Author: BrothaTech

Request DropBox Files From Anyone with AirDropper

by BrothaTech

If you don’t already know by now, I’m a fan of the DropBox cloud storage app/service that allows me to store files in the cloud AND synchronize my files across ALL my devices. DropBox even allows for sharing files with other DropBox users.

But what if the other person is not a DropBox user? If you want to receive a file to add to your DropBox directory from somebody who is not using DropBox, you have to go through the normal challenge of sending it via email (and praying it’s small enough), or using another download site where you are bombarded with a 5000 eleven ads, and other various un-solicited software to download. Once you get the file, you have to upload it DropBox yourself.

If you use DropBox heavy like me and need a simple way to receive files, check out AirDropper – the neat little service that allows you to receive files and send them directly to DropBox.

It works like this: You go to the AirDropper site and connect it to your DropBox account. Don’t worry, AirDropper does not access your files. It simply creates a secure upload site where the recipient of the site (the person you are requesting the file from) can upload the file you are requesting. Once you enter your email address and recipient’s email address and a brief description of the file, they are sent an email with the site where they upload the file.

Once they upload the file, AirDropper doesn’t send you the file to then upload to DropBox, it is actually uploading the file to your DropBox directory using a special “AirDropper” folder. You just go into the AirDropper folder and do what you want with the file. Once you receive the file, it is synched and made available to all your other devices running DropBox.

No software to download, no special instructions to send, no jumping through hoops to receive/get access to a file. The AirDropper service is currently in beta, so they are currently testing things out. One of the things they are aware of and working on is the ability to upload multiple files instead of just one at a time. One thing they are NOT working on is putting a cap on the size of the file you want to send. On the site, they claim to have sent/receive a 75mb file with hopes of supporting 100mb file transfers. So rest assured, it’s highly likely you will get that PowerPoint presentation you requested. Additionally, AirDropper promises secure file transfers to the tune of industry-standard SSL encryption at each stage of the request process. Once the file is sent, AirDropper does not store/archive any files. What you see in DropBox is the only copy out there!

I did mention it’s free (for now) to use AirDropper right?

If you are using DropBox, try them out and send feedback so those guys (and gals I’m assuming) can get out of beta and provide their hardcore users (I plan to be one) with a nice, smooth, and simple AirDropper service to receive files directly to DropBox.

QR Code – What’s the Hold Up?

by BrothaTech

I’ve been waiting for this mobile technology to take off here in the U.S. So far the reaction/adaptation of this technology has been a steady “meh”.

If you’re not familiar with QR Code (Quick-Response Code), I’ll give you the background. It’s essentially a mobile barcode that you can encrypt with any type of information. Contact info, calendar appointments, even URL’s can be encoded via QR code for mobile devices to “scan” and decrypt the information. It’s a very quick way to pass along information to anybody using a mobile device.

Business owners can create codes to quickly get their contact info into a client’s mobile address book. Companies can create codes that will send mobile users to online coupons they can use in-store without downloading the image and figuring out how to print them to hand to the cashier. There is even a real estate company out in Wisconsin that is using QR Code as yard signs to drive home shoppers to their mobile site to find out more about the property for sale. Or just create a code to get users to your mobile site (If you are using WordPress, I certainly hope you are using a plug-in that creates a “mobile-friendly” version of your website).

Once you create the code encrypted with information like your business info. (name, address, phone number and website) you can put that code…anywhere! On the back of a business card, on flyers, on a t-shirt, as an image on your website, etc. Anybody with a QR code reader app on their mobile device can scan the code using their device’s camera and instantly, users can opt to add your information to their mobile device’s contact list.

There are tons of apps available that will enable you to create the code and most (if not all) mobile devices offer mobile apps that will scan the code to access the information. And they are not expensive at all (most are free).

