Thing #23: Evaluating and Looking Back

Over the course of the last few months--OK, last two months, really--I have found a lot of really useful apps and have also gotten much more in the habit of using my phone for things that I hadn't used it for before.  However, I also have found myself wasting more time on my phone with games, fun stuff, music, browsing for content, reading articles, and falling down internet wormholes.  I still think that my computer is a way, way better tool for some things...but now I recognize that my phone can work in a pinch or--for some things--just as well.  (I also decided that I kinda dig this whole blogging thing, so I started my own personal blog to keep track of personal projects....)  

I didn't really connect with others online doing the 23 Mobile Things.  I did look at a few people's blogs in the Jan. to April months when I wasn't actively working on my own blogging.  I also talked to other participants about 23 Mobile Things and with some nonparticipants asking for advice or thoughts about specific apps.

I really liked the format and the content.  The one suggestion I have is to consider putting the discovery component mid-way through the program.  That way people could have a chance to discover more stuff along the way and maybe find apps that would go with the later Things categories and/or for the sharing component.  Also, I know that I started being really active with my Things pretty late (at the beginning of May.  But in the last 6 weeks of the program I didn't get any comments from my official commenter.  It would have been nice to hear from him at least once after the initial comment way back in January.  

My favorite Things were probably #6 (Creating Docs), #7 (Content sharing and saving), #9 (Taking and sharing photos), #18 (Education), and #20 (Games).

My favorite discovered--and now among my most used apps--are Pinterest, Blogger, some of the photo editing ones, and Duolingo.

You asked if I would participate in another 23 Things program?  DEFINITELY!

This was a great program that really made learning new things manageable.  One of the reasons I hadn't done more exploration of mobile apps before was the plethora of apps out there and the lack of concentrated time to try new things.  This program gave great suggestions and also MADE me carve out the time to experiment.  Fun, educational, and--above all--really useful personally and professionally. Thanks for the good times!