Almost every modern tech gadget, regardless of the manufacturer, now focuses on “light programs” or what is more commonly referred to as “apps.” There is an app for what seems like every possible task these days, and they really have helped usher in an era of enhanced productivity. If you have an iPad, you have no doubt installed many apps and may even use them in your business. And as many of us who use the touchscreen iPad keyboard have realized, it is inefficient when it comes to typing longer messages. There’s an app for that!

Here are two that help make typing on the iPad easier and more efficient.

Dragon Dictation
When typing on a touchscreen, many users are not keen on typing longer messages or documents. It would be a lot easier if we could just dictate our thoughts. Dragon Dictation allows users to do just that.

The idea is, you can speak naturally into the mic and the app will translate your speech into text. You can use it to dictate text messages, emails or even longer documents like blog posts or notes. This app does require network connectivity (3G or Wi-Fi), and will work on second generation iPads and newer devices. The app is free and can be downloaded by clicking this link.

TextExpander
If you use your iPad to reply to emails, or find yourself consistently typing the same message, TextExpander is a great shortcut app that allows you to configure ready-made messages that can be inserted into your text.

The way this works is you configure text “shortcuts” that contain often used, standard response messages. When you type the shortcut in a text field, the app will recognize it and input the full text.

TextExpander is a great way to make replying to messages more consistent and efficient. You just have to take the time to set up your abbreviations/shortcuts and related text. The app costs $4.99 and can be downloaded from iTunes, or by clicking on this link which will take you to the App Store.

There are many other outstanding productivity apps for the iPad. Which are your favorites?

More and more business owners and managers are discovering that the iPad fits well into their day-to-day operations, mainly because of the wealth of apps that have been developed. One app that offers great potential for business users is “Documents” from Readdle. Documents acts as a central platform that connects with cloud storage providers like Dropbox, Box, iCloud, and Google Drive, to allow iPad users to keep their multiple services organized.

What exactly is Documents?
Documents is an app that enables users to manage their various cloud services. The app also allows users to view Word documents and PDFs, listen to music and watch video stored on various services directly within the app.

The functionality doesn’t stop there however, as you can also copy files from one service and move them to another directly in the app. No more having to download files from one and upload to another. You can also use this app to save web pages for reading at a later date, which could be useful if you are going to be away from data or Wi-Fi for an extended period of time.

There is one downside to the app. It is read-only. You can’t edit documents. If you need to edit a document you have to do so in the app in which the document is stored.

How can businesses benefit?
If you don’t use cloud storage services this app won’t do much for you. However if you’re among the millions of users that have accounts with multiple cloud storage services, the Documents app will be beneficial in helping you access and manage files on the go. Another really positive element that many businesses owners will like is that the app is free. Documents also allows you the option to password protect files.

How do I get the app?
Documents is available on the Apple App Store. Once you have downloaded the app onto your iPad, start it up and you’ll be able to add your cloud services by clicking on Network (located on the left-hand menu) and selecting the services you use. Input your account information and you should be ready to go.

If you would like to learn more about Documents, or how the iPad can fit into your business, get in touch with us. We are happy to sit down with you and tell you more!

Tablets are really starting to come into their own. This is true even for business users, as tablets are great for those who need to take their business on the road but don’t want to be tied down to bulky laptops. The one tablet that’s proved to be the catalyst for this movement is the iPad. One of the main reasons for this is the sheer number of apps, especially productivity related apps, that help users do their job.

Here are some useful apps for the iPad that can help boost your productivity.

Document compatibility
It’s highly likely that your office uses a document production program that isn’t native to Apple products – i.e., Microsoft Office. Using another program to create documents on your iPad and then spending time formatting the documents on your work computer isn’t a great productivity booster, but there are options.

If you do use Microsoft Office, the iPad kind of supports Office documents through Apple’s iWork. iWork does support Office files, but formatting and things like fonts normally won’t transfer over. This can be counter-productive.

