If you have a few minutes, can you tell me which apps you rely on the most to get your work done?
I'm doing a session this week for the E-Learning Guild's Online Forums on essential apps for learning professionals and I'd like to reference this thread in the webinar.
Great ideas and examples, Raul! Love your creativity -- and brilliant use of the app. Thanks so much for sharing your Lego handout, too. It's a visual that proves your point about an exercise that proves your point about visuals. :)
Like others I'm not the best smartphone user in the world. Although I have a Nexus 5 privately/for my own company and and iPhone 5 for my day job. I couldn't care less about the apps. I still use it for communication purposes and not for all that other mumbo jumbo.
Work-wise I'd say the apps I use are limited to (Nexus 5):
gmail
google calendar
google contacts
dropbox
twitter
linkedin
whatsapp
Bufferapp (to check and (re)post messages to Twitter and Linkedin simultaneously)
WPS Office (for android) to check an occasional attached document from attached to an email or from my dropbox
On my iPhone I just do calls and check emails and calendar appointments... Zero apps
We use the dropbox app in our VO sound booth. The script is written, approved and can be accessed from the booth. Finger scrolling a long script is quiet and effortless with tough devices. Having the iPad permanently installed on an armature makes set up easy. The box app, google drive app, are all good options, the key "one file in one place"
Ryan that's super helpful! Love the idea of using Dropbox for script management. Clients could even make updates during the session (but we won't tell them it's an option!) and you can even update the script with changes you made during the session. Awesome! Thank you!
This is actually a very interesting discussion but I'll come at this from a different angle.
I use the traditional options of Evernote, Dropbox and NotesKeeper in order to keep everything in order.
However, I spend a lot of time downloading free apps - not for the content - but for the design. I find that I draw a lot of inspiration from the layout of apps and the way that information is presented to us as the user. Therefore this is actually one of the most efficient ways of getting my work done. Instead of sitting there puzzled for hours at a time I simply load up several apps to look at information presentation.
Alternate way of looking at things without focusing down strictly productivity apps.
Joshua, that's a great idea. I often take my cues from websites, even print material, but hadn't really thought about just downloading free apps to see how they were designed. Nice!
I don't want to hijack this thread at all, but I would love to see a separate version of this thread with hardware/peripherals sometime in the future. Really interested to know how people have set up their offices.
I don't have a lot to add here that hasn't already been posted but I do constantly use my world clock app for a quick glance of what time it is at other offices.
I'm too late for the session now, but am keen to share because I'm a geek when it comes to apps :)
Evernote - I couldn't live or work without Evernote, I have my life saved into there, ideas, blogs, letters and emails I've received, sent, I also make a new note for each time I make or receive a phone call so I can track who has called, what has been discussed, and then I can bring up all my notes on that person/company when I next speak to them etc. Evernote Web Clipper is also incredible. As you can tell I'm also a geek when it comes to staying productive too :)
FastEver - allows me to create a new Evernote with 1 tap on my iPhone screen, great for when I have a quick idea and haven't got time to open Evernote and type it up and save it
IQTell - the only to-do app I've found that allows you create to-do's straight from emails and then to reply to emails directly from the to-do list which is 90% of my to-do's. It also syncs up and down with Evernote, so I can create To-Do's from Evernote and also vica-versa
Siri - I only use the Siri functionality for dictation, I am a clumsy typist (keyboard and phone) and therefore if I'm alone will regularly dictate emails and text messages to save me time. I use Dragon Dictation type on my PC, it's excellent.
Dropbox - I like to save all my files in one place that is available on several devices, although since losing my corporate license, I may have to revise this - not sure I'm happy about paying for this myself.
Google Drive - same as Dropbox, but I just use the free allowance. I like that I can open Spreadsheets on my phone and iPad through Google Sheets.
Twitter - great to hear about other people's opinions, discuss industry relevant ideas and to be made aware of new blogs, software releases, events etc.
PInterest - love using this app for capturing design ideas, colours schemes I'd like to use in my courses, different types of Typography etc.
Spotify - because all my best work happens when I have my tunes turned up loud, helps me get into the zone :)
Learning More and Sharing: Flipboard, Twitter, LinkedIn, Buffer, Pocket, IF (fka IFTTT), Yammer (because it's integrated at work)
Productivity: DropBox, Google Drive/Docs + Hangouts, Lync 2013 (because it's integrated at work), Evernote, Google Now
I will say that "IF" is what I refer to as the "connective tissue" of my personal web. I can create relationships and recipes that connect my networks at will (for example, everytime I post something to LinkedIn, it posts to Yammer automatically, or automatically saving a Twitter #learning link directly to Google Drive spreadsheet)... now, with the advent of IoT (connecting smart objects in real life), it's getting even better.
Google Apps, Box, Twitter, Explain Everything, PhatWare, Microsoft Office for iPad, Outlook for iPad, OneNote for Windows Phone and iPad, lots of mobile apps for Windows Phone and iPad.
Evernote and Dropbox for personal and my freelance work. Those apps are locked down at my corporate job.
On Corp job we use Yammer. We have eLearning designers in many different geographic locations and Yammer is big help in collaboration and sharing ideas, resources, etc.
oh, Twitter for my PLN (personal learning network).
46 Replies
Great ideas and examples, Raul! Love your creativity -- and brilliant use of the app. Thanks so much for sharing your Lego handout, too. It's a visual that proves your point about an exercise that proves your point about visuals. :)
Thanks Jackie! I try hard to mix it up.
Freelancer Union has an interesting article about 45/15 :) - https://www.freelancersunion.org/blog/2014/10/14/use-4515-rule-productive-procrastination/ not an app, but still a good read.
We use Things, DropBox (for VO script recordings) and 1Password for iPad to stay on task , share and save precious time.
Good luck with your research and article David.
Ryan
Thanks, Ryan. A lot of folks on our team use 1Password. I'm curious how you're using Dropbox on your smartphone to manage and share VO scripts?
Anyone using Droplr for screenshot and file sharing? That's one app I use daily both on desktop and mobile.
Like others I'm not the best smartphone user in the world. Although I have a Nexus 5 privately/for my own company and and iPhone 5 for my day job. I couldn't care less about the apps. I still use it for communication purposes and not for all that other mumbo jumbo.
Work-wise I'd say the apps I use are limited to (Nexus 5):
On my iPhone I just do calls and check emails and calendar appointments... Zero apps
We use the dropbox app in our VO sound booth. The script is written, approved and can be accessed from the booth. Finger scrolling a long script is quiet and effortless with tough devices.
Having the iPad permanently installed on an armature makes set up easy. The box app, google drive app, are all good options, the key "one file in one place"
- rock this article David!
Ryan that's super helpful! Love the idea of using Dropbox for script management. Clients could even make updates during the session (but we won't tell them it's an option!) and you can even update the script with changes you made during the session. Awesome! Thank you!
Ha! I knew I wasn't the only one!
This is actually a very interesting discussion but I'll come at this from a different angle.
I use the traditional options of Evernote, Dropbox and NotesKeeper in order to keep everything in order.
However, I spend a lot of time downloading free apps - not for the content - but for the design. I find that I draw a lot of inspiration from the layout of apps and the way that information is presented to us as the user. Therefore this is actually one of the most efficient ways of getting my work done. Instead of sitting there puzzled for hours at a time I simply load up several apps to look at information presentation.
Alternate way of looking at things without focusing down strictly productivity apps.
Joshua, that's a great idea. I often take my cues from websites, even print material, but hadn't really thought about just downloading free apps to see how they were designed. Nice!
Late to the party but I just wanted to just share some love for Popplet as a mind-mapping app. I like it a lot.
I also use 1Password a ton, especially when I can't remember my Articulate Community password!
Evernote
Taskboard
Story Skeleton
Index Card
iThoughts HD
DropBox
Box
Story Cubes
YouTube
Creative Whack Pack
Story Dice
Daedalus
This is great information!
I don't want to hijack this thread at all, but I would love to see a separate version of this thread with hardware/peripherals sometime in the future. Really interested to know how people have set up their offices.
Pomodoro, Balanced, and Sunrise Calendar are my daily work-related apps.
I don't have a lot to add here that hasn't already been posted but I do constantly use my world clock app for a quick glance of what time it is at other offices.
I'm too late for the session now, but am keen to share because I'm a geek when it comes to apps :)
Learning More and Sharing:
Flipboard, Twitter, LinkedIn, Buffer, Pocket, IF (fka IFTTT), Yammer (because it's integrated at work)
Productivity:
DropBox, Google Drive/Docs + Hangouts, Lync 2013 (because it's integrated at work), Evernote, Google Now
I will say that "IF" is what I refer to as the "connective tissue" of my personal web.
I can create relationships and recipes that connect my networks at will (for example, everytime I post something to LinkedIn, it posts to Yammer automatically, or automatically saving a Twitter #learning link directly to Google Drive spreadsheet)... now, with the advent of IoT (connecting smart objects in real life), it's getting even better.
Canvas for iPad
Blackboard Mobile Learn
Google Apps, Box, Twitter, Explain Everything, PhatWare, Microsoft Office for iPad, Outlook for iPad, OneNote for Windows Phone and iPad, lots of mobile apps for Windows Phone and iPad.
Evernote and Dropbox for personal and my freelance work. Those apps are locked down at my corporate job.
On Corp job we use Yammer. We have eLearning designers in many different geographic locations and Yammer is big help in collaboration and sharing ideas, resources, etc.
oh, Twitter for my PLN (personal learning network).
I use the Office Lens app to take photos of whiteboards, etc. It enhances the photo, and you can then import it directly to OneNote, etc.
I use Aviary and Layout for photo editing.
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