Wednesday, February 23, 2011
10 great iPhone apps for business users
3:20 PM
What follows is my own personal top 10 list, plus a few extras for good measure. If you use your iPhone (or iPod Touch) for business purposes, you'll likely come to rely on a few of these apps too.
[ Take a quick slideshow tour of these 10 great iPhone apps for business users. Discover 30 top iPhone apps for IT pros and must have apps Apple on your iPhone for traveller. ]
There were a few ground rules I used in putting this group together -- guidelines that made sense to me, as I think they will to a lot of other users. First, because I'm living inside the current economy, I wanted the applications to be as inexpensive as possible. A bargain-priced iPhone app that requires an expensive desktop app or subscription was at a serious disadvantage.
Second, I wanted my iPhone software to work, to the greatest extent possible, with software I was already using on my laptop. I know that this introduces some biases, but the companion services and applications I'll mention are popular and widely adopted, so this is not as great a limitation as it might otherwise be.
Finally, there are more than 100,000 applications available on the Apple App Store. I didn't try them all. I didn't even try to try them all. I talked to other users, peered over the shoulder of iPhone-wielding business folks, and read reviews, articles, and blog posts from as many people as I could to narrow the field -- pretty much the same process most business users go through when selecting software. The following list of applications, then, is the one I've come to depend on. I'll look forward to reader comments telling me what I've missed.
Dropbox
When you need to move files back and forth between two (or more) computers on the same desk or in the same office, you have a number of options. When you need to move files between devices in different states, your options are rather more limited, and most of those options are in the cloud. One of the most popular for desktop computers is Dropbox, which is now available for the iPhone.
With Dropbox, you designate a desktop folder or subdirectory to synchronize, and then sit back and let the cloud-based storage system do its thing. On the iPhone, Dropbox allows you to upload and download files, and it provide links to individual files for collaborators to share entire subdirectories with coworkers. Dropbox also lets you view common file types like documents, spreadsheets, and photos.
For a business user on the go, the ability to provide the link through e-mail is critical, and the ability to view the files can be a lifesaver. In my case, I was already using Dropbox as a way to share files between my Macintosh and Windows machines, and the Web-based interface allowed me to reach my files when I was away from any of my computers.
There are other file sharing and cloud storage systems out there, but Dropbox works beautifully across a variety of platforms and has proven to be reliable over long spans of time. A free account comes with 2GB of storage, and you can upgrade to paying accounts that include 50GB ($9.99 per month) or 100GB ($19.99 per month) of storage.
Price: Free | iTunes link
Evernote
Ask many Windows users who switch to the Mac which application they miss the most and they'll cite OneNote. Microsoft's note organizer and personal database is a stellar product for anyone who lives and breathes data and notes. Since OneNote is not available on either the Mac or the iPhone, alternatives are important, and the best replacement I've found is Evernote.
Evernote is another product that has clients available for Macintosh, Windows, and iPhone platforms. With the software installed, you can take notes on any of the three devices and share them with the other two. While the Windows and Mac versions of Evernote have solid tools for creating and storing the notes, the iPhone version builds on those tools with additions like easy voice notes and location awareness for notes made on the iPhone.
I can't say that Evernote is perfect -- I dearly wish there was a way to nest organization levels for notebooks -- but it's quite good. The standard (free) subscription allows you to upload 25MB of notes each month; a premium subscription ups that to 500MB per month. Either way, Evernote on your iPhone and primary computer will allow you to easily create notes on either and share them between platforms. For those of us constantly looking for information that we know we once knew, it's an essential tool.
Price: Free | iTunes link
Documents to Go
Like it or not, dealing with files in Microsoft Office formats is part of business life for pretty much everyone. Looking at Office documents is the less difficult piece of the puzzle; Dropbox offers that functionality. But for editing and creating Office-format content, you want Documents to Go. Two versions are available.
