Today is the official first day of spring, which for many people means it's time start thinking about this year's garden. That is, for those of us who haven't been planning all winter. Today we're going to talk about what may be a surprising source of gardening help - your smartphone! There are several apps available today that can help you plant your garden, whether you're an amateur or an old pro.

Garden Time Planner by Burpee

Garden Squared

Garden Compass

If you have a plant, pest or disease you need identified...look no further. The Garden Compass Plant and Disease Identifier app allows you to take a photo and submit it to our team of expert horticultural garden advisers who will identify it for you, as well as provide you with specific product recommendations to resolve any problems you may have. As your photo passes up the queue you will be kept informed as to its progress.

Garden Manager

Smartphones and tablets have become an integral part of our everyday life; something most of us can't bear to leave the house without, like our keys or wallet. While any smartphone with internet access is useful, it's the apps on the phone that make it both indispensable and fun. Every so often, this blog will feature apps for people who love books, music, sports, art and more. We will also feature apps to help increase productivity and make your life a little easier.

This week we are going to showcase some apps designed for people who love books and reading. Most of these apps are available on several different devices, but a few aren't so we'll be sure to specify.

Overdrive Media Console

It's pretty much required that we start with Overdrive because we're a library, but honestly we'd put it at the top of the list anyway. Overdrive is an app that allows you to read eBooks and listen to audio-books on your phone or tablet. It's part of your library account, so there's never any charge. The books return automatically so you can't even be charged late fees. New books are added to the collection every day. For some of these books, you'll need an Adobe ID. This is a free ID that you create using your email one time only. If you're not comfortable with creating an Adobe ID, don't worry! There are plenty of books you can still access.
Overdrive is available for: Apple (via iTunes) Android (via Google Play), Windows Phone.
Download for other devices including Kindle, Nook and your PC can be found on the Overdrive Website.

Purchase eBooks

Kindle

The Kindle App allows you to download books from Amazon to your device. You don't have to be using a Kindle in order to use the Kindle App, but you do have to register on Amazon before you can purchase any books or audiobooks. 

The Kindle app is available on: iTunes, Google Play, and Windows Phone. You can also download it on your PC and other apps at www.amazon.com

Nook

The Nook app allows you download books from Barnes and Noble to your device. Like the Kindle App, it is not necessary to be on a Nook to use the Nook app, but you must register at BarnesandNoble.com in order to download books. 
The Nook app is available on iTunes, Google Play, and Windows Phone

iBooks & Google Play Books

These apps comes installed on your device and allow you to purchase books from iTunes, or Google Play. . It is important to remember that any purchases you make in iBooks can only be read on an Apple product like an iPhone or iPad.  For example, if you buy books in Apple iBooks and then switch to a Samsung Galaxy, you will not be able to transfer those books to your new Samsung. Other apps like Kindle or Nook work on any device so your purchases can be transferred. 

Keep Track of the Books You Read

There are several apps that allow you to keep track of the books that you've read and get recommendations for books to read in the future. We're just going to cover two of these apps

GoodReads
GoodReads is a website and mobile app that allows you to list any books that you've read or want to read in the future. You can also rate the books and receive recommendations for books to read based on those ratings. There are discussion groups and online book clubs as well. Because authors have GoodReads pages as well, you can get updates on upcoming books and works. GoodReads is free but you will have to register with an email address.
This app is available on iTunes and Google Play.


BookCrawler
BookCrawler is similar to GoodReads in that it allows you to keep track of books you've read. BookCrawler lets you scan the barcode of the book itself to add it to your list, letting you skip typing all the book titles manually if you'd like. Of course, you can still search for books by title or author as well. There is a free version that allows you to input up to 25 books, but for more than that you'll have to pay for the full version. Luckily for those who are serious about cataloging their personal library, the full version is usually around $2. Unfortunately BookCrawler is available only on iTunes. Hopefully an Android version will be released soon!

Reading Can Mean More Than Just Books

Reading means more than just eBooks or audiobooks.

