Chris Hill, Mobile Device Specialist
Are you old enough to remember when computers took up an entire room? After that came the PC, then the laptop, then handheld smart data devices. Technology has now ushered in the age of the tablet computer. The tablet concept has actually been around for about 10 years, but it wasn’t until Apple introduced the iPad in 2010, that the format really took off. The consumer technology giant didn’t recreate the wheel, but instead took an already successful device (the iPhone) and converted it into a user-friendly tablet format. Other equally user-friendly tablets like the Android are quickly coming to market.
Companies are quickly discovering that the iPad can be ultra-useful in a business environment. An avid iPad user myself, I provide customer support to CC&N customers who use iPads for their business. In this blog, I’ll be advising you how to turn your tablet into a valuable business tool, as well as reviewing practical tablet applications for business use. Ultimately, these quick tips are designed to enhance your iPad experience! So, here we go……..
Throughout my blog posts, I’ll reference apps that can be conveniently found in Apple’s App Store – at no cost or for a nominal fee. I invite you to share your discoveries and experiences as well.
Tip #1 – Note-taking
Note-taking is a must in any business environment, and the iPad comes with preloaded software, including onscreen keypad, to facilitate easy note-taking.
Whether you’re brainstorming with co-workers, attending a webinar or making a to-do list, jot your thoughts down with the built-in Notes app. It goes everywhere you do – the conference room, the lecture hall, even the grocery store. In portrait view, the screen looks like one big sheet of notebook paper. In landscape view, a clean sheet is ready and waiting, along with a list of all your previous notes. Tap the screen to add, delete or flip through what you’ve recorded. The Notes app circles the current page in red so you can see where you are at a glance.
For advanced note-taking, you can supplement basic iPad software with the following apps:
Idea Sketch (free): If you think more in images than words, get this app for easy diagram drawing. With Idea Sketch, you can mind map, concept map and create flow charts. Use the app to brainstorm new ideas, illustrate concepts, make outlines, plan presentations,create organizational charts and more.
Sundry Notes (free): If you’re still more comfortable with the old-school way of taking notes, download this app so you can use a stylus or tablet keyboard for data entry. Sundry Notes also allows real-time WiFi collaboration and seamless syncing to other devices. Another user-friendly feature is the ability to copy and paste pictures into your notes.
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