Thing 21: CCPL
I just had a major "Aha Moment" with this Thing. I learned how to add a shortcut to a website on my home screen! I access a knitting website called Ravelry several times per day, and now I have a little icon on my home screen to click on to go to it! I also added the CCPL site to my home screen. I don't think I will use it very often, but I would recommend it for parents who like to check the Children's Calendar for programs throughout the week.
I like the mobile version of CCPL's web page. I need to remember to recommend this to patrons more often.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Thing 20: Email
When I tried to download the Acompli app on my phone, I noticed that it came up as Outlook. Sure enough, when I went to Acompli's website, it says that "Acompli is now Outlook." So I guess I will talk about Outlook instead! The one thing that I noticed right away when I opened Outlook is that I have access to all of my husband's files as well, which is nice. He stores things like bills, bank statements, and other boring but necessary documents in Outlook, so now I won't have to ask him to forward them to me when needed. I also connected all three of my email accounts onto the Outlook app, which I might like from time to time, but I generally like to keep my emails separate.
I have had CCPL Webmail set up on my device for many months. Since I only work part time, it is really nice to be able to check in and be able to respond to quick questions. Tech Services staff often have small questions about an item that I have ordered for the Children's Collection, and by answering right away, their work flow is not held up.
When I tried to download the Acompli app on my phone, I noticed that it came up as Outlook. Sure enough, when I went to Acompli's website, it says that "Acompli is now Outlook." So I guess I will talk about Outlook instead! The one thing that I noticed right away when I opened Outlook is that I have access to all of my husband's files as well, which is nice. He stores things like bills, bank statements, and other boring but necessary documents in Outlook, so now I won't have to ask him to forward them to me when needed. I also connected all three of my email accounts onto the Outlook app, which I might like from time to time, but I generally like to keep my emails separate.
I have had CCPL Webmail set up on my device for many months. Since I only work part time, it is really nice to be able to check in and be able to respond to quick questions. Tech Services staff often have small questions about an item that I have ordered for the Children's Collection, and by answering right away, their work flow is not held up.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Thing 18: Calendars
I didn't know anything about Sunrise before starting this Thing. I already occasionally use the calendar app that is built into the phone, but after downloading Sunrise and signing in through Google, I can see that it is something I will use all the time. I love that it links to Google+, which means I will see all of my family's other activities. And more importantly, they will see MY activities, so I won't have to keep answering questions like, "Are you working on Tuesday night?" (although I have worked just about every Tuesday night for the past, oh, 7 years or so??) :)
Since I have special friends' and family members' birthdays included in my Google calendar, it's nice to see it already loaded onto my Sunrise calendar as well. I don't plan to add any of the "special days", as I don't want to clutter my calendar, but it might be interesting to play with some of the others, such as the "TV" category. I think my dad would love to play with the "Stock Market" category. I also practiced adding several events to the Sunrise calendar, and found it to be much more streamlined even than the Google calendar. It just seems easier to view events for the upcoming week and month in Sunrise too.
I didn't know anything about Sunrise before starting this Thing. I already occasionally use the calendar app that is built into the phone, but after downloading Sunrise and signing in through Google, I can see that it is something I will use all the time. I love that it links to Google+, which means I will see all of my family's other activities. And more importantly, they will see MY activities, so I won't have to keep answering questions like, "Are you working on Tuesday night?" (although I have worked just about every Tuesday night for the past, oh, 7 years or so??) :)
Since I have special friends' and family members' birthdays included in my Google calendar, it's nice to see it already loaded onto my Sunrise calendar as well. I don't plan to add any of the "special days", as I don't want to clutter my calendar, but it might be interesting to play with some of the others, such as the "TV" category. I think my dad would love to play with the "Stock Market" category. I also practiced adding several events to the Sunrise calendar, and found it to be much more streamlined even than the Google calendar. It just seems easier to view events for the upcoming week and month in Sunrise too.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Thing 17: File Sharing and Cloud Storage
We have used Google Drive in the Children's Department for a couple of years now, and I really, really like having access to all of my documents wherever I am. I also have the app on my phone, but haven't used it very often in that format. I have tried to access our desk schedule through my phone, but I have found it to be cumbersome. After some trial and error, I learned that by giving the desk schedule a "Star", it rises to the top of the list of items in my Drive, making it easier for me to find.
