Thing #6 Creating & Editing Documents

I installed the app Quickoffice which allows you to create and edit Microsoft Office documents, spreadsheets and presentations, then saves everything via your Google account. I think this will be useful in order to access work from either a mobile device or computer workstation.
Perhaps the most useful part of this app is the pdf file for getting started. It told me everything I need to know about creating or moving files and folders, deleting or emailing files, and much more.
The biggest stumbling block I can envision with using Quickoffice is the fact that all my work documents are stored on the server at my employer. We do not use Google Docs, and therefore I would need to remember to upload files, and later download and re-save newer versions. This could get complicated!
However, for personal use I have started to use Google + for photo sharing, documents, spreadsheets... It seems to be an easy transition to Google Drive.

Thing #5 Notetaking

I decided to test out Dragon- a dictation app. It seems simple enough- speak and Dragon will type whatever it is you say. This could have many practical uses- list making, letter writing, brainstorming sessions, etc...
I quickly realized that you truly have to tell Dragon each and every punctuation mark in order to make your text make sense at all... It is like speaking another language. After a short trial I decided that I would make better use of a more intuitive app and did a test run of Remember the Milk instead.
With Remember the Milk, I liked the easy to use Weekly display, simple text format, ability to have a title to each task and then expand with more notes on that task. For example- an entry for Dinner Party could easily include my grocery list. The app also includes different ways to create personal, work and study lists to further differentiate your to do list. I was unable to figure out how to set up notifications for email or text message which I think would be helpful. This app may take a little more time to figure out the bells and whistles, but it could be a helpful tool for both work and home! An internet search for help/tips on RTM led me here: http://blog.rememberthemilk.com/2011/05/introducing-remember-the-milk-for-ipad/
Lots of useful tips!

Thing #4 Keeping Up

Keeping Up

 

There are many ways one could waste time online- Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, multiple news and entertainment/gossip sites... the list goes on and on! I was pretty curious to see how the use of Flipbook could streamline my time spent online.

I installed the app, created several 'magazines' and tried to discover how it pulled info from Facebook. I ended up spending even more time exploring the info found via Flipbook than I would on a normal session of trolling my usual sites. There is just too much information!! I must be a creature of habit and prefer to access my favorite things separately when I have the time. Otherwise, I am tempted to read everything that comes in.

I guess RSS is just not for me... or I need to discover another avenue to narrow the types of articles that come in. Simply clicking on sports- baseball- brought in too many articles when all I really care about is American League Baseball, Central Division, MN Twins!! Go Twinkies.

One final complaint is the content drawn from Facebook was only related to posts of articles/videos on other websites. I use facebook mainly to see cute pictures of my friend's kids/vacations/pets and to read their status updates. Only occassionally do I click on the odd interesting article link.

Overall, Flipbook has an interesting concept- I see myself using it when I want to browse various topic, but it does not narrow or streamline anything for me.

 

 

Thing #3 Utilities

For Thing #3 I tried out StandApp, an app that promotes good health by providing an alarm reminder to stand up and take a break from your desk to do easy exercises. I set the app for a reminder every 60 minutes and soon learned that each hour of my work day really does fly by... soon enough the reminder to get up and move appeared followed by 5 minutes of exercise.

While this was a good reminder to get up and move I did feel silly doing some of the stretches for the full 5 minutes. I work in an open area of cubes- no closing the office door to do my stretching! The stretches and other exercises were simple, but not challenging. You will not work up a sweat doing these- perfect for the office environment. I can see myself continuing to use this app on days that my energy levels are dragging. I felt that I was better able to focus on my work after taking the time away from my computer screen to do these exercises. I may not have time to do this every day, and the option to set the reminder for every 120 minutes may be a better use of my time throughout the day. 20 minutes of exercise at my desk vs. 40 minutes would be better for my productivity!

Thank you StandApp for helping me find a way to 'get the wiggles' out at work and allow me to settle down again to re-focus my attention to my work!This is a great healthy alternative to checking personal email or facebook on your mobile device for the umpteenth time just to break up your workday! Or, a walk to the vending machine for that matter...

Thing #2 Mobile Device Tips and Tricks

Thing #2- exploring device Tips and Tricks.

I have had my ipad for over a year and still have not updated to ios 7! After researching many tips and tricks I feel more confident in finally installing the update. I am excited about the many new features I have learned about including the following:

• Notifications- I like the idea of using my ipad as a family calendar, a quick glance in the morning should show us things like daycare field trips, reminders for the day, or plans/appointments we have set up.
• iTunes radio- how cool that it will intuitively know what type of music to put in my custom radio stations. I love Pandora, and think this might be even better!
• Editing tips- Finally, I think I can competently copy and paste info I find online into emails/documents with greater success. Very happy to have learned you can select an entire paragraph of text with a simple tap of two finders to copy and then paste. Also, I was not aware of the ability to drag the handles to set the area to copy. Fascinating!
• Safety net- iCloud backup is something I should really do and yet have procrastinated to do. Such a simple way to ensure that my apps, pictures, everything on my iPad can be protected from the accidental actions of my 2 year old playing with the iPad.
• Pictures- a way to delete multiple pictures (taken by the 2 year old!) was not clear, and I have spent way too much time deleting things one by one. Finally discovered in the comments of one tips and tricks page that a simple way to do this DOES EXIST!!! delete photos on an iPad tap edit on the top right hand corner in your photo library then tap the pix you want to delete and it will put a tick on the ones you select then press delete on the top right hand side. Drumroll please.....To delete photos on an iPad tap edit on the top right hand corner in your photo library then tap the pix you want to delete and it will put a tick on the ones you select then press delete on the top right hand side

Websites that I found interesting and helpful included:

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/mobile-computing/tablets/50-really-useful-ipad-tips-and-tricks-688556

Extremely useful, basic tips in how to use your iPad. For the beginner, but also useful reminders for those who are relatively comfortable using their iPad. Here I learned how to take a screenshot of my ipad.

"You can take a screenshot on your iPad by pressing Home and then the Sleep/Wake button. The screen will flash and you'll hear a click, indicating that a photo has been taken. Your screen shots are saved automatically in your Photos gallery."

Also, a simple but useful tip to set CAPS LOCK. Double tap on either shift key!
http://www.zdnet.com/30-iphone-and-ipad-tips-and-tricks-to-make-you-faster-and-more-efficient-7000026210/
Concise description of 30 top tips and tricks. Easy to quickly scan through this webpage and learn something new! A must on my to-do list: "Worried about young ones racking up huge in-app purchase bills? Tap Settings > General > Restrictions and scroll down to disable In-App Purchases."

Now it is time to put this new knowledge into practice! Thank you 23 Mobile Things for allowing me to learn some valuable tips for using the iPad!

Thing 1

As a newbie to the land of all things ipad, I hope to learn about apps that may apply more to my work life than the basic apps I currently use to take notes during meetings. Personally, I hope to realize there is more to my ipad than the constant checking of facebook, email, and of course using 3M/Overdrive/Nook apps to read books.
I joined 23 Mobile Things because I do not want to be left in the dust in the world of Library 2.0. I have not learned much about Library 2.0 since completing my MLIS in 2008, (other than my own exploration of e-book platforms) and hope to gain greater insight into the useful, free tools available today. The description of the program says that we will learn about "apps will cover a variety of topics: social media, presentations, photography, reference, news, notes, games, and so much more." Can't wait to get started!

Welcome back

Time to resurrect my library blog! I have joined the '23 Mobile Things' program and will post updates based on this self-paced learning program.