At this year’s Computers in Libraries conference in Washington, DC, I attended “30 Mobile Apps for Librarians in 40 Minutes,” presented by INFOdocket’s Gary Price. I’d like to briefly share with you the apps I found most interesting from that presentation:
AudioNow is a streaming audio service that connects mobile (or fixed) phone callers to live or pre-recorded radio broadcasts from around the world. It’s perfect for those without WiFi access, there’s no subscription fee, and users dial a U.S. phone number. *Regular calling rates apply
CamFind is a visual search engine. You snap away and CamFind will identify most, if not all, of the objects in your picture. It then links you to purchase options which is a useful feature when you find an item you like in real life, but you’re not too sure where the item is sold. Free, iOS + Android
DarkSky is a weather app that uses state-of-the-art technology to predict the weather at your exact location and up to an hour in advance. $3.99, iOS
Photomath is a camera calculator. You snap a picture of a mathematical equation and the app will solve it for you in real time, providing a step-by-step breakdown (math teachers beware). Free, iOS + Android
Sight saves an entire article with just a screenshot and allows you to read it offline at a later time. Free, iOS
Soundhound is a sound recognition app.. It will identify a song that is currently playing and provide you with song lyrics, artist information, and purchase options. It will also connect you to performance videos and music streaming services like Spotify. Free, iOS + Android
Urban Engines is a public transit app. It uses real-time data and allows you to download city maps which are totally accessible offline; great if you frequent areas with weak wireless signals. Free, iOS + Android
Word Lens is a real-time translator. You simply snap a picture of any printed text and Word Lens will translate it for you. Free, iOS + Android
For a complete list of all 30 mobile apps, visit https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/513947/CIL_MOBILE.html