5 Ways a Smartphone Makes You Safer (cont’d.)
Posted on 16. May, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps
There are a wide range of apps designed to help keep you and your loved ones safer in the midst of dangers, emergencies, health situations and more. Yesterday I wrote about apps that send out alerts and monitor your devices (see part 1). Today, I want to focus on apps that provide emergency notifications, apps that improve driving safety, and utility apps that provide a variety of services.
3. Emergency Notifications
In case of a large emergency, there are apps that provide updates, preparation and more. Tapping the national CodeRED® Emergency Notification System, the CodeRED Mobile Alert App delivers national and local alerts based on your position. There is also a $4.99 per year, alert subscription that gives users immediate threat updates based on location.
Emergency Radio draws from an extensive database of live police, fire, EMS, railroad, air traffic, NOAA weather, coast guard, HAM radio, and other frequencies. You can listen in on broadcasts from local neighborhoods or in cities far away. While Emergency Radio currently just supports iOS, Scanner Radio is an Android app that offers live audio from over 3,300 police and fire scanners, weather radios, and amateur radio repeaters from around the world.
The US Government has a FEMA app that provides detailed information on a variety of disasters with an interactive emergency kit checklist, a list of emergency meeting locations, and other details on how to prepare for and survive a disaster.
An interesting family emergency preparation app known as Life360 gives families the tools to create safety points during emergencies, tracking tools, check-in information, and cross-platform group messaging for known threats, alerts, and more.
4. Driving Apps
Avoid the dangerous distraction of text messages and emails while driving with Drive Safe.ly. The basic app is free. Once you install it, you register email accounts, text accounts, as well as Twitter and Facebook accounts. Set to “On.” Then when a new message comes, the voice will read your message. To unlock all features, it costs $9.99, plus the site mentions a “Pro version” that costs $13.95 for individuals or $34.95 for a family, but the benefits vs the costs for the pro-version are not really clear.
5. Utilities
There are a several utility apps that can provide support in various situations. MedWatcher for instance, provides medicine update information for prescription drugs. Users can access the latest updates as well as submit adverse reactions to medications through the app. While it is designed for medical professionals, anyone that wants to know more about his or her prescription drugs will find this app helpful.
One great utility for a wide range of situations is a flashlight. I’ve been using myLite for over a year, and have had multiple occasions to access this app. From needing light when I woke up in the middle of the night to walking in the neighborhood after sunset, myLite has provided a consistent easy to use light source.
My Security App (Android version; iPhone version) is like a Swiss Army app. It comes with a range of security applications like Live Friend Tracker, 128 bit encryption, and those who track you don’t even need to have a smartphone. They can track you via the company website.
A free of charge personal security app with great features like live Friend Tracker, with connections to Facebook & Twitter. All information is sent through 128 bit encryption. Thanks to our server and website solution people do not need to have a smartphone to track you, that can be done directly through our website. It also comes with Sleep Safe, a sound and motion detector, allowing you to sleep in strange places with a phone on guard. Like the apps mentioned previously, this comes with a panic button and a safety cam that communicates with company servers.
The British Red Cross First Aid delivers vital medical information where and when you need it. From heart attack help to insect bites, colds and more. This helpful app offers videos, quizzes and step-by-step instructions.
If you have found other apps helpful in safety situations, please leave a comment and tell us what you like and why.
5 Ways a Smartphone Makes You Safer
Posted on 15. May, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps
Smartphones offer a range of tools that can help you and your loved ones stay safer. From personal security to health to emergency situations, there are a wide range of applications that help you send instant alerts, learn about potential dangers or even track stolen electronics. By utilizing the basic tools of a smartphone such as GPS, two way communication or even the camera light, these tools can turn your phone into a tool for navigating through challenging situations.
Since there are so many apps that promise some form of safety, I’ve decided to group them in five key categories: alerts, monitoring, emergency notifications, driving, and utilities. I’ve put the first two in this post and will follow-up with the next three in tomorrow’s post.
1. Alerts
Whether facing physical danger, an accident or sudden health issues, there are a range of applications that make it easy to send an instant alert to friends, family and professionals. When you download bSafe, it suggests a group of contacts who you often engage. In case of an emergency, bSafe sends an SOS alarm message to selected contacts with your GPS position, and a call to one It also offers a premium service that provides life GPS tracing. Friends can follow you home via GPS to make sure your are safe.
