Thing 16 of 23 Things

Audio:

Right away: ipadio is the app for me, because it can take a recording up to an hour long, and it can be saved on the ipadio website.

Now, I fear that it's only available on iOS 7. I'll know shortly . . . but no! I can use my iOS 6 device!

I downloaded the app, but didn't follow all the instructions. I turned down the option of sharing my photos with the app, but then it wouldn't let me open ipadio. It seems that ipadio saves the audio files somewhere in my photo file.

Once I shared permission, ipadio was happy, and I was able to make a recording.



My initial attraction to this app comes from the difficulty I've had sharing audio files I made while interviewing my elderly parents.

I have wanted to share the recordings with my sister who lives in Europe. I discovered that I can only email ten minutes at a time. With this app, I can share the website with her, and she can listen herself (probably from her mobile device)!

I realized while making the recording that I could easily use this recording app for interviewing clients, or for some sort of promotional effort. So yes, this is definitely an app that would be useful at work.

Very nice app!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod.

Thing 15 of 23 Things

Infographics:

Well, my first choice, info.Graphics, is only available for iOS 7. The next closest app, infographics Hub, did not show up in my App Store search.

So I decided to search for 'info graphics' and there were quite a few that weren't free, and a lot more that didn't have any reviews.

I chose an unreviewed app called 'Lemonly'. Once I dowloaded the app, I reviewed apps by category, and could save, send, or share any that I liked.

I noticed that the infographics had a corporate source, like Dove, for an infographic on bad hair days, and an infographic by Samsung on what makes a good camera for a mobile device.

I looked at quite a few infographics, and actually found one that would be relevant at work - on the subject of Copyright Compliance in the corporate world.

Here are some screen shots, and I have added a link to the full infographic below.










And the link to the copyright infographic:

http://lemonly.com/work/copyright-and-content-use-in-the-workplace

Here's an example of a lighter subject:


I was curious about Lemonly, and a quick google search informed me that that it's web design and graphic design firm out of Sioux Falls that specializes in infographics.

So, in answer to the 23 Things perennial question, yes, I could absolutely use an app like this at work.

I think one of the other apps might have better, or broader coverage, or coverage better suited to my library's needs. More research would be required, and of course I would need to cite my sources!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod.

Thing 14 of 23 Things

Videos:

I only started recording videos about a year ago. When cycling in Wisconsin, I wold stop at a rural four-way intersection. Quiet and pastoral, I was struck by how much birdsong there was when I watched the video. In real life, I guess all that music was tuned out as background noise.

Anyway, a six-second video seemed just too limiting, so I chose to try the viddy app.

I found it to be very unstable; it shut down numerous times while I was saving and editing my video.

But on the bright side, the software was intuitive and easy to use. I was able to send the video, with soundtrack, to myself and my family. We never have enough videos of our blind cat.




My remaining complaint is that I didn't get to label the video: Peet at rest. And I hope the video link can transfer to my blog

Watch my video on Viddy http://viddy.it/PBUCPf.

Taken with Viddy

Finally: use this app personally? Sure! But it has no application to my work, that I can see.

PS - I hope one can follow the link to my video. Maybe I have to share it more broadly?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod.

Thing 13 of 23 Things

Presentations:

Ah, finally something that we're doing in my library - making training videos!

I am currently on a project at work for which I am collecting screen shots and writing a script for a colleague to record.

But, I really can't see the advantage of doing that work on my mobile device (unless, again, I was a captive - maybe a long commute by train or bus).

But . . . I have the perfect project for this type of presentation app! While on a bike a trip to Vietnam a while back, I took a whole lot of photos using my mobile device, and people kept wanting me to put together a show.

I took a look at the options, and the most useful from my perspective seems to be Haiku Deck- oops, requires iOS 7.

Next stop- Lensoo Create, which looks useful. But there's no trace in the App Store.

Finally settled on Educreate. Again, nothing with this name in the App Store (it's been some time since this 23 mobile things was released).

I finally searched in the App Store for just 'whiteboard', and there are a whole lot of free options - many seem to be from China, with no customers ( or just no reviewers?).

The product I tried was called 'whiteboard'. It seems be more of a sharable drawing app. I had been looking forward to being able to narrate, or add text, and to develop a narrative using multiple slides. This app didn't cut it. My expectations are so much higher now.

Oh well, that's the down side of being exposed to many presentation options.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod.

Thing 12 of 23 Things

Books, Books, & More Books

Oh, what a tie-in to the previous thing, on library apps! While playing around with my SPPL app for Thing 11, I noticed three separate e-book providers, one of which I signed up for over a year ago (the 3M eBook- I am glad it's still one of the options). I also noticed that one can download audio books. Back when I had a long commute, I borrowed audiobooks from the library regularly (probably on cassette tapes - ah, times change).

Wattpad, iStoryBooks, and Audiobooks - these sound the most interesting to me. First, a few thoughts:

My fifteen-year-old son is an avid reader. But too old for playing with the iStoryBooks - it would be great if I had a youngster in my life - and an iPad would also help. So I will pass, but definitely keep iStory in mind as a recommendation for friends.

And Audiobooks, as mentioned before, can be really enjoyable (special joy in camping by myself, kids asleep in the tent, while I sit in front of the campfire listening to an audiobook/book on tape ). But if I am limited to listening to an audiobook only when streaming (connected to wifi), it is not nearly so appealing. Maybe if I ever upgrade to an iPad or smartphone with a data plan. Next?

Wattboooks. Sounds interesting. Maybe new literature? Short fiction? Could be pretty engaging!

I took the time to review some summaries. I am usually drawn to non-fiction, but after reviewing a number of titles, this section heavily focused on how to write, publish, edit, etc.

I started a short story, after reviewing quite a few. The one I chose turned out to be pretty odd, but it was kind of fun. If I was on a long trip, or was otherwise a captive audience, I'd go back. There could be some gems here. This is something to keep in mind, socially, not so much professionally.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod.

Thing 11 of 23 Mobile Things

Library Reference:

This one is straightforward.
At work, I can't get on wifi (it's possible with a smartphone, maybe an iPad, but other smart devices like an iPod touch are stranded).

We even have a mobile app for accessing the catalog by smartphone, but I can't get on at work. So though I'd love to explore that, my hands are tied.

So on to the front burner: I downloaded the SPPL app, logged in, and determined that a book that I requested last week is ready for pick-up. Nice interface, easy to use (but not particularly pretty). Just for kicks, I searched for an author. I do like the color palate of the full sized version better (unless the color scheme is something new for all versions).

I actually had used the browser on this device previously to renew a library book- I realized that this iPod can get booted up and online much more quickly than my home laptop.

Now with the app, it's even smoother, with quicker access to my account. Very nice! As a decent public library user, this app will definitely be useful on my personal life.

Still waiting to see if I can make progress with mATLAS, the smartphone version of our work library catalog and intranet presence. But in the mean time, it's the SPPL library app for me!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod.

Thing 10 of 23 Things

Sharing Photos:

Well, this is a thing that I would think I'd like. I have family all over the world, and I take lots of photos.

I'd love to place a roll of selected photos on some server, and send a link to my family and friends.
I do have a small presence on Facebook, and I post occasional groupings of photos. Big snow, cute cat, selected travel shots.

So, looking at the options for this thing, Pinterest, the more popular of our choices, seemed way too social.

I chose to try SnapChat. One day last winter, I found my 15 year old son taking photos of himself doing homework ( which is why the device should be away during homework). Using SnapChat, all his friends were sharing similarly interesting homework selfies.

I was a bit curious how SnapChat works, so I signed up. Then SnapChat scanned my contacts for potential friends. My lucky 25 year old niece is my only SnapChat friend - poor thing!

I sent one funny photo with caption to niece Maxine ( if only I had known how to save it, you'd see it here, and have a chuckle). I haven't heard anything back-but will ask her in a couple of days.

I guess beyond my hesitancy to post photos to a broad list of 'friends', I am no so visually attuned as to envision photos that I think my short list of friends would want to see. Maybe when I retire, and start every day with a walk in the woods.
I think it goes without saying that I can't see using SnapChat for work photos.

But maybe it would be a fun way to be in touch with someone I'm close to, who happens to be far away. A way to share the experience.

(BTW, I never heard back from the niece. If I learn something later, I'll comment it.)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod.