More Recommendations for Apps for Extension Professionals

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Here is a collection of mobile applications and methods to help Extension professionals (originally posted on eXtension website.)

 

Helpful Applications for Extension Professionals - (no official extension endorsement of these apps by this posting.)

 

  • Adobe- download as PDF’s to read later
  • Skype, Facetime, GoogleHangout – video access via phone or tablet
  • QR Code - QR Reader, Scan,  link to video and websites
  • Mobile books - Kindle, Nook, iBooks
  • ClickerSchool - poll audiences using App and internet connection… no need for clickers, only uses texts from the audience
  • SOS - first aid
  • Word/office tool: Google Docs/Drive , Documents to go, Pages, Keynote, and Numbers
  • Mobile printing from phone / tablet - HP’s e-print, Google cloud printing
  • Cloud Documents – Google Docs / Drive, Dropbox, iCloud
  • E-mail – K-9 Mail, Yahoo
  • Page scanner - Image to Text
  • Evernote - Capture products (notes, documents, voice)
  • Square  – Payment gateway
  • Package tracker - UPS / Fed ex
  • Meeting scheduler - Doodle
  • Social media – Facebook, Twitter, Google +, Pintrest, Linked in
  • Social Media Posting - Hootsuite, Facebook Pages
  • News - CNN, Fox, Smart Briefs, Flipboard, Pocket
  • Weather – Weather Bug, Weather Channel
  • Maps - Google Maps (navigate feature), Apple Maps
  • Flashlight - Flashlight (using camera flash)
  • Kids Nutrition Games - Eat this not that,
  • Allowance - iAllowance app keeps track of chores that kids are assigned
  • Extension Apps - myUNLextension, Nebraska Extension 4-H at the Fair, Feed Cost Calculator (SDSU), Backyard Farmer
  • Web Conferencing - Adobe Connect, Web Ex, Go to Meeting
  • Camping - Geocaching, Camp Ohio (4-H camp), Camp Songs)
  • Cell phone provider - check minutes, texting, data plan, so you don’t go over the limit.

EMDUG November 2012 User Group Meeting Recording

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For those who missed it, here is the November 2012 EMDUG online meeting recording. In this latest recording we talk about: how to research, evaluate and purchase apps; Denise Ruttan from Oregon State University Extension and Experiment Station Communications shares her Android experiences; Jeff Hino discusses his new Apple iPad Mini; and we review some apps (see list below).

This latest meeting was also an interesting experiment in mobile technology use. We used an app called Reflector (previously Reflection) which works with Apple’s Airplay technology to mirror an iPhone screen (including the video feed from the onboard iPhone camera) to a Macbook laptop’s screen, which in turn shared it’s screen through Adobe Connect. If you watch the recording you can see what we’re talking about. The frame rate is kind of slow and choppy because of the technological hoops we were jumping through, but you can still see what we were doing.

Planet of the Apps

Here are the apps we reviewed:

 

Mobile Device Holiday Gift Ideas

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Wondering what to give your mobile device loving family member or friend this holiday season? Looking for a special mobile gift for yourself? Well, get ready to Deck the Halls with these great gift ideas:

Next EMDUG Meeting – Nov. 29 @2pm PST

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Mark your calendars and plan to join us for another fun and informative Extension Mobile Device User Group (EMDUG) online meeting this Thursday, November 29 from 2:00-2:45 p.m.

This month we will have a special guest, a real live Android smart phone user! (don’t want you Android fans feeling left out!) We will also talk about how to find, evaluate and obtain apps; review the new iPad Mini from Apple; discuss the Responsive Design makeover of this blog and, of course, more mobile app reviews and recommendations from Jeff and I.

As always, this session is geared towards EMDUG members, but open to anyone interested in mobile device use.

The online meeting will be done via Adobe Connect (instructions below).

Access information for the online “EMDUG Meeting”
Date:  Thursday, November 29
Time:  2:00-2:45 p.m. PDT
URL: http://oregonstate.adobeconnect.com/emdug

Just enter as a GUEST by typing your name in the text box that appears.
For this session you will be listening to audio via your computer speakers. If you are in a public area, consider using a set of headphones. A chat window will be available so you can ask us questions.

NOTE: This webinar will be recorded and available online for those who are unable to attend the session.

Victor Villegas

New Blog Look – New Responsive Theme

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Hey EMDUG followers, as you’ve probably noticed, our blog has a new look. This new WordPress theme is a responsive design developed by OSU Central Web Services. It reformats itself to fit the size of the screen you are viewing it on, whether it be a desktop, tablet or smart phone. If you are using a desktop computer, you can see the blog automatically reformat itself by making your browser window smaller, similar to a mobile device screen size.

With more and more people accessing the web via a variety of devices with varying screen sizes, it’s important to start thinking in terms of responsive design when setting up new websites and producing content with mobile device users in mind.

So we figured we should practice what we preach! Let us know what you think of the new look.

Producing a Podcast Using an iPhone or iPad

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Mobile PodcasterOne of our EMDUG users recently asked whether it was possible to produce a podcast on an iPad or iPhone. Well yes, it is possible, as a matter of fact. You can use any audio recording app (there are hundreds) to record an audio podcast. There are, however, some apps which allow you to produce more professional podcasts by giving you editing, mixing and file upload options.

VR+: Voice Recorder – simple and basic. Allows you to record and append audio in a linear fashion.

Garageband – record audio and edit it, add music beds and post/upload to iTunes, Soundcloud, Facebook, YouTube, etc.

Caster: Mobile Studio – an app actually geared towards making podcasts. Allows importing audio files, recording/editing/mixing, and export via FTP, email and Twitter with more options to come including video podcasting.

Mobile Podcaster – another podcasting specific app which allows you to post directly to WordPress sites.

BossJock Studio – great little podcasting app, allows file imports and has automatic ducking (background music becomes softer when you push a button to talk).

NOTE: You can obtin a better audio recording on an iPhone by using an iRig Mic or iRig Mic Cast by IK Multimedia. On an iPad, you can connect a USB mic such as the Samson Meteor using the Apple iPad Camera Connection Kit.

Apple Announces iPad Mini and New iPad 4

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Apple iPad MiniApple has come out with a smaller iPad called the iPad Mini. It has a 7.9 inch screen, is lighter and thinner than a regular iPad. The base wi-fi only model will have 16GB capacity and priced at $329. Shipments start November 4 of this year, with the wi-fi+cellular models shipping in mid-November.

Apple has also upgraded the 3rd generation iPad with a faster processor and the same controversial Lightning connector as the iPhone 5 and are calling it the iPad with Retina display.

If you are in the market for an iPad, you now have three basic models to choose from.