Hobbies, hobbies, and more hobbies. I can recommend a few more hobby apps: Peterson Field Guide to Backyard Birds, FlowerPedia, and StarWalk. I think StarWalk costs a few bucks, but it's worth it. It's a beautifully designed app.
I downloaded RoadNinja for this Thing in anticipation of a road trip I'm taking with a friend to Montana and Yellowstone National Park this summer. When I first downloaded the app, I was at a friend's house in rural Wisconsin and not a single highway came up! As I write this, sitting here at home, the app shows 21B, the Johnson Street exit a mile and a half away, MN 280, MN 36, and others. The app shows hotels, dining, shopping, gas stations, and even gas prices. I'm excited to see how this app performs on the road.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Thing #18
I'm a regular user of Wikipedia on my phone. I also use it at work to help answer simple reference questions, but most often to give myself a quick overview of an unfamiliar topic so that I'm able to know where to start with complicated research for patrons. Wikipedia has its problems, of course, but I consider it a basic research tool.
I was most interested to spend some time with the Khan Academy app. I was intrigued by the test preparation aspect possibilities, but would have liked to see practice GRE and GED tests offered. I tried several search terms just to check for content and came up empty a surprising number of times. The topic "feminism" got no search results. After spending more time with the app, I realized that I was approaching it as if it's an encyclopedia when it's simply not that comprehensive. In the end, I don't think this app is worth keeping. There was too much uncertainty for me about what might or might not be covered.
I was most interested to spend some time with the Khan Academy app. I was intrigued by the test preparation aspect possibilities, but would have liked to see practice GRE and GED tests offered. I tried several search terms just to check for content and came up empty a surprising number of times. The topic "feminism" got no search results. After spending more time with the app, I realized that I was approaching it as if it's an encyclopedia when it's simply not that comprehensive. In the end, I don't think this app is worth keeping. There was too much uncertainty for me about what might or might not be covered.
Thing #17
I used the Minnesota State Fair app last year while attending "The Great Minnesota Get-Together." As a native Minnesotan who lived away from the state for a dozen years and just returned a year ago, attending the State Fair was something I happily anticipated. I'd attended only twice before. The app did a good job of connecting me to food, events, restrooms, and showcases. It's a useful app, especially for first-timers.
I downloaded the Superior Hiking, Minneapolis by Open Spaces, and Going Out apps for this Thing. The Minneapolis app didn't work for me. I wasn't able to access the Events or Explore tabs. I found the Going Out app to be useful, especially as a new transplant to the Northeast Minneapolis neighborhood. Using the "near current location" for locating restaurants, bars, movies, and clubs in my area introduced me to places and spaces I hope to explore in the future. I plan to use it to create an itinerary for my mom and sisters who will visit this summer from out of town. I think it would also be helpful to library patrons who are new to their communities. Of course, all of the apps in this Thing serve to connect people to communities.
I downloaded the Highlights of the Superior Hiking Trail app because I have a trip planned to Gooseberry Falls this August. I hate to admit that I wasn't even aware of the Superior Hiking Trail and only recently discovered it when planning the Gooseberry Falls/North Shore trip. It's considered to be one of the top five or so hikes in the United States. This app includes eleven hikes. It gives information about how to get to the hike, the length, a few details about the terrain and difficulty, and trail and parking maps. Maps also show camping sites. I've already told a few people who I know are walking the trail this summer about this app.
I downloaded the Superior Hiking, Minneapolis by Open Spaces, and Going Out apps for this Thing. The Minneapolis app didn't work for me. I wasn't able to access the Events or Explore tabs. I found the Going Out app to be useful, especially as a new transplant to the Northeast Minneapolis neighborhood. Using the "near current location" for locating restaurants, bars, movies, and clubs in my area introduced me to places and spaces I hope to explore in the future. I plan to use it to create an itinerary for my mom and sisters who will visit this summer from out of town. I think it would also be helpful to library patrons who are new to their communities. Of course, all of the apps in this Thing serve to connect people to communities.
I downloaded the Highlights of the Superior Hiking Trail app because I have a trip planned to Gooseberry Falls this August. I hate to admit that I wasn't even aware of the Superior Hiking Trail and only recently discovered it when planning the Gooseberry Falls/North Shore trip. It's considered to be one of the top five or so hikes in the United States. This app includes eleven hikes. It gives information about how to get to the hike, the length, a few details about the terrain and difficulty, and trail and parking maps. Maps also show camping sites. I've already told a few people who I know are walking the trail this summer about this app.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Thing #16
This is another Thing I have looked forward to. I've read a bit about SoundCloud, but hadn't had the chance to try it out yet. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the endless offerings on this platform. I just finished listening to the Dixie Chicks and Valerie June. I'm following the Smithsonian Folkways. I appreciate that this is a huge social media platform, but I also think that can clutter things up a bit. I don't know how necessary it is to give people the option to comment at various points in a song or podcast, but I suppose that's part of the point of social media right? At least the comments don't interfere with the sound.
I also downloaded AudioBoo and played around with it, including recording a boo of my own. It's pretty cool. Again, there are endless offerings. I think the challenge of many apps is finding you way to what's meaningful for you specifically. There's so much out there, so many individuals and artists and organizations and companies contributing their content that it can be challenging to focus on what's worth one's time. Maybe it's the librarian in me, but I'm always curious to know who's creating the content. I find myself automatically asking questions about credibility and authority and even permission. Of course I generally think those are useful questions, but I'm not sure how much they apply to this type of media.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Sequoyah Book Club Challenge information. I so admire the creative and practical ways that people use technology.
I also downloaded AudioBoo and played around with it, including recording a boo of my own. It's pretty cool. Again, there are endless offerings. I think the challenge of many apps is finding you way to what's meaningful for you specifically. There's so much out there, so many individuals and artists and organizations and companies contributing their content that it can be challenging to focus on what's worth one's time. Maybe it's the librarian in me, but I'm always curious to know who's creating the content. I find myself automatically asking questions about credibility and authority and even permission. Of course I generally think those are useful questions, but I'm not sure how much they apply to this type of media.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Sequoyah Book Club Challenge information. I so admire the creative and practical ways that people use technology.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Thing #15
I don't have much to say about this Thing. I downloaded info.Graphics and scrolled through the various themed options. There is a lot of variety and a lot of options. Visual presentations appeal to those of us who prefer to consume information visually. This Thing reminds me of a blog I follow called The Forest Feast. The blogger creates "photographic recipe illustrations" that are laid out visually. There's very little text, just beautifully photographed and illustrated recipes. Her work is gorgeous. I highly recommend checking it out. It's a new way to read a recipe, a concept that is similar to what this Thing explores.
I was primarily interested in creating an infographic, but the Visualize Free app is no longer available. If there are other options for iPhone users, I'd like to know about them.
I was primarily interested in creating an infographic, but the Visualize Free app is no longer available. If there are other options for iPhone users, I'd like to know about them.
Thing #14
I've been looking forward to doing this Thing. I downloaded Viddy, SocialCam, and Magisto. I'd already signed up for Vine when it first came out, but only made one Vine and then removed the app from my phone. I had fun playing around with it this time, though mostly because one of my nieces posts a continuous flow of amusing and sweet Vines from her daily life. Viddy seems more useful for me personally due to the more generous length it allows for each video. It's more sophisticated than the camera/video that comes with my iPhone. I got a kick out of Magisto too. It's interesting to see what the app will do with the photos that you add and fun to see photos come to life in that way. I used it to create a little movie from the Easter weekend I spent with family.
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