I have just begun to explore storing and accessing my photos in the Drive. Up until fairly recently, I uploaded all of the photos off my phone onto my Shutterfly account, which also has a sharing feature. We just returned from a vacation with our neighbors, and I decided to share the photos we took in Google Drive this time.
I also looked into Dropbox for this Thing, but the reviews I read indicate that it has many of the same features as Google Drive. I think I'll just stick with Google Drive, as it is great to use just one login for photos, documents, calendars, etc.
Finally, I used the Google Drive app to share this photo from our trip.
We have used Google Drive in the Children's Department for a couple of years now, and I really, really like having access to all of my documents wherever I am. I also have the app on my phone, but haven't used it very often in that format. I have tried to access our desk schedule through my phone, but I have found it to be cumbersome. After some trial and error, I learned that by giving the desk schedule a "Star", it rises to the top of the list of items in my Drive, making it easier for me to find.
I have just begun to explore storing and accessing my photos in the Drive. Up until fairly recently, I uploaded all of the photos off my phone onto my Shutterfly account, which also has a sharing feature. We just returned from a vacation with our neighbors, and I decided to share the photos we took in Google Drive this time.
I also looked into Dropbox for this Thing, but the reviews I read indicate that it has many of the same features as Google Drive. I think I'll just stick with Google Drive, as it is great to use just one login for photos, documents, calendars, etc.
Finally, I used the Google Drive app to share this photo from our trip.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Thing 15: Games
Ah, the Games. I have tried Candy Crush Saga, and do not understand the addiction. I have also tried Tetris on my phone, as I used to love to play it when it was a stand-alone handheld game. It's just not as much fun on the phone for some reason. The one game that I have tried and stuck with is Words With Friends. It is the perfect way to pass time while waiting in line at the grocery store, carpool line, etc. I always have games going against my husband and a couple of my friends, but nowhere near the "20 games at a time" limit. And I have definitely found it much more enjoyable to play on my Android phone, with its slightly larger screen. I used to have an iPhone, and it was more difficult to manipulate the letter tiles.
One other game that I play once in a while is called Flow, and it looks like it is similar to the Dots game shown in the 23 Things list. It is a somewhat mindless "fill in the screen" type of game, and is perfect to have on an airplane trip, because it does not require internet access.
I also tried the game "Trivia Crack" for a short while, but it is also not for me. It was making me much more addicted to my phone than I care to be!
Ah, the Games. I have tried Candy Crush Saga, and do not understand the addiction. I have also tried Tetris on my phone, as I used to love to play it when it was a stand-alone handheld game. It's just not as much fun on the phone for some reason. The one game that I have tried and stuck with is Words With Friends. It is the perfect way to pass time while waiting in line at the grocery store, carpool line, etc. I always have games going against my husband and a couple of my friends, but nowhere near the "20 games at a time" limit. And I have definitely found it much more enjoyable to play on my Android phone, with its slightly larger screen. I used to have an iPhone, and it was more difficult to manipulate the letter tiles.
One other game that I play once in a while is called Flow, and it looks like it is similar to the Dots game shown in the 23 Things list. It is a somewhat mindless "fill in the screen" type of game, and is perfect to have on an airplane trip, because it does not require internet access.
I also tried the game "Trivia Crack" for a short while, but it is also not for me. It was making me much more addicted to my phone than I care to be!
Thing 19: Communicating
Thanks to Google Hangouts and the Facebook Messenger app, I have been able to (sort of) keep tabs on my son, who is in Taipei for the summer. I was forced to learn how to use Google Hangouts when he told me that he prefers that to Skype for communicating. I found it to be very easy to learn, and it still blows my mind that I can talk to someone who is on the other side of the world so easily! And just this morning, he called me on my cellphone via the Facebook Messenger app, because apparently it is free, while a standard phone call costs money. And the reception was even more clear than a regular phone call.
I have the Snapchat app on my phone, but haven't used it. I don't think any of my friends use Snapchat, and I'm also not a big "picture sharer". I do share photos with my mom via text message, and sometimes send random photos of my pets to my sister, but not much beyond that.
Thanks to Google Hangouts and the Facebook Messenger app, I have been able to (sort of) keep tabs on my son, who is in Taipei for the summer. I was forced to learn how to use Google Hangouts when he told me that he prefers that to Skype for communicating. I found it to be very easy to learn, and it still blows my mind that I can talk to someone who is on the other side of the world so easily! And just this morning, he called me on my cellphone via the Facebook Messenger app, because apparently it is free, while a standard phone call costs money. And the reception was even more clear than a regular phone call.
