Post #7: Content Saving And Sharing - Pinterest

Pinterest is a site that allows users to create categories for various interests and then share photos, pictures and links with other users or share information of their own.  I signed up and created a category for "All-time Great Musicians" since I have an interest in many different musical artists.  I "pinned" other peoples' links and photos to my page that I liked or was interested in.  I found some pictures and articles that I hadn't seen/read before.  I also linked my page to some websites I frequent that fit the category.  It seems a lot of people really like the site.  It's a good place to share recipes or ideas for various hobbies and "interests" such as gardening, crafts or even books.  I saw some intriguing ideas for gardening as I looked around the site, but I think it ends up being a bit time-consuming.  It would be a cool way to explore books, since following peoples' pages would enable a person to find similar books from a certain genre.  It could also be used by teachers as a place to share lesson plans and as a way to keep up on current teaching trends.

Post #6: Creating and Editing Docs - CloudOn

The CloudOn program is a wonderful addition for someone who likes to use the Microsoft Office suite, but wishes to use it "on-the-go."  CloudOn recreates Office on the ipad and all of the controls and interfaces mirror those found on PC's and laptops.  It prevents users from having to learn a new program to do work when they are traveling or moving around.  Personally, I think that typing and using the features of Word or Power Point on the ipad are somewhat difficult, but I always prefer to use a standard keyboard and mouse.  I would personally use this app if I had to take a bus or train to work because I could open files and get things done while traveling.  It would also be easy to work while traveling by plane - long trips are a perfect time for getting reports or plans done - this app makes it very easy.  The size of the ipad makes it perfect for travel and this app allows the user to take Microsoft Office with them as well.  It's also good for someone who moves around on the job and needs their Office tools to be mobile - and today this often happens in education and business.  The fact that it does exactly what it advertises - Microsoft Office with the standard interface for a mobile device - makes it a necessary app for Office users. Since I prefer Microsoft Office to Google Docs, mostly due to the layout and ease of use, this is an app I would definitely use.

Post #5: Notetaking - Dragon Dictation

The Dragon Dictation app is simple and easy-to-use.  I downloaded it because I thought it would be interesting to see how the interface works.  It's a great tool because it could have a lot of potential uses.  Since it records the speaker's voice and creates text from whatever the person says, it would be perfect for someone who wants to take notes, make lists or do any kind of writing, but can't due to a medical condition or physical disability.  It would also be interesting to record lectures using the app because it could be recorded to share later on - for the lecturer, audience or perhaps someone who wasn't in attendance.  With this app, a person could give a speech in private, bring the device and read off of it in front of the audience.  It would also be a good app to use with students who are working on language, especially English Learner students practicing speech and writing.  The app sometimes misunderstands some words that need to be fixed later, but overall it works fairly well.  It's a simple tool, but it could have many uses, depending on the situation.

Post #4: Keeping Up - Flipboard

I downloaded the Flipboard App because, unfortunately Zite was no longer available.  Flipboard is useful for seeking out information on a particular topic because it provides multiple links to varies sites.  Then if the user chooses, they can subscribe to the pages.  It would be very easy to keep up with stories on a particular subject because the app will push them to the "cover page" if you "subscribe."  There is a lot of content on any given topic, but not all of it ends up being useful - the user has to sift through entries that aren't quite relevant.  It is, however, better than a standard internet search, as it does provide a lot of good articles and specific topics can be included on the cover page.  I would use this app for favorite news sites along with hobbies such as music, hockey or gardening.  It would also work well for keeping up with current research on education or libraries, because of the subscribe feature - the user doesn't have to go looking for new, up-to-date information - it is provided by the app.

Post #3: Utilities - Red Laser

After browsing the "Utilities" section of 23 Mobile Things, I elected to try the "Red Laser" app, which can scan bar codes and provide prices for items. I would have preferred to try the Google Goggles, as it seemed much more far-reaching in scope and, therefore, more useful.  I downloaded Red Laser and and used it to scan the bar codes of a few items around my house.  I scanned mostly cds and books, as those would be some of the most likely items to find in a library setting.  The app gave me the online price of a Woody Guthrie cd ($12.99) but couldn't identify a book about Minnesota gardening or a an out-of-print Grateful Dead cd.  It did, however, provide the online and "local" prices for a Bruce Springsteen biography ($1.65 online and $20.78 local).  This app would be best used on a cell phone that could be carried around to compare prices.  It's a nice app, but hardly essential since it doesn't provide information about all items.  Library staff looking to find deals on specific books may find it a quick alternative to performing an online search for prices.

Post #2: Ipad Tips and Tricks: Ipad

The ipad was the device that was available for me to use for 23 Library Things, and I'm pretty happy about that because the platform, as with most other Apple products, is relatively simple.  I hadn't really used an i-pad before this because I prefer standard computers and laptops.  I was eager to see how it worked and if it would be useful, or just another expensive toy.  I watched the ipad iOS 7 overview, which definitely helped me understand the device.  I don't really care for the touch screen set-up on the ipad, and even after watching the tutorial, I found it irritating to use. I find it particularly difficult to use the screen for everything - keyboard, opening windows, etc.  With practice, however, I think I could get used to it.  The ipad is definitely a cheaper alternative to a laptop or other standard computer if library patrons or students need to access internet resources or educational apps.  The exclusivity of some apps to certain devices makes the ipad useful for a library or school, because it appears to have many educational apps.

Post #1: Blogger

When registering for 23 Mobile Things I used my existing Google account to create this blog space through "Blogger."  The platform is easy to set up and even easier to use, since it resembles the other Google apps/features in layout.  Making posts is simple and the site allows you to follow other blogs and create new blogs of your own with ease.  Blogger would be very useful as a tool for sending out library information to patrons (who sign up), or especially the staff at a school.  If the school uses G-mail, as many now do, teachers and staff could follow the library blog and be provided with helpful information about resources and programs.  Blogger would also be a useful tool for classroom teachers to use for communicating information or to have web-based discussions.