Services/apps to create QR Code:

BeeTag
Kaywa
Mobile Barcodes

Mobile Apps to read QR Code:

BlackBerry
iPhone
Android
Windows Mobile

Now i’m pretty sure you’ve seen these things out in the wild, but my question is why haven’t they taken over as the de facto way to access information via a mobile device? They are easy to make (The image in the article when scanned will take you to…you have to scan it to find out). And easy to scan – it’s just as simple as taking a pic of an image with your smart phone’s camera. So what’s the hold up?

Do U.S. companies fail to realize that a large number of people accessing the internet are doing so via their mobile devices? Some companies get it, and are using QR Codes to welcome their mobile device users:

Google
AT&T
HBO

Or is it education? Do people really know enough about QR Codes to create the demand for more entities to adopt the technology? If that’s the case then do me a favor, share this article with everybody you know so we can get the ball rolling! SmallBizGoMobile has done it’s job, now it’s time to do yours!

Google Announces Voice Actions app for Android Phones

by BrothaTech

How about this for mobile productivity – The ability to send voice commands to your Android mobile device to handle most, if not all, of your everyday mobile device tasks.

Think your mobile tasks you execute by flipping through menus and widgets, typing text, etc. Previous voice commands have been lackluster in their ability to transfer your voice prompts into actual output that your device recognizes. But leave it to Google to attempt to create an app that conquers the voice command void.

With the new (and free) Voice Actions for Android app Google announced yesterday, users can now execute a myriad of tasks via voice commands similar to Google Search and Map voice command function. I currently use the voice search function for my Google maps app on my BlackBerry and it works pretty well. So I can only imagine the quality and functionality Google has planned for other mobile device functions. Below is a list of the type of functions (and how you execute them) you can do with the new Voice Actions app:

– send text to [contact] [message]
– listen to [artist/song/album]
– call [business]
– call [contact]
– send email to [contact] [message]
– go to [website]
– note to self [note]
– navigate to [location/business name]
– directions to [location/business name]
– map of [location]

How it works is simple – Say “Listen to Stevie Wonder” (one guess as to who my fav. artist is) and the phone will pull up all your music apps to select and start playing Stevie. As you can see, the voice prompt isn’t all that complicated to learn, so it’s up to the app to recognize your voice prompt and translate that into a device function, which like I stated, works pretty well already with the Google search and maps voice command feature.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGbYVvU0Z5s&feature=player_embedded

Sounds pretty cool right? Only one catch, the Voice Actions app only works with Android 2.2 (Froyo), which is only available on the original Motorola Droid, Droid 2 (that went on Sale yesterday), and the HTC Evo…oh and the Nexus One as well.

So if you plan on getting an Android phone, and like the ability to execute tasks via voice prompt, make sure to get a phone with “Froyo” on it (or wait for the download that is sure to come on some of the other Android phones at a later date) and download Voice Actions for Android.

Relieve Stress with the Office Harmony App

by BrothaTech

Some of the reasons behind starting a small business (besides making money) is to get out of the day-to-day grind, and to have more control over your schedule and your life. Fact of the matter is, most people end up working HARDER at their own business than they ever did punching a clock at ACME, Incorporated. Working harder at a small business, especially in the beginning can be due to wearing all the hats of the business. From secretary administrative assistant to IT, to customer service, to marketing, to finance – You do it all!

Sometimes trying to juggle all of your business tasks can leave you a little stressed. Well, if you’re a fan of mobile apps and your day-to-day business tasks get the best of you from time to time…there’s an app for that too! The app is called Office Harmony and its purpose is to help you understand and lower your stress.

From stress assessment questions that help you recognize and understand where your stress is specifically coming from, to office yoga videos that give you quick and easy yoga techniques that can be done at your desk, to soothing meditation exercises that help your relax your mind, to weekly stress tips that help you remember to cool out; this app has it all!

The app includes images of desk yoga exercises, and other exercises you can do without exerting any sweat (because nobody likes yellow arm pits on your nice shirt/blouse during your presentation), and also actual videos of exercises, all without being connected to the internet. That means you don’t have to worry about your mobile network messing with zen-like focus.

