Monday, March 24, 2014

Extra, extra....

Try out the free version pf tinyscan and see for yourself if it takes better document pictures than just using your ipad or iphone camera. Maybe we don't need to offer scanning machines at libraries after all...  (Thanks for the tip Andy.)

Thing 8. Buffer

I am not very intersted in this batch of things because I don't really have a lot of social media accounts.  I was going to play with Buffer because being able to create several posts and schedule when they appear on various sites makes a lot of sense to me if I were still the social media manager for my library, which I'm not.  So... As a personal tool, Buffer (and similiar multi-platform managers) doesn't really apply to my lifestyle.  As a possible professional tool, I think it might be very useful, but I couldn't find it in the App store, so I'm just going to pass on this Thing.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Thing 7. Pinterest and Bitly

I have had a Pinterest account for a few years now.  I enjoy it for browsing pictures in a thematic manner.  I use it both personaly and professionally.  Personally for my interests in weaving, knitting and other art topics.

I don't use it as often professionally, but it is good for gathering furniture ideas, as well as teen and children's craft ideas for programming.

Bitly sounds like an interesting app, but I have to say that I feel like I've been there, done that, with that sort of web-based storing of bookmarks.  When de.li.ci.ous was alive, I had a huge collection of bookmarks that I posted on my library's website.  I was left empty handed when they closed it down, so I don't feel like I care to start up another collection like that again.  I'm not sure it's worth my time.

Thing 6. CloudOn

I have to say this app did not last long on my ipad.  There were several things I didn't like about it from the get-go:  I didn't like tht it required me to cross over and open another account before I could use it; I didn't like that it offered paid upgrades in an interfering fashion (i.e., I couldn't just ignore the pop up and get on with my business)...  I was willing to appreciate the tour of the program, but when I realized that the app requires a constant internet connection, that was the death knell for me.

I have Comcast, and there's no such thing as a continuous internet connection in my house.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Thing 5.5. Remember the Milk

I decided to try this out, too.  Partly because I like the logo!  I was beginning to think that springpad might suck up too much of my time what with its ability to scan the internet and clip things to notebooks.  Pinterest keeps me distracted enough;  I'm finding that I spend less time these days sewing or knitting and more time surfing the net.  Not sure that's a good thing :/

But I have been looking for a fast and simple note app.  I was content with the ipad's notepad until they upgraded it and took the lines away.  Now those notes are just a jumble all over a blank white screen and I just don't like it as well.  It has no character or warmth.  I tend to write lots of little notes on scrap paper left all over my desk.  Maybe Milk is a simple enough interface that I will get in the habit of using it instead of making my scrap piles. I like that the lists are easy to make and easy to pitch and have an immediacy to them that isn't pretentious.  Just jot it down and move on.  Will try to work with both Milk and springpad for a few weeks to see which I tend to favor for work.

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Thing 5. Springpad

This has a lot of potential and I think I could enjoy working with it.  But right now I'm really frustrated because I can't make the springpad clipper to work with safari.  I've followed all the bookmarking steps, but when I go to another page to try to clip it, the bookmark doesn't work.  The pinterest pinner was no trouble to load when I added it to my desktop.  I'm wondering if the clipper would work easily if I was to turn on my desktop and try it from there.  Maybe this is another instance of mobile platforms not being as functional as we'd like them to be?

I'll play with it some more before I give up on it, although honestly, if it doesn't work the first few tries, then it still has some bugs to work out, in my opinion.

3-21-2014 update
I was at the Library Tech conference this week and used springpad to take all of my notes.  That seemed to work really well.  I like having all my notes bundled into noteooks with their own desktop so that I can easily browse each file before opening it.  Next thing to try will be to see how easily I can transfer my notes off of my ipad and onto my PC for printing