The iPhonaddict Reviews the MyVu Crystal Video Glasses and the Richard Solo Extended Battery for iPhone
The iPhonaddict Reviews the MyVu Crystal Video Glasses
I recently made a impulse purchase of the MyVu Crystal Video Glasses. I figured before I go on ebay and sell them, I would do a quick video review. So hit the link below to see how geeky cool these glasses really are and then hear why they are not for me.
MyVu Crystal Video Glasses
The Iphonaddict Reviews the Richard Solo Extended Battery for iPhone 3G
Prior to the 2.2 update that Apple graced us with on the 21st, I couldn’t get a full day out of my iPhone 3G without connecting to a power source. This battery pack solved that problem. Hit the link below to see a quick video review of the solution in action.
Richard Solo Extended Battery for iPhone 3G
The iPhonaddict gives the MyVu Crystal Video Glasses 3 out of 5 stars.
The iPhonaddict gives the Richard Solo Extended Battery 4 out of 5 stars.
A Day In the Life of My iPhone Part 3: Takin’ Care of Business
Part III: Takin’ Care of Business
Apps Used: Mail, Speakeasy, Evernote, Omnifocus, Calendar
The iPhone is quickly become a serious tool for me in handling my day to day business. iPhone application developers are really knocking it out of the park with some of the applications being submitted. I would like to share with you some of my daily workday routine which involves the use of the default calendar and mail apps and then give mini-reviews for a few apps I find irreplaceable.
I usually start my day by processing emails. I use the inbox zero concept to go through and empty my inbox. Every email in my inbox gets moved to 1 of 6 folders: now, later, process, review, archive and trash. The “now” folder is for emails that need to be looked at ASAP. The “later” folder is for mail that is not time sensitive and can be read at a time of my convenience. The “process” folder is for those emails that may have attachments that need to be filed and saved to my hard drive. The “review” folder is for emails that have information that requires my review before moving forward. The “archive” folder is for those emails you just want to keep a record of. Finally “trash” is self-explanatory.
After processing emails, I check for voice notes. I use a voice recording application as an audio to do list throughout my work day. There are times when it is not practical for me to make calendar entries. There are times when I am driving and need to compose an email but for obvious reasons, can’t. This is where speakeasy comes into play. It’s easy to use interface and the instant record upon app load option make it a favorite productivity tool of mine. It dosent let me forget ANYTHING!
Second, I have to express my love for Evernote. This application helps me keep my life paperless. this application, along with my scanner, keeps records of anything. Whether it be check stubs, deposit slips, credit card statements, or letters from friends or birthday cards, Evernote is an easy and efficient way of keeping digital copies of it all. Using categorized notebooks and tags, it becomes a virtual filing cabinet for EVERYTHING!
It also has a desktop companion and keeps a record of everything on a server for online access anytime you need it. Evernote comes with an OCR function that will search and find text within each individual note after syncing with their online servers. Best of all, Evernote provides the application and their service for FREE!
Last, but defenitely not least of my favorite 3rd party productivity apps would be Omnifocus. Omnifocus is a project manager on steroids. it is a GTD application that is set up using a Capture, Organize and Do system. You use Omnifocus by emptying your brain of anything that you need to get done by putting it in the inbox so that you can prioritize what is most important to you. Then finish projects one action at a time. It allows you to sort your projects by folders, priority and even context. Using the location finder (GPS) on your iPhone, it will help you complete projects by letting you know what tasks need completion the next time you are at the office, on your Mac or PC, or even on your iPhone. One way I use Omnifocus, is as a shopping list. The next time I am at the store, I can hit the context button and instantly a list pops up of what I need at the particular store I am at using the iPhone’s GPS.
The above mentioned applications along with the iPhone’s default calendar app round up my list of essential business tools in my average work day making my iPhone my portable office space.
Below are some screenshots of the iPhone’s default mail and calendar applications.
Below are some screenshots of the voice recording application: Speakeasy
Below is a screenshot of Evernote showing off the many ways notes can be captured.
Omnifocus screenshots below:
Coming up next…
Part IV: Why get the daily newspaper when you have an iPhone?
A Day In the Life of My iPhone Part 1: 5:30am
Since becoming the owner of an iPhone, it has become absolutely essential in my day to day life. Work, play or even sleep, the iPhone plays an important role in helping me hold on to my sanity. Mobile technology has elvolved so much over the last few years and the iPhone has become the face of that evolution. Some may use their iPhones for gaming, some for keeping up with the wherabouts of friends, some for business and some use it as an iPod that makes calls and browses the web. Me personally? I use it for all that and much, much more. So let me take you on an exiting mobile safari that is a day in the life of my iPhone.