The standard version ($9.99) allows you to work on Word and Excel files that you create on the iPhone or transfer from your computer by synchronizing with a specific, designated folder. Moving to Documents to Go Premium ($14.99) adds the ability to create and edit PowerPoint files, and it lets you edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files attached to Exchange or Gmail e-mail.
Even if you don't e-mail Office documents as often as I do, this is a case where it's easily worth spending the extra $5 for the Premium application. Rational people won't spend a lot of time writing lengthy dissertations on the iPhone, but it's nice to know that small changes and edits can be made from anywhere you happen to be. With a little thought and planning, Documents to Go and our next product, NTRconnect, can get you access to any of your Office-bound files from anywhere your iPhone can get a signal.
Price: $9.99 | iTunes link
NTRconnect
The iPhone is a great platform, but there are times when you require the functionality of a personal computer. When you need to reach out and touch your computer from far, far away, NTRconnect is your ticket. There are two versions of the program, NTRconnect Free, which gives you remote access to two computers (Windows, Mac, or Linux), and NTRconnect Pro (starting at $6.95 per month), which allows you access to as many computers as you'd like, along with features like file transfer and local printing of remote files.
For my purposes, the free version worked very well, allowing me to reach both Windows 7 and Macintosh computers that were running various applications. Loading up the required apps on each machine is simple, and the apps are lightweight, though I can imagine circumstances where you'd want to move to the pro version. If you manage a large number of servers, then the pro version will be a requirement, as it will be if you want to leave computers turned off and have the iPhone switch them on when you interact with the system.
For most small-business users, though, the free version of NTRconnect should do the job. Using it, I can launch a browser with Gmail and e-mail any file on the remote computer to my Google account, where I grab the attachment with Documents to Go Premium. For a mobile professional, it's a system that works beautifully.
Price: Free | iTunes link
GeeTasks
I hate to admit it, but I am more productive when I have a task list to keep me moving forward. I've used, over the years, tons of tools (both paper and electronic) to help me with this, and I've found that having an easily portable system is crucial. Because I'm lazy, I also want something that integrates with the rest of what I do so that I'm not scattered in 93 different directions when I try to remember where I wrote something. Google Tasks covers most of what I need from an electronic task list, and GeeTasks is a fine way of keeping my Google Tasks in front of me when I'm moving around in the world.
With GeeTasks I can look at tasks created on my computer, mark them complete, and create new tasks with due dates. If I have multiple task lists (for the multiple roles I play), GeeTasks can show all of them and allow me to easily work among them.
If I'm away from a connection to the Internet (say, on an airplane), then GeeTasks will still allow me to make changes to the tasks on my lists and then sync those changes when I'm next connected to the Net. In all, the limitations of GeeTasks are the same ones inherent in Google Tasks. If you're willing to live with those, then GeeTasks is a very good way of keeping me on task and on target.
Price: $2.99 | iTunes link
Scanner Pro
OK, a confession: I dislike dealing with most business paper. I'd much rather have the information in electronic form, where I can search for it, store it, index it, and use it in various useful ways. To turn paper from on-the-road pocket clutter to useful information takes a scanner, and Scanner Pro is a great way to do so using an iPhone.
Using Scanner Pro is simplici ty itself. To capture the image, you point the iPhone's camera at the item you'd like to scan, and press the shutter button. You're then given the chance to edit the image by changing color for grayscale or adjusting the brightness and contrast of the scan. Finally, Scanner Pro prompts you to send the image to one of four places: an Evernote note, a Dropbox file, an e-mail message, or a file on any WebDAV server.
If you don't have a WebDAV server, that's OK -- Scanner Pro has help screens that tell you how to use WebDAV to transfer images directly from the iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer. The instructions are simple and the process quick, so the captured scan gets off the iPhone as rapidly as possible.
Scanner Pro is a very good way to capture the "I hope I remember that" images that are constantly cropping up on business trips, and it's a great way to grab images of receipts to accompany expense or activity reports. You learn that you have to carefully watch the iPhone's screen to make sure the camera's lens is parallel to the thing being scanned, but with a little practice the scans work well and are good enough to keep accounting off your back.
