Wrapping up 2013 – Allison’s Tech Talk "Year in Review"

To prepare for 2014, let’s first wrap up 2013. It was an exciting year, as my Tech Talk columns not only branched out beyond an Android app review-only focus but also extended beyond appearing every other Wednesday to every Friday!

It is hard to believe that I have been a member of the wonderful CatholicMom.com family for over a year and half. My first column appeared on June 7, 2012. This year I also added the extremely fun experience of moderating the CatholicMom.com Facebook page every Thursday. I never cease to be amazed by the power of technology to reach beyond my home, my town, and even my state (and on occasion country) to meet and interact with so many amazing Catholic women (and men).

The highlight of my year came during the summer when I was able to attend World Youth Day (WYD) with my son, Ian, and the Boston Deaf Apostolate. During that time I tweeted the experience, and then recapped in my August 7 column, “A Little Birdie Told Me: Tweeting WYD.” Though I have no intentions of joining WYD 2016 in Poland, I am very glad I was on this Pilgrimage with 3.5 million of my closest Catholic friends! The highlight moment of all the festivities was definitely Adoration at Copacabana Beach when Matt Maher sang, “Lord I Need You.”

No Tech Talk year-end review would be complete without a list of apps that I think deserve a second-look. Here are some of my favorite reviews:

And some of my favorite new columns that broke away from the app review mold:

The Social Media Evolution
Catholic New Media Conference – Twitter Style
Where I Spent My Time Online (new monthly feature)

My personal crowning achievement for 2013 was the launch of my own Catholic Daily Devotional App (developed by the fantastic Catholic guys at Little i Apps). The app - Words with Jesus — available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices — is part of a series of Apps coming out over the next few years. The “Words With” series will include Scripture-based content with Words With St. Paul and Words with Mary, as well as saint’s writings with Words With St. Therese, Words With St. Faustina, and Words With St. Louis de Montfort. God willing, there will be 14 in all!

Thank you for blessing me with your readership in 2013. I pray you continue on this Tech Talk journey with me (and the other amazing columnists) into 2014 … and beyond!

Read more of our Tech Talk columns.