Advance Technology

Top 12 Android Apps That'll Increase Your Productivity

noreply@blogger.com (phil) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:24:00 +0000

So, as promised in my previous article on iPhone apps that make you more productive, here I am with a similar list for Android users.

There are no two opinions on the fact that if there's any other mobile operating system that can surpass the mighty iOS, it is Android. It has surely come a long way since it was first introduced 2 years ago. With major mobile handset manufacturers like HTC and Samsung backing it, one can now choose from a variety of Android phones that are available.

Android's app market, like the iTunes App Store, is huge. Hence checking out this list before hunting for productivity apps there would make sense in my opinion. Rest, I am sure there are good apps that I might have missed. And that's exactly why we have the comments section. Make sure you list your favorite apps there after you are done checking these out.

Slide Screen
Slide Screen is the perfect replacement for your dull Android home screen. It displays information like SMS, Google Reader, Gmail, phone calls, calendar and much more on the home screen, all in a neat and easy to navigate interface. Saves time for sure.

Dolphin Browser HD
Android's default browser is ok but not great. Hence you should try out Dolphin Browser HD that has advanced features and enhances your phone browsing productivity. Check out these awesome Dolphin browser tips to know more about the tool.

Springpad
Springpad can help you quickly save and organize products, places and notes. Even things like movies and recipes can be organized in neat lists and referred to later when needed.

Evernote
Evernote, the formidable online note taking solution, is available for Android too. Like its iOS counterpart, it is free, integrates seamlessly with your online Evernote account, and is hassle-free to operate.

Jorte
Jorte is pretty nifty personal organization app for Android devices. It is calendar based and has custom styles to suit every user. The intention is to give the feel of a paper organizer, and make it easy to use.

Dropbox
The popular online backup and sync tool has an Android app that lets you quickly access your My Dropbox folder from your Android phone. Photos and videos can be directly saved to it so that you don't lose them if you lose the phone.

Time Recording
Time Recording isn't an app that every Android user would know about. It lets you efficiently manage your timesheet, and I feel that each of us, whether or not we go to an office every day, can make use of this tool. Try it out.

PageOnce Travel
PageOnce travel is a travel itinerary manager for Android. It can check details like weather, flight information, reservations, car rentals, routes and much more, all in real-time. The interface is nicely designed too.

Advanced Task Killer
Just like it happens in a computer, a lot of tasks or programs running in the background can make your phone sluggish.Advanced Task Killer can quickly kill applications and tasks that shouldn't be running at the first place. The app is extremely popular, and chances are that you use it already. If you haven't yet, you may give it a shot now.

Expensify
Need your Android phone to record and generate quick expense reports? Expensify can do that for you. Cash transactions can be entered manually, and you can use the phone's camera to take snaps of the receipts which could then be uploaded to this app.

Lastpass
Lastpass is probably the best password management solution out there. It's Android app is a good one but available only for the premium customers of the service. Good news is that its premium subscription costs only $1 per month. Worth it if you ask me.

EStrongs File Explorer
EStrongs file explorer app provides Android users a better interface to browse files and manage apps. It also supports operations like copy/cut, multiselect etc, and works with Bluetooth. This page lists all its features.

6 Things to Check Before Upgrading To Windows 7

noreply@blogger.com (phil) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:22:00 +0000

In my previous article, I talked about thereasons for making the switch to Windows 7. Hoping that those reasons convinced you to upgrade, I am back with an article that talks about six things you should check before you start the process of upgrading to Windows 7.

While upgrading might sound intimidating to someone who's not computer savvy, it isn't that difficult if one knows beforehand what he needs and how he should proceed. This post aims to address that.

Here's the list. Check it out.

Which edition to go for?
So you've decided to get Windows 7. Should you go for the Windows 7 premium or the Ultimate version? Do all of them have the XP mode, a feature that'd allow you to run Windows XP in virtual mode? How do you choose which is the best version for you?

To answer the above questions, Microsoft has prepared a comparison chart that compares all the Windows 7 versions. It'll help you decide the right version for you.