Price: $4.99 | iTunes link
FTP on the Go
I wasn't always a Webmaster, but maintaining a Web site has become part of my regular business life, as it has for thousands of people in countless large and small businesses. When you need to get an image from your iPhone's camera to a Web site, or quickly replace that file displaying an actionable typo, nothing works like FTP. There are several FTP clients for the iPhone, but FTP on the Go is a solid, no-fuss client that allows you to transfer files as well as create directories, delete files, and perform all the other server-based file management tasks we've come to expect from a personal computer FTP client.
FTP on the Go is simple to set up and use, but it also has a ton of advanced features, ranging from a text editor (handy if you need to quickly correct a Web page) to a wide variety of security options to the ability to let others use FTP and grab files from your iPhone.
Though FTP on the Go is superb for taking care of a basic business maintenance function, it is also a sophisticated piece of software that turns your iPhone into a serious tool for managing files and Web sites. If you maintain your own site or part of your job description includes site maintenance, the day will likely come when an FTP server is a job-saving tool. When that day arrives, FTP on the Go is a must-have application in the palm of your hand.
Price: $6.99 | iTunes link
BizExpense
Here's another confession: I hate doing expense reports, as does everyone I know. I'm not sure whether BizExpense makes doing expense reports any less onerous, but it does make it much easier to keep up with the process on the road so that I don't have to spend a day remembering what I ate on that last trip.
BizExpense allows you to keep records for multiple employers and many different expense types. A basic screen prompts you to enter details of the transaction, from expense type to payment method, in addition to amount and currency. There is also space for notes (who you took to dinner, for example) and for attaching a receipt, either by using the iPhone's camera from the BizExpense application or by attaching an existing photo from the camera roll.
You can look at a chart showing expense types and how much of the trip's cost has gone into each one, and when you're finished with the trip BizExpense will e-mail a completed report (in Excel spreadsheet format) to any address you choose. The report can be e-mailed via local service or an external SMTP server, but attached receipts can only be sent via the external server.
I found that expenses are easy to enter and reconcile, and the resulting spreadsheet is simple to copy and paste into other formats if accounting won't take the BizExpense file. There are a number of App Store applications that say they do expense reports, but BizExpense seems to have the best combination of features without requiring you to subscribe to an external service.
Price: $4.99 | iTunes link
pTerm
There are times when nothing but a green screen will do. Whether you're trying to remotely manage a piece of network infrastructure or simply need to kick-start a server, basic data terminals are still the right tools for a surprising number of applications. When one of the green screen times crops up while you're away from a convenient computer, pTerm is an in-your-hand way to VT-100 happiness.
As with FTP on the Go, you can get to work with pTerm by simply giving it the basic log-in instructions for the server or device you need to reach. If you dig just a little deeper, though, you find that you have the ability to fine-tune pTerm's behavior to an amazing extent, with settings ranging from how the software deals with passwords in log files to proxy and encoding options to whether and how pTerm copes with tunneling protocols.
In the final analysis, pTerm is a surprisingly sophisticated tool for taking care of an incredibly simple job. For those who deal, even occasionally, with terminal-based user interfaces, it is a superb tool to keep in your iPhone's toolbox.
Price: $4.99 | iTunes link
TripIt
I've tried to keep away from applications that require subscribing to a service, but there are times when it's unavoidable. GeeTasks, Dropbox, and Evernote all have components in the cloud, and keeping up with your travel details is, I think, also a good fit for the cloud.
I've found TripIt to be a useful service for keeping up with my travel, as well as the travel of my colleagues and business associates, so I was pleased to find the TripIt iPhone app. When it comes to keeping up with my flight numbers and times, hotel and rental car reservations, and the like, TripIt on the iPhone is quite sufficient. And because it takes its info from the data I enter on the TripIt Web site, no additional effort is required.
