Thing #4.1: Personal Magazines

My smart phone came preloaded with Flipboard, but I've never really warmed up to the magazine-style news apps. My tablet has Google Currents and I've also looked at Zinio and Next Issue. Some are different in that they offer "subscriptions" to actual print-first mags to make them readable on your tab or mobile device. My feed reader Feedly has a display mode that is 'zine-like enough to satisfy me for the most part. I gave Zite a quick spin on my phone and it was very easy to set up. This weekend I will add it to my tablet and experiment further.

Thing #4: Keeping Up

Almost exactly five years ago I posted about RSS feeds on my blog for the original 23 Things on a Stick. Do they have a help group for those of us who want to know too much? Let's see, twelve steps for the RSS-addicted, 2014 edition...

My name is Barb and I am an information addict. I have been using RSS feed reading as a current awareness tool for almost nine years now, in my professional and personal life. My companions on the journey have been Bloglines, Google Reader, and now Feedly.

1. I admit I am powerless over information overload, and keeping up with professional reading had become unmanageable.
2. I have come to believe that the power of Internet tools can restore one to sanity.
3. I made a conscious decision to turn current awareness over to the care of RSS, as I understood it.
4. I made a search of available blogs and news sites and fearlessly added them to my feed list.
5. I entrusted to my reader the exact nature of my interests and info gathering needs.
6. I was entirely ready to have RSS help to fulfill these needs safely (no spam) and in less time than tapping every site individually on a regular basis.
7. I humbly remove feeds that do not provide useful content.
8. I created folders for grouping like feeds, and became willing to make a place to organize them all.
9. I make direct visits to actual blogs and news sites whenever necessary, adding to their page hits and incrementing their revenue stream.
10. I continue to take personal inventory, adding and weeding on a regular basis.
11. I have sought with research and practice to improve my understanding of information and its power in the world at large.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, I have tried to carry this message to others by showing them how to set up a feed reader, writing about RSS in our professional association newsletter, and giving a presentation on it at a meeting.

Subscribing to RSS feeds has transformed the way I keep current with developments in information work, and has supercharged my knowledge of politics and world events. I do it in moderation, with about 150 feeds covering books and libraries, food and fun, popular culture, politics, news, technology, hobbies and - of course - LOL Cats. Last year the opportunities for addictive behavior increased with my new smart phone and bigger data package. Now I can do Feedly on my bus commute....

While I know I can never know it all, using RSS saves me time and anxiety in the quest. It opens up new areas of knowledge and preserves my reputation among friends as the "Trivia Queen."

Thing #3: Utilities

I do not use my tablet at work and often turn off my phone there. A couple of the suggested apps had poor reviews, so I gave one called Peel a try. It came with my phone and I added it to my tablet. It purports to be a one stop controller for your TV, CD-player and other entertainment devices. So far I am disappointed with its interaction with my devices. It does not display all my HD channel choices and turns the TV off unexpectedly. I do like the reminders, and viewing schedule. I think I will check into Comcast's own app as a comparison tool. Goggles sounds interesting too.

Thing #2: Device Tips

I've explored my Samsung phone and tablet pretty well in the past, but I did learn a few new tricks today. Getting to Google search with one keystroke is helpful, and I've added some new widgets for quick access too. My phone has a newer version of Android so it has additional functionality that the tablet does not. I am just as interested in removing apps from my devices as I am in adding them. Both came loaded with a ton of Samsung and AT&T apps that cannot be uninstalled. I don't want to get into rooting the devices, so I guess I'm stuck with unused baggage for now.

Blogging: 23 Mobile Things #1

Five years ago the Minnesota library community offered a self-paced tutorial series called "23 Things on a Stick." It provided an opportunity for information professionals to learn about what were then new technologies: blogs, wikis, RSS, tagging, and social networks. I set up a blog with intent to participate, but never followed through on the full complement of lessons. Well, Things TNG is back: the next generation is mobile applications. Blogging here will be part of the process, and I hope to make it through the gauntlet this time. Part of my job responsibility is to at least be aware of technology developments that might impact law practice and law libraries. This seems like a fun and instructive ways to get that exposure to trends and ideas. Won't you join me? See more details at 23 Mobile Things.