So relax, take and deep breath, and just step away for a second if your small business tasks get to be too overwhelming. If that doesn’t work, download the Office Harmony app for $1.99 for your iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad.

Dropbox + DocsToGo = Match Made in Mobile Productivity Heaven

by BrothaTech

Most of time when I need to do something with an invoice, I am sitting in front of The Precious my laptop, so it never dawned on me that I may be out and about and need to make a quick change on my iPad or my BlackBerry (still waiting to see if Apple will fix the “death grip”). So last night I messed around with opening up a document, editing it and sending it out in an email or saving it for later all on my iPad.

It didn’t take me very long to find the right combination. I am already experimenting with keeping all of my business documents stored in the cloud with Dropbox so I can access all my files no matter what device I am using…and yes, I back it up offline. But that [Dropbox] is mainly for accessing, sharing, and backing up files. The missing link was finding the right app that allowed me to edit files found in my Dropbox, and saving them back to their current locations or emailing them to a potential client. So, I looked on Dropbox’s site to find a list of “friendlies” that worked with Dropbox, and boom, DocsToGo was on the list.

If you are not familiar with DocsToGo, they have been in the mobile documents game for a minute. Since the evolution of smart phones, DocsToGo has given mobile users the ability to open, edit and share documents via many mobile devices.

The cool thing about the DropBox/DocsToGo combination is you can skip the whole “download a document first, then open up an app that can access the file you downloaded, then open up the document, then edit the document, save it, then open up your email client, then find the new document, then send it.” If I am just looking at a document in and decide “hey I need to change something”, I can simply click the “Open With” button and DocsToGo (if installed and configured) will open the document so I can make the changes. When I am done and ready to save, I can save it right to Dropbox. If I want to share the document, DocsToGo will immediately open up my email client to send.

I am a neat freak when it comes to documents. So the ability to keep all my documents in Dropbox, and use DocsToGo, regardless of the device, to open, edit, and share my documents is a must. With DocsToGo and Dropbox, keeping all my files in sync with the many devices I use, in addition to editing and sharing those documents regardless of what device I use, is a match made in mobile productivity heaven.

Now If I only could print the darn thing…

If you have any suggestions or know of any other combinations out there, drop in and leave a comment to let us know what works best for you?

Create the Android App You Need with App Inventor

by BrothaTech

Unlike Apple, where all iPhone mobile apps can be found in their App Store, if you own an Android phone, then you know searching for that perfect app that aids your productivity can be tedious. Since Android is an open platform software, anybody can create and distribute apps from anywhere, which adds to the problem of out of the 50,000 apps in the Android Market alone, where do you find the one that will work for you and your business?

Here’s an idea, why not make your own Android App? Now when I hear a question like that, the first thing (the only thing actually) that pops into my head is “I don’t know anything about coding, programming, or application development.”

Now I am pretty sure there are others who feel the same way, and Google wants to address people like us with their new App Inventor for Android project that might just start your mobile business application motor turning. due to the fact that using App Inventor requires NO programming knowledge. Instead of creating code from scratch, you are taking pieces (Inventor calls them blocks) of functions and mashing them together visually to create a full functioning app. Sounds simple right? Below is a video of App Inventor in action

WHATEVER your Android phone can do, Inventor has a block for it, which you can assemble with other blocks to make your own app. Now of course, if you do know a thing or two about mobile app development, then you can take Inventor to the next level and crank out some serious apps. But the purpose behind App Inventor is to turn technology consumers into technology creators (and you should know by now how this site’s owner feels about that)

Mario’s “beef” ties right into Google’s idea behind the App Inventor Project:

“The educational perspective that motivates App Inventor holds that programming can be a vehicle for engaging powerful ideas through active learning. As such, it is part of an ongoing movement in computers and education that began with the work of Seymour Papert and the MIT Logo Group in the 1960s.”