Safety Grid, Streetsafe and MyForce are all variations of paid services. SafetyGrid and MyForce can be activated for silent monitoring by a crisis response team. SafetyGrid also offers medical evacuation coverage for a yearly fee. Streetsafe is also a monitored service, but it also includes the “Walk with Me” service for students or elderly or anyone walking at night or through a potentially dangerous area. A trained professional stays on the phone and talks you through the walk home. In case of emergency, they contact 911.
There are also specialized alert apps for specific situations. For parents, the Safe & Sound app stores a profile of each child. In case of emergency, the app can send out profile information to emergency personal in 10 seconds or less. The Rave alert can send out a mass emergency alert via Facebook, Twitter and email contacts in case of an emergency situation on a campus, in a business, school district or other institution.
2. Monitoring
In addition to sending out alerts, there are apps that allow you to monitor the phone in use from a distance. Prey is an open source app that can be used on your smartphone, tablet and laptop. Prey runs virtually invisible on your device, but in case it is stolen, you can activate monitoring via SMS or on the website. Prey can take a picture, send GPS info, and sound an alarm (with a variety of configurations). Prey keep a “recoveries” blog where users can tell their recovery story.
Phone recovered using Prey.
Securafone gives you the ability to turn on monitoring for children, seniors, and employees in a variety of potential risk situations. Securafone can prevent texting and emailing while driving, send speed alerts, connect people to emergency services, and provide instant alerts with the person is in a dangerous situation (from schoolyard bullies to car accidents and more).
Tomorrow, I’ll cover safety apps that focus on emergency notifications, driving, and utilities. (See part 2).
Top Ten Apps for Vacation
Posted on 08. May, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps
School is almost out, the sun is shining, the kids are antsy, and the road is calling. Time to plan your family vacation. Before you head out the door, check out our Top 10 Apps for Vacation. These apps are available from Google Play and the IOS App Store.
1. TripAdvisor
Before you grab your keys and jump in the car, you need to figure out where to go and what to do. Over the years, TripAdvisor has emerged as one of the most popular tools for researching travel from vacations to weekend getaways to business trips. From your smartphone or tablet, you can browse 45+ millions reviews and opinions for vacations spots, lodging, restaurants, attractions, and more. This is must have for planning your next trip.
2. Vacation Planner
It’s the night before vacation. The kids can’t sleep, the dog is howling, and you’re busy making sure you don’t forget something. Use your Vacation Planner app to review a pre-populated list of vacation essentials. This handy little tool is easily configured and customized, and it does not need to interact with Internet, so your privacy is assured.
3. Tripit
Forward all your hotel, airline, car rental and restaurant reservations to Tripit. They’ll organize your trip and provide you with an itinerary that you can easily access from the car, the hotel, the airport and just about anywhere else (even without WiFi connection). If your traveling in a group, Tripit can keep everyone in sync throughout the trip, plus you can easily share trip plans with family and friends.
4. Google Maps
You’re driving down the highway, counting cars and singing “She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain” when your stomach cries out, “I’m hungry.” Click open the Google Places app and find the closest place to eat. Google Maps comes packaged with a mobile suite including Google Navigation (free, voice-guided GPS navigation system), Google Places (find, rate, and get recommendations for places), and Google Latitude (see friends on the map and check in at places). This handy app shows up again and again in best-loved travel apps. Once you try it, you’ll see why.
5. Waze
Some guy on I-95 has pulled over to let his dog take a quick walk, and a 45 minute traffic jam ensues as everyone rubbernecks to see what is going on. Avoid this mess with the Waze app. Connect with drivers just up the road and find out what’s waiting ahead with this social traffic app. Using real-time road reports from drivers nearby, “Waze: Community GPS Navigation” gives you relevant traffic information at any given moment.
6. FlightTrack
If you’re taking to the air this summer, you might be sure to utilize one of the most popular Android travels apps, FlightTrack. Find out real-time departure info, delays and gate numbers as well as alternate flights, detailed flight delay forecast, on-going flight tracking, and seating maps. Plus, you can easily jot down notes about your seat numbers, confirmations numbers and more.
7. Yelp
While visiting a new town, you ask the locals for food recommendations. Just to be safe, open Yelp and double check their recommendations. Last year while visiting Plymouth Rock, MA, Yelp sent me to the Blue-Eyed Crab Grill & Bar where I ate the best seafood of my whole vacation.
