Thing #15--Infographics

This Thing didn't quite work like I expected it to, but it was still interesting.  I downloaded the free app for i Visual Touch.  With this app you can make your own infographic.  At least in theory.  It didn't work to well on my phone, but it could be because the screen isn't that big.  It maybe would work on a tablet better. 

I was able to download the app OK, and watched the how-to video so I would know what I was trying to do.  Of course the video made everything look super easy and had all the options for the version you pay money for.  But the free version has enough options to get you started.  You can make the background a different color, add in different shapes or pictures.  The part that I had trouble with was making the shapes a different size.  I should have just been able to drag the corners to enlarge, but I usually just moved the object around the screen.  Since I couldn't make the objects the size I wanted to, I just added more of them.  And changed their colors just because I could.  A little added text and the infographic was complete, if nonsensical. 

I looked around the Play Store for other infographic apps and found a few.  I tried out Infographic (not a very original title, but at least you know what you're getting).  This app won't help you create your own infographic, but you can look at others that are out there.  It also has one of the highest customer ratings.  You can do a search by genre and find an infographic for it.  I looked at the ones under lifestyle and found a neat one on shaving I shared with my husband.  Under Animals there are a lot about what to do with your pet in hot weather.  The graphics under Economy were interesting, but half of them are in languages other than English.  It's a neat app to look at if you need to kill some time, but I don't know how useful it is.

 

Thing #13--Presentations

So far, this has been the most frustrating Thing to work on.  For this I needed to download an app to help me make a slideshow presentation.  I've created powerpoint presentations before, so this should have been fairly simple.  I was wrong.

I tried the Deck Slideshow Presentations app for my phone.  It didn't work.  I was able to download it, but first it wouldn't let me open it.  So I uninstalled it, then re-installed it.  That worked.  I could open it.  But as soon as I tried to do anything, it froze on a black screen.  I was eventually able to view the sample slideshow on the app and do a little editing, but as soon as I'd back out and try to go back in it would freeze up again.  Very frustrating.

So I did a little searching in the Google Play store.  I found another presentation app--Presentation Maker.  Not the most user friendly app I've found, but at least I was able to do a slide show.  Just a quick 4 slide one on my spring adventures (I accidentally erased the title screen, so it was literally 4 slides long).  I was able to import pictures I took on my phone, add text and color the background.  Very basic, but it got the job done.

I don't see myself using this app or any presentation app any time soon.  There isn't much call for it in my life.  If I had to make one, I'd probably use Quickoffice. 

 

Thing #14--Videos

I was a little nervous about this thing.  I've never shot any video before, so not only was the app new, I had to try something totally new with the app.  But I worried for nothing.  I found it rather easy.

I tried out Vine for this thing.  Vine is a video app connected to Twitter where instead of sharing brief text, you share a 6 second video.  6 seconds doesn't sound like enough time to share anything, but you can show a surprising amount of information in 6 seconds.  Or totally waste it, as it appeared from some of the videos I watched.  However you want to use that time. 

Shooting the video for Vine is a little different from doing it directly from your phone.  Instead of just hitting the record button, you must hold your finger on the screen to film.  When you remove your finger you stop filming.  In this way you can make stop motion films or a single 6 second shot. 

So far I have only made one Vine.  I might do more.  Checking in on Vine I have found to be rather annoying.  When you're on the home screen or just searching through other Vines, the videos play automatically.  Which wouldn't be so bad if some of them didn't have sound.   I wish there was a way to disable that feature.

I'm not sure how often I'll use Vine, either in my personal life or for work.  I think I'd use it more for work since I don't think I know anyone else who has Vine.  On that note though, it's not easy to share Vine on other social media.  Twitter would work great, but I don't use that.  I can share the link on Facebook, but not everyone can view it.  On some computers it takes you right to the video, but on others the link takes you to the Vine sign on page.

Art Wall for April  Follow the link to see my first Vine.  Like I said above, I don't know if it will work.  But you can give it a try.

 

Thing #10--Sharing Photos

Back tracking on my list of Mobile Things, I tried Instagram for Thing 10.  I took awhile getting to this thing since it's not very compatible for tablets.  However, I splurged and bought myself a smart phone for my birthday and now it's easier to take and share photos.  I also learned that some of the apps I tried out on the Kindle Fire have different layouts on my phone.  Most likely because it's an android device and the apps are from the Play Store and not Amazon.  Interesting.

Anyway, I set up an Instagram account and started following a couple people I know.  Then I found a few organizations to follow.  Not too difficult.  Next I took a picture while in the app.  I snapped a picture of my new galoshes.  Before I posted the picture, I had to play with different options for lighting and having a frame.  After writing a brief description I posted my picture.  Nice.

I don't know if I'll use Instagram for work.  I'll have to keep playing with it first, before I try it out for work.  I can see how it would be fun to post pictures of life at the library or events that we have, but would we reach many people? I don't know.

 

 

Also, the badge for completing 15 Things.