Librarian by Day » Technology

The Lifehacker Pack for Android Plus a Few of My Favorites

Bobbi Newman — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 11:48:02 +0000

Lifehacker has put together a great list of their favorite Android applications. Since I’ve been meaning to write another post about my Evo and the apps I use regularly these is a great place to start. Thanks to Polly for bringing this list to my attention

Productivity

Astrid
Evernote
Mint.com Personal Finance
mNote
TripIt

Internet/Communication

Dolphin Browser HD
Facebook for Android
PDANet
Google Voice
Trillian
Twitter for Android

My additions

update 10/12/10 I now use Seesmic for Twitter, it allows me to choose retweet style and view my lists
update 10/18/2010 Tweetdeck is now available on Android
Tweetcaster – allows new style retweets
Twidroyd

Location-Aware

Google Maps & Navigation
My Tracks

My additions -

Foursquare – I used both of these when I travel
Gowalla – I used both of these when I travel
Google Sky Map – hold the phone up to the sky and it shows you the constellations – awesome!
OpenTable – browse nearby restaurants and make a reservation right from your phone, even better earn reward points towards free meals.

Utilities

AppBrain App Market
Fast Web Installer
Astro File Manager
Barcode Scanner
Google Chrome to Phone and Android2Cloud
Dropbox
Swype
Tasker
Voice Actions / Voice Search
Google Goggles

My additions

Ringdroid – allows you to easily clip songs for a ringtones

Media

^3 (Cubed)
Gmote 2.0
Kindle
Listen
Subsonic
Pandora
RockPlayer

My additions

OverDrive Media Console for free audiobooks from your public library
Borders eBooks – even though I used Kindle I think you should have choices
Kobo
nook
Discovery – watch episodes of your favorite Discovery channel shows

Photography

Andropan

My addition

update 10/18/2010 favorite camera app is now Vignette, is does cost but it has some amazing effects and has a random setting so it is similar to the popular Hipstamatic on the iPhone
update 10/12/2010 – Camera 360 has some good effects, there is a free and a paid version.
Retro camera – does fun old-fashioned camera effects

Backup and Security

WaveSecure

Food, Shopping, and Entertainment

Shopper
Yelp

My additions

CNET Scan & Shop – scan the barcode of an item and you can see CNET editor and user reviews, online and local prices, add the item to a wish list or set up a price alert.
ShopSavvy does essentially the same thing as the CNET but includes things that CNET doesn’t review like fingernail polish
Fandango – local movies times

What are your favorite Android apps?Similar Posts:

First Impressions of the Evo

Bobbi Newman — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:22:33 +0000

My previous phone was a Pre, I’m so happy to see it go. If you follow me on Twitter or have seen me with it any time over the last year, you know how much I hated that thing.

These are my first impressions of the Evo – the short version – I love it!

Battery life – I heard rumors of the battery issues & after experiencing a Pre & iPhone the first thing I did was tweak my settings. I took brightness off of auto and dimmed it further, I turned off Background Data (you have to turn this back on to access the App Store so remember to turn it back off). I hit App Killer frequently. I also believe I rule my phone & not the other way around so all push notifications are turned off. I haven’t had an issues with the battery life. I used it like crazy the first day and when the battery died I was not at all surprised. We’ll see how it holds up during a “regular” day at work and at an upcoming conference.

Size – its big. But that’s good. The display is huge making the phone its self huge. I carry my phone in my purse or hand most of the time so the size isn’t an issue for me. I could see where it might be for a man who carries a phone in his pocket. It feels comfortable in my hand, solid and I can easily type with the small keyboard when I hold it vertically.

Display – LOVE it! Its huge. The keyboard is nice sized the quality of the images and video are great.

Interaction – I didn’t get any instruction on the phone, I just entered my Gmail info and went for it. Things seem pretty intuitive. I like the different scene options and the ability to add widgets and shortcuts as well as apps. I’ve spent a lot of time rearranging these

Speed – this baby is lightning fast compared to the Pre. I hear Froyo is gonna be even faster, Evo is rumored to get the upgrade later this year

Power button – I’ve read some complaints that it doesn’t stick out enough. This hasn’t been an issue for me. Maybe because I immediately put a silicon case on it and the case provides a larger button than the phone itself.