I have the Snapchat app on my phone, but haven't used it. I don't think any of my friends use Snapchat, and I'm also not a big "picture sharer". I do share photos with my mom via text message, and sometimes send random photos of my pets to my sister, but not much beyond that.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Thing 14: Hoosier Helpers
VisitHC: What a wonderful app to know about! Since the Children's Reference Desk is often a new patron's first stop in our library, I will definitely keep this app in mind to recommend for more information about our community. The categories are laid out nicely with beautiful photographs, and there is a very full list of venues, parks, etc. For example, the "Eat" category alone has 18 sub-categories! A patron with a gluten-free diet is in luck - there is a HUGE list of restaurants they can visit. I am also very impressed that there is a "Locally Owned" category. In the "Explore" tab, I have found another huge list of places I want to check out in "Nature and Outdoors". I wonder if our new director knows about this app? (Not that she is going to have a ton of time to explore Hamilton County!)
Indiana DNR: This app also has beautiful graphics, and is a lot more fun to use than the clunky IN.gov website. My husband and son love to fish, and I will show them all of the fishing opportunities that are out there!
VisitHC: What a wonderful app to know about! Since the Children's Reference Desk is often a new patron's first stop in our library, I will definitely keep this app in mind to recommend for more information about our community. The categories are laid out nicely with beautiful photographs, and there is a very full list of venues, parks, etc. For example, the "Eat" category alone has 18 sub-categories! A patron with a gluten-free diet is in luck - there is a HUGE list of restaurants they can visit. I am also very impressed that there is a "Locally Owned" category. In the "Explore" tab, I have found another huge list of places I want to check out in "Nature and Outdoors". I wonder if our new director knows about this app? (Not that she is going to have a ton of time to explore Hamilton County!)
Indiana DNR: This app also has beautiful graphics, and is a lot more fun to use than the clunky IN.gov website. My husband and son love to fish, and I will show them all of the fishing opportunities that are out there!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Thing 13: Education
I had heard of Khan Academy before because the math classes were recommended to me when my kids were in elementary school. But today I downloaded the app, and am completely impressed! My son saw me playing around with it, and mentioned that he has gone through much of their math content. He is sort of a math snob, and said that among his "math nerd" friends at CHS, Khan Academy has a really good reputation.
The category "Partner Content" caught my curiosity. Within this group there are many sub-categories, but I chose the one called "All-Star Orchestra" because my kids have both been involved in orchestra. Within that topic, I clicked on "Masterpieces Old and New", and finally I viewed the entire 10 minute video clip of "Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5, analysis by Gerard Schwarz. It was actually fascinating, hearing some great background information about that one very familiar orchestra piece.
One other interesting thing I noticed that under "Test Prep," there are practice tests for both the current SAT and the new SAT, which will start March 2016.
I can see that there is a LOT more in this app that I want to explore. NASA? Stanford School of Medicine? I am going to be super smart by the time I'm finished!
I had heard of Khan Academy before because the math classes were recommended to me when my kids were in elementary school. But today I downloaded the app, and am completely impressed! My son saw me playing around with it, and mentioned that he has gone through much of their math content. He is sort of a math snob, and said that among his "math nerd" friends at CHS, Khan Academy has a really good reputation.
The category "Partner Content" caught my curiosity. Within this group there are many sub-categories, but I chose the one called "All-Star Orchestra" because my kids have both been involved in orchestra. Within that topic, I clicked on "Masterpieces Old and New", and finally I viewed the entire 10 minute video clip of "Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 5, analysis by Gerard Schwarz. It was actually fascinating, hearing some great background information about that one very familiar orchestra piece.
One other interesting thing I noticed that under "Test Prep," there are practice tests for both the current SAT and the new SAT, which will start March 2016.
I can see that there is a LOT more in this app that I want to explore. NASA? Stanford School of Medicine? I am going to be super smart by the time I'm finished!
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Thing 12: Hobbies
Craftsy: I set up a Craftsy account about a year ago, when I actually bought an online class on how to knit an intricate cableknit sweater. (I think I used a groupon to buy it?) Needless to say, I never completed the class. I just haven't had the time. But I did complete the first couple of sessions, and found the site and videos to be very user-friendly. Now that I have downloaded the app onto my phone and signed in, I see that my class is still there, waiting for me to complete it. I know Craftsy offers plenty of free classes too, so I do think I will use it more often, now that it is on my phone.
