Category: Small Biz Applications

SoundNote app for iPad: Write, Scribble, and Record Meetings all at Once

by BrothaTech

Sitting in meetings is a pain. Trying to take notes in a meeting is probably worse. Trying to make sense of those notes after the meeting is hands-down unbearable. The SoundNote app for iPad looks to alleviate your stress by combining the ability to write notes, sketch objects and illustrations, and make an audio recording all in one app.

Most mobile note-taking apps only allow you to either type/draw notes or sketch objects/illustrations. SoundNote lets you do both on the same page with it’s powerful drawing tool. If you make a mistake or need add to a sketch, you can tap it twice to edit your strokes. Tap the object just once to select it, and drag it to wherever you want on the page or delete it entirely. You can use iOS finger gestures to scroll and zoom objects. If you still want to add traditional notes, you can use the virtual keyboard to add notes on the same page.

Just in case your shorthand note-taking is not fast enough on your iPad, you can record audio of the meeting so you don’t miss an important detail while you’re trying to draw the perfect arrow. Instead of playing the entire recording back just to locate one detail you missed, tap a word in your notes that and SoundNote jumps to the corresponding place in the recording. If you’re worried about space on your iOS device, a hour of recording takes up only about 25mb. If you’re in a meeting longer than a hour, recording space on your iPad is the LEAST of your problems.

Need to share notes with your co-workers, team members, or clients, you send them out via email directly from your iPad or download the notes to your Mac or PC to backup or for organizational purposes. At $4.99, SoundNote isn’t cheap as far as mobile apps are concerned, but with all the functionality that’s built into this app, at least your notes won’t suffer from your inability to enjoy those bright and early Monday-morning meetings.

Frenzy for Mac Adds Social Network Layer to Dropbox

by BrothaTech

If you’ve been following Small Biz Go Mobile for awhile, then you should know that I am a strong advocate for the Dropbox cloud storage service. I can sync all my business and personal files across all of my devices and sync/share my files with other users whether they use Dropbox or not. Dropbox is pretty popular with the masses as well. Other mobile, web, and computer apps/services are starting to add Dropbox integration as well.

One such service is called Frenzy and it essentially wraps a small social network around users by giving them the ability to have a discussion about the files they share via Dropbox. Now, before I get you all excited and ready to try out Frenzy, you need a Dropbox account (get a free 2GB account here) and Frenzy is currently only available for Mac laptops and desktops…But, I would assume the developer(s) behind Frenzy would more than gladly add a mobile app and Windows support if there is a demand.

If you fit the minimum system requirements, and work with a group who shares Dropbox files, Frenzy may just bridge the gap between your Dropbox files and the gobs of text messages, IM’s, and emails you send about those files. Simply download Frenzy, select which shared Dropbox folders you want to use, and any files or links can be shared by using the control+option+S button sequence on your Mac. The Frenzy window will pop up, insert your file, and offer a window to add text, a description…whatever it you want to say about the file.

All of your files and conversations live in Dropbox and the cloud, so no additional space is used when sharing files between folders. Additionally, Frenzy works offline, so if you do manage fire off a couple of files while off the grid, your files will be sent as soon as your connect to a network.

So instead of sending an email with an attachment for the recipient to open, download, and save to a Dropbox folder; instead of sharing a file, then hopping on your smartphone or switching to IM to send a message about the file; Frenzy can be your one-stop-shop for Dropbox file sharing/communication.

The Frenzy Mac client is currently in beta, so head on over to the developer’s website to download while it’s still monetarily advantageous (read: free).

Vidyo

by Justin Alcon

Videoconferencing technology company Vidyo is enhancing its platform with support for Apple’s new iPad 2, Motorola’s XOOM tablet and Atrix smartphone/netbook. The platform uses the company’s VidyoTechnology SDK, which is open to third parties and enables high-def videoconferencing on mobile devices.

With Vidyo, customers can join videoconferences from multiple locations using personal devices varying from mobile phones to tablets to room systems, using apps built by Vidyo or its partners.  This last part is key; releasing a conferencing API is much more involved than releasing a single product.  By doing this, Vidyo is releasing a platform on which developers can customize to the video conferencing needs of individual businesses in a cost-effective way.

Vidyo CEO Ofer Shapiro was quoted as saying that the faster CPU of the iPad 2 and its two cameras make it a platform that “begs for HD multipoint video communication and collaboration”.  The company claims it was able to use its own SDK to make the iPad 2 into an HD videoconference device within hours of the tablet’s release. Of course, HD only applies to the video that you see on your iPad, but thats a limitation of the iPad’s front facing camera, not a limitation of the conferencing platform.