While there will be a version of Microsoft Office heading to the iPad sometime in early 2013 (no set date yet), you’re likely better off purchasing an app like Documents to Go which allows users to open, edit and create Office documents.

If you aren’t doing heavy work on the iPad and just need it for mobile document production, you can skip paying for an app and instead sign up for an outlook.com or Office 365 account. Doing so will give you access to cloud based versions of Word, PowerPoint, OneNote and Excel.

Not a Microsoft fan? There’s also Google Drive. It’s not 100% compatible with Microsoft Office, and some functions and formatting won’t transfer over properly. However, with solid word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation programs, it’s a great option for Google users.

Notes
Because of the iPad’s size, it’s a perfect note-taking tool. There are literally hundreds of different note apps available for the iPad. Some are great, but others lack functionality. One of the most consistent is Evernote. Evernote is available for and syncs to nearly every system and device, so a note made on your iPad can be accessed on your computer, iPhone, Android Device or even BlackBerry.

Evernote really excels when you need to take simple notes. There are also a number of excellent add-on apps like Penultimate – which allows you to take handwritten notes – that make Evernote a nearly all-in-one solution. The best part is, the basic app is free.

Sharing files
When you are mobile with an iPad, you will no doubt need to share files with others users, and there is no shortage of ways to do this. The easiest method is to use an app like Dropbox or SugarSync, which allow you to upload files and share them with others. These programs work by placing a special folder on your hard drive. When you drop files or folders into this special folder, they will be uploaded to the cloud. You, or your coworkers, can then access the uploaded content from any device on which you have installed the app.

There are many other apps available that can help boost your productivity. Have you found some that you can’t live without? Please share.

There have been many technological advancements made in recent years, and the company driving the majority of the advances is Apple. With products that have gained a massive loyal following, Apple has become one of the biggest companies in the world. One of its most popular devices is the iPad and in early March, they introduced the New iPad. Will it be useful for your business?

The answer: yes, and no. The New iPad (that’s the actual name) takes the good parts of the iPad 2, and adds a few improvements including a new 5 mega pixel camera. The biggest change is the New iPad has the Retina Display, with a screen resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, making it one of the best Tablet displays on the market. Other changes include a new, slightly faster processor, and a slightly heavier (by 10 grams) body. Changes aside, the New iPad looks exactly the same as the iPad 2.

Apple has stated that the price of the New iPad will start at USD 499 for the 16 GB Wi-Fi version. There will be a version that connects to 4G mobile data networks, and the price for that version will start at USD 629 for the 16 GB version.

What Does this Mean for My Business? In truth, the New iPad means whatever you want it to for your business. Apple has said on many occasions that they want to bridge the gap between interaction and creation with the iPad. The New iPad is a step toward this goal, but it won’t be very useful for users who work with spreadsheets or other data-heavy programs. If you or your business gives lots of presentations, and doesn’t need to use the advanced functions of programs, then the New iPad could be a useful tool. It really comes down to how you, as a manager and company, operate. You can pretty much guarantee you will find some use for the iPad, it just may not be a Key Success Factor.

The one downside is the price. As a small business it can be hard to justify spending over USD 600 per iPad with data connectivity, when the iPhone costs far less with a plan and can do pretty much the same stuff, if not more.

Scam Warning As with most other Apple products, there is sure to be a number of scams surfacing over the next few weeks saying that you’ve won a free iPad, can get a free iPad, or any number of similar come-ons. It is a good idea to let your employees know that Apple doesn’t normally give away its products, and will definitely not post on people’s Facebook pages or put banners on websites advertising such a thing.

Apple has taken steps toward giving businesses a new way to operate, and the New iPad offers some great functions for businesses. If you’re thinking of adopting the iPad into your business, or would like to know more about the New iPad or Apple’s products, please contact us.

