Monday, March 24, 2014

Thing 5: Notetaking

Thing 5 is notetaking. I didn't really find any of the apps all that helpful. I use my phone's built-in 'Reminders' app, which syncs with my work task list and has the ability to set reminder alarms (even via Siri, which is helpful. "Siri, set a reminder for 3:30pm to take out the trash").

I also use an app called AnyList for my shopping/to do lists that I need to keep track of, and really like that app. I had tried Remember the Milk before, but didn't really like it any better than the built-in app for reminders. I have never once used the actual Notes app on my phone. I guess I don't take notes on my phone, probably because the only time I take notes, I take them by hand (during work meetings or trainings, mainly). The Springpad recipe feature could be nice, but I already have a Pinterest board of favorite recipes, and they more recently introduced the feature of putting the ingredients/recipe instructions direct on Pinterest, so I think a separate app isn't necessary for me.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Thing 4: Keeping Up

I struggled a bit with this Thing (#4: Keeping Up). I downloaded both Flipboard and Zite for my iPhone, and also got the new Facebook app, Paper. I knew what RSS was and used to use Bloglines for an RSS reader to keep up with various blogs, but was, quite frankly, somewhat relieved when Bloglines bit the dust and I stopped having all of these RSS feeds that I felt like I should be reading, but wasn't really all that interested in anymore, and it was too much work to go through and delete probably 50+ feeds I was no longer enjoying.

To be honest, that's how Flipboard and Zite feel to me. Overwhelming. Too much information. If I am looking for information on news, I go to Google News or the NewsMap, or see what's trending on Twitter or Facebook within those apps. I guess if I were a bigger newshound or looking for content, these apps would be good for me.