03.Productivity
Remember the Milk
Price: Free or $25/year pro version
Platform: iPhone, iPod Touch, Pad, Android
There’s no shortage of reminder and to-do apps on smartphones and tablets, but the Australian-developed app Remember The Milk (RTM) is not only one of the best, it’s the first to incorporate the iPhone 4S personal assistant, Siri, for adding reminders. RTM also works in with a web account and Gmail, Outlook, Twitter, Google Calendar and ties in with BlackBerry’s inbuilt Tasks program. CC issue Jan/Feb 2012.
Join.me
Price: Free.
Platform: iPhone, iPad, Android
If a picture's worth a thousand words, then the ability to quickly view anybody's computer screen remotely via your iPad must be worth a million. The join.me Viewer app lets you view somebody's screen, whether Mac or Windows, and collaborate from just about anywhere in real time over Wi-Fi or 3G connection. A desktop user “hosts” a meeting by going to join.me to start the connection and multiple users can join in. It's quick, simple and free. An optional Pro account provides extra services. Join.me is made by LogMeIn, makers of the easy-to-use remote viewing and control software for Mac, Windows and iOS devices. CC issue Nov/Dec 2011.
iWork
Price: $10.99
Platform: iPhone (including 3GS), iPod Touch (gen 3 and 4), iPad
Apple’s own productivity suite was a hit on the iPad and now it’s available for iPhone and iPod Touch as well. iWork, comprising Pages (word processing), Numbers (spreadsheets) and Keynote (presentations) are universal apps, so if you’ve already bought them for the iPad, they’re available as a free update for the smaller iOS devices – and surprisingly usable at that size. All three programs have benefitted from the recent iTunes price drop, losing a couple of dollars, and all come with Apple-designed themes and templates. CC issue Sept/Oct 2011.
Awesome Files
Price: $1.19
Platform: iPhone, iPad
Carrying many gigabytes of music, photos and files around with you on your iPhone or iPad is easy, but finding what you want when you need it requires a system. Awesome Files helps organise everything. Create and save files, folders, pictures, web clippings, downloads, notes and almost anything else you gather. You can also zip and unzip file archives and open files into other apps, as well as access and save files to online servers such as Dropbox, MobileMe, Box.net, Google Docs and WebDav servers. Files can also be swapped to and from your computer via USB and via Wi-Fi, with the free Awesome Files Connect for Mac or PC. CC issue July/Aug 2011.
Springpad
Price: $2.49
Platform: iPhone, Android
Springpad aims to be the ultimate organiser. Use it as a central repository for all the different bits of information we tend to collect each day: memos, notes, pictures … almost anything at all. It can help find information on movies, books, products and more, and is great for creating various checklists. You can easily share your information with friends via Facebook and Twitter. And unlike Evernote (evernote.com) which also collects and organises information, Springpad also lets you set reminders for tasks and events – a big plus. All information is synchronised online and also accessible from any computer via a personalised web page. CC issue July/Aug 2011.