That said, I'm hopeful that future versions of the software will have more functionality. Right now, for instance, TripIt for iPhone only keeps track of my travel -- it doesn't include the "keeping up with my colleagues" information at all. It needs that. It also offers to send me push updates if schedules or travel details change, but only if I upgrade to the premium edition of the software (how much?).
TripIt does something I need, and it gets the basics right, but its inclusion on this list is based, at least a bit, on the hope that it will come closer to the full functionality of the service in future versions.
Price: Free | iTunes link
And that's not all
While the basics of business are covered by the applications already noted, there are a few other tasks that are nice to cover and that iPhone apps deal with nicely. Among those I use most often are:
Graphing Calculator. GraphCalc is a nice graphing calculator application that has everything I need (except Reverse Polish Notation). Price: 99 cents | iTunes link
iBlogger. When I need to blog without my computer, this app, from the people who wrote the Mac blog tool Ecto, is my tool of choice. Price: $9.99 | iTunes link
Dragon Dictation. When I need my hands for other things and want to dictate a note, tweet, blog post, or e-mail, Dragon Dictate lets me do it. This doesn't have the same sensitivity and accuracy as Dragon Naturally Speaking, but it's surprisingly good given the relatively low power of the iPhone platform. Price: Free | iTunes link
myStarbucks. I can remember my own coffee order, but when I travel I sometimes just want to know where the nearest Starbucks is, and this app tells me. When an iPhone app can lead to latte and Wi-Fi, it's a very good thing. Price: Free | iTunes link
Monday, February 21, 2011
Top Best Android Apps for Business Must Have 2011
6:50 AM
Time is precious and all business entrepreneurs will undoubtedly agree with the fact that time is money. Gadgets and technology get together. This year, sales of smartphones based on Google's Android operating system have begun to surpass Apple's iPhone in the U.S., according to Nielsen. With increasing interest in Android handsets, mobile application developers are starting to make business-specific apps. Here are 10 apps from Google's Android Market, selected with the help of Google, that are popular and highly rated (on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 the highest) by users.
When you are looking for a smartphone other than an iPhone, the Andoid smartphone might be the one you're looking for. Cellular South reveals the best Android apps for business and reminds users that Android is also for professionals. The choice of apps for the Android mobile operating system is bewildering, so Jason Hiner picks out some of his favourites. If you own an Android smartphone, you can make your life a lot easier with apps that enhance your business productivity while you're on the business ecommerce.
Documents to Go 3.0 (DataViz)
Free viewer; $14.99 for full version
Rating: 4.5 stars
View, edit, and create Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe PDF files. If you want to edit or create files, you'll need to buy the full version.
PocketCloud (Wyse Technology)
Free for limited features; $14.99 for full version
Rating: 4.5 stars
Access Windows, Mac, or Linux desktop files and applications from your handset. It's free to use with home machines, but workers who want to use this with a corporate computer on a network need to buy the full version.
Ignition for Android (LogMeIn)
$29.99
Rating: 4.5 stars
Your computers become an extension of your Android smartphone with this app. Remotely access and control both work and home computers, as long as they're connected to the Internet.
UPS Mobile App for Android (UPS)
Free
Rating: 4 stars
Track packages or freight shipments from your handset and estimate shipment costs and delivery times. This app also lets you access your address book and payment info at UPS.com and find the nearest UPS service locations.
TouchDown (NitroDesk)
Free 30-day trial; $19.99
Rating: 4.5 stars
Workers can connect to corporate e-mail with Android devices and get new e-mail messages pushed to smartphones rather than needing to remember to download messages. TouchDown supports encryption, and the IT department can wipe data on the device should it be lost or stolen.
Astro File Manager (Metago)
Free; $3.99 for app with no ads
Rating: 5 stars
This app helps you copy, move, delete, and rename files on your smartphone. It also lets you send files as attachments to e-mail messages and read and extract compressed files, such as Zip and Tar files.
Evernote (Evernote)
Free
Rating: 4 stars
Evernote helps you remember things, whether it's a receipt from that last business dinner or the name of the executive you met at a conference. The app lets you type a text note, clip a Web page, snap a photo, or grab a screen shot and store it, organize it, and find it later.
