went to download Remember The Milk. Note Manager isn't fancy, but does have the features I'm looking for such as just regular notes, reminder notes, picture notes and the ability to share notes. Thus far, I've been very happy with it. The great part about Thing 5 is that I had the chance to experiment with different note taking providers and explore what I was looking for, especially since I use notes in my personal and professional life quite a bit. 

Happy Noting! 

Thing 4: Keeping Up

Social Media is all the rage these days (and has been for awhile). Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Youtube, etc. RSS feeds can be useful for individuals who want to access all of the social media quickly, easily and in one spot instead of visiting each and every individual website. As you can probably guess, the power that RSS feeds can have in saving time, energy and every annoying password you've ever had to set up is incredible!

Personally, I'm not a huge social networker. Sure, I do my fair share of Facebook, Linked In and the occasional Youtube, but not enough that I'd consider a RSS a huge improvement to my life (because checking Facebook a few times a week doesn’t really warrant an RSS feed).
I can see how RSS feeds would be useful for the professional side of my job. A lot of times libraries exchange ideas across systems and counties to try and learn how to better provide services, save money, new programs, etc. It would be great if all of the different sites I browse for programs, bulletin boards, events, etc.  (such as different facebook pages, Pinterest, and ALA message boards) could be easily compiled in one spot.

Out of the two apps recommended by the 23 Mobile Things Page, I chose to look at Zite. I like the fact that I can tell Zite what interests me and it will pull up articles and suggestions for reading. The more I read, the more intuitive Zite becomes in picking out what I like (I wonder if there is any way I can transfer that skill to other aspects of my life?? Maybe Zite could pick out my next book!).

As I was browsing through Zite I decided to take a look at books and libraries to see what would pop up. Surprisingly, there are a lot of interesting results that were presented to me. Suggestions included articles about e-books, early literacy, free books, etc. Zite even suggested more search queries based on my original query.

On top of all of this, I could also link my Facebook, Twitter or pocket to have everything all in one place.

I find the idea behind RSS feeds and Zite a useful idea and I can see where it would be really convenient to help sort some of my professional pages and compile them all in one spot, especially across three jobs. Bonus points for the fact it is on my phone and/or in the cloud so travels easily with me (you do NOT want to see the back seat of my car).

While I can see this perhaps becoming a useful professional tool, I can't see myself using this in my personal life as I find that I am happy with my current level of social media and get addicted to news articles way too easily (especially when they're customized topics!) so it's a REALLY, REALLY bad to have them just keep popping up with no end in sight. They're kind of like M&M's, you think you can always eat one, but before you know it, half the bag is gone! Drats.

Nonetheless, I think Zite could be an excellent resource for many patrons as well, especially patrons who are interested in articles and magazine types of services on their mobile devices and are seeking something a bit more than the library sponsored Zinio product and it's free to boot!

Thanks to Wikipedia for the image.

Thing 3: Utilities

I like apps, but honestly, I haven’t delved into the world of App’s too terribly far. I don’t really know why except I guess I would rather be reading the latest best seller then looking at apps because I consider most of them to be frilly play thing do-dahs on your phone (Playing digital musical instruments because you’re bored? No thank you…) until I started Thing 3. Now that I see what some of these apps can do, I wonder, why did I not look into this earlier?!? (Ok, honestly, probably because I don’t have a data plan and a number of these that I would use outside of my house require it, but I disgress, a lot of stores have free wi-fi I could hook up to and use if I really needed too, so that’s just another lame excuse of mine).

My utility use so far prior to this exercise had been limited to Google Search (always handy for curiosity look ups, directions, etc.), a memo application for me to make notes about things I need to remember and the alarm clock app (already preinstalled on my phone) ever since my alarm clock decided to bite the dust a few months ago (and I just haven’t replaced it yet). 

The utilities listed under Thing 3 actually look COOL, so I decided to investigate further. The first thing I tried was the Google Goggles (if the name alone doesn’t spark your curiosity you’ve either never heard of Google or are no longer among the living). It is a very cool concept and idea, but honestly? It doesn't work all that well (*ducks and covers*). Now before I’m deleted from Google’s database forever, let me say in my defense that I tried to scan some common household objects, but it didn't recognize any of them. Kind of a buzz kill. 

I regularly use the Google Search App on a regular basis and have no complaints. Same great Google as my PC, just on a smaller scale and on a mobile device. <3 

I also decided to try RedLaser Barcode. This was an app that also sounded very useful. Basically you can scan any barcode into this app and it will search the internet to tell you price, availability at stores, reviews, etc. After downloading I ran around my house scanning the barcodes on random objects --my perfume, my deodorant, movies, etc. and viola! Up popped reviews, places available to purchase, price, etc. Amazing! 