So before you start digging through the Android Market and/or scouring the net looking for an app that will pull all of your business financial statement emails, print them to PDF, and save them on your phone, think about creating it first with the Android App Inventor by Google Labs.

*Maybe I should have patented and trademarked that idea before I said it*

Depositing Checks With Your Smartphone?

by BrothaTech

Fact of the matter is, the technology is coming here. I mean, at the rate that mobile technology is growing, who REALLY didn’t see this coming? Some banks already allow customers to deposit checks electronically via a scanner and computer. So allowing customers to deposit checks with their smart phones, was the next logical step in my opinion.

Two banks, Chase and USAA are some of the largest banking institutions to create apps that among other things, give mobile customers the ability to deposit checks using their iPhone, Android & BlackBerry smartphones.

A quick and dirty breakdown of the process is you open the banking mobile app, select the check deposit feature, and the app fires up your mobile camera and you take a picture of the check. The app will let you know if the image is good enough to send and you will get confirmation that the check was sent. Most of the time, the funds are available immediately, once the bank verifies all the banking information. You don’t even have to send in the check afterwards. You can void & file it (for all you hoarders) or shred the check.

Personally, I have some clients (bless their hearts) who still insist on writing checks, even when I show them that I can also take debit & credit cards using my iPad. So I kindly take the check and figure out when is the next time I plan on going to the bank. I am a 99% online banker – Guess what I spend the last 1% doing? So I would jump at the ability to snap an image of my clients check, deposit it into my account, and show my client a confirmation of the deposit.

All small business owners may not have the same blind allegiance to electronic banking when it comes to funds transfers as I do. Even though most banking institutions back mobile banking with guarantees that ensure that your losses are covered in the event your mobile banking info is comprised, I can see how people can be concerned with their accuracy when doing something like depositing checks with their smartphone. I mean we are talking about a small screen with small buttons and ever-deteriorating eyes. So the chance of a user error is logically higher by default.

So what’s your stance? If your bank offered mobile check depositing, would you participate, or do you follow the “if it isn’t broken…” crowd and feel safer with personally depositing checks at your bank?

Check Your Website’s Stats Anytime With Mobile Analytics Apps

by BrothaTech

Analytics by Google
Curious to check up on your site on the go? If you have Google Analytics loaded on your site (If not, you need to get on the ball), you can most definitely use your iPhone or Android smartphone to access many of the same stats and reports from your site you are used to if you were sitting at your desk.

Analytics App for iPhoneThe Analytics App I found for the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad mobile devices is called (you guessed it) Analytics App. Clever names aside, this is indeed a robust app that gives you access to over 55 reports broken down into categories like:

– Overview Reports
– Visitors Reports
– Traffic Reports
– Content Reports
– Event Tracking Reports

side note: I chucked when I read the Analytics App site description of the app, so I just thought I would quote it here:

“Finally you can get to all of your reports and data with Analytics App for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Whether you’re on the road, in a meeting, or sitting on the throne, Analytics App gives you quick and easy access to your analytics data.”

Moving right along, the Analytics App supports multiple accounts/sites and gives you the ability to dig deep into your reports up to 100 rows of data. The Analytics App goes for $6 bucks and can be found in the Apple App Store

Mobile GA App for AndroidConversely, the Mobile GA (I am assuming stands for Google Analytics, another clever name) app for Android devices stresses quick, easy, and simple stats and reports on your smartphone in order to just get the ‘big picture’ and keep it moving.

“Mobile GA only requests and processes necessary data. Whereas other mobile applications use variations of screen scraping and consume more processor cycles, Mobile GA minimizes bandwidth, processor, and battery use.”

But Mobile GA is packed with enough firepower to make this a very appealing app to view the necessary site stats. Below are some of the features:

– Date range comparison
– Graphs and charts for each report
– Custom date ranges
– Favorites
– Geolocation reports
– Regex-enabled searches

In other words, the Mobile GA app is not a slacker either. Additionally, since this app runs on the Open-Source Android mobile Platform, you can customize the API via the app’s Parent site ActualMetrics to meet your specific needs. So if you are like me and just need the top level info, Mobile GA is right up your alley. If you don’t already know, a Brotha loves free, so it should be noted that the Mobile GA app is free to download from the Android Marketplace on your smartphone.

