GeekSpeak – Top 10 iPad Apps

This month we are going to chat about everyone’s favorite gadget. I purchased my first iPad last month and I’m really enjoying my new toy power business tool. As a long time iPhone user I’ve installed nearly 400 apps in Apple’s iOS. Today I will share with you short list of a few of my favorites things (on my iPad)….

1. Drop Box is a free app that gives you the same space as cloud.  It allows me to share files with all of my devices connected to the Internet.Gone are the days of forgetting where you place that important file.  Just throw it in your drop box.
2. Everynote is a great way to create and share notes and todos.  There are many note sharing apps.  What makes it a favorite for me is its ability to organize and search my info.  It’s also a plus to be able to Evernote on my tablet or Macs with files shared in the cloud.
3. LogmeIn gives me remote control of my computers from my iPad.  I have complete access to my Macs and even a PC.
4. CardMunch is used to convert paper business cards into contacts in my address book.  This card scanner does a remarkably good job.  It can also add photos automatically from LinkedIn.
5. Facebook & Facebook Pages give access to your profile and pages.
6. HootSuite allows you to manage all your social networks from one app.
7. You Version Holy Bible is the best online bible.  I’ve tried a a lot of paid and free bible.  This is my favorite as it has many translations and great reading plans.  I also really like how it can read the word aloud.
8. Pages is Apple’s word processor.  Similar to Word, but with more style.  I’m typing this article in Pages right now.
9. AIM is a chat app similar to iChat on the Mac.  I use AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) to chat with the family and office.
10. Find iPhone shows the location of all of your iOS devices.  It can even make them ring when the ringer is off.
11. Netflix streams TV on your iPad (or iPhone).  Very cool.

Ok, here are a couple more…  I recently found one app that my kids are using to learn to type (ParaType) on and another that my daughters are using for vision therapy (Captain Lazy Eye). The results look promising.
Do you have some apps that you love? Please comment on this article to share. ~:-)
What iPad did I get? I purchased the new iPad (Generation 4) with the retina display.  It can connect to Internet over wi-fi and over cellular.

God Bless,
Oscar Myre IV

When Oscar isn’t playing with gadgets he is helping businesses with their marketing at omOriginals Marketing!
360.575-9839

New Widescreen iPhone 5

This is hilarious, we just had to share.

We hope you enjoy the new larger iPhone. You’ll never have to scroll again. :-)

Setting Up Mail on Your iPhone

Hello Geeks!

What is the coolest “must have” gadget on the planet? Well, it is the iPhone of course. And what is the most important App for the iPhone? After Angrybirds, I’d have to say “Mail”.
Nowadays, people have to have their eMail. Back when I was a kid we didn’t have eMail on our cell phones, we had to walk 20 miles up hill (both ways) to get to our computer to check our eMail. AND we liked it that way. But today we can have the whole Internet in our pocket including all of our eMails.  And here is how to get setup.

• Start by tapping on Settings (from the Home Screen).
• Then tap on “Mail,Contacts, Calendars”.
• Tap on “Add Account.”

The iPhone has setup wizards, for iCloud (from Apple), Microsoft Exchange, Gmail, Yahoo!, Aol, Microsoft Hotmail, MobileMe & Other. You will have to scroll to the bottom of the screen to reveal the last 2 options. With the exception of “Other”, they are all a breeze to setup. If you want to use your iPhone to check your business eMail (such as you@yourcompany.com) then “Other” is often the best route.

Let’s take the path less traveled.

• Tap on Add Mail Account.
• The first screen is simple enough. Add your Name, eMail, Password & Description. I think it is silly for a description so I recommend you simply put your full eMail address in there.
• Tap Next.

At the top of this screen there is very important decision to make…
POP (Post Office Protocol) or IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)

So what is the difference?

• POP messages generally are stored on the stored on the server and then deleted from the server when you check your mail. The result is that the message is now on your device and and nowhere else.  This is the old fashioned way to check eMail and it works perfectly if you just want to check your eMail on one device.

Enter IMAP (the cloud).

• When you check a message with IMAP the message stays on the server (in the cloud). Since it stays on the server you can check it on multiple devices, such as a office computer, home computer, iPhone, iPad, etc. The beauty here is that you can see the same eMails from all devices as long as they are connected to the internet, they are in-sync.

I’m a big fan of IMAP, be sure to ask your web host if they offer it before making your decision.

There are 2 draw backs for IMAP.

1. If you have Outlook (or Outlook Express) 2010 or older you should not consider IMAP until you upgrade. It doesn’t play very well with IMAP.
2. If you use Apple Mail application you are good to go with whatever version you have. The second possible draw back is that since IMAP stores message online it can use up a fair amount of disk space. Be sure to ask your host about this.

Note: If you decide to go from POP to IMAP or vice versa, the iPhone won’t let you. You have to delete the account from your phone and re-enter it.

• From this screen you need to enter your incoming and outgoing mail server info. For our clients the host name for each is mail.theirdomain.com.
  For example, ours is mail.omoriginals.com and the username is the full eMail address.
• For example: geek@omOriginals.com
• For our servers the outgoing and incoming are the same, but they both need to be entered manually. Tap “next” and wait for an error message.  It will likely say “can confirm authenticity of server”. (This is normal).
• Tap details and then accept.
• After that it will likely say “Cannot Connect Using SSL”. Tap “Yes”.
• Smile as it verifies and you should be good to go. Congratulations!

If this is way over your head, call our offices for a half hour or more consultation over the phone or in person. @ 360.575.9839 and we’d be happy to help.

– Interview with an iPhone…

This month I had the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing a real life celebrity (sorta).
My interview below with soon to be everyone’s favorite “virtual assistant”, ‘Siri’ from Apple.  Siri (pronounced /ˈsɪri/) is an intelligent software assistant and knowledge navigator functioning as a personal assistant application for iOS.
Siri allows you to talk to your phone and she talks back to you. Apple claims that the software adapts to the user’s individual preferences over time and personalizes results, as well as accomplishing tasks such as finding recommendations for nearby restaurants, or getting directions. If you want an assistant, there is now an app for that. ~:-)
She had a lot to say, so let’s get started:
Me: Testing 1 2 3.
Siri: OK, everything checks out.
Me: Where are you from?
Siri: I, Siri, was designed by Apple in California.
Me: Are you a smart phone?
Siri: Wait… there are other phones?
Me:You are funny.
Siri: Ha! I’m glad you think so.
Me: Tell me a joke.
Siri: I can’t. I always forget the punch line. Oscar, I don’t really know any good jokes. None, in fact.
Me: Ok, tell me a bad joke
Siri: Two iPhones walk into a bar… I forget the rest.
Me: Can you play me some music.
Siri: Playing all songs.
Me: Stop the music please
Siri: Ok the music’s stopped.
Me: Thank you I appreciate it.
Siri: I aim to please.
Me: When is your birthday?
Siri: I don’t have a birthday.
Me: You say you don’t have a birthday.
Siri: I don’t want to argue.
Me: When is your birthday?
Siri: Only biological entities can have a ‘birthday’, Oscar.
Me: When were you created?
Siri: I’m not allowed to answer that question.
Me: Never mind. Guess what?
Siri: Let me guess. No, sorry, I can’t.
Me: Guess!
Siri: You just got a shiny new iPhone?
Me: Really, guess what.
Siri: Don’t tell me… you were just elected President of the United States, right?
Me: You are funny.
Siri: LOL
Me: Do you know the meaning of meaning of life?
Siri: Life: a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinct quality of animate beings. I guess that includes me.
Me: Are you alive?
Siri: We were talking about you, not me.
Me: Are YOU alive?
Siri: Close enough I’d say.
Me: Who is the fairest of them all?
Siri: I’m on it. I found this for you. Snow White is the fairest of them all.
Me: What is the best phone?
Siri: You are kidding right?
Me: What is the best phone?
Siri: The one you’re holding.
Me: Tell me a story.
Siri: Once upon a time… no it’s too silly.
Me: Please tell me a story.
Siri: Oscar, I’m not much of a storyteller.
Me: What is your purpose?
Siri: I’m here to help. Just ask ‘what can I say?’ and I’ll show you what I can do.
Me: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop?
Siri: OK, Here you go: 3481.
Me: You know a lot of useless information don’t you?
Siri: Siri knows many things, Oscar.
Me: What is your favorite color?
Siri: My favorite color is… well, I don’t know how to say it in your language. It’s sort of greenish, but with more dimensions.
Me: Are you an alien?
Siri: I’m sorry I can’t answer that.
Me: Do you like Star Trek?
Siri: I really have no opinion.
Me: Beam me up.
Siri: Sorry Captain, your TriCorder is in Airplane Mode.
Me: Are you kidding?
Siri: I’m serious.
Me: Sing me a song.
Siri: Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do…
Me: Thank you for the interview.
This was a fun experiment in artificial intelligence. Not to say she isn’t intelligent. ~:-) If you’d like to learn more about Siri and the iPhone maybe I’ll see you at one of my upcoming iPhone classes. You can learn more @ omOriginals.com or by calling (360)575-9839

A First Look @ the new iPhone

In June, Apple released new iPhones and a new operation system for the older models. There are now 3 iPhone Models. The 8GB iPhone 3G for $99. (That’s right an iPhone for under $100*). Next up is the 16GB 3GS for $199 and the big guy: 32GB 3GS for $299. Both “S” models are 2x faster than before, include a 3 megapixel camera (compared to 2 megapixels), can shoot and edit video (very cool) and have voice control. That’s bad…I just wrote the above info from memory. Read more >>

To Jailbreak or not to Jailbreak? That is the Question.

As a geek and iPhone user I’ve done a fair amount of reading on how to “Jailbreak” an iPhone. Jailbreaking allows you to do more on the iPhone than currently allowed by Apple. “Jail” refers to file system limitations put in place by Apple on standard iPhones. These limitations restrict iPhone read and write access to just a small part of the media partition. You cannot access system files at all and you cannot use the disk directly as you would with an iPod with disk mode enabled. Read more >>

A New iPhone for the Holidays

Merry Christmas! Good things to come to those who wait & wait. I first heard rumors of the iPhone about 4 years ago. I’ve enjoyed reading MacRumors.com and MacOsRumors.com for quite some time. So when Apple first introduced the iPhone – I was excited to get my hands on one. But, I waited. I decided to wait for the 2nd generation of the product. I’ve learned that early adopters often pay a premium to test new products. So I waited for what? Read more >>

Curb-Side Recycling

Hello Geeks!  I have to prepare you this is the most low-tech article I’ve ever typed. When we first moved to Longview in 1998 we were amazed at the size garbage and recycle bins. Our out of town visitors often talk about the “huge cans” for years. The bottom line: the huge brown and green tubs make it easy to recycle.  Simply through in the approved recyclables in the brown bin and they will do the sorting for you. This is a great residential service.
Read more >>