As we take this journey, you will quickly find out that I am an AppStore junkie. If I can find a use for an app, I have more than likely downloaded it. I will briefly go over the apps I use and give a light description as to what each one does along with some screenshots with the app at work.
Part I 5:30am: Bible Study
Apps used: AcroBible NIV, iPod
I use this AcroBible because it’s UI (user interface) makes it a breeze to quickly browse through books and chapters enabling me to read along and study my Bible while listening to a favorite podcast of mine, “Back to the Bible”. AcroBible NIV allows me to take notes within the application and offers a highlighting feature as well. For those looking for a portable electronic Bible with Sync capability, this is your app!
Below are screenshots of AcroBible NIV in action.
Below is a screenshot of the “Back to the Bible” podcast which is available though iTunes.
Check the links section for information on AcroBible NIV and the “Back to the Bible” podcast.
I hope you enjoyed part 1 of this multi-part blog post. Next up?
Part II 6:00am: Personal Fitness/Goal Journaling
A Day In the Life of My iPhone Part 4: Who Needs a Newspaper?
Since owning an iPhone, my need to gather news from other sources other than my mobile device has become obselete. Within seconds of turning on my device, I can have the lastest information in relation to any number of subjects I am interested in. With the iPhone’s 3G or Wi-Fi connection when available, you can be constantly and instantly updated whenever or wherever you are. There are already thousands of apps in the iTunes app store available, so I would like to share with you the ones I find most useful in my day to day life as well as the ones that I think keep me the most informed.
The first application at the top of this list is Twitteriffic, a Twitter client. Twitteriffic is a social networking app that enables people to easily post what they are up to, where they are or where or what they will be doing. You can attach web links, photos, or even your location. you choose to follow updates of others you want to keep tabs on. You can also reply or direct message other “tweeters”. One of the tweeters I choose to follow is FOX News. By following their tweets, I can easily keep up with most headlines hour by hour. I also like to follow some of favorite blogs and application developers for program update news.
Below are some screenshots of Twitteriffic in action.
Mobile News is another great application for following the news whether it be World news, National news or Local news. You can actually look up the local news no matter where you are by using the GPS of the iPhone. Mobile News can also give you quite a variety of photos to view or videos to watch if you would like to see details in regard to the news article you are interested in.
Below are some screenshots of Mobile News.
Finally, I would like to share with you an application called Instapaper. With Instapaper, you can simply bookmark any web page you are interested in viewing and it will be saved in the Instapaper application for later viewing. This works great for me when I am in the middle of a good read but I don’t have time to finish the article or story. With Instapaper, it’s really no problem. Just hit the favorites icon in Safari and tap on the “Read Later” link and you’re done. Finish it whenever you want! Instapaper has a lite and Pro version. The Pro version gives additional options allowing for customization when viewing your pages. It also has an auto-tilt option for automatic scrolling when you tilt your iPhone.
Here are some pics of Instapaper:
I hope I have at least given you some ideas in how to get a little more out of your iPhone. Now call your local paper and cancel that subscription! Save a tree!
At Times, My Love for Gadgets Has Gone Way Too Far!!!
I dug this post up from a Windows Mobile forums site from 2006, a time where Windows Mobile was everything to me. Let me give you a quick preview of the story: I was a smartphone junkie, changing devices every few weeks. I was always on the hunt for the device that offered the most in ways of features and beauty. This is the story of a love triangle between me and two of those Windows Mobile devices. It is just sickening, funny, but sickening! God help me!