Use Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
Is your computer ready for an upgrade? Are all the parts compatible with Windows 7? What about the software and tools? Do all of them run on the new OS?

To find out if your computer can run Windows 7, you can download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor provided by Microsoft and scan your PC with the tool.

32 bit or 64 bit?
You've heard these terms called 32 bit and 64 bit, been intrigued by them and want to know what are they all about and if you should get a brand new 64 bit Windows 7 PC. This article on 32 bit and 64 bit Windows explains the details and tells you how to choose between them.

Clean install or upgrade install?
So how should you go about the upgrading process? Should you do an upgrade install, which means upgrading on top of the present operating system, or do a clean install from scratch? Check out this article that talks about the various aspects related to installing and reinstalling Windows 7.

Check compatibility of individual applications
Want to know if a particular software or application would work on Windows 7? Run a check for that online in theWindows 7 compatibility center and find out if it is compatible with Windows 7.

Test Windows 7 Online
Finally, if you want to get a hands on experience of Windows 7 and its various features then check this article that shows you a way to test drive Windows 7 online.

Cheers,

10 Useful (and Innovative) Windows 7 Productivity Tips

noreply@blogger.com (phil) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:19:00 +0000

I've already talked about why you shouldswitch to Windows 7 if you haven't yet(Mac users, spare me the sarcasm). Windows 7 is without a doubt the best Windows version yet, and hence the sooner you get started with it, the better.

Now, for those who are reading this post on a browser that's installed on a Windows 7 machine, I'd like to share some neat tips and tricks that could skyrocket your productivity while working on your PC.

Yes, I have already written about how you can work productively on your Windows computer, but these tips are different and cater specifically to Windows 7 users. So, if you own a Windows 7 PC or someone in the family who has one, these techniques are for you. Check them out.

Windows 7 Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can significantly enhance your productivity. Even if you love using the mouse and can't even dream of dumping it altogether for that bland keyboard, there's no harm in getting yourself acquainted with some shortcuts to speed up certain daily tasks. Here's a list of some relatively unknown, and really cool Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts.

Customize Jumplists
I love the jumplists feature in Windows 7. It allows me to quickly open the folders and windows I use frequently. Here's a guide to further customize jumplists to boost your productivity.

Use Reliability Monitor To Fix Issues
The Reliability Monitor in Windows 7 helps you analyze and troubleshoot problems that are preventing you from getting the most out of your machine. Learn how to use this tool to fix errors and other issues in Windows 7.

Use Ninite to Install Multiple Software
Ninite as such has nothing to do with Windows 7, and it works in other versions of Windows too. But I just couldn't withhold myself from mentioning it in this list. Why? Because it's awesome! You can install a huge number of popular software at one go with this tool. Super useful.

Disable Aero Snap or Aero Shake
Both Aero Snap and Aero Shake are nice features introduced in Windows 7 to help you quickly alter the placement of program windows on your screen. While the intention is to make people more productive, some of you might find them irritating. In that case, disabling aero snap and aero shake is the best option.

Customize Notification Area
Windows 7 brought along an overhauled notification area (or the system tray) to help people better manage those tiny icons. If you want to enable or hide certain icons there, check out this customizing Windows 7 notification area article to get yourself acquainted with the steps.

Using Checkboxes
This is a simple, yet innovative new feature in Windows 7 that can go a long way in enhancing your daily productivity. You can enable checkboxes for files and folders in Windows 7 so that selecting them in bulk becomes easier and quicker.

Pin Any App or Folder to the Taskbar
The new taskbar was the first thing that attracted people towards Windows 7. It was a big improvement, and the ability to pin programs to it came as a godsend for many. But do you know that you could pin just about any app or folder to it? This tutorial will teach you how to get that done.

Multiple Monitors
Windows 7 also proved to be a better option for people using multiple monitors. Check out this guide to make the most of your multiple monitors in Windows 7.

Taskbar
Yes, I already told you how good the Windows 7 taskbar is but forgot to mention that there are a ton of things you could do with it apart from pinning any app or folder. This Lifehacker guide demonstrates some of those tips and tricks.

Hope the above tricks help the Windows 7 users among you to speed up everyday computing tasks.