#23mobilethingsmn

Go back to your thoughts/ideas about mobile devices and apps. Has anything changed as a result of this experience?

I have definitely changed my opinion on the benefits of apps. Prior to this program I considered most apps (aside from the few I already had) as time-fillers. Through this program I have discovered plenty of apps that affirmed my opinion, but I was also pleasantly surprised by the amount of apps I would now consider time-savers. I’m a very routine person and have made a lot of manual schedules, budgeting tools, etc. that were available to me all along at my fingertips.

What were your favorite Things and discoveries?

My favorite discovery was Appsgonefree because it lead me to the app Spendbook. In Thing 21 I considered writing up a Personal Finance app in my surprise it wasn’t one of the 23 things. After realizing I only use my personal bank and credit card apps, I decided to discuss an app applicable to a bigger following.

When I discovered Spendbook, I realized I had finally found the personal finance app I had been wanting for a long time, but too uninterested in apps to look for (or pay for!). I think Appsgonefree will be a good way to for me to continue to discover new apps that will benefit my life without having to spend a lot of time researching apps.

How did you connect with others doing the 23 Mobile Things?

Aside from reading blog posts with the hashtag #23mobilethingsmn I didn’t do much connecting. My boss and I discussed which apps we were using and used that as an opportunity to try different apps.

Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

My take-a-way was that I was unjustly anti-apps for no good reason. While I still think there are a lot of apps out there that are over-priced or time-wasters, I now understand that there are plenty of apps that are useful and should be considered.

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or content?

I work well with multiple deadlines, which doesn’t apply to everyone, but I think it might have been best to make a deadline for Thing 1 – 4, then a new deadline for Thing 5 – 10, etc. It’s easy with a busy work schedule to say “It’s just 23 things, I’ll get to it tomorrow or next week” then to find yourself very close to the end of the program yet still wanting to complete it.

If we offered another 23 Things program like this in the future would you participate?

I would participate if I found the topic relevant or interesting. I spent a lot of time reading about app suggestions, testing out the app and writing my review. When I found a ‘thing’ uninteresting the task instantly became more stressful than insightful.

How would you describe your learning experience in one word or in one sentence, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities to others?

I only have a 16GB iPhone so I am not normally seeking out apps as much as I am cutting back to necessities. I opted to download Apps Gone Free because I generally won’t pay for an app. I am sure there are apps out there with their cost, but I’ve yet to be persuaded by one.

I started scrolling through the list and instantly assumed these apps have gone free for a reason, they’re not interesting. That is until I came across Spendbook – Personal Finance Tracker. I hardly had to read about the app before I knew that I wanted it.

I’m very diligent about tracking my spending which usually involves me saving receipts or checking my credit card online and filling in the numbers with a spreadsheet I created myself.

The app is simple and complex all at the same time. With features to categorize what you spent your money on, being as vague or descript as you like, I appreciate the option to always go back to the home page and compare you income with your expenses.

My absolute favorite app is Open Table. I use it all the time to get last-minute reservations or to plan something in advanced. IN all honesty the restaurants I eat at don’t normally need reservations to get a table, but when you have a group of 6 plus people who finally all agreed on a place to eat, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

I download the app Word Warp because I love anagrams. I try not to keep games on my phone because I will play them out of boredom instead of finding something productive to do, but this might be the game I keep around.

It seems as though the anagram options get progressively harder and I found myself getting anxious over the clock counting down and wondering what possible four-letter combination I could be leaving out.

The amount of times my gas light comes on and I am instantly panicked over not knowing where the nearest gas station is, even in familiar cities, leads me to believe I should have discovered this app a long time ago.

The app RoadNinja is, of course, meant for more than just finding the nearest gas station, but that feature alone is what sold me on selecting it.

The app is very simply laid out showing all businesses and services near you, and then allows you to narrow your search to specific categories, i.e. food, gas, entertainment, etc. The only issue with the app is that I am usually in need of this information as I am driving. This is more of a fault on my end, than the apps. Needless to say, I have the option to pull over and access the app, but since it is advertised as a Road Ninja, you can assume that its most often used while traveling. With this in mind, it’s important to note that this app would be best used when you have a passenger in the car with you.

I was intrigued by the description for Fooducate. The feature of scanning items to find nutrition information, paired with recommendations on better choices seems like a great option.

I will say that I am going into this skeptical as to what resources contribute to its healthy standards. With all of the diets out there today ‘healthy’ means something different to every person. Some people are low-carb, others low-fat and everything in between. As someone who follows a Paleo diet I don’t usually find mainstream apps and information usable as they don’t align with my nutrition.

After just creating a profile with the app I could tell it was open to alternative nutrition planning. Unfortunately a majority of the features I would use require me to upgrade the app with a fee.

I looked through all of the features that come with the standard app and was pleasantly surprised with the wealth of information available. In addition to nutrition facts and recommendations, I found the articles and news available on the home page relevant to nutrition information I am interested in reading.

I chose the app Going Out by Star Tribune because it provides a nice balance of activities and entertainment throughout Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Once I saw the categories available, I was very excited to have found this app through 23 Mobile Things. I can’t tell you how many times my friends and I are looking for something to do and have no idea where to even search, only to end up at the same places we always go.

The search features are everything they need to be, whether you’re searching for what’s happening right now or planning to do something within the next few days/weeks.

For Thing 16 I downloaded the app SoundCloud hoping to use its podcasts, music and recordings as something new to listen to while running.

While I found the podcasts to be interesting, they are poorly labeled which makes it hard to know what you’re getting into before you start listening. I prefer to listen to ‘healthy living’ information, but when most of its tracks are titled with the days date, I’m not always interesting in testing miscellaneous topics out when I have a specific topic in mind.