8. Augmented Driving
iOnRoad Augmented Driving for Android and Augmented Driving for iPhone use your smartphone’s camera and GPS to detect vehicles and other objects in front of your to help you drive safer. While these are no substitute for safe driving, they do offer help avoiding speeding, detecting other cars, and staying in your lane. iOnRoad Augmented Driving won the CES 2012 Design and Engineering Showcase award among many other awards.
9. Wikitude/Layar/World Explorer
Today your exploring the streets the San Francisco. No tour guide? That’s okay. Hold up your smartphone and snap a picture. Using Wikitude, Layar, or World Explorer, you can find all sorts of interesting facts, videos, images, and social networking connections right in the picture.
10. Trip Journal
Since everybody back home is not on vacation, why not add insult to injury by sharing every moment of your glorious trip? Give them up to the minute news on your exciting vacation spots with the Trip Journal app. Trip Journal makes it easy to share your route, notes, photos, and videos with your friends on Facebook, Google Earth, Picasa, Flickr, Youtube, and Twitter.
Apps for Seniors
Posted on 24. Apr, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps, android, iOS
Wireless technology is fast becoming popular among senior citizens. From tablets to smartphones, seniors are discovering how wireless is more about providing accessible tools and less about the latest trend. While some techies track new smartphones like teens track the latest pop song, there is a much larger emerging market that is discovering how technology can offer applications that support every day needs.
I have a friend who is turning 80 this year. He’s had a mac for about three years, and his favorite website is Facebook. The technology has given him a way to stay in contact with friends and family all across the country. Plus, it’s given him an opportunity to meet and engage a variety of people he would never have met otherwise. His story is similar to many seniors who are now turning to smartphones and tablets. So how might this technology meet their needs?
Communication
Seniors can stay in touch with children, grandchildren using tools like Skype. I know one man who is in his 60s. He still spends part of his time on the road. The iPad is a gateway for him to spend time each evening talk with his wife and family via Skype. Meredith Bower over at Curiosity.com mentions a neat communication app for seniors. A Story Before Bed gives grandparents the ability to record a video of them reading a story for their grandkids.
Family Research
I was eating supper the other night with an older couple who kept telling me stories about their favorite service: Ancestry.com. Leveraging the research potential of the Internet, Ancestry.com is helping people research family trees and build an extensive online database of family history information. The smartphone and tablets apps provides users with a steady stream of new discoveries about relatives, family heirlooms, living relations, pictures, gravestones and more. 
Reading With the wide range of reading apps like Kindle, Nook, Aldiko and more, seniors are re-discovering many of the classics from their youth. I have one older friend who started reading through Moby Dick, Captain Nemo and more on his iPhone several years back. Now he reads virtually all his books on the iPad. The adjustable font size and lighting allow him to keep reading long after his wife has gone to sleep.
Health
Researching and tracking health issues has never been easier. With apps like WebMD, users have the tools that can help them research health issues and improve decision making, plus it give access to first aid information (with requiring an Internet connection). Plus there are a variety of wellness tools and information apps from providers like Mayo Clinic.
Travel
As seniors take to the road, they can take a favorite PBS travel companion along. Popular tour guide and travel show host, Rick Steves offers a range of apps, podcasts and books for the smartphone and tablet. He offers both audio tour information and tour booklets. Additionally, there are a wide range of other tour guide apps like PocketGuide, Tour Eiffel, Digi Guides, TourBuddy, and more that give seniors a personal guided tour through various travel sites around the world.
Cooking
An iPad in the kitchen replaces a shelf full of cookbooks as iPad and Android tablets offer a wide range of great cooking tools like AllRecipe, Cooking Lite, Menu Picker, CookFresh, Conversions for Cooking, BigOven and many, many more.
Games
From Suduko to Crossword Puzzles to Word with Friends, seniors can discover a variety of classic and new games that will keep them engaged with friends and family while playing games at the same time.
Aldiko Book Reader
Posted on 26. Mar, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps
I spent the afternoon tooling around with the Aldiko EBook Reader for Android on my Kindle Fire. Aldiko is Lifehacker’s pick for the best all around Android e-reader. For certain functions, I like it and recommend it as a free, easy to use e-reader.
Let me tell you what I like and don’t like up front.
