A Great iPad Planner App
Opus Domini looks to be that rare thing in iOS apps - a beautiful looking app which delivers a highly functional solution whilst maintaining minimalist simplicity. And, for now at least, it's totally FREE!
So what is Opus Domini? It is a virtual replacement for a paper (Filofax / Franklin Covey style) daily and weekly planner, with to do lists. It integrates with the data from your iOS calendar to show any local or sync'd online calendar appointments you might have.
I'll have to say it looks like one of the apps I have been looking out for, since I used to be a real Franklin Covey planner devotee.
Anyway, check out the images below, and try out the app for yourself while it's free!
Hello Notes Plus 3.0, Goodbye Samsung Slate?
Hello Notes Plus 3.0, Goodbye Samsung Slate?
Ok, this may be a little premature, but I am
seriously considering ditching my Samsung Series
7
Slate & going back to the iPod. And here's my rationale:
Original reason for dissatisfaction with iPod:
-Inking / stylus experience was poor (using Tagus
stylus)
-Handwriting recognition post-writing was substandard (Phat pad).
-Unavailability of OneNote (with true thing on the
Dad...
As a result, I was dissatisfied with i Pad as a
handwriting solution, and picked up the first decent
Windows Slate on the market. The Slate had the following advantages and disadvantages:
° Full One Note available on Windows
. True digitiser 1 pen experience with fine
level of control.
• Excellent handwriting to text conversion, during
and after time of actual handwriting input.
Disadvantages
° fess intuitive tablet experience
° Larger, heavier device
° Not fully solid-state (fan, heat, noise).
So, the Slate addressed the issues I found with
the Dad, but also introduced some new frustrations.
Once I started facing issues with the Slate, I decided to
borow back my iPod (which my eldest daughter had
happily adopted for awhile. I also decided to try
a different stylus, as I had begun to suspect that
at least some of my issues were related to the stylus
itself.
The first thing I noticed, was that the new (Geho
brand) combo pen-stylus was much more effective
on the i Pad Much less pressure required, and much
fewer strokes missed, While still less accurate than
an active digitiser + pen, this does make the i Pad
much more useable,
The real (& unexpected) improvement though,
came in the form of a major version upgrade to my
favourite note-taking app, Notes Plus. Most
importantly, Notes Plus has now added (via
an in-app purchase) a VERY effective handwriting
to text conversion. What amazed me is just how
effective and accurate it is-even with my cursive
scrawl. Compare with the un-edited conversion
below here to judge for yourself.
The final improvement which has occurred since my
last attempt with the Dad, is that there is now a
Microsoft OneNote app for the iPod. While I wish it
did real inking, I think a combination of Notes Plus
for authoring, and OneNote for filing, could be
very effective-Time will tell-Ill let you know.
Samsung Win 7 Slate + OneNote
Just thought I'd let the Blogosphere, Twitterverse and Facebook-whatever know that my new Samsung Series 7 Slate Video is currently uploading. (I'll post the link when it's available - > link is now available here: http://youtu.be/IhprcxfGAso)
One complaint to @Samsung - "iPad" has 2 syllables in one word, and everyone knows what it is and who makes it. Even the GalaxyTab manages 4 syllables, and good brand recognition. "Samsung Series 7 Slate" - seven (hard to say) syllables, and almost no one recognizes the product... Hard work needed Samsung to refine the image, the message (and perhaps the product name?).
Thanks to some constructive feedback both online and at home, this new video is shorter, with greater focus on the device and the software (OneNote).
I hope you like it, and keep the feedback / requests coming. David.
Kindle vs iPad as a Book Reader
A friend asked my this morning if I'd recommend a Kindle to someone who owns an iPad, but who doesn't enjoy reading books on the iPad.
I have the luxury of owning both devices, and I can say that, while the iPad is an amazing multi-functional piece of technology, the Kindle is MUCH better as a book reader (once u get used to the fact it's not touch screen!).
There's less distraction (no temptation for a quick game of Angry Birds), and the screen is much more 'paper like' in terms of contrast. Get the case with the built in reading light - the screen itself is not back-lit, which also makes it more like a book, and it's easier on your eyes (and it actually works great in full sunlight). Apparently back-lit LCD screens are more likely to affect your sleep too - the Kindle doesn't have that problem... So have I sold it to you yet?
iPad Development – Found: one mentor!
Apart from wanting it to be the perfect, all day, go anywhere computing device, there was of course another reason for my iPad purchase -> so that I could develop Apps for it (and retire to the Sunshine Coast hinterland, where I will spend the rest of my days writing Apps, Blogs, books etc etc etc...)
So far I've read a few books, learned a few skills, wrote a Hello World app or two and... barely made a start on a real app.
I'm hoping that's all about to change. How (I hear you ask)? I have a mentor, and we will meet up for the first time next week. My mentor has released 3 apps already, with one doing very well for him.
I'm hoping he can help me with development of technical skills, my concept/design, and deployment/marketing (as well as keeping me accountable to make some progress).
I'm really looking forward to it... Will report back here on progress 
Breakfast of [iPad Dev] Champions.
The end of the iPad Paperless Experiment / Blog Reintegration
I think the Paperless experiment has run its course for now, both here on the blog and in 'real life'. I have been taking a balanced approach to technology and paper at work lately, and am still making good use of my iPad in the workplace.