Epicurious: This is my first time to try this app. Up until now, the only time I have used my phone to access recipes is when I go to Allrecipes.com, because that is where I find a lot of recipes that I like. The Epicurious app seems a lot more streamlined, and I like that I can see which recipes have been most popular with other users by seeing the ratings on the first screen. For example, I did a search on French Onion Soup, and was given 103 recipes. It was very easy to swipe from one recipe to the next, and I quickly found one that received over 134 user reviews, with 91% of respondents saying they would make this recipe again. I also like the clear and simple browsable categories, and then my favorite categories: "I cook like a pro" and "I can barely cook". Something for everyone!
RetailMeNot: I am using my phone more and more often to access coupons, mostly from emails that various stores and restaurants send to me. I downloaded RetailMeNot, and clicked on the "Nearby" icon to see what deals are close by. When playing around with the app, I found a LOT of deals that were online only, and I don't do a lot of online shopping except through Amazon. But I see that listed as one of the retailers too.
Craftsy: I set up a Craftsy account about a year ago, when I actually bought an online class on how to knit an intricate cableknit sweater. (I think I used a groupon to buy it?) Needless to say, I never completed the class. I just haven't had the time. But I did complete the first couple of sessions, and found the site and videos to be very user-friendly. Now that I have downloaded the app onto my phone and signed in, I see that my class is still there, waiting for me to complete it. I know Craftsy offers plenty of free classes too, so I do think I will use it more often, now that it is on my phone.
Epicurious: This is my first time to try this app. Up until now, the only time I have used my phone to access recipes is when I go to Allrecipes.com, because that is where I find a lot of recipes that I like. The Epicurious app seems a lot more streamlined, and I like that I can see which recipes have been most popular with other users by seeing the ratings on the first screen. For example, I did a search on French Onion Soup, and was given 103 recipes. It was very easy to swipe from one recipe to the next, and I quickly found one that received over 134 user reviews, with 91% of respondents saying they would make this recipe again. I also like the clear and simple browsable categories, and then my favorite categories: "I cook like a pro" and "I can barely cook". Something for everyone!
RetailMeNot: I am using my phone more and more often to access coupons, mostly from emails that various stores and restaurants send to me. I downloaded RetailMeNot, and clicked on the "Nearby" icon to see what deals are close by. When playing around with the app, I found a LOT of deals that were online only, and I don't do a lot of online shopping except through Amazon. But I see that listed as one of the retailers too.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Thing #11: Audio and Music
I have had the Pandora app on my phone for a couple of years now, and use it mostly at home because I've heard that it uses a lot of data and/or battery if I listen to it on the go. At home, I cast it to my TV speakers, and have set up several stations that I really enjoy, such as Bruno Mars, Bruce Springsteen, etc. It is kind of genius, as it is really good at "choosing" music that it thinks I will like! And if it comes to a song that I don't like, I can click the "thumbs down" button on my phone, and it instantly takes me to a different song. (Plus, it records the fact that I don't like the song it was playing.) Of course I am too cheap to pay for a subscription, so I have to listen to ads from time to time. I can live with that.
And for this Thing, I also signed up for a Spotify account and downloaded the app. The first question that came to mind is, "What are the pros and cons for Pandora vs. Spotify?" And of course, Katherine H. provided us with the article comparing the two. It seems that Spotify is a lot more limited unless you pay for the subscription - I'm not sure I would be happy with just listening to everything in Shuffle mode. If I don't like the song that is currently playing, I just have to live with it. (As my teenage son would say, "First World Problems, Mom.") One sentence in the Pandora vs. Spotify article caught my eye: "One killer feature of Spotify Premium is the ability to listen to songs offline."Maybe I could justify paying for a Spotify subscription? I do have some Amazon gift cards to use...
2 Hours Later...
Wait! I do not have to suffer through a song I do not like on Spotify. I quickly figured out that I can click on the little "fast forward" button next to the Play button, and it skips on to the next song. AND, I found that one of the playlists I can select is "Decades" - there is a category for the 70's and for the 80's. That's all I need!
I have had the Pandora app on my phone for a couple of years now, and use it mostly at home because I've heard that it uses a lot of data and/or battery if I listen to it on the go. At home, I cast it to my TV speakers, and have set up several stations that I really enjoy, such as Bruno Mars, Bruce Springsteen, etc. It is kind of genius, as it is really good at "choosing" music that it thinks I will like! And if it comes to a song that I don't like, I can click the "thumbs down" button on my phone, and it instantly takes me to a different song. (Plus, it records the fact that I don't like the song it was playing.) Of course I am too cheap to pay for a subscription, so I have to listen to ads from time to time. I can live with that.