Like: For downloading ePUB via Gutenberg or other free sites, Aldiko is the bomb. It’s the best I app I’ve used. The integration is smoother and simpler than other ebook readers.
Don’t Like: It only accepts ePUB or PDF personal documents. So sending a web page or personal document direct to Kindle via email is still the best option. (See for more info – Kindle Personal Documents for Android.) With those caveats, there is a lot to like about this app.
Search within a book – The search within a book was blazing fast. Much faster than my Kindle Reader, and I’m using a Kindle Fire for heaven’s sake. Note: it does not search text between books. That would be nice. 
Copy and share – While it does not have a highlighting function on the tablet, it does allow you to selection text and then search, copy, dictionary, and share. The share function integrates with all my apps that share. So I can highlight a text and instantly share it on social sites, save to Evernote, email or send elsewhere. Note: The sharing and copying features are limited to non-DRM books. That’s why I think it’s a better reader for free books.
Catalog – You can add your own favorite ereader catalogs by adding the URL in enter new catalog. On the downside, sorting within some of the included catalogs is limited. So I couldn’t find way to sort from lowest to highest price.
Download – In addition to the simplicity of downloading from sites like Gutenberg, Aldiko recognizes active download links within a book. I was reading a Chesterton book, and clicked on a list of other Chesterton books. The app immediately opened the download link and downloaded that book into Aldiko.
Public Library – Aldiko integrates with local library systems, so you can check out books via this app. To download the Aldio app, visit Google Play or the Aldiko site (for sideloading).
PayPal Introduces Mobile Payments
Posted on 23. Mar, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps, Enterprise and Business
The ability to give and receive payment with your smartphone is getting easier than ever before. Last week, PayPal introduced it’s new mobile credit card PayPal Here. PayPal is now competing in the smartphone market directly with Square and Inuit products designed for receiving payments.
PayPal, Square and Intuit are not alone. Eventbrite announced an “at the door” card reader that works like a mobile box office. More mobile payment systems have been announced and are in development like PayWare and Swiff.
Right now, it’s hard to know if consumers will gravitate toward one or two providers who will then set the standard in payment collection systems. But PayPal’s system has some advantages that may play a key role in its future success.
The key word is infrastructure. PayPal was slower to move into the smartphone payment collection market than Square, but it has not been sitting still. For the last several years, PayPal has laid an international infrastructure of relations with merchants and banking systems. CNNMoney highlights PayPal’s commitment to building a long-term and worldwide base:
No company has been working longer at this goal than PayPal. Back when people spoke less of the cloud and more about grid computing, and when mobile phones were too big to fit comfortably inside a pocket, PayPal was laying the foundation for a global e-payment system – working through regulatory processes in hundreds of countries, grappling with myriad forms of online fraud and fielding customer complaints.
PayPal already has a successful customer base online. While they have offended a few small business owners with their strong commitment to the customer, they’ve also established trust with customers. This trust is invaluable for expanding into a mobile market where security and trust are big issues.
PayPal established an effective model for collecting and distributing payments. Their model has burgeoned into a worldwide market that includes 9 million merchants and 106 million active customers. This translated into $4 billion in mobile payments in 2011, and is expected to reach $7 billion in 2012.
In the midst of this tremendous growth, PayPal acquired the payment system Bill Me Later, the app developers behind RedLaser, and the shopping engine Milo. Now with the introduction of PayPal Here, PayPal is positioned to be a pivotal service provider for both payment collection and payment distribution.
PayPal Here is currently only available for the iOS platform, but an Android version is promised soon. It is undercutting Square’s transaction fee by .05% at 2.7% per transaction. Business owners who sign up for PayPal Here will receive a blue triangular dongle that plugs into the iPhone for sliding credit cards. Additionally, the iPhone camera can also be used to scan cards and paper checks for payments to PayPal.
Three Tips on Managing Data Usage
Posted on 19. Mar, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps
In the last year, it’s become easier to access all your media from anywhere via iCloud, Amazon Cloud player, and the newly renamed Google Play. These conveniences come with the challenge of managing data usage. The first month iCloud came online, my data usage shot through the roof. How do I keep my data usage under control so that I don’t experience a high bill or risk some kind of data usage throttle? Here are three tips that can help:
1. Identify the Apps that Hog Data
Obviously, apps that stream data are most likely to use more data. PC World recently ran a helpful piece identifying the “worst offenders.”