So far in the “Age of the Tablet” there has been only one tablet against which all other were measured. Many have fallen far short. That tablet is the iPad, and from its release in 2010 it has seen few competitors. That has recently changed.

The new competitor is Google’s spankin’ new tablet, the Nexus 7. While many users and reviewers feel that the Nexus 7 is truly a competitor of the iPad, the question posed by many small business owners is: does it really stack up?

Below is our comparison between the new iPad (iPad 3) and the Google Nexus 7 (N7).

On the outside
The iPad is 9.5 inches long and 7.31 inches wide, with a viewable area of 9.7 inches from the top-left to the bottom-right of the screen. The Nexus 7 is smaller at 7.81 inches long by 4.72 inches wide, with a viewable area of 7 inches. The iPad weighs around 1.4 pounds while the Nexus 7 weighs .75 pounds. Due to its size the Nexus 7 is more portable, and a rubber backing makes it easier to hold.

Displays
The display is one of the most important features to take into account when buying any device. The iPad uses Apple’s Retina display, a super high resolution display that produces a sharp, crisp image. The resolution of the iPad is 2048 X 1536, while the Nexus 7’s display is 1280 X 800. (In this case higher numbers generally mean a better display.) With a higher resolution, the iPad’s display is superior, however, the Nexus 7’s display is a close second in terms of image quality and viewability.

Build Quality
Small business owners or managers that spend a lot of time on the road need devices that can keep up with the rigorous demands of travel. Apple is well-known for high quality devices, but the iPad does have a known weakness. The screen is fragile and prone to cracking with even a moderate impact. The Nexus 7 is too new to be fully tested, but from drop and dunk tests, it looks like the Nexus 7 is the more durable device, without the use of a case. But add a protective case and the iPad is just as durable.

OS and Apps
The iPad runs the iOS, which is an extremely user friendly environment. Turn on your iPad for the first time, enter your information, and away you go. As the iPad has been out for a couple of years, a great number of developers have made iPad-specific apps, which means there are a ton of useful business-oriented apps available.

The Nexus 7 runs on the Android OS and is the first device to have Google’s new version, Jelly Bean. The new OS goes a long way in making devices easier to use, but it still can’t compete with the iPad in terms of ease of use. The Nexus 7 also has a large number of apps available on Google Play – Google’s app store – but the number of tablet optimized apps is lacking.

Security
Android devices like the Nexus 7 are built on an open-source OS, which means that anyone can download and modify it. This can also mean that it is less secure, as has been proven by an increase in the amount of malware and viruses that target Android devices. The iPad, while not immune to viruses and malware, is a more secure environment, at least for now.

Price
There is a stark difference in the price of the two tablets. A basic iPad starts at US$499 and can run up to US$829. The Nexus 7 starts at US$199 for an 8 GB model, and there is an upgraded 16 GB model available for US$250.

So which one should small businesses buy?
When considering this question, we strongly recommend that you take a look at your needs and current environment. If you’re buying a tablet to take to the office with you, or mobilize your office, you need to ensure that there are apps available for your device that will meet your needs, and that your current system is compatible with the tablet. In general, companies will release apps for the iOS environment first, with Android apps coming later, sometimes up to a year later.

Which tablet do you use? Which would you consider using in your business? Let us know below. If you’ve made your mind up and would like to know more about integrating the tablet into your operations, please contact us.

One of the most common trends in relation to the changing of money between small businesses and customers is mobilization. Many systems like the point of sale system are being mobilized in an effort to allow small businesses to do business where they chose. An app for the Apple iPad is allowing just this.

The system is called Square and is a series of apps that turn your iPad into a point of sale system, similar to standard touch screen point of sale systems already in use by many small businesses.

How Square works
There are essentially three different aspects to the Square system. The central aspect is the iPad app called Square Register. You, the shop owner, install the app and begin by adding your inventory. You set the price, sales tax and the category the item belongs in. When a customer wants to buy something, your employee selects the item and starts the transaction. As you can connect both a printer and cash drawer to the system, it works just like any other point of sale system.

