GigaOM: Getting Around Apple's AirPrint Restrictions

In this article for GigaOM/TheAppleBlog, I cover AirPrint's limitations and 3rd party solutions to get around them from Eurosmartz and Ecamm.

Book Review: The iPad Project Book

Unlike most other how-to books that cover all the potential features, training and troubleshooting, this book exclusively focuses on getting things done. This book is not for those who want to learn how to use an iPad, rather it's about learning how to do stuff with an iPad. Of course we love our iPads for remote surfing and email, but what else can we do?

The authors go through some introductory subjects such as cloud syncing and security tips then move on to using Dropbox, iTunes and Documents-to-go to manage productivity for the standard office suite. Then they move on to using multiple applications to planning an entire party - including recipes, shopping list and invitations - via the iPad. Finally, they cover creating flash cards, planning vacations, as well as a variety of audio and video tips and tricks. Most helpful is the last series of chapters that explain how to move DVD content to your iPad.

If you've ever said "I have an iPad, now what?" this the book for you. Even though I'm an experienced iPad user, the book had some great ideas and sparked some new ones. Some of the ideas I already knew, but had to learn the hard way. I highly recommend this book for iPad users who wonder what else they can do with their magical and revolutionary devices.

Pros: Outstanding ideas about taking your iPad to the next level
Cons: Absolutely none

5 out of 5 Dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

Book Review: iPad at Work

Forget about playing Angry Birds and watching Netflix, this book is all about business and rightfully so. David Sparks is a legend in the Mac community and his books are always spectacular! If you use your iPad for a business or non-profit, this is a must have.

The organization of the book is extremely focused. Each chapter covers a different aspect of what a user might need to do with their iPad such as writing, contacts, or presentations. Instead of showing you the basics of the iOS apps included in the iPad, David takes a holistic approach suggesting not just a variety of alternative apps but discussing suggested workflows and how to optimize these workflows for your individual business. No stone is left unturned here: billing/invoicing, databases, project management and more business specific concepts.

The chapters start with the coverage of the primary iOS apps as well complimentary or alternative apps. Each app is given a QRcode making for easy downloading on your iPhone. What a thoughtful and smart idea, but that's MacSparky--the online identify of David Sparks. Great screen shots and succinct writing make this a quick and easy read and allows you to skip over the concepts you aren't interested in. Don't skip. Even if you know contact management or word processing, the tips and tricks to optimize usage are well work the short reads.

The appendix of the book includes industry specific suggestions for law, medicine construction and more.

A seriously awesome book by an industry luminary!

Pros: Organization and content focused on business
Cons: Absolutely none

Ten out of Ten Dogcows

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right

GigaOM: Staying With ATT: Its About Relationships

In this post for GigaOM and TheAppleBlog, I cover why someone might want to stay with AT&T over Verizon

Book Review: Take your iPad to Work

Amazon/LAUG reivew: Take your iPad to work

Take your iPad to work is exactly what you’d expect from this book: how to use your iPad in business settings. The book forgoes all but the basic details of setup, troubleshooting and multimedia and focuses strictly on a suite of business apps.

The first half of the book assumes the user has not used an iPad, so issues of setup and configuration are first addressed. After knowing how to setup Mail, Safari and Mobile Me is when this book really takes off.

Instead of most books’ standard giving a cursory “Hey there’s iWork for the iPad”, each iWork application (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) is devoted its own chapter and includes key details in how to best utilize each application in order to get your job done.

Realizing that as of this writing Airprint is limited to a small group of printers, he devotes an entire chapter to printing from your iPad and how to use the often confusing PrintCentral and WePrint.

The last 22 chapters in the book focus on specific iPad business situations and their applicable apps: Remote Desktop (LogMeIn), Point of Sale (Quick Sale), Invoicing (Simple Invoice), Social Media (Facebook via Safari), Shipping (DST), Web Meetings (WebEx, Air Sketch), Blogging (BlogPress), Web Site Stats (Analytics HD), Task Management (Things), Project Management (SG Projects), CRM (Contacts Journal), Collaboration (SharePoint), and Travel (Kayak).

If you don’t have interest in any of the above business uses of the iPad, you might skip the book. However, if you are using the iPad in business, I can’t imagine you not needing one of those apps. I was both impressed and inspired by some of the ideas and pretty much downloaded every app suggested in the book. With so many apps out there it’s hard to know which ones are worth making the investment in learning. This book makes it easy

Overall, an excellent how to manual for making the iPad a critical business tool and the author has direct suggestions on how to maximize your use of the iPad. If you are using your iPad to play Angry Birds and watch Netflix only, this book isn’t for you!

Pros: Covers key business tools and apps
Cons: Could become outdated as new apps develop

Five out of Five

Article was republished by the Lawrence Apple User's Group 2.0 here as well as other groups listed on the right