Video – Netflix streaming is a big data hog. So be careful. Streaming a two hour film via 3G or 4G LTE has the potential to max out a 5GB per month data plan. YouTube is not as bad as Netflix but it can also drain data. When you’re not on WiFi, you may want to set YouTube videos to play SD instead of HD.
Music – Streaming music can easily exhaust your data plan. Listening to Pandora an hour a day averages about 1.73 GB per month, and listening to Spotify for an hour per day averages about 2 GB per month.
Games – Based on game play, graphics, and multiplayer modes, games can become major data drains. Note: Lifehacker recently reported that mobile gaming apps with ads drain your battery.
Video chat – PC World suggests that when it comes to video chat, Skype may actually be a more efficient option than Google+ Hangouts.
Social Media – Usage on social media engines is not nearly as dramatic. But constant uploading and downloading of media files can easily begin to drive up your data usage.
2. Track Data Usage
One way zeroing in on data usage is by tracking it. Verizon offers a data monitoring widget, so that you can track data usage from your home screen. There are also some helpful data management software apps.
Android – Two great Android apps worth considering include My Data Manager and Onavo. My Data Manager tracks usage over by and by specific apps. It can also help you reduce battery drain. Onavo delivers usage notifications while also connecting you to a larger Android community for data-saving tips.
iOS – Onavo and Data Usage are worth considering for the iPhone or iPad. On the iOS platform, Onavo works in the background reducing data consumption. It compresses data usage from all your apps. One note: Some reviewers suggest that the current version of Onavo conflicts with the Facebook app. Data Usage tracks allows you to set daily, weekly and monthly data limits while also provide visual monitoring and predictive data usage analysis.
3. Adjust Phone Settings
Another option for controlling data use is to alter your phone settings. You can turn off the auto update options and choose to update your phone manually, then you can choose to update when you on WiFi. You could also turn off all auto update functions like email, file synchronization software (box.net, DropBox, iDisk, or SugarSync). And you should also remember turn off remote connections when not in use (like LogMeIn, GotoMyPC, Timbuktu and even Virtual Private Networks/VPNs).
Android Market Becomes Google Play
Posted on 06. Mar, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps, Mobile Applications, android
Google takes a step toward its consolidated “Googleverse” by transforming the Android Market into Google Play. The goal is to provide a comprehensive media solution for applications, entertainment, books and more. Competing with Amazon and Apple, Google hopes users will find a simple place to search, buy and download media to computers, smartphones, tablets and more.
By way of introduction, Google is offering “Seven Days to Play,” which includes .25 cent offers and other discounted deals on music, movies, apps and books for seven days. Google Play is now the hub for purchasing, storing and searching for music, apps, games, ebooks and video. According to Google, Google Play offers the following:
- Store up to 20,000 songs for free and buy millions of new tracks
- Download more than 450,000 Android apps and games
- Browse the world’s largest selection of eBooks
- Rent thousands of your favorite movies, including new releases and HD titles
Jamie Rosenberg, Director of Digital Content posted an official announcement on the Google blog today. He writes, “Google Play is entirely cloud-based so all your music, movies, books and apps are stored online, always available to you, and you never have to worry about losing them or moving them again.”
According to the full announcement, the rollout of services varies by country as follows:
- USA – music, movies, books and Android apps
- Canada and the U.K. – movies, books and Android apps
- Australia – books and apps
- Japan – movies and apps
- Everywhere else – Google Play will be the new home for Android apps
Snackr Speaks To Your News Needs
Posted on 01. Mar, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps
Want to nibble on some news? Taste a little Snackr app.
Snackr delivers bite-size audio news nuggets of the latest headlines. I can enjoy a five minute news snack or select from top news, business news, tech news, entertainment, and more. Right now there’s only one voice: British computer. Hearing that “Snooki is wearing an oversized t-shirt and may be pregnant” in a cool, calm British accent is strangely relaxing. And the listening to the Brit warn me, “If you are using Password1, please change it now” makes me think I should probably do something about that password…sometime.
Once I sign in to Snackr, my British computer friend lets me know the weather and reminds me of my Facebook having birthdays. The “reader” reads the first first sentences from each news article. As I listen, I have the option to favorite an article, email an article and re-arrange the order of articles.
I can also create my own channel based on categories like gaming, science, music, sports, and more. The customizing tool on Snackr doesn’t seem to allow for custom feeds or syncing with Google Reader, but one can hope.