The Vidyo platform previously supported the first-gen iPad, iPhone 4, iPod, Samsung Galaxy Tab and Galaxy S smartphone, Google’s Nexus S and multiple other Android devices.  So, adding these new heavy hitters to the lineup was a logical next step.

Ubiquitous mobile HD video conferencing for your business is just around the corner.  Futuristic, isn’t it?

GetContact.Info: Add Analytics To Business Cards with QR Code

by BrothaTech

Adding a QR Code to your business card that allows people to scan the code with their smartphone camera and a QR Code reader app is genius. The ability to track actual scans and manage multiple QR Code contacts is on a another level entirely.

This free service from GetContact.Info allows users to create an online profile using their contact information. That profile is then embedded onto a QR Code that you can either download and add to a business card design, or use the free business card template, complete with your contact info and code, to create your own business card. You’re just not limited to business cards either. You can add the code to stickers, t-shirts…anything.

Embedded in your code from GetContact.Info are analytics that display data on when and where your card/code was scanned, in addition to receiving email notifications when your cards are scanned.

When a user scans your code, they are taken to mobile-friendly site where they have the option to add their contact info to your account, or download your vcard directly into their phone’s address book. Note: iPhone users don’t quite have this ability yet, but you can opt to send the vcard via email, then add the vcard from the message once it’s received.

Since GetContact.Info is a free web application, any gadget with a web browser can create and edit contact profiles, while any mobile device with a QR Code Reader app can get your contact info by just scanning your code.

People are still mentally trained to ask for a business card, but with your info embedded onto a QR code, they can get your contact info right into their phone just by scanning your code, instead of the normal “throw your business card in the junk drawer of their office along with the other poor [business card] souls.”

Screen Bleeding, Does it Matter?

by Justin Alcon

It’s no surprise that there is a lot of hype around Apple’s iPad 2.  I’ve been reading lots of great reviews about everything from the upgraded processor to the innovative new cover.  Of course, any time something popular is released there are those who find something negative to say, and the iPad 2 is not immune to this phenomenon.  Roughly 12 hours after it was released, reports started to pop up over on DZONE and Mac Rumors that the iPad 2 has ‘massive screen bleeding’ problems.  If you’re anything like me, you’re probably sitting there trying to figure our what “screen bleeding” is (likely with some pretty horrific images in your head).  Let me clear this up:

“Screen bleeding” can occur when the entire surface of an LCD is backlit by a light source (CCFL light).  The LCD should block out light not currently being used to display non-black colors. Backlight “bleeding” occurs when this light is not 100% blocked, allowing some light to “bleed” through the LCD.  This “bleeding” causes spots of lighter areas on dark or black backgrounds.  On modern televisions this is sometimes referred to as ‘washed out black’. Unfortunately, almost all LCDs suffer at least a small amount of backlight bleed, though arguably it only causes problems if it can be easily detected by the human eye.

So with that said, lets go to the videotape.  One person (whose post I found through the DZONE link above) had to take pictures in the dark to show the problem.  Below, we can see that someone caught a pretty good example of this “bleeding” in full light.  As the saying goes, “who are you going to believe – me, or your own eyes?”  In my opinion this photo evidence of the “bleeding” problem shows that this isn’t really the big deal that some would make it out to be.

So: do you think that this is a major misstep by the folks in Cupertino?  Or are fanboys just screaming ‘bloody’ murder?

LinkedIn Today

by Justin Alcon

It’s always exciting to see launches of big new products from well-known and trusted companies. Yesterday LinkedIn did just that  with their announcement of LinkedIn Today.  LinkedIn Today is their shiny new social news offering for business folks. This product is not positioned to compete with Twitter, Facebook, or Flipboard; instead, LinkedIn sees it as the “Wall Street Journal of social news”.

It sounds like a great idea, but how is the execution? In short, not bad. The top stories we see on the site right now are topical and fresh.  Many of these topics are covered in other places, but this product delivers real value when you drill down into industry-specific news.

Here’s a quick walkthrough: First, fire up your LinkedIn app (available on iOS and Android). Once you are logged in, tap the “News” icon (if using a browser, just go directly to LinkedIn Today). When you first use this feature, it prompts you to choose industries to follow. However, if you do not choose any you’ll see a customized feed based on the industries in which you and your connections work. For example, I see articles about the Internet, Computer Software, Online Media, and Design. You can add industries to follow, like Venture Capital, or you can follow specific news sources.

The articles are organized based on how many times each story has been shared by your network either on LinkedIn or Twitter, giving you an idea of what’s important to your social network today. One nice (and necessary, and fairly standard in these times) feature is that you can share or save stories directly from LinkedIn Today. If LinkedIn made this into an iPad specific app, rather than this current one designed for iPhone, it would likely be the best news consumption app on the market. Flipboard for fun, LinkedIn for business.