Comixology
Comixology allows you to purchase and read comics on your phone or tablet. You can purchase the same day the comics are released in stores. You can find sales, discounts and even free comics! Comixology app is free, though you'll have to purchase the comics.
This app is available on iTunes and Google Play.


Poetry from the Poetry Foundation
This app allows you to read a new poem daily or search for your favorite poets. Feeling romantic? Need something to cheer you up? There are collections based on every mood and occasion. You can even search by memorable lines! This app is free and available on iTunes and Google Play.





What are your favorite reading related apps? Have ideas on topics you'd like us to cover? Leave a comment here or on our Facebook or Twitter. 

Today, we are going to compare the AT&T iPhone4 to the Verizon Wireless iPhone4. As we all know the iPhone craze started back in 2007. The first iPhone was released on June 29 of that year (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iphone). Since 2007, Apple has released an upgraded model of the iPhone in 2008, 2009, and 2010. There is some talk of the iPhone 5 (possibly the iPhone 4GS) to be released in 2011, but nothing has been confirmed by Apple.

So since Apple makes the iPhone 4 for both AT&T and Verizon, the phones are the same right? Wrong! There are a number of differences between the AT&T version and Verizon version. First let's compare the iPhone from both companies. Both companies carry the 4th generation iPhone (hence the name iPhone 4). In saying that they both have the following: 2 cameras (1 front facing and 1 rear), can be used as an MP3 player, receive email and texts, have the ability to multitask, can record and edit in HD, have GPS abilities, and have access to over 350,000 apps in the Apple App Store.

So what makes them so different? The main difference between the AT&T iPhone compared to the Verizon iPhone if the placement of the internal antenna. When AT&T first released the iPhone 4 in 2010, many people were dropping calls and having horrible connection to their 3G network. The reason for all of this was because the antenna was placed in a bad location; the bottom right side of the phone. Because most people are right handed, this "little issue" suddenly became quiet large. Apple has not fixed the issue, however they have offered free iPhone covers that prevent the signal being interrupted by your hand.

Verizon Wireless was lucky. They did not start selling the iPhone 4 until early 2011. This meant that they were able to look at the issues AT&T customers were having and addressed them before the phone was released on their network. The Verizon iPhone 4 also has the ability to act as a 3G mobile hotspot. This allows 5 devices to connect to Verizon's 3G network via the iPhone (the iPhone acts as a wireless router). According to Cnet.com the Verizon iPhone was faster (See video for testing).



Overall, both the AT&T iPhone 4 and Verizon iPhone 4 are great phones. The iPhone is a popular device and that will not change in the future. I would almost go as far as saying it leads the way in cell phone development. But I am an Android person so I could be a little bias....

Sources/More Information:
Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iphone
www.attwireless.com
www.verizonwireless.com
Comparison Chart - http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/att_vs_verizon_iphone_-_a_comp.html

The iPhone is a very popular phone. But how does it compare to other top phones of today.

*Click on the table to enlarge.*

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The iPhone was released by Apple in 2007 and has quickly become the # 1 smart phone in the US. I believe some of the reasons for its success is because one, it’s made by Apple, and two, there are 185,000+ apps available for download. As of April 2010, the App Store has seen 4 billion total downloads. These apps range from showing you how to cook to maintaining your bank account. Another reason I think the iPhone is so popular is because of its hardware. The iPhone 3GS comes with a 600MHz processor with 256 MB RAM. This enables the iPhone to reach speeds not many cell phones can reach.

The iPad is Apple’s newest release of high tech portable devices. If you are familiar with Apple products, you might mistake the picture above left to be an iPhone, but you can’t make phone calls with it. If we were going by looks, we could say it looks a lot like an iPod Touch (right). Although there are some similarities, the iPad offers much more. Just like the iPod Touch, the iPad will also allow you to connect to WiFi and browse the web, watch YouTube videos, and download your favorite songs and TV shows from iTunes. The major difference between the two is battery life (up to 10 hours), the ability to download electronic books (iBooks), the dimensions are about 5 inches more in height and width and the ability to buy a smaller flash drive capacity (16GB).