Giving Snackr to news junkies who want a “quick read” of day’s news is like giving candy to a baby.
Note: Snackr is currently on iPhone, but a promised Android app is coming soon.
Your Own Personal Magazine – Feedly
Posted on 21. Feb, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps, android, iOS
Feedly is one of best solutions I’ve seen for tracking news, blogs and website updates. It delivers the content you want to follow in a format that looks a lot like your own personal magazine. Plus, it will sync across multiple platforms, so whether you’re on the phone, a tablet, your computer or a public device, you can instantly see the news you want, save the news your want to revisit and share the stories you want to broadcast to the world.
Here’s a quick run-down of the features I like:
1. Feedly Supports Multiple Platforms
On most days, I alternate between an iPhone, an Android tablet and a Macbook Pro. I downloaded the Feedly app for my iPhone and Android, and I added the Feedly extension to my Chrome and Firefox browsers (it also has an extension for Safari).
2. Feedly Can Be Easily Customized
Changing Feedly is easy and fast. I simply click on my name in the upper right corner and select Organize, Themes or Preferences. Organize gives me the option to drag and drop feeds between categories or move entire categories into order of priority. Themes offer a choice between different color themes. Preferences allows me to choose start page content, default layout, Facebook feeds, Twitter feeds and more. The moment I make a selection, Feedly saves the change.
3. Instant Sync Across Devices
From reading articles to bookmarks to design changes, one change in Feedly is instantly appears on all devices.
4. Feedly Suggests Content
Whether you’re researching a topic, look for good sources of new content, trying to match some of your preferences or simply wanting to subscribe to an RSS, Feedly makes it fast and easy. Click on “Explore” and you get a snapshot of the sites that the editors at Feedly like. Simply choose the “+” sign by any topic or feed to subscribe.
If you have a site that you’d like to follow, type in the name of the site, and Feedly will search for a corresponding feed. Choose from the results, and it displays a layout based on the feed. You can decide to “follow” from the site page.
You can search via hashtag (#) to customize recommendations. Either enter # and search term in the search box (like #news), or click on one of the feeds you currently subscribe and then click again on the hashtag that is just below the title. Feedly suggests related feeds that may interest you.
5. Share Feedly
Send a favorite article to your Read It Later, Instapaper or Evernote account, or share the article with social sites like Facebook or Twitter. Feedly offers a wide selection of forwarding choices.
Shop and Drop Wherever You Go
Posted on 08. Feb, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps, android, iOS
Whether wrestling alligators in Louisiana, running the Bulls in Pamplona, or diving with the sharks in Cape Town, you always want to be ready when that urge to shop hits. Be prepared by downloading some of these shopping apps to your smartphone now.
EBay
One of the most popular and highly rated shopping apps, the eBay app comes with everything you need to search, watch, shop and sell on this worldwide marketplace. You’re always ready to bid on that Dukes of Hazzard lunchbox, those emerald beetle earrings, or the steampunk goggles for your mom. eBay for Android or iOS (iPhone/iPad).
Amazon and Google Shopper
Shopping should be as easy as snapping a picture, scanning a bar code, speaking a product or actually typing a word. At least Google and Amazon would like it to be that easy. Their respective apps can price compare from multiple vendors; sell you new, used or refurbished product; and keep multiple wishlists. Amazon Mobile for iOS; Amazon Mobile for Android; Google Shopper for iOS or Android.
Shopkick
We all deserve rewards for shopping don’t we? Shopkick says, “We sure do!” So they give us prizes for just walking some stores. With Shopkick, you can get gift cards, donate to charities, and turn shopping sprees into your own personal game show. Shopkick for Android or iOS.
Key Ring Rewards Care
I’ve got an old plastic cassette tape case in my car. It’s filled with reward cards for gas, coffee, bread, groceries, clothes and more. With the Key Ring Rewards Card app, I can kiss the memory of cassettes goodbye forever. This app scans in all my cards so that no matter where I’m shopping, I’ve got their reward card. Hey wait a minute, this makes me think of Shopkick. With all these rewards, I’ll want to start shopping every day, hour, minute. Key Ring Rewards for Android or iOS.