Navigation – the four buttons at the bottom are easy to use and I find navigation a breeze. Even when I mess up it is so fast to get back to where I was that it isn’t that big of deal.

Price – even with the $10 add-on required for the Evo I still pay less than I would for a comparable plan elsewhere.

Apps – love them! Really wish there was a Kindle app. I’ve been using Kindle Desktop for reading books lately and I’d love to be able to read them on the phone. I hear one is coming. All the other apps I used regularly on the Pre are available and more.

Storage space - I know you can insert a larger SD card and people are excited about being able to save apps to the card with Froyo, but honestly space is not an issue for me. And I would say I’m closer to a power user than an average user.

Camera(s) – AWESOME the 8 megapixel camera on the back takes great pictures, even allows you to do black & white, sepia, negative, solarize, posterize and aqua. The front facing camera is great. I know its supposed to be for video conferencing but I’m happy just to be able to take pictures of myself easier As far as the lens sticking on the back it totally does. I could see it being an issue if you don’t put a case on the phone. With the silicon case I bought it isn’t a problem.

4G – is not available in my area and I didn’t buy it for the 4G connection.Similar Posts:

The Future is Mobile: OCLC/LJ Online Symposium

Bobbi Newman — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:01:09 +0000

The the recording is now available from the May 20th online Symposium The Future is Mobile sponsored by OCLC and Library Journal. You can listen to it here or see the tweets on Twitter or What the Hashtag

Speakers included:

Sarah Allen, Director, Blazing Cloud, Inc.
Jack Mason, Global Business Services, Strategic Programs & Social Media, Ibm
Lindsay Notwell, Executive Director, 4g Strategy & Implementation, Verizon Wireless

The Bullpen Of Library Represenatives Included

Jason Casden, Digital Technologies Development Librarian, Ncsu Libraries
Toby Greenwalt, Virtual Services Coordinator, Skokie Public Library
David Saff, Software Engineer, Google
Lisa Carlucci Thomas, Digital Services Librarian, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven
Greg Carpenter, Ceo, Boopsie
Noel Chandler, Ceo & Co-Founder, Mosio
and me

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What It Takes To Be a Digital Woman

Bobbi Newman — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:19:44 +0000

What it takes to be a digital woman: Review by TrendsSpotting

View more presentations from Taly Weiss.

found via Librarian in BlackSimilar Posts:

How Using The Internet Is Changing Our Brains

Bobbi Newman — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:45:41 +0000

CC image used courtesy of Reigh LeBlanc on flickr

As with most things, the benefits from computers and technology is all about balance.

From an article in The Independent – What the web is teaching our brains, a list of activities and the benefits each provides.

Internet research: Boosts the ability to integrate and process information as well as enhancing decision-making skills.
General browsing: Encourages the use of continuous partial attention and multi-tasking, which can impair cognition and cause irritability
Playing computer games: May improve multi-tasking skills, memory and peripheral vision. Can lead to antisocial behaviour.
Building a blog or website: Building a blog or your own website improves frontal lobe function, reasoning and memory.
Sorting email: Boosts information-processing functions in the brain’s frontal lobe. Can also cause stress.
Using emoticons: Exercises brain centres linked to emotion and social connection; particularly beneficial to those who use computers for long periods.
Tweeting and chatrooms: Enhances peripheral attention, helps to boost self-esteem and protects the hippocampus.

The article includes more information on the “why” or how it works, and of course some negative aspects of internet & technology usage too.

Worth reading:

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Libraries and Transliteracy – the video version

Bobbi Newman — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:46:06 +0000

I took my slideshow on transliteracy and turned it into a video. I was curious about how easy it was to turn a slideshow into a video (its super easy!) so I thought I’d try it. Most of my presentations aren’t meant to stand alone and so don’t really translate well to video. When I was putting the transliteracy one together I wanted it to be able to stand alone, so I thought I’d give it a try. A little self indulgent I know But anyway here it is.