Travel Organizer (TripIT)
Free
Rating: 4 stars
When you're on the road, you can see the details of your itinerary, get maps and directions, and make phone calls straight from your itinerary with the tap of a finger.
Expense Reports (Expensify)]
Free
Rating: 4 stars
Never lose another receipt. Log expenses, scan receipts, and take comfort that a free service will back up those receipts online. This app also lets you import expenses and receipts from your credit-card or bank account.
Dropbox (Dropbox)
Free
Rating: 4.5 stars
Sync files between your computers and mobile devices. Share links to files and save photos and videos from your camera to your computers. This app also lets you browse a Dropbox folder from your handset.
Admittedly, I feel more confident downloading apps from the Apple store than I do from the Android Marketplace because I know that Apple strives to protect. Cellular South Touts Android Apps for Business Users The software can business users the possibility to easily find the most useful and fun Android apps available today. Top 15 Android Business Apps Highly useful Andriod apps for a wide variety of business tasks, from travel aids to financial transactions to office productivity.
10 Must-Have Android Apps for Business Whether you're running the next great business pitch from your phone or you just need to jot down ideas and edit documents on the go, we have you covered. 101 Best Android Apps in Business Here are the results for 101 Best Android Apps in Business on 101 Best Android Apps. Vote for your favourite applications.
10 must-have Android apps for business Whether you're running the next great business pitch from your phone or you just need to jot down ideas and edit documents on the go business online. 11 Must-Have Android Apps for Business Among all the apps pouring into Google's Market, here are a few notable gems.
Top 25 Best Android Apps for Business Most Wanted
6:30 AM
iPhone apps development has developed as the most fruitful business for many agents and officer : A List Of The 10 Best Android Apps - Business Insider Visual searching, augmented reality, geofencing, and more! Cellular South reveals the best Android apps for business and reminds users that Android is also for professionals. Best Android apps Illustration by Otto SteiningerHere are the top productivity tools, Replacing it can open unlimited business opportunities.
While the apps below are good, expect to see many improvements from developers in the coming year.
25. Phonebook
Manage your contacts through this slick app, which lets you see missed calls, unread emails, text message, and upcoming birthdays by contact. Also lets you upload a photo of your contact. Handy if you have trouble keeping your contacts straight.
24. Sprite Android Backup
Image: Androidzoom
Prevention is the best medicine for system health. Back up and restore your system using thiscomprehensive $5 app.
23. Google Voice
Use a unique phone number for this VoIP service. It transcribes your voicemails, gives you free text messages, integrates with your phone’s address book, and offers cheap international calls. Like Skype, but Googlified.
22. Cab4Me
If you’re a business traveler, this free app, which finds cab companies near your GPS location, can help keep you out of a jam. Cab company listings include user reviews and contact information.
21. The Weather Channel
This handy app offers the kinds of in-depth forecasts you would expect from the Weather Channel. Features include live video. The app automatically updates your location through your phone’s GPS.
20. Astro File Manager
Image: HTCpedia
An app like Astro’s is essential for keeping your machine healthy. This free program keeps your files and system performance in check. It backs up your apps to a memory card, lets you see what processes are running, how much memory your systems is using, and CPU usage.
19. Stocks
App image not available.
This free app piggybacks on Google Finance data to show you quotes and trends. Covers markets around the world.
18. Talk to Me
An excellent travel survival tool. Say something in one language, and it talks back to you in another. Current languages include English, German, Spanish, French, and Italian. Best of all, it’s free.
17. Greed
Image: Droidapplications
Greed lets you read your RSS feeds without opening a browser. Stay up on news, blogs, and your industry quickly and easily.
16. TripIt
If you’re a frequent traveler, TripIt is your friend. It organizes flight, hotel, restaurant, and other itinerary information in an easy-to-read form. Also helps you find and contact places on the road through directions and contact info. Top 25 Best Android Apps for Business Must Have
15. Currency
Currency converts more than 160 currencies using real-time foreign exchange rates. Comes with a tip calculator and, if you’re into forex trading, trends, charts, and news as well.