But you know what I, regretably, have come to conclude (get ready with your surprised looks) - the iPad is NOT (yet) ready to replace my laptop, even with remote access to my PC (gasp). It does not do a great job of replacing paper, in the same way that OneNote does on a tablet PC... (It does an adequate job, with the right apps - I still think Notes Plus rocks!)... but over all, as a work device, I'm left underwhelmed...
OK, you can stop looking shocked now...
All of that is not to say that the iPad 2 is not an awesome device. It is in key strength areas. As a media consumption device, games platform, occasional note taking device, email checking device, it's fantastic. And 8-10 hours battery life? 1-2 work days on one charge? No comparable Windows device can yet compete with that whole package (and I say that with great regret).
Anyhow, it's been a great experience, and a generally successful one... I should be content, but I have a history of sucking at that! So, planning and plotting has begun as to where to go next on this brave new digital frontier... can I wait for Windows 8 devices to surface? Will I succumb to the lure of the ASUS eee 121 Windows Slate PC? Only time will tell.
Learning XCode iPad Development
I have a confession to make - I bought a copy of iPad Application Development for Dummies. I've worked through the first worked example, and honestly, it was a pretty good intro. The resulting App itself is not something anyone would buy (or even download for free, although, who knows...) from the App store, but it was a good intro to the basics.
Before getting into the larger worked example in the second half of the book, however, I have gotten a little distracted by ambitions of wanting to make the whole thing more Agile... so off I went looking for information on Unit Testing, Test Driven Development, and Automated Documentation Generation.
Turns out Unit Testing is built into XCode. I have found a few articles to help me with configuring my first unit test... so far so good. I also found one article on Test Driven Development, but I haven't gotten to try that one yet.
As far as automated documentation generation goes, Doxygen turns out to provide pretty much everything I could wish for on that front, and seems to do a very nice job of it. There are various output options for the documentation. I'm using HTML for now - as a newbie to Objective-C and XCode, this automated documentation generation is proving quite useful in finding my way around.
Anyway, I shall continue being a Dummy for now, and will work through the rest of the book. Beyond that, I have my eye on a book by Deitel & Deitel (& Deitel) - iPhone for Programmers - An App Driven Approach). I remember enjoying their book on Java during my time at University, so I expect I would enjoy this book also, and they have a good approach to learning, which certainly goes beyond the Dummies paradigm.
It’s Been Awhile…
It's been awhile since I posted an honest-to-goodness Blog post here. Sorry about that. I toyed with having my Twitter updates post as Blog entries... well, there's obviously a reason why Tweets are Tweets and Blogs are Blogs... so, that feature has now been mercifully laid to rest.
I just thought it was updating on two recent discoveries / developments:
TinaIsOverIt - Icarus' burned wings...
I came across a new Blog by a colleague of mine - TinaIsOverIt. Tina's reflections mirror a lot of my own thinking on work-life-balance, purpose and productivity, which is all the more pertinent as Tina represents Gen Y, while I myself sit happily (and tiredly) in the Gen X bracket.
Like Icarus, there is a huge temptation to put life (people, family, enjoyment and fulfilment) on hold to soar early to giddy heights in our careers and finances, only to find our wings have melted in the sun, as we plummet to disaster. It is a common temptation to us all, and one to be overcome on the path to establishing a truly meaningful and purposeful life. I continue myself to strive for the 40 hour work week (the "4 hour work week" sounds great, but not within my grasp just yet I think), to let weekends be weekends, and to be willing to pay the price if my commitment is seen to be below that of others. I think in the end, I'll be able to look back and say that I committed myself to the right things, in the right balance... I like to see my kids and wife each evening, and I count it a blessing that I am usually able to do so.
Anyway - Tina writes honestly and well, and I think you'll find some encouragement there if you are also struggling with some of these issues.
MacBook and iPad Programming
The second item on my list, and in keeping with my balance between personal productivity and Techie-Geek interests, is a note that I have recently purchased my first ever MacBook (which I am currently using to write this article). So why have I gone down this path? Well, as a means to an end really - I want to get into programming iPad apps, and there is really only one platform on which you can effectively do this, and that is (of course) the Mac OsX platform. So far I have just been rote-learning, following through a book on the topic. I hope soon, however, tho begin construction on one or more of the first apps of my own. I'll hopefully provide updates here on how that is going on a bit more regular basis. Oh - I don't currently actually own an iPad, that's another interim goal I'll have to achieve somewhere in the not too distant future...
Apple's new iPad
OfficePod - New Meaning to "Work from Home"
Oh yes, in case I haven't already mentioned this here, I have come across a product which I think would look great in my back yard, especially with my Mac, and a Nespresso coffee machine in it.... the OfficePod. I can see this marvellous structure reducing my daily commute to about 30 seconds... I just need to sell the first 100,000 or so iPad apps, and that should then be workable
OfficePod - an office in the garden?
MobileNoter – OneNote on iPad
The good folk over at MobileNoter have responded to a query of mine to advise me that inking is on it's way to a version of MobileNoter in the near future.
MobileNoter is the iPhone (and now iPad) app which allows you to sync (via WiFi or cloud) and view OneNote Notebooks on your iPhone/iPad. Up until now you have also been able to create a Quicknote on your Apple device for syncing back to your PC, but no inking.
Handwriting has been available in various forms through other apps, mostly with ability to export as an image, which can then be stored in OneNote.
True inking in MobileNoter would bring the product much closer to the level of functionality available in the desktop product. It'll fill the niche nicely until Microsoft come to the party. Roll on MobileNoter v2.0!
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