Learn more about transliteracySimilar Posts:

Libraries and Transliteracy Slideshow

Bobbi Newman — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:20:30 +0000

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about transliteracy and how important the concept is for libraries and librarians. I’ve created a slideshow I hope conveys the message and is easy to share.

I have also added page with information on transliteracy.

Libraries and Transliteracy

View more presentations from Bobbi Newman.

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Libraries Need to Focus on Transliteracy

Bobbi Newman — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:33:59 +0000

Libraries have focused on literacy, the ability to read, write and interact, for years. It is an important service to our patrons and our communities. People need to be literate in order to be involved in and contribute to society. Times are changing, technologies are evolving rapidly, it’s no longer enough to focus on the ability to read and write alone. If we only focus on literacy we are doing a disservice to our patrons. Just as libraries took on the task of helping to ensure all people are literate, now we need to take on the task of ensure all people are transliterate.

What is transliteracy?

Transliteracy is the ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks. – wikipedia

Soon people will need to be transliterate in order to be involved in and contribute to society. It is already a requirement to participate in some aspects of our society and it will only become more so. Government agencies are no longer issuing print forms, you have to access them online. Your health insurance plan was a website and you have an account, when you call they will tell you to go there to get information. Banks are sending alerts and account balance information via text messages. Facebook privacy settings are complex and change frequently. The price of computers is dropping allowing more people to own one. Free WiFi access points are increasing, allowing more people internet access.

For many people all of the above are new experiences. Experiences they can have with no training, no supervision and no support.

In order to best serve our patrons we need to move from literacy to transliteracy. Add it to your strategic plan, mission, statement and goals. Commit to it. Talk with your coworkers and colleagues about it.

Yes I am a Digital Branch Manager, No I Do Not Regularly Build Bonfires of Print Books in My Backyard & Dance Around Wearing Warpaint

Bobbi Newman — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:23:41 +0000

CC image courtesy of mikel_duke on Flickr

Not regularly, actually, not ever. I keep seeing the perception that by going digital, being aware of and, gasp! even using technology means that librarians and libraries are throwing aside traditionally services in favor of sexy new toys like Twitter. That in order for a library to have a Facebook profile first we have sacrifice 100 books to the Social Media gods.

As a Digital Branch Manager I have nothing against books, heck, I think we should have more books. At home, in my personal library, I probably have more books at home than some of my “traditional” peers. Do not get rid of the books.

I do think libraries need to develop along with the society they serve.

I don’t understand the people who want libraries to continue to be about the book; solely about the ink and paper book. The world is evolving at an amazing rate, nothing is standing still. Why shouldn’t libraries move forward? If we stand still how will we serve our patrons as they move forward?

So many people see the addition of new services as a threat to the old. I don’t think anyone is planning to throughout the baby with the bathwater. Evolution isn’t easy, sometimes its painful, some attempts will die off, but it is necessary. The world is changing, faster every day, if we can’t change with it we will be left behind. The people who need and want libraries in all their forms will go without.

Does the average Joe really need to know what a browser is?

Bobbi Newman — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:52:24 +0000

Jessamyn West shared this yesterday

“A team from Google interviewed dozens of people in Times Square the other day, asking a simple question: What’s a browser? This was in an effort to understand and improve the customer experience of Google’s own browser, called Chrome.

Turns out that over 90% of the people interviewed could not describe what a Web browser is.”

Watch the video

I don’t think any of my non-techie family or friends could answer this question. I’m not sure I could adequately if a microphone was put in my face while I was out shoe shopping (its hard to swtich from thinking about a stacked heel to properly defining browser) My parents use Firefox because I told them to, I don’t think they have any idea why.

But does it matter? I know nothing about how my car works, I have no idea what’s actually involved in making it go, other than I turn a key, shift gears and apply the brake. Does the average Joe need to know what a browser is or just how to get online? I’m sure a car enthusiastic will tell you my Saturn is not so hot, but I don’t care it works for me, it gets me from Point A to Point B. Isn’t that how most people feel about their browser? Some of us are browser enthusiast, some of us aren’t. If the average Joe only wants to get from Point A to Point B why does he need to know what a browser is?

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