The second aspect of the Square system is the card reader. The vast majority of customers prefer to use debit, credit or ATM cards instead of cash. For these situations, Square provides a card reader that plugs into the iPad’s headphone jack. Simply swipe the card through the reader, as you would with normal systems. What’s cool about this is the card reader also works on Android and iPhones, which makes the system portable.

The third aspect is rewards. Using Square Register you can set up a rewards program for return customers, while providing them with yet another way to pay. The client downloads the Pay with Square app, links their credit card to the app and is able to open a tab with you. When they buy something, you can bill their account directly. When they use the app to pay for something, the reward program is updated and they receive a receipt by email or SMS.

What’s the catch?
While Square sounds like a viable system, and is a theoretically great idea, there are some things you should be aware of. First, merchants pay a flat transaction fee of 2.75% each time a card is swiped. If you manually enter a payment, or if a customer uses cash, the fee is slightly higher. While this may seem a bit steep, the upside to it is there’s no monthly fee or commitment. you just pay the flat fee.

The other thing to be aware of is Square does put holds on transactions of over USD $1,000 if the credit card information is keyed in, this is a weekly limit. In other words, if an employee manually enters a credit card number for a purchase of $1,500, $500 will be held by Square for 30 days. This isn’t ideal for businesses that manually enter credit card numbers.

This system is a good option for the small business owner looking to replace their current point of sale system, while at the same time integrating the iPad into their business environment. This is also a good option for a company looking to mobilize their business. If you have any more questions about Square or other similar options for the iPad please contact us.

One of the biggest trends of the past few years is the rise of the tablet as a replacement for the personal computer, largely due to the success of the Apple iPad. The tablet has proven itself more than a fad, and is actually becoming an incredibly useful business tool. To extend its usefulness, Apple and app developers have integrated the ability to print documents directly from your iPad.

Here’s how you can print from your iPad.

AirPrint
AirPrint was introduced by Apple with the iOS 4.2 update. It allows apps on the iPad to wirelessly connect to a compatible printer. There are a large number of apps that support AirPrint, although there’s no official list. To find out if an app can print using AirPrint look at the app’s description in iTunes. There will be a note saying something along the lines of, “Wireless Printing supported” or “AirPrint supported.”

The only downside to AirPrint is that it will only work with a select few printers. A list of these can be found on the Apple website. For AirPrint to work, both your iPad and printer need to be connected to the same wireless network. If you meet the requirements, printing is quick and easy. Simply press the Action button (white square with an arrow) and select Print. The first time you do this, you’ll need to select the printer from the pop-up menu.

AirPrint enabler for Mac
If you have a wireless printer that isn’t compatible with AirPrint, don’t rush out and buy a new one as there are apps like Printopia that can allow you to wirelessly print. To do so, you need to download an app onto your Mac which then allows it to share its connected printers with your iPad. When the app is installed, you should be able to find your wireless printer. The only downside to this app is it only works on Mac computers with OS X version 10.6 and later.

Print using a PC
Don’t have a Mac? Don’t worry, you can still print using apps like PrintCentral. With this app you’ll be able to print directly to the vast majority of wireless printers, as long as they’re connected to the same network that your iPad is.

You can also print using a printer that’s connected to a computer. To do this, you’ll need to download and install the WePrint software onto your PC. Once this is done the software acts as a relay between the printer and your iPad, enabling you to print even if you’re not connected to the same network.

Being able to wirelessly print from your iPad helps make you and your business more efficient. If you’re working on the iPad during the commute, you can send it to the office printer and have it printed and ready for review for when you get to the office. This also makes you more efficient as you don’t need to log in to your computer, connect the iPad and transfer the information every time you want to print. You can just print it directly; saving you time.

If you’re looking for more ideas on how to integrate the iPad into your business, please contact us.