14. Seesmic
Possibly the best Droid app out there for Twitter users. Timelines organize your tweets; you can also save them as drafts and arrange notifications. There’s more. Seesmic is video and image-capable, shortens URLs, spellchecks, and supports multiple accounts.
13. Key Ring
Scan your gym, grocery store, or other membership card into your Droid. Key Ring stores each card’s barcode in a drop-down menu. Scan the barcode directly from your Droid the next time you go shopping or do any other activities requiring a card.
12. VNC Viewer
Stay leashed to your desktop with this handy app. It lets you safely log in and connect to a remote machine, so that you can make easy little changes without actually storing anything on your smartphone.
11. Google Maps Navigation
Possibly the best map app out there. Search by talking to the app. Or enter a landmark, business name, or other vague criteria, and Google Maps will generate results. Includes live traffic data, satellite view, street view, and turn-by-turn navigation. This app comes with Droid 1.6 models and higher.
10. Cashbook
Image for Droid not available. This Cashbook for iPhone image is from Appolicious.
This expense tracker lets you easily enter and track your business expenses. It also tracks your weekly and monthly balance. Comes with password protection.
9. ActionComplete
If GTD (Getting Things Done) and the Four Quadrants of time management are part of your daily vocabulary, ActionComplete is made for you. It’s a project management-style to-do list app, which lets you group tasks into actions, schedule actions to be taken by others, prioritize projects, tag actions, set reminders, and more. Bonus: It’s free.
8. MightyMeeting
MightyMeeting acts like a remote control for your PowerPoint presentations. Upload your presentations to MightyMeeting, tag them for easy retrieval, and deliver your presentations through your Droid. You can invite others to see your presentation and edit it, too.
7. Astrid
This clean, easy-to-use to do list is a classic. Astrid, which is free, offers you reminders, checklists, tagging, and priority setting functions. You can backup your lists to RemembertheMilk.com, a free online to-do list application.
6. Spreadsheet
This versatile, XLS-compatible spreadsheet gives you 100 spreadsheet functions. They include searching, sorting, and formatting. You can also view, edit, and send attachments through other applications like Gmail.
5. AK Notepad
Take notes on your smartphone, make to-do lists, and put up reminder alarms with this easy-to-use notepad. You can email or SMS your note, as well as search notes by title. Simple, fast, and often indispensable.
4. mShare
mShare is where FTP and chat meet mobile. The app lets you transfer or exchange files to and from your computer and other mobile devices. It also works for any size file, as well as contacts and data storage.
3. GDocs
GDocs lets you take your Google docs anywhere. Create or upload your documents on Google Docs, then review them in micro format on your Android app.
2. Documents to Go
View and edit your Microsoft Office documents, PowerPoint included, through this $30 app, which also does PDF. The free version will do Word and Excel only.
1. Locale
This smart app uses GPS, WiFi, and cell signal to adjust your phone settings based on where you are, and when. It will automatically turn itself off in meetings and movies, remind you to charge the phone when battery runs low, and more. There’s no better way to have your phone take care of itself.
Top 5 Best Android Apps for Business If you are on the road at a social media event, be sure to have these top 10 Android apps for business loaded on your Droid. 10 must-have Android apps for business Whether you're running the next great business pitch from your phone or ... 10 of the best and most useful apps for your Android smartphone What Are the Best Android Apps? - AOL Small Business What Are the Best Android Apps? - AOL Small Business | The iPhone may generate all the buzz, Android-powered phones continue to outsell it.
101 Best Android Apps in Business and in Fun Here are the results for 101 Best Android Apps in Business and in Fun on 101 Best Android Apps. Vote for your favourite applications. Cellular South Reveals the Best Android™ Apps to Help Conquer Tax Cellular South has identified and is recommending some of the best Android apps for mobile phones to help consumers conquer tax-filing.
