This Thing is all about hobbies! Developing them, finding new ones, finding new creative outlets, you name it. But first-another update! Remember back in Thing 10-Sharing Photos when I didn't have anyone to Snapchat with, so I never got to try the app? Now I do! My best friend got the app, so we have started Snapchatting. The app isn't as intuitive as I thought-both my friend and I were puzzled about a few things and felt like we didn't know what we were doing at first (I even had to Google some how-to guides since the app doesn't have a tutorial or a 'Help' guide). But, now that we have the hang of it we've been loving it and snapping daily! Very fun but with a definite learning curve.
Now-to the task at hand! As I mentioned before (Thing 17-Connecting to Community), I have lost a lot of weight and am constantly striving to be more active and healthy. Its no surprise that a lot of my apps are related to those goals. One of my all time favorite hobby apps is Zombies, Run! (Apple and Android). Zombies, Run! is an immersive, adventure, story line app that develops as you run. When you're ready to run (indoors or out), you start up the app. Every time you run you hear a bit more of the story. The audio is very well done-they have different voice actors for each character, sound effects, you name it. In the very first story you find out there has been a zombie apocalypse of sorts, and the helicopter you're in crashes right into the midst of it, but you survive! Thankfully, a local group of survivors spot you and contact you via your headgear, leading you to their base. Each time you run, you learn more about yourself, the apocalypse, the local group of survivors, and so on learning more of the plot each time. I won't lie-I've laughed out loud and even borderline held back tears while using this app (yes, mid-run!); the story line is so good!
You can set the app up for mission lengths of about 30 minutes or 60 minutes, and bits of story line are interspersed with music from your phone (after every or every-other song, depending on length of mission, you hear more plot). You also gather supplies as you run (you'll hear things like "Collected an ax and a pair of shorts" as you go). Long distance runner? No worries, it switches to "Radio Mode" and you hear radio broadcasts and stories after your official mission is over. You can even enable "Zombie Chases" to do interval training-your GPS on your phone tracks your speed, and when you are warned that zombies are approaching you (you can hear them grunting and moaning behind you!) if you don't pick up the speed enough they can catch you and steal supplies.
I literally cannot explain enough how awesome this app is. If you're even vaguely interested in it, just get it! And yes-you could absolutely use it walking as well, you don't HAVE to be running (though I think they do make a version specific to walkers but I haven't tried it). It is incredible, the designers have really thought of everything, and are constantly doing updates as well to make it even more awesome. The app itself is $3.99 and there are multiple in-app purchases available as well. They've got three season's worth of missions, races, and more. I've had this app for probably about 2 years-it never gets old, there is always new content, and I don't regret a single penny spent!
iFunny :) (Apple and Android, free) is another one that would probably fall under 'hobby.' Its a collection (ever-expanding) of "humorous" GIFs, pictures and videos. Note I put "humorous" in quotes-The content of the app is created by its users, and everyone's definition of humorous varies, so yes, there are some off-color things, cursing etc. in there occasionally, but if that doesn't bug you, this might be a good app to either view or create things.
One in-library use I can definitely see for hobby-related apps would be for use in programs! For example, if the library is putting on a program about gardening, they could include apps related to gardening (like MyGarden, mentioned in the official post for this blog). MyGarden, though I didn't try it myself, sounds somewhat like Facebook for gardening. If participants of the program decided to download the app and add each other, it could be a great tool to continue the learning and interaction after the program ends! Of course, you'd probably want to add in some wordage about apps not being official endorsed or maintained by the library etc. etc. to be safe, but in general hobby apps could be a great additional resource to accompany programming!
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