I can't see myself using these apps professionally, although I can see myself using them in my personal life (and I already use Google Search). I especially enjoyed discovering RedLaser Barcode and am excited to use it in the future! On a library salary, who doesn’t like to save a few bucks? J

While loading apps on my phone from Google Play I noticed that I could browse them on my computer, send them to my phone and they would automatically download the next time my phone connected to an internet connection. How cool and easy is that? 

Please excuse me....the next best seller isn’t due out for a week and Google Play has a large library of apps just waiting to be discovered! 

Thing 2: Mobile Device Tips

Mobile Device Tips: Andorid Smart Phone

To complete the “23 Mobile Things” course I will be using my Andorid Smart Phone LG Optimus S L670. I’m pretty comfortable using my device so skipped over the basic tips and tricks, but there are a few things I could definitely learn such as how to sync my phone with Google Calendar, installing and switching between different keyboards etc. 

Prior to starting the “23 Mobile Things,” Google Calendar was definitely the feature I wanted to use most on my phone, but hadn't quite mastered. I had set up a Google Calendar account and found the app on my phone. I had managed to sync it, but had been having problems lately with my phone not updating after adding something via my computer. I’m not sure if there was a setting I was missing or if I had set-up the app wrong, but I was definitely looking forward to looking into this tip and trick to try and problem solve. I deleted it all, and found a set-up guide online that showed me how to set the sync settings in the “app settings” portion of the phone as well as under the calendar app. So far, it seems to be working! Huzzah!

While texting on my phone I noticed that there was a setting that would let me toggle between keyboards, but I didn't realize that you could download and install keyboards off the internet until I started looking up keyboard tips and tricks. During my research into different Android keyboards I discovered that an app called “SwiftKey” which is one of the best selling Android apps in the world. After watching a view on the Swiftkey website (http://www.swiftkey.net/en/), I can see why. The app does charge a fee so I didn't download it, but it was interesting to learn about nonetheless as well as see the different keyboard options available.

While exploring tips online, I ran across an article that describes how you can retrieve a lost app, even if it is one you paid for! This sounded super useful so I made sure to dig further into the article. Apparently all apps are saved in the “Downloads” section, so you can scroll through the list, click the one you accidentally removed and viola, it will re-download, no charge (even for a paid app!). 

Although I only looked at three tips in-depth, I definitely was able to implement them in my day to day usage as well as learn a few websites that have great information about tips and tricks for my future problems and questions.

I thought this was an excellent exercise in learning some tips and tricks since many library systems use Apps for their mobile library services. Being familiar with how apps work, some basic troubleshooting, and being able to research tips and tricks is useful in being able to assist patrons with their app questions and also improve my personal life. 

Thing 1: Blogging and Registering

I first saw the "23 Mobile Things" flyer while having dinner in the break room at the public library where I work. Trainings and programs about new devices always catch my eye because I am a Generation Y library professional who still really, really, really likes the printed book, but also likes technology too (so long as it doesn’t infringe on my printed books!). No E-Readers for me, thank you very much! There is something about the feel of the book, the new book smell, the haunting familiarity of the pages that an E-Reader cannot match. That said, I do like my laptop and my smart phone and like learning about new websites, apps, etc. even though I don't own a mobile device such as a tablet or Ipad. 

E-Readers and other mobile devices were just starting to become very popular when I first entered the library field in 2007 and have definitely grown since then. With the growth in devices, there has also been an uptick in questions that library patrons have about their device, what apps/programs/services of the library they can connect their device with, etc. And I really, really hate that "deer in the headlight" moment when I have no idea what the patron is talking about because I don't own such a device, so I generally try to attend trainings to stay current so I can at least help them out a bit with something...even if it is just getting them to the "help" section of the website! (We can team navigate from there). 

With that being said, by completing the "23 Mobile Things" I am hoping to gain a better understanding of some of today's top devices and apps as well as learn some basic troubleshooting tips for the devices, so that even though I may not have a lot of experience using mobile devices myself in my day-to-day life( except for my smartphone which is about 2 systems behind) I can at least have enough familiarity and knowledge to assist and guide patrons through their questions and concerns regarding their devices and maybe learn a few tips I want to incorporate into my personal life as well. 

As a library professional I am prepared to undertake learning about "23 Mobile Things" with eager anticipation not only for my own personal growth, but for the growth of my patrons as well.