Thing 23 - Evaluate 23 Mobile Things

Just finished all 23 Mobile Things!  Yea!! I'm really glad I took on this challenge as it made me much more comfortable downloading apps and using an iPAD.  But, it took alot of time.  Since I don't own my own mobile device, I used the library's iPAD.  A co-worker, who was also using her library's iPAD, and I sat side by side for many things so we could compare apps.  After doing all these things, I am considering buying my own mini iPAD. 

Thing 22- Discovering Apps

Downloaded Quixey for Apple.  Downloaded and played around with these apps on the iPad:  accuweather, google earth, TED, Netflix.  Fun times.

Then searched recipes.  Downloaded Yum- Yummly Recipes & Grocery Shopping List- featured on the Today Show.  Found some great recipes. 

Serached Play.  Downloaded Fandango.  Looked at some Movies- Times & Tickets. 

Thing 21 - Free-For-All

I chose to download the Groupon app.  I like to look for good deals/coupons for restaurants, vacations, shutterfly books, and more.  I've gotten some really good specials!

Thing 20 - Games

Played Bubble Mania which was very easy.  Word Collapse is fun.  Temple run is a little intense.  Again, it would be nice to have more free time to play all these games!

Thing 19 - Hobbies

Tried MyGarden.  It didn't have as much info on it as I had hoped. ( I can find out more Garden info on Google.)

Spotify was easy and fun.  I could spend hours on it downloading music and making my own Playlist.

Thing 18 - Education

With a co-worker downloaded Eat This Not That & played a fast food face off game on our library iPad.  Downloaded Khan Academy and looked at a video about Hitler.  Am wondering what sources were used for their information?  Downloaded TED and listened to one of the talks.  Very informative. One could spend hours on an iPad with just this Thing alone.

Thing 17 - Connecting to Community

Downloaded St. Cloud State University app as I attended a couple years of college there.  Looked at the map, the pictures, and took some virtual tours.  Honestly, if I was a student interested in checking out colleges, I would still go to the St. Cloud State University main home page as it has alot more information.

 Also downloaded the St. Paul Connect Apple app.  Played around with it.  It would be best used by people who live in the city of St. Paul.  For example, if they wanted to complain to City hall about potholes and garbage pick-up.

Thing 16- Audio

Downloaded SoundCloud:Apple.  Recorded myself reading a page of a children's book and also listened to some music - Beach Boys.  This would be a fun way for a grandma to record herself reading a children's book and then sharing it with her small grandchildren on Facebook.  Audioboo wouldn't let up register?  Is it because of the weather, we are in a tornado watch?

Thing 15 - Infographics

Downloaded Visualize on our library iPad. Took a picture and saw how you can add text, bubbles, colors, fonts, backgrounds.  Looked at  Infographics Hub.  I don't see the necessity for this app and won't be using it.

Thing 14 - Videos

Downloaded Magisto.  I took five pictures of the backroom at our library on our iPAD. Then it was fun to chose the sound track and style to add to the pictures. Five minutes later it came back as a video.  Very quick & easy to use! 

Thing 13 - Presentations

Downloaded Haiku Deck.  Made some slides adding words & pictures.  Easy & fun to use.  Saw how it could be put on Facebook.  Looked at some other Library Haiku Decks.  I could possibly use it for an orientation session for our Summer Volunteens or as a promo for library programs.

Thing 12 - Books, Books & More Books

Since I'm a Children's Librarian, I downloaded the iStoryBooks on the iPAD and listened to a story.  Fun for kids! Glad to see they will be adding more titles every two weeks.  Audiobooks would be good for students who are visiting the public library and need a classic today and all the hardcover/paperback books are checked out.

Thing 11- Library & Reference

Explored the ELM Mobile website. Looked at the MN. history page.  Plan Your Research might be overkill.  MN. Link would be good if you're not a librarian.  The DCL mobile app is good for phones to download ebooks. 

Thing 10 - Sharing Photos

Downloaded Instagram on the library iPAD.  Found some facebook contacts and looked at their Instagrams.  I normally use the camera on my phone to send pictures to people directly and not by Instagram.  Or I download pictures off my "real" camera to put on Facebook. I know alot of kids who really like using Instagram.  I'm not going to add using this app to my life, as I can see most friend's pictures on their Facebook page.

Thing 9- Taking & Editing Photos

Downloaded Photo Editor by Aviary on the iPad.  Had fun editing some photos I took, adding frames, text, stamps, sharpening photos & more.  Really fun.  One could spend hours doing this!  My kids edit alot of their photos for Facebook, Twitter, etc. 

Thing 8 - Social Media Management Tools

Facebook &Twitter.  So I've been on Facebook for a few years on my home desktop computer and  occasionally post pictures & comments.  Today I downloaded Twitter on the iPad and added some people to follow their Tweets.  Since 140 characters is not much, I'm going to stick with Facebook, emails & texting, as I only have so much time free time at night after work!

Thing 7 - Content Saving & Sharing

Pinterest.  About six months ago I originally added pinterest to my home desktop computer so I could see the wedding ideas/pictures my two daughters were saving for their weddings, one last December and one next summer. I also have had fun creating my own boards.  For Thing 7, this week I downloaded the Pinterest App on our library iPad which I am using to do all 23 Things. One could spend hours on Pinterest pinning great pictures/ideas making your own personal photo album/scrapbook/boards!   So I do look at Pinterest quite often.  I have found great recipes, and craft ideas which I've used at the end of my storytimes.

Thing 6 - Creating & Editing Docs

I downloaded the Quickoffice app. Then I opened, created and saved a document. It took me longer than I thought it would.  Since I am a keyboard person, it is still faster for me to type on my desktop keyboard for lengthy document creations/editing versus typing on the iPad touch screen.

Thing 5 - Notetaking

Downloaded Remember the Milk.  Made some lists and found it easy to use.  I am a big list maker, always have been. Then took a look at Springboard after it downloaded.  Didn't find this one quite as intuitive.  For example, when making a list of books I've read, didn't think this worked as well compared to  Library Thing, which has been around for a while.  Since I don't own any mobile things, and am borrowing our library iPAD to do all these things, I will still use the little paper notebook in my purse which I have with me all the time, to make my lists.

Thing 4- Keeping Up

Downloaded Flipboard: Apple/Android.  Added Travel, Food & Home.  Started flipping through the pages of some magazines in these categories.  Found some pages I liked and flipped them into my own magazine that I created.  Reminds me of using pinterest. 

Thing 3 - Utilities

I went into Google Goggles: Android Only and downloaded an app. on my "borrowed" iPad. I took a picture of a package of Multi-Seed Crackers. My screen then said did not match any shopping results.  However, it did show a $1.00 off coupon which I clicked on.  Then I clicked to find stores nearby and it showed me two Target stores that carried it. Also told more about a book after taking a picture of it.  This is great fun!

Thing 2 - Mobile Device Tips

Since I don't own any mobile things, I am using our library iPad.  First we needed to upgrade it to iOS 7.  Then I watched the video - iOS 7 iPad Overview and also looked at some of the iOS 7 Tips and Tricks.  I was excited to take my very first picture on an iPad with the camera and retrieve it.

Thing 1- Blogging & Registering

Hoping to learn some new technology to help me in my job. This my first blog ever to set up on Blogger.com and post!!