Thing 4 of the 23 mobile things

Flipboard and Zite

This is the point in this project that I realize that I just don't have time to take full advantage of each of these apps. I recognize the benefits of what I've learned so far and I still look forward to learning more but if all ever added was the two apps recommended in this thing I would never come out of the internet vortex. I prefer Flipboard to Zite if only for the more inviting interface. Zite seemed cluttered and I had a hard time filtering it to give me material that I really wanted to read. Flipboard seemed easier to, well flip through. I preferred the preset topics I could choose from on Flipboard. I think that if I had more time to spend with it I could tailor it to be a really useful time saving tool. If I'm reading on my phone, which seems to be the direction this project is leaning, I only have a few minutes and the material I found with Flipboard was more digestible in small bites. I also found that Zite seemed to cause both my phone and the Kindle to act up. I ultimately uninstalled Zite and will keep Flipboard for moments I have time to flip.

Thing 3 of the 23 Mobile things

  

Google search, Google Goggles, iHome Sleep   

Feeling pretty fancy, I already had a few these things.

The Google app is on the phone and I use it regularly. Though I've had the technology for several years now I still can't believe that we are able to walk around with that kind of access to the internet in our hands.

When I first bought the phone I installed a barcode/QR reader, vital for Goodreads and Cartwheel. Love the barcode scanner. I'm thrilled by the beeps and pings in makes, the information just popping into the phone.

I have little need to be reminded to stand so I've skipped StandApp and gone with Google Goggles and the iHome Sleep.

My results with Google Goggles are iffy at best. I scanned an Oreo and got no recognizable matches beyond black and white images. An Oreo seemed pretty recognizable. I like the text scan but again it has to be really clear and specific to get a good result. Scanning the word Starbucks suggested the Starbucks website, but scanning the image logo suggested several Starbucks mugs on sale at ebay.

iHome Sleep. I installed this but have yet to want to try it. The reviews mention that it is a huge battery drain, which is already an issue, and since some of the phones never go to sleep while the app is open the image of the screen you leave it on can burn into the screen. I currently use the alarm that came with the phone when I'm away from home and have been very happy with the results. It allows snooze, has a variety of alerts to awake to has never failed to go off when I set it, which seems to ultimately be the goal.

As you will find if you click on the YouTube link from the previous post I have figure out how to load an additional browser on the Kindle. Dolphin seemed to be fairly reliable and received really good reviews when I was looking for a browser that would let me install Flash. I generally use Dolphin for web things outside of what Amazon wants you to do and the preset Silk for everything else.




 

Thing 2 of the 23 mobile things

Tools and tricks

When learning to use a new device I tend to poke at buttons and slide screens until I make it do what I want it to. YouTube has been a help more than once. In most cases this works for me and I suspect I could remain happy with what I can figure out on my own. For this “thing” I searched the web to find tips on how to use both of my devices and discovered several tools I didn’t even realize I was doing without. How did my Kindle not have a calculator pre-installed? Why have I never wanted to take a picture with it? A screen shot? After exploring Amazon and these sites... 

http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2012/09/17/40-tips-and-tricks-for-kindle-fire-hd/ 

http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/kindle-fire-hd-helpful-tips-tricks-secrets/

http://www.lovemyfire.com/kindle-tricks-and-tips.html

I have a few more tricks up my sleeve. Hey, I may never need these tools or utilities, I’ve gotten this far without them, but now I have some more resources to look at if something comes up.