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Software Developer, GTDer, Toastmaster, Mindmapper, Weekend Photographer, Life Hacker and Podcaster!
Posts tagged app

iTap for iPad Review

iTap is a virtual keyboard with mouse app on the iPad that you can use as a replacement for your PC or Mac. When I saw iTap in the App Store, I immediately downloaded it. I wanted to see If I could be more productive with a virtual keyboard and a track pad. I wanted to try it for an entire week, but I was forced to stop using it after a couple of hours…

Installation

First, you need to install additional software whether you are on a PC or Mac. For the sake of this review, I installed it on a Windows XP machine. The installation is easy and I did not have any trouble pairing the iPad with my PC. Below is what the app looks like on the iPad.

Feeling

Some people complaint about virtual keyboards. I must say that I’m very proficient at using it, so my typing speed was not affected as long that I had to type text. Also, I don’t like using a mouse, so the big track pad is really easy to use and can replace an expensive Wacom track pad. Well, the good ends up here. Now let’s have a look at the issues I had. But first, here is how it looks in a real work environment:

Issues

  • I’m a software developer and using Control, Alt and other keys, is a must­. There is not way to do that using iTap.
  • You cannot drag a window by dragging in the title area.
  • The app was not responsive when we had heavy network traffic.
  • Scrolling in the Windows Explorer stops working at time for no obvious reason.
  • The delete on Windows does not work.
  • There is no speed setting adjustment for the track pad.
  • The receiver app on windows does not run as a service. That means that If you reboot, you have to logon using the physical keyboard.
  • There is no wrist protection option for the track pad.
  • Only the mouse works with VMWare, the keyboard is not working.

My Conclusion…

In the end, except for looking cool this app is not a real replacement for a physical keyboard and/or mouse and is still buggy.

My Productivity Apps on the iPad This is a quick post to outline some applications that I use on my iPad and that I think every productivity enthusiast should have on its iPad. GoToMeeting Yup! It’s on the iPad. Penultimate Take notes using you fingers. I use it to draw sketches then send the notes in my Evernote. Wikipanion Quick shortcut to Wikipedia. Dropbox Particularly useful on the iPad. A lot of apps can store directly to it including GoodReader and iThoughtHD. GoodReader Reads PDF, Docs, HTML, even audio files. Reeder A must have if you are using Google Reader. It integrates with a lot a online services such as Read It Later. Read It Later This is where I keep the blog entries I want to read. I batch them and read them on the week-end. I really enjoy the text view. iTalk This is an iPhone app, but I take a lot of audio memos. Never failed. Pomodoro Another iPhone app. I use the pomodoro everyday. The iPad helps me preserve my iPhone battery life. Kindle Sorry, I did not drink the iBooks kool-aid. I already have a Kindle and I’m loving the Amazon platform. By the way, the kindle still outperforms the iPad for reading. But this is nice to have when I don’t have my kindle near me. iThoughtHD Mind mapping on the iPad. Very useful. Can export to a variety of formats, including OPML. Chronicle This is a simple and neat journaling application. Echofon Best iPad twitter client in my opinion. Things The sexiest task management application. I use Things for Mac and Things for iPhone, so the iPad version is only a natural “Thing” for me. Evernote Cross-platform note manager. I use it as my reference system.

My Productivity Apps on the iPad

This is a quick post to outline some applications that I use on my iPad and that I think every productivity enthusiast should have on its iPad.

GoToMeeting

Yup! It’s on the iPad.

Penultimate

Take notes using you fingers. I use it to draw sketches then send the notes in my Evernote.

Wikipanion

Quick shortcut to Wikipedia.

Dropbox

Particularly useful on the iPad. A lot of apps can store directly to it including GoodReader and iThoughtHD.

GoodReader

Reads PDF, Docs, HTML, even audio files.

Reeder

A must have if you are using Google Reader. It integrates with a lot a online services such as Read It Later.

Read It Later

This is where I keep the blog entries I want to read. I batch them and read them on the week-end. I really enjoy the text view.

iTalk

This is an iPhone app, but I take a lot of audio memos. Never failed.

Pomodoro

Another iPhone app. I use the pomodoro everyday. The iPad helps me preserve my iPhone battery life.

Kindle

Sorry, I did not drink the iBooks kool-aid. I already have a Kindle and I’m loving the Amazon platform. By the way, the kindle still outperforms the iPad for reading. But this is nice to have when I don’t have my kindle near me.

iThoughtHD

Mind mapping on the iPad. Very useful. Can export to a variety of formats, including OPML.

Chronicle

This is a simple and neat journaling application.

Echofon

Best iPad twitter client in my opinion.

Things

The sexiest task management application. I use Things for Mac and Things for iPhone, so the iPad version is only a natural “Thing” for me.

Evernote

Cross-platform note manager. I use it as my reference system.

iPhone Pomodoro App Extravaganza!

The pomodoro technique is a time/focus management technique that helps you concentrate on a particular task for 25 minutes with a kitchen timer. However, there are situations where using a kitchen timer is inappropriate, such as in an open office.

Many iPhone applications can be used as pomodoro timer substitutes. I searched for pomodoro in the app store and downloaded every applications. This post looks further at the experience I had with each of them. I have placed a next to my favorite app.

Built-in iPhone Timer (free)


If you don’t want to bother installing a pomodoro app, you can always use the built-in timer on the iPhone.

  • Pros
    • Customizable ring sound
    • Timer goes on even if the app is closed
  • Cons
    • No tick sound

iPomodoro by Surya Gaddipati (free)


This app is as is simple as it can get. There is start/abort button, the hand of the timer updates in real time and it has basic statistics capabilities.

  • Pros
    • Customizable break length
  • Cons
    • Does not work with when screen is locked
    • No tick sound when the phone is in vibration mode

Pomodoro by Jani Brezavscek (free)


This app has the most minimalist interface of all, but it gets the job done nonetheless. The added value over the built-in timer is a simple count that resets every 4 pomodoros.

  • Pros
    • Shake your iPhone to start a pomodoro
  • Cons
    • No tick sound
    • Unpolished
    • Not customizable

Timer by Francis Bonnin ($0.99)


This is a timer replacement for the built-in iPhone timer. It has precision to seconds instead of minutes.

  • Pros
    • Precision to seconds
    • Can be used for other purposes than pomodoros
    • Customizable tick and ring sound
    • Landscape support
    • Best value of all
  • Cons
    • Not free

Pomodoro Time Management by rapidrabbit ($0.99)


This app is very well polished, has a built-in task management system and has pomodoro break support. They also have a lite version which is free.

  • Pros
    • Very well designed & highly polished interface and easy to use.
    • Tick and ring sound can be turned on/off
    • Timer for breaks
  • Cons
    • Not free
    • No support for online task management systems such as remember the milk.

    Pomodoro Timer by Navel Labs ($0.99)


    This app has a very well polished finish. You have to manually rewind the timer to perform a pomodoro.

    • Pros
      • Customizable volume for both tick and ring
      • Customizable time (not stuck to 25 min)
      • Highly polished
      • Tick sound when the screen is locked
    • Cons
      • Sometimes the tick sound is not there when rewinding. (You have to restart the app).
      • No timer for breaks
      • Not free

Happy pomodorying on your iPhone!