My Weekend Love Affair With an 8125
It started on a Thursday afternoon as I was doing some spreadsheet work. I was tapping away at the on screen keyboard with ease on my beautiful ebony toned jamin. She was so responsive to my every touch. As I was carressing her slip resistant casing, thoughts raced through my mind about another with a slide out keyboard. As the day progressed, I found those thoughts were occuring more often. I remember how I saw her on display at the Cingular store looking more dazzling than the others. The big boned IPAQ, the petite 2125, and the conservative business like manner of the Treo 650 were no match for her. She was the one with the sleek lines and a beautiful face that caught my eye and had melted my heart. It was from that day forward that even though the jamin was at my side, it was the 8125 that was on my mind. As night turned into day, the urge became too much and I threw caution to the wind and picked her up. I dared not look at my jamin again until I would have my way with the 8125. I fell even more in love with her after spending only half of what I did on the jamin. Then it happened….The switching out of SIM cards. This is where they first met face to face. I had to strip the jamin of her tightly fitting clothes (a Boxwave flexskin) and pull the SIM card out and put it into the other. So the guilt would not take me over, I put the jamin in my pocket and never looked back. We spent the rest of the afternoon together just getting to know each other a little and she seemed to have it all. She had one annoyance that really kind of showed her cheapness. She kept flashing me her pullout keyboard even when I didn’t want to see it. She acted as though it was an accident and that it would just slide out on its own so I just left it alone. 8125 and I spent all night together in bed. I learned all about her including how she liked to be overclocked. She responded so well to the tweaking I gave her. As the night progressed, I decided to browse some internet and I turned on her Wi-Fi, as i struggled with the settings, I remember how easy it was to set up my beloved jamin. Then in a flash, as I looked at the clock on the table at my bedside I saw her there watching us. My jamin sat there looking hurt and alone. I suddenly remembered what it was about her that intriqued me so. She was simple, elegant, beautiful. Her chrome accents had seperated her from the others in the crowd. She had always done everything in her power to make me happy. As I gazed into my faithful jamin’s beautiful screen, I told her, that cheap whore goes back to Cingular tomorrow. Then we embraced and envoked on a Wi-fi connection together. Without apology and a quick shut of her keyboard, I turned off the 8125. I packaged her up and sent her back to where she came from. I told her there were other men out there who may fall for her like I did but I was not the one for her. My love belonged to the jamin and no other. A couple days went by and me and my jamin spent more time together than ever. She told me there was no need for an apology, but that was just her way. Her and I both know what I did was wrong. As a show of my affection, I contacted Piel Frama and bought her a beautiful Crocodile Skin dress. I have fallen in love all over again and this time its for a long while.
|
  |
How I Killed 4 Hours With My iPhone and Made Boredom My B$@ch!
So it was three o’ clock in the afternoon on a Saturday and I was held up in a building under construction because I had a banner advertising that I would be accepting applications for our new restaurant opening up in just a few weeks. 10 years ago, I would have slowly died of boredom. But in the year 2008, the World was changed forever and boredom no longer had it’s grip on the average American’s Saturday afternoon.
With an iPhone in hand, I knew the battle between me and boredom would be an easy victory. I watched about an hour of video podcasts, processed emails, read news headlines, played several different video games, practiced playing my iPhone guitar (which I still have no idea how to play, but I’m trying), Twittered about everything in regards to anything, made phonecalls to family and listened to my Def Leppard Pandora Mix while I headbanged the time away. Before I knew it, boredom was down for the count. With the iPhone in my pocket, it never had a chance to begin with.
Four hours had passed by and it was time to go. The iPhone was more than a high-tech, multi-use device that day. It was a friend.
A Day In the Life of My iPhone Part 2: 6:00am
Part II 6:00am: Fitness Journal Entry/Goal Acheivement
Apps Used: Weightbot, Absolute Fitness, GoalKeep
I micro-manage every aspect if my life including my physical well being. I take pride in setting goals and tracking them. Oddly, I enjoy tracking as much as I do achieving goals.
First off, I track my weight. I do this using a fun little application called Weighbot. It is one of the most fun and original interfaces on an iPhone app to date. It takes full advantage of the finger friendly touch screen and accelerometer and that in itself makes tracking weight fun. For tracking calorie intake, hours of sleep, blood pressure, water intake and all exercise, I use Absolute Fitness. This application allows you to back up to a web server as well as restore and the developer has been great at responding to requests in updates. Finally, there is Goal Keep. This application does one thing and does it well. It puts a different color coded checkmark (each color represents a different goal) for every day you continue working towards accomplishing your goals. As you continue working towards those goals and checking days off, you are rewarded with a nice little screenshot reminding you of how long your continued streak is on that specific goal. It also allows you to enter a little note on each calendar day whether you accomplished your daily goal or not.
All 3 of these applications keep me on track to being everything I set a goal to be.
Below are screenshots of Weightbot in action.
Below are screenshots of Absolute Fitness in action.
Below are screenshots of Goal Keep in action.
Be sure to check the links section to get the applications reviewed above.
I hope you enjoyed Part 2 of this multi-part blog post. Next Up?
Part III 6:30am: Taking Care of Business