In addition, the iPad was custom designed by Apple with an A4 1GHZ processor. The first release of the iPad due out April 3rd will be WiFi-enabled and will not require any type of contract with AT&T to fully use this device (i.e., wireless data plan). However, by later this month (late April 2010) you will be able to buy a 3G version of the iPad (appleinsider.com).

Unfortunately, the iPad falls short in that it does not have a camera or any video capabilities. According to InfoWorld.com, there are a few questions that Apple refuses to answer, such as its ability to transfer documents, can you use other media services other than iTunes like Netflix, can it be upgraded, can multiple apps be used at the same time, and will Flash work.

Here is a complete list of the preinstalled apps on the iPad. Join me tomorrow for Tech Tuesday as I travel to the Apple Store located within the Best buy store in Shreveport. There I will interview a Geek Squad agent about the success of the iPad since its release along with the other unanswered questions. Feel free this week to ask your own iPad questions using the Ask-A-Tech form in the right hand column. Until next time happy teching!

· Safari - web browsing
· Mail – email
· Photos – viewing photos
· YouTube – watching videos online
· iPod – listen to music
· iTunes – download songs, movies, TV shows, and more
· App Store – download apps such as games or health tips
· Maps – similar to Google Map
· Notes – jot down quick notes and information
· Calendar – manage your schedule
· Contacts – manage personal or business contacts

Ok... I know...! It's a little late to be posting a blog about popular Christmas gifts, but if your like me and wait untill the last minute to do all your shopping, then this blog may be what you need for a last minute Christmas gift idea.

Another great Christmas gift that is popular every year are laptops/notebooks; especially with the new release of Windows 7 (Released in October 2009). Laptops are great for high school and college students. They are also great for those of you who travel a lot. Dell, Toshiba, and HP are a few companies that will have specials. Check you local Best Buy, Office Depot, or Walmart for the best deals.

Of course, I can't have a Christmas gift list without a few cellphone. And with the choices that are available to you, a new cellphone will not disappoint. AT&T has, the always popular, iPhone made by Apple. AT&T also has the Black Berry Bold. Both good choices for smartphones. Verizon has the Droids (Motorola and HTC). Both phones are touch screens and fast. Another phone Verizon has is the Black Berry Storm. A touch screen black berry that is powerful and rivals the iPhone.

And if there is a female in your life, jewelry will not disappoint. A nice ring or necklace would be the perfect finish to a good year.

As always, all of the items mentioned above are popular items. I cannot say that they will be in the store when you do your shopping, but I can say that each of these items are good gifts and are affordable, especially with the holiday sales.

From the I/T Dept. at the Bossier Parish Library System, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Even though this is a new year, a lot of Gadgets from 2008 are still in high demand. Of course a very popular item this past Christmas was the Navigation (GPS) system for your vehicle. I don't know about you, but every time I went to a BestBuy or Walmart, they were always sold out. Navigation systems vary in prices so it is hard to tell. If you buy them from a store, I would estimate the price $100 - $300.


Another item that has been popular since the very first day it appeared on store shelves is the iPhone. The iPhone is made by Apple. This is not your ordinary cellphone. I would consider the iPhone a mini laptop. The iPhone has a fully capable HTML browser that is great for checking your email, Facebook, and MySpace. You can also view YouTube videos. Another cool feature about the iPhone is it has a touch screen. Since it is made by Apple, the iPhone can be used as an iPod. The newer phones have 2 different amounts of storage: 8 GB and 16GB. This is a great phone and will be around for a while.

Overall, this year looks promising, as far as technology goes. Mac and Windows are looking to launch some nice and innovative things this year. Be on the look out for them, because of you have a teenager at home, chances are these items will be on birthday and Christmas lists for a long time. Once again Happy New Year from the I/T Staff and best wishes to all of you in 2009!