Craigslist Mobile
Forget the bricks & mortar, I want to barter with my neighbors. Que the Craigslist folks. With the portable Craiglist app in my pocket, I’m ready to search for nearby deals on that weight set somebody got for Christmas and got tired of after Christmas. Last summer, New York Times suggested that this app is better than the actual web experience. Craigslist for iOS. Craigslist for Android.
Big Deal
What’s the big deal? That’s exactly right, “What is the big deal?” Apps like Groupon and LivingSocial deliver big deals to my pocket on services, products and restaurants that I simply have to try. Groupon for iOS or Android. LivingSocial for iOS or Android.
Shopping List
Make your list. Check it twice. Or ten times for that matter. I’ve found that a shopping list app is one of my top used tools on the smartphone. “What was it my wife told me to get at THE Walmart?” I’m always ready to find what I’m looking for with my handy shopping list. If you search shopping lists on Android or OS, you’re going to find a big bunch of shopping lists. So I’ll go ahead and tell you two of the top rated and most downloaded shopping list apps.
For Android try Shopping List by Fivefly. There’s a free version and paid version (ad free). With this app, you can organize, manage, add pictures, set quantities and even synchronize phone to phone.
For OS try Shopping List by Hensoft. There’s a free version and paid version. You can create, manage, sort, sync and share via email (paid), connect lists with stores (paid), and even create recipes.
Mobile Learning on the Rise
Posted on 10. Jan, 2012 by dfloyd in Apps, Mobile Applications, android, iOS
The use of online learning and mobile devices (smartphones and tablets) have both surged in recent years. Mobile learning represents the merging of these areas, combing the convenience of learning online with the versatility of mobile accessibility. This area is just beginning to grow, but there are already a range of mobile learning apps and several companies have already begun to embrace a mobile model for training employees.
According to the 2011 Survey of Online Learning, over six millions students and almost 1/3 of all higher learning students are taking at least one class online.[1] This demand is only expected increase in the coming years. As I’ve posted here before, smartphone sales have more than doubled over the past two years. In their 2012 trend report, Mind/Shift actually expects to see a greater integration of mobile devices with the classroom.[2]
Mobile Learners
A variety of applications have emerged to support the mobile learners through their smartphones and tablets. Real Simple Edu offers a wide range of course in math, science, medicine, business, law, english, languages and code. All their courses are designed to support iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Windows Phone 7, Blackberry phone, Blackberry tablet, Kindle Fire, Nook, Nokia, and Palm phone or tablet.
Several companies like busuu.com have begun designing language learning tools. They offer a range of courses that be downloaded to a smartphone. Each course contains audio/visual elements, synchronization with online profile, and a range of tools that are accessible with no internet connection.
Dale Carnegie and Associates has developed their own app store with three leadership training modules and a secrets of success app as initial offerings. McGraw and Hill is offering a range of courses for children as well as adults, representing the diverse targets groups of their various companies. In addition to their children’s apps and medical apps, one interesting app is a public speaking primer that helps the user develop outlines, avoids common mistakes and time the speech.
Public Speaking Speech Prep - McGraw Hill
Training on the Go
Various companies have begun transferring training programs to the smartphone. In 2011, the Army’s Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) announced that they are in the process of opening instruction to mobile devices such as iPads, iPhones and Androids. This allows soldiers to continue training on specific courses while in the field instead of having to attend classroom instruction or study in a computer lab.[2]
Companies like Dashe & Thomson work with organizations to design training solutions for mobile devices. The mobile workforce can access specific training modules in multiple formats that best fit their learning habits. They can access ebooks, watch videos, listen to podcast or tap some combination of the three. Learner progress is tracked and can be uploaded manually by the user or automatically by the company.
[1] Erb, Michael. “Study: Online Classes More Popular.” News and Sentinel, January, 3, 2012.
[2] Watters, Audrey. “12 Education Tech Trends to Watch in 2012.” Mind/Shift, January 3, 2012 <http://mindshift.kqed.org/2012/01/12-education-tech-trends-to-watch-in-2012/>.
[2] Army Looks To Use Mobile Devices For Medical Field Training. Broadband for America, January 28, 2011 <http://www.broadbandforamerica.com/blog/army-looks-use-mobile-devices-medical-field-training>
4 Apps I Started Using in 2011
Posted on 30. Dec, 2011 by dfloyd in Apps
Every year more and more apps appear for the iPhone, the Android as well as for browsers. I love to try new apps and discover unique applications, so I download new apps almost everyday. But many of these apps, even the really cool ones, never really add value to my daily schedule. I don’t actually start using them regularly.