BlackBerry Protect App Secures Mobile Information

by BrothaTech

RIM has released its own official mobile device protection app (currently in beta) that can backup and restore data if your BlackBerry is damaged or you switch devices. In addition, the app can completely wipe of your data if your BlackBerry falls into the wrong hands.

Small business owners may not have concrete IT policies in place for their device(s). So it’s not uncommon that users secure their mobile data with a simple device password. Backing up and restoring user data may consist of hooking the device up to a computer on an irregular basis. With the BlackBerry Protect app, BlackBerry users can actually create sound mobile security practices to ensure their data is there when they need it and out of reach for others.

Some of the features of BlackBerry Protect include:

  • Wireless Backup and Restore of contacts, calendar, memos, tasks, browser bookmarks, and text messages based on a multitude of scheduling options.
  • Incremental backups: Backup only what has changed since last backup
  • GPS capabilities so you can locate your device on a map
  • Find your device via a Loud Alert function
  • Wipe all contents of your device online

BlackBerry Protect is a free download from BlackBerry App World. Note: BlackBerry Protect does not work in conjuction with BlackBerry Enterprise Server. So check with your organization’s IT department if you’re using a company-issued device.

And remember to always backup ALL of your data!

Samsung Galaxy Improved by iPad 2 Announcement

by Justin Alcon

Like it or love it- you have to be fairly impressed with Apple’s iPad 2 announcement. Faster processor, lighter weight, thinner profile, front and rear cameras, same low price.  The announcement has led Samsung, purveyor of the Android 3.0 tablet Galaxy Tab 10.1, to re-examine at its own hardware model and, according to executive VP Lee Don-Joo, “improve the parts that are inadequate.” I don’t know what those inadequacies are, however he does note that “Apple made [the iPad 2] very thin”. He goes on to say that Samsung will change its pricing strategy with the Tab 10.1. It was originally going to cost more than the 7-inch version of the Galaxy Tab, but in light of Apple’s new product, Samsung will have to cut prices and improve quality to keep a market share.

UPDATE: The fine folks over at BGR report that the Galaxy 10.1 will be shipped as planned, with no impact from the iPad 2 announcement: “Samsung denied the report this past Saturday, saying it plans to release its second Galaxy-branded Android tablet on schedule.”

PaperLinks for Business: Digital Brand Interaction via QR Code

by BrothaTech

We have talked about QR Codes here on Small Biz before. The consensus was that the technology hasn’t gained complete support in the U.S…yet.

That isn’t stopping compaines like Paperlinks from being innovators in the QR Code industry. Last October, the company launched capabilities that enable users to create QR codes on just about anything and offered mini mobile sites to host the information behind the QR Code. Now Paperlinks is reaching out to its potential business clientele looking to give their customers a more interactive and digital brand experience.

Businesses can create their own Paperlinks in minutes by signing up and creating a profile on the Paperlinks website. The “Paperlinks” serve as mobile landing pages for users who scan the QR code to get more information about the product or service. Businesses can customize the Paperlinks by choosing from a number of easy-to-deploy interactive modules. Each module can be updated at any time, with changes reflected in real-time. The drag-and-drop interface makes setting up a Paperlink a snap.

Modules include: Company information; photos, videos, and other media; to promotional offers, downloads, and Social networking feeds. Businesses who use Paperlinks also have access to an account dashboard provides mobile analytics on who, where and when your Paperlink has been scanned. If those features are not enough, Paperlinks has its own free QR Code reader app for most mobile platforms that users can quickly download and get started scanning your businesses Paperlinks.

Business pricing starts at $24.99 and includes a host of features that will get your business slapping QR Codes on just about anything you can get your hands on.

Dell: Windows 7 Tablets This Year

by Justin Alcon

Earlier this month, Dell announced plans to introduce a 10-inch, Windows 7 tablet later this year.  Few details were provided about the device; however, the product will be targeted towards the businesses market.
From Dell: “The upcoming tablet is designed for end-users who need greater mobility, as well as IT organizations that demand control, security, manageability and integration with existing infrastructure investments”. Dell’s tablet will empower a more mobile workforce in a way that offers customers the business applications and corporate data they need, while meeting regulatory mandates and IT requirements”.
To me, it seems kind of forced for a tablet device to run a full OS, especially Windows.  Since there were few details or specs announced, I remain dubious that this device was thoughtfully designed. Hopefully,  Dell will prove me wrong with some impressive products specs and releases in the near future.  Read more about this over at CruchGear.