Slide Shark Presentation App

SlideShark

Hi Everyone,
This week's iPad challenge was to find an App for presenting a PowerPoint slide show.  While I tested many, the one that stood out due to easy of use, cost, and storage was Slide Shark by Brainshark, Inc.  Some of the key features include: works with PowerPoint files; preserves animations, fonts, graphics and colors; Tap or Swipe technology; no internet connection required when presenting, presentations are downloaded to the device; share presentation via email or social media.

1.  Locate and download Slide Shark from the Apple App store
2.  The first time you open Slide Shark you will need to create an account
3.  Upload your presentation from your computer using your free online account at www.slideshark.com
4.  Or email the PowerPoint presentation to your iPad or iPhone
5.  If you do not see your presentation in the preview pane, tap the Syncronize button at the top of the screen
NOTE: For an iPad or iPhone you will need a special adaptor for projector viewing

NOTE: Before starting, I recommend taking the short tutorial by Slide Shark.  It will really show you Slide Shark's special features.

Improve Your iPhone/iPad Performance

Have you noticed your iPhone or iPad being a bit sluggish lately?  You might be chewing up memory without even realizing it.  You see, on iPhones and iPads, even when you "quit" an app, it continues to run in the background.  This is wonderful for easy access, but if you have too many apps running at once it could slow down your device.  And if you have never properly shut down an app, it's possibly every single app you have is still running and using memory.  Luckily, closing your apps is a simple process.




1) Press your Home key twice quickly to bring up all your apps that are currently running.  This feature puts your apps in order of most recently used, so you can jump between them quickly.  It is also how you close apps that are running in the background.

2) Press and hold one of the app icons until they all start wiggling and red lines appear on each icon. It should only take a second or two.

3) Tap the red line on each icon until every icon disappears

You have now closed all your apps!  Press the Home key once to get back to your main screen.

Turning your iPod Touch into a Level

Hi Everyone,
I thought I would pass on this little tip about turning your mobile device into a working level (a device used for determining or adjusting something to a horizontal surface).  I know I have had this happen to me many times.  There I am holding a picture up to a wall trying to adjust it.  I know I need a level but it is all the way downstairs.  What I do have is my iPod or cell phone in a pocket or in the kitchen.  Why couldn't it be a level?  Well, it can.


Tim O's Studios Level App

Tim O's Studios Level

There are many free apps for your mobile device including apps that will turn your mobile device into a working level.  Go to the app store for your device, in the search box type "Level."  You may read about the app before downloading by tapping on the icon instead of the Install button.  When you find the one you would like to use, tap on the Install button.  To use the app, tap on the icon that is now on your device.  When the level appears on your screen, use it as you would any other level.  Just be careful, it is still an electronic device.

Deleting Books from Your Kindle Home Screen

One of the many awesome things about checking out a library book for your Kindle is that it is "returned" automatically.  So not only is the book free, but you never have to worry about getting late fees.  However, all those "Your Loan Has Ended" notices can be very pesky on your home screen.  Luckily, they are pretty easy to get rid of.

For Kindles with a Keyboard:

On your Home screen, select the title you wish to delete, as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is selected here.  Using the square arrow key in your keyboard, click the right arrow once.

You will be taken to this screen.  Using the same square button, scroll down to "Remove from Device" at the very bottom and select it.  The title will now be deleted from your device, as easy as that!



For Kindle Touch:


 

On your home screen, touch the title you wish to delete like you would to open it. However, instead of just touching it, you need to touch and hold it for 2 seconds.  Don't lift your finger!


You will see this screen pop up.  You can lift your finger, and this time touch " Delete this Notice" at the bottom of the new box.

Finally, you will see another box up asking you to confirm that you want to delete the notice.  If you are sure, press delete.  Your expired title will disappear!

If you don't know how to get free public library books for your Kindle or Kindle apps, check out this video tutorial created by Stark County librarians: