Thing 4: Keeping Up

I have used both Zite and Flipboard fairly often since I got my iPad.  Of the two I prefer Zite.  Zite reminds me of Pandora Radio.  I read what I am interested in and have the option to give feedback about why I like it.  Zite shows me the tags given to the article and I choose which tags match what I liked about the article.  Then Zite builds more related content into my next magazine.  I can also see which of my previous tags the article matches, which tells me why Zite showed it to me.

Flipboard helps you save more content, into your own "magazines."  However, Flipboard doesn't allow me to keep curating my content to my interests, which makes a lot less of the articles flipboard features interesting to me.

Zite's layout is also much easier to understand and use.

Another RSS app I use is Pulse by LinkedIn.  Pulse allows you to subscribe to "channels" which show you content from those websites or organizations.  A lot of the channels are job/career related, but there are many channels that focus on entertainment.  I don't use LinkedIn Pulse as much as Zite, simply because there is more to sort through before I find content that interests me.

Thing 3: Utilities

All of the apps listed under Thing 3 were new for me, although I do use Google Chrome as my primary search engine.

RedLaser Barcode and QR Scanner could be a tool that I add to my iPhone, but I don't see it as being useful for my iPad, especially because my iPad is not connected to my cell network.  It would definitely be helpful in bargain shopping, although I typically don't do a lot of price comparison shopping for everyday grocery items.  I usually just pick the store that generally has the best prices and get everything there.  However, if I'm looking for a very specific product this would be the most helpful in comparison shopping.

One of our math instructors has started to use QR codes to facilitate a flipped classroom.  She posts problems in the classroom with QR codes that link her students to answers and explanations.  It's been a successful classroom activity that engages students and helps them become comfortable with new tools on their iPads.

Google Search brings all of the Google features I use into one app.  However, when I click on certain features, like Maps, Drive, or Gmail, it redirects me to the specific apps for those features.  It seems to me that I could create a folder with all of the Google apps I use and that would serve the same function as this app.  It is nice that I'm logged into all of my Google functions through the app, though.  

One thing that is striking about Google Search is the ability to search with the new camera function, Google Goggles.  Google Goggles works nicely with the normal Google search functions.  I was curious to see if there would be any kind of facial recognition feature that you can use to search for people, but Google did not recognize my face.  I did a Google Goggles search with Barack Obama's official portrait and it searched for it as a product, but not for Barack Obama the person.  The implications for privacy with all of the new facial recognition features out there (looking at you, Facebook) are serious.  If Google Goggles implements facial recognition I could take a picture of any stranger and find out anything about them that's already on the web.  Scary.

Without an adjustable desk at work, I don't think that the StandApp would be of much use for me.  I do run around campus quite a bit for various reasons, so a reminder to do that is not needed.

I don't do a lot of work at coffee shops now that I'm not a student, so Wi-Fi Finder is not necessary.  If I need to use the internet while I'm on the go my 3G on my iPhone is typically strong enough to get what I need.  I think that this app would be the most useful for those who travel for work.

I have tried different sleep apps before that all promised to wake me up at the right time during my REM cycle, but I never felt better rested after using them.  I think that if I had an issue sleeping an app like this might be useful in helping me decipher the problem, but I already know that my problem is staying up late to watch another episode of Parks and Rec.  

Thing 2: Mobile Device Tips

As the iPad coordinator on my campus I feel fairly comfortable using the features of my iPad, especially because I also train students on the iPad.  The video by App Find on iOS7 discussed some features that I was aware of but also introduced me to several new features.

I normally use Google Chrome as my default browser because I like that I can connect easily with my other Google accounts and bookmarks.  However, the shared links feature that Safari offers is exciting.  I have a Twitter account and currently I'm following so many people that my Feed seems like too much to read sometimes.  If I just looked at the shared links I can quickly find out if anyone is sharing great content through Twitter.

I had heard about the time stamps on texts but I have a hard time swiping just right to get it to work (it usually takes me a few tries - I experience the same thing when trying to access my iPad's control panel).  The time stamps are important because often I look to see how much time has passed between texts to determine if I'm leaving my friends hanging for too long.

I haven't found a use for the level feature of the Compass utility yet, but it looks like an awesome tool.

Learning about new features is exciting - it's also exciting to share features.  My brother-in-law recently got an iPhone and it was fun to teach him some of my favorite features.


- April

Thing 1: Blogging and Registering

I am very excited to be part of the 23 Mobile Things because I work as a Campus Librarian at a college that uses iPads in the classroom.  Each of our students has an iPad to use as an educational and professional tool.  I act as the iPad coordinator and trainer for both our students and faculty, so exploring the 23 Things will give me a chance to explore new Mobile resources and reflect on those with which I am already familiar.  I hope to discover new resources and ways to use technology for both our students and our faculty.

- April