And for this Thing, I also signed up for a Spotify account and downloaded the app. The first question that came to mind is, "What are the pros and cons for Pandora vs. Spotify?" And of course, Katherine H. provided us with the article comparing the two. It seems that Spotify is a lot more limited unless you pay for the subscription - I'm not sure I would be happy with just listening to everything in Shuffle mode. If I don't like the song that is currently playing, I just have to live with it. (As my teenage son would say, "First World Problems, Mom.") One sentence in the Pandora vs. Spotify article caught my eye: "One killer feature of Spotify Premium is the ability to listen to songs offline."Maybe I could justify paying for a Spotify subscription? I do have some Amazon gift cards to use...
2 Hours Later...
Wait! I do not have to suffer through a song I do not like on Spotify. I quickly figured out that I can click on the little "fast forward" button next to the Play button, and it skips on to the next song. AND, I found that one of the playlists I can select is "Decades" - there is a category for the 70's and for the 80's. That's all I need!
Thing 10 - Augmented Reality
I had never heard of Augmented Reality before exploring this Thing, so I have definitely learned something new! I started by downloading and trying out Aurasma. It took several tries before I was able to create my own Aura. I am more of a "trial and error" kind of person when it comes to these apps - I am too impatient to read a lot of instructions. I found that this is not a "trial and error" kind of app. I also tried out the to the classroom projects posted by Theresa McGee, and can kind of see how Aurasma could be used in the classroom, but it just doesn't seem very intuitive.
Then I explored Layar, and will definitely keep this app on my phone. I used it to read a QR code in Whole Foods to access their coupons and calendar of events. One question I still can't find the answer to is whether or not you have to scan an actual Layar logo to access data. In the article "Why Layar is the Coolest iPhone App in the World", the author makes it seem like you can scan the buildings in front of you to access information, and that the app uses GPS data to show what is nearby. This is something I will try when I am in San Francisco in September.
So in summary, Layar is a keeper, Aurasma is not for me.
I had never heard of Augmented Reality before exploring this Thing, so I have definitely learned something new! I started by downloading and trying out Aurasma. It took several tries before I was able to create my own Aura. I am more of a "trial and error" kind of person when it comes to these apps - I am too impatient to read a lot of instructions. I found that this is not a "trial and error" kind of app. I also tried out the to the classroom projects posted by Theresa McGee, and can kind of see how Aurasma could be used in the classroom, but it just doesn't seem very intuitive.
Then I explored Layar, and will definitely keep this app on my phone. I used it to read a QR code in Whole Foods to access their coupons and calendar of events. One question I still can't find the answer to is whether or not you have to scan an actual Layar logo to access data. In the article "Why Layar is the Coolest iPhone App in the World", the author makes it seem like you can scan the buildings in front of you to access information, and that the app uses GPS data to show what is nearby. This is something I will try when I am in San Francisco in September.
So in summary, Layar is a keeper, Aurasma is not for me.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Thing 9: Video
This "Thing" has taken me way too long because I could not figure out how to access the Animoto video I had already created! Thanks to Katherine H, I am now able to link my project to this blog. Full disclosure: I did not use my mobile device to create the video; I used my desktop computer. But this is worth watching - I am super proud of it. :)
Also, I have been using the YouTube app on my phone for a long time now. When I am working on a knitting project and get stuck because I don't know how to do a particular stitch, YouTube is my go-to app. I even have my favorite "knitting help people" highlighted, so there is no more stress in trying to figure things out. There are literally thousands of video clips out there on YouTube for all things craft-related.
Animoto Video:
My Fabulous Video
This "Thing" has taken me way too long because I could not figure out how to access the Animoto video I had already created! Thanks to Katherine H, I am now able to link my project to this blog. Full disclosure: I did not use my mobile device to create the video; I used my desktop computer. But this is worth watching - I am super proud of it. :)
Also, I have been using the YouTube app on my phone for a long time now. When I am working on a knitting project and get stuck because I don't know how to do a particular stitch, YouTube is my go-to app. I even have my favorite "knitting help people" highlighted, so there is no more stress in trying to figure things out. There are literally thousands of video clips out there on YouTube for all things craft-related.
Animoto Video:
My Fabulous Video
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