Join WebEx Meetings From Your Smartphone…Then “Handoff” To Your PC

by BrothaTech

Most small business owners I know are road warriors – always on the go looking for the next opportunity. That leaves a very small amount of time to sit in an office knee deep in meetings. As a result, the ability to conduct or attend a meeting while mobile is essential to staying on top of all that’s going on.

But merely dialing in and listening to others while they “ohh” and “ahh” over eye-catching, color-filled slides and screenshots of fascinating accounting figures isn’t enough for your typical jet-setting entrepreneur who needs to be included in all aspects of the meeting.

One of the most well-known web conferencing services that has recognized the need for people to attend meetings on the go via a smartphone is Cisco Webex. Download the WebEx App and via your iPhone or BlackBerry mobile device (other smartphone users can join meetings via mobile web browser), users can attend meetings and communicate/collaborate with other attendees with the same type of functionality of your typical desktop or laptop WebEx meeting.

The cool thing about the WebEx app is if you are attending a meeting en route to your office and want to continue the meeting on your desktop or laptop computer, with the flick of your wrist, you can “handoff” the meeting from your iPhone to your computer without interrupting your current session. No logging out of the meeting on your iPhone, just to look through your email inbox to find the link to the meeting and log back in hoping you didn’t miss any of those entertaining sales projections!

So if you are one of those road warriors who needs a more interactive way to attend meetings via your mobile device, check out the Cisco WebEx Mobile app …because we all know you wouldn’t dare miss all those presentation slides!

[/sarcasm]

Get To Your Files Locked Up On Your PC with iTap RDP

by BrothaTech

Yeah, we have all heard about cloud computing where you can store all your files “in the cloud” to access them anywhere at anytime. But we all know the ONE TIME you forget to sync up or upload that document to your online storage, is the one time you will need to refer to it while on the go.

Traditionally, before the cloud, folks would use the tried and true Remote Desktop function as a last ditch effort to get to that file located up on your computer. Even still, you needed another computer to access your files stored on a computer at home or in the office. We all know that it is all about smartphones now, so wouldn’t it be nice to Remote into your desktop or laptop and get to that one file using your smartphone?

Enter iTap Mobile RDP available for all Apple iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad mobile devices running iOS 2.1 or later that gives Windows users the ability to remote access their PC and tackle many of the remote functions they are used to when logging into their PC using another computer.

Using the same convenient gestures as iTap touchpad, iTap puts you in full control over your desktop. Whether you need to scroll, drag and drop, or just right-click, you can perform all your tasks without having extra buttons or bars cluttering up you screen.

The built-in keyboard features all the keys and modifiers found on a traditional PC keyboard. Additionally it has full support for international languages, including eastern asian input methods.

In other words, with iTap, you know can remotely access your computer via mobile device and without much fuss, browse, navigate, and control your computer using your Apple mobile device. So if you absolutely NEED that document that you forgot to dump into your DropBox folder, you can access the file via iTap, and email it your yourself…or better yet, drop it in your DropBox folder from your computer via iTap for instant access without waiting for an email. Now at 12 bucks, this is pricey for a mobile app, but for accessibility like this, it might be well worth the price tag.

My only issue with the app is that it’s only for Apple mobile devices and only for Windows computers (yes, there are some people who haven’t completely converted). Not sure if iTap has plans for additional mobile devices and Mac Access, But i’m pretty sure there are similar apps that can handle your specific smartphone/computer configuration. Check out Xtralogic Remote Desktop Client for Android phones to name a few.

So if you haven’t quite got a handle on the cloud storage trend, or just need to make sure your can spring that document from its ‘desktop jail’ without too much fuss, you might want to try out iTap RDP