Tag Archives: Android

Communication, General, Tech

Cool app: LibraryThing

Maybe you’ve already heard about the LibraryThing app? It’s been around for a few years as an app for iOS devices only, but they have recently launched their app for Android! (And it’s free!)

This app sounds like a great way to keep your personal library collection organized. And it even allows you to add media like DVDs and CDs. A few more features include:

  • Browse and search your library overall and by collection.
  • Add books, CDs, and DVDs by scanning barcodes. The barcode scanning is SUPER FAST!
  • Add items by searching by title, author, ISBN, etc.
  • Browse and upload covers, using your Android’s camera.
  • Do minor editing, such as adding books to collections and rating them. Major editing is done by a link to LibraryThing.com.

Check out their fun video here:

Do you use this app? We’re interested to hear how you like it! Leave a comment and let us know!

Academic, General, Public, Resources, School Media Specialist, Services, Special, Tech

Learn to build your own Android app

android_robot-svg
Look how cute he is! Let’s build an app!

There are many interesting apps available for library use, and we are looking at some of them this week. But what if you want something that is unique to the special needs of your library? What if you want to stretch yourself and your tech skills by trying something new? What if you just don’t want to pay for an app??

You might be the perfect audience for this (free!) Udacity class!

Android Development for Beginners How to Make an Android App gives you some training in Java and programming for Android. “This course is designed for students who are new to programming, and want to learn how to build Android apps. You don’t need any programming experience to take this course. If you’ve been using a smartphone to surf the web and chat with friends, then you’re our perfect target student!”

Your library may want to reach out to patrons in a way that works for them, and speaks to them with tools they are already using. “Android powers over 80 percent of the world’s smartphones, and represents an incredible opportunity for developers everywhere. The next billion people coming online will interact with the internet for the very first time on a mobile device. Building for Android gives you the best opportunity to reach these users and make an impact — both in your community, and on the world.”

You may not need to connect to everyone in the world – but you do want to connect with as many of your potential users as possible; and an app you create may be one tool to help make that happen!

 

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Nine mobile Google calendar tricks

sumall_calendar_email_campaignDo you live by your calendar? With birthday reminders, meetings, events, and the ability to always be accessible, the modern, mobile calendar is far different than the wall version of old. And to make your mobile calendar even more of an asset, PCWorld recently highlighted 9 ways to make the most of your Google calendar for android and iOS. The list is full of tips and tricks, but also details some of the lesser known features of the mobile version of Google calendar. Here’s the abbreviated list but make sure to check out all the details now!

  1. Let Calendar’s event editor fill in the blanks
  2. Set a default duration for your events
  3. Add automatic alarms for your events
  4. Set up repeating events
  5. Show more calendar events on the screen
  6. Pick new colors for your calendars and events
  7. Set aside some “me time”
  8. Start the week on a day other than Sunday
  9. Quickly delete an event or check off a to-do
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Is Chrome OS going to be killed off?

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With many area schools using Chromebooks in their 1:1 deployments, the title of this post may have got a lot of hearts racing! ARS Technica is reporting that Google might be looking to combine Chrome OS and Android. Some have said this means Chrome OS is going to be killed off. While others believe it won’t. Like many news bits in tech, it seems to early to tell.

More reading from CNET gives us 3 reasons why Google may be folding Chrome OS into Android (and one reason it shouldn’t).

Hiroshi Lockheimer, the new senior vice president of Android and Chrome OS weighted in on Twitter why you shouldn’t be worried about Chrome OS. Does it placate you?

 

Back to the CMLE homepage

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Heartbleed – Mobile Devices

200px-Heartbleed_svgIn a previous post, we talked about the Heartbleed bug and its danger to users of many popular websites. Besides these websites, it turns out we also need to be concerned about our mobile devices. “Of the smartphones in use, only Android devices are vulnerable to this form of attack” The Guardian reported. “Apple does not use the vulnerable version of OpenSSL on the iPhone or iPad, while Microsoft said that neither Windows Phone nor Windows is affected.”

So what can you do if you have an Android device?

First, check the list of 80 Android phones/tablets that might be vulnerable. Second, download the Heartbleed Detector, a free app developed by Lookout and scan your device. If you do have a vulnerable version of Android, users should look for an update to protect themselves. “If … there’s no fix available for you, I would be very cautious about using that device for sensitive data,” Lookout’s Marc Rogers told Ars Technica.