So as I think about all the new apps that have appeared this year and all the countdown lists for top 10 or top 20 apps, I thought I might actually look at the new apps I actually started using. These are apps were available on Android and IOS (and three of them were available in browser extensions as well). These apps are not necessarily new apps, but they are apps I discovered and started using during 2011.
calengoo
Dissatisfied by the various solutions I tried using to sync my Apple calendar information and Google calendar information, I finally gave up. Rather, I asked, “What’s the best tool for syncing my calendar across all my devices (Mac, PC, Android and IOS)? For me, calengoo has been the best calendar syncing program thus far. I immediately found it easier to use than the IOS calendar, and I appreciate how fast and easily it syncs with all devices.
It offers multiple views (day week, month, landscape and agenda). It’s easy to change dates, invite attendees, set alerts (pop-ups, emails, and SMS), turn on or off specific calendars, search events, color code calendars and much more. In my opinion, it’s the best calendar app available and worth the cost.
mylite
I’ve added a variety flashlight apps on my phone over the years, and never thought I’d review one. Oddly enough, during the past year, I’ve been in multiple situations where I needed a flashlight and didn’t have one. Each time, mylite came through as the best solution for bright light in a dark spot. It also offers several modifications, but I only used the bright white light and the on/off switch.
For tracking, generating and accessing all my private data, passwords, numbers and more, lastpass is the easiest program I’ve found. I use it everyday either on a mobile device or in a Chrome or Firefox browser. I love that it syncs instantly across devices, and I can access on the computer as well as on the mobile devices.
xmarks
When rumors abounded that Delicious might close it’s doors, I started looking for a new bookmarking program. I ran across xmarks and lastpass at the same time. The simplicity of editing information and syncing across devices is what attracted me. Since I use bookmarks extensively for research, easy access and easy syncing is important. I highly recommend xmarks for tracking bookmarks.
Talk Siri to Your Mac
Posted on 27. Dec, 2011 by dfloyd in Apps
Mac users can now translate dictation to text notes on their Mac via Siri. Utilizing the high level of speech recognition accuracy in the Siri engine, Air Dictate makes it easy to dictate your memos, letters, and documents via Siri. This requires both a Mac and a 4S iPhone as well as the free Air Dictate app, and to use Air Dictate you have to be at your computer with your iPhone.
At only .99 cents, Air Dictate is a low cost, high quality speech to text solution that can save you big money on much higher priced dictation software.
Five Tips for Maximizing Your Smartphone Use
Posted on 13. Dec, 2011 by dfloyd in Apps
Image by Jim Trottier via Creative Commons
With over 1 million apps to download, how do you find the right apps for your application? My smartphone is my business device, so I don’t want to waste time with too many distractions. At the same time, I want to make sure I take advantage of the most effective tools available. Here are five ways to help you maximize your smartphone use:
1. Ask Your Cellular Sales Representative for Help – Cellular Sales Representatives are trained to give you the best service and can help you find the best smartphone for your needs. They can also direct you to app essentials to help you utilize your device most effectively.
2. Online Tools – There are a variety of websites that track new apps for Android, iPhone, Windows and Blackberry. Number of downloads and reviews are excellent tools to help narrow down effective apps. One helpful website that tracks downloads of all platforms if Mobilewalla.com.
3. Adjust Your Habits – People often download many apps, but fail to really maximize usage. Some of the better utility apps will have to be worked into your regular routine or you’ll rarely use them. I rarely used Evernote for the first six months after I downloaded it, but I kept reading reviews that discussed the effectiveness of this tool. I decided to consciously try to use it as a recording tool for all my research for one week. That was over two years ago, and I still use it multiple times throughout the day.
4. Reduce Your Number of Apps – No matter how many apps you download, there’s probably only a handful of apps you’ll use on a regular basis. Every so often, I review all my apps, and if I haven’t opened an app in several weeks I delete. No use taking up memory and cluttering my visual space. If I decided I need it later, it’s always easy to add back to the smartphone.
5. Organize Your App – iPhone offers an easy way to group apps, and Android lets you create app favorites that show up on specific screens. By spending time organizing apps for time to time, you’ll make it easier to find the helpful apps for quick and easy access.
Are there other tips that have helped you use your device more effectively? Why not share some of them with us?
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