46 Tips for the Business iPhone User
It’s official: The Apple iPhone just passed the Motorola RAZR to become the top handset in the United States, according to NPD Group Inc. It takes only a few Google searches to discover what an extensive ecosystem is developing around this game-changing smartphone platform. Apple Inc.’s iPhone App Store, for instance, introduces new applications every week.
But what about the iPhone as an essential business tool? For mission-critical enterprise applications that require a robust and secure operating system, a recent Gartner Group study suggests treading carefully. On the other hand, the iPhone just hit the top of J.D. Power's satisfaction ranks for business smartphones, so some enterprises will undoubtedly find it useful. Perhaps the question should be: Can the iPhone make you more productive when you’re mobile? The answer is clearly yes.
To help launch your quest for mobile productivity, here’s a list of useful tips, applications, sites and more to keep you moving forward while you’re moving around.
Productivity Applications
1. Stay organized. The Economist magazine wrote, "Zoho is the most comprehensive suite of web-based programmes for small businesses ...". Now that it’s available for the iPhone, you can bring your office wherever you go. Torch also offers a project management app that lets you organize all of your communication, files, tasks and more in one place.
2. Send email. The iPhone supports both Web-based and corporate email systems, including Microsoft Outlook, so you can stay connected no matter your location. You can even sync your iPhone with your PC email by using the IMAP application. And if you get frustrated by having to compose emails in portrait view, turn things around with one of the apps in this review of wide-format email apps. Wide Mail Keyboard and MailType are additional offerings in this category.
3. Manage tasks. Strange but true: the iPhone doesn’t come with a Tasks app. But you can create to-do lists in your notes, or you can use apps like 43 Actions (allows updates via email, Twitter or Jott) or do.Oh.
4. Leverage productivity tools. Create and manage charts using Charts; create, view and share presentations with Keypoint; and export your PowerPoint slides to your iPhone using Mac Office 2008.
5. Track time and expenses. The iPhone version of Harvest allows you to track your time, enter expenses and more.
6. Calendar your time. If the iPhone calendar doesn’t do it for you, try Google’s or 30Boxes’.
7. Take notes. There are lots of choices here, including GlueyNotes, Evernote, RemoteNote, Thumb Jot and of course the one that comes standard with the iPhone.
Road Warrior
8. Access files remotely. If you need access to your computer while you’re on the road, you could do worse than use SugarSync, which CNET has dubbed “the most useful sync tool ever.” Another way to upload and share your files is to use in.solit.us. According to BusinessWeek, LogMeIn provides "simple and secure access to your computer from just about anywhere." And with Google Docs, you can access your documents wherever you are.
9. Get directions. You can always use Mapquest or Google Maps to get directions, but the iPhone’s keyboard is not the optimal input device. Instead, you can send yourself directions from your workstation. Send Google Maps directions to your iPhone’s email address, and they’ll open in your Google Maps app.
10. Improve your language skills. Translate on the go is a simple app that offers a quick translation between two languages. Learning a language is a bigger commitment but you can listen to free language courses from iTunes on your iPhone.
11. Find things to do. Use an app like Outalot or Where Traveler to see what sort of restaurants, shops and other fun places are around. Schmap offers free travel guides that are optimized for the iPhone. StreetFlow lets you find good restaurants near where you are and rate them, plus see the ratings of others. If you want to order food quickly and easily on your iPhone, try CityMint.
12. Locate free wifi hotspots. Just what every road warrior needs: A directory of free wifi spots around the U.S., plus some international locations.
13. Pay the right tip. If you need help with calculating the right tip — or splitting the bill with friends — try CheckPlease.
Tips and Tools
14. It’s not just for photos. The iPhone camera has many uses, starting with whiteboard capture. Just snap a picture at the end of the session and go to the next meeting. The same applies to business cards, receipts and even the parking space you just came from (was it E7 or F7?).
15. Make your iPhone vibrate first. Prevent your iPhone from interrupting by setting it to first vibrate, then ring. Conversely, Escape Pod lets you bail from a phone conversation. With Escape Pod’s 29 prerecorded sounds (and the ability to record your own), your excuses can now sound more authentic. Choose from ER background, doorbell ringing, smoke alarm and many more.
16. Change your email signature. It’s true that “Sent from my iPhone” tells the recipient that you’re on the move, but some consider it showing off. You can create a custom email signature on your iPhone with this tip.
17. Get cut, copy and paste. Incredibly, the iPhone does not have cut and paste (in usable form). Use Quasi Clipboard to get copy and paste functionality on your iPhone.
18. Transfer images. Move your images from iPhone to Windows XP by treating your iPhone as a digital camera device.
19. Optimize your Web surfing. With the iPhone 3G’s enhanced Web browsing, you’ll be spending some serious time on the Internet. Useful tools to take with you include Bookmarklets, pieces of JavaScript that do everything from looking up words in a dictionary to finding a specific term on a page; and iWebSaver, which saves Web pages for viewing offline.
20. Get reading. Once you get used to the form factor, you can get a lot of reading done on your iPhone. It helps to have a reader app, though. Check out Google Reader for a basic tool. Reader and Instapaper are two other offerings. And the iPhone’s free Stanza not only allows you to read but has a library of free books for you to download — including children’s books.
News and Information
21. Get the news from Google. Google brings its clean interface to the mobile version of Google News, where you’ll find the latest headlines from multiple sources.
22. Read leaflets. Leaflets is a fun, useful application optimized to bring Search, Feed, Flickr, Newsvine, The New York Times, del.icio.us and more to your iPhone.
23. Digg it up. Check out Digg on the iPhone to get the latest buzz.
24. Use Wikipedia. Get all of Wikipedia on your iPhone, with access to millions of encyclopedia articles.
25. Tap into the media. Among the media outlets, Fox News, The AP (Associated Press), TIME Mobile and NPR Mobile are some of the options. Bloomberg.com has a particularly good mobile site. And if you like all your magazines in one place, say hello to Zinio.
Sites
26. It’s all about apps. Apple’s iPhone App Store is teeming with interesting and useful apps and is constantly expanding. From there, you’ll find links to iTunes and the rest of the Apple universe.
27. Your life as the iPhone. IPhone Life is a meta site listing the best online spots for news, application directories, tips, how-to’s, forums and much more.
28. Indulge your cravings. AppCraver is a Web site that is “obsessively dedicated to iPhone applications and to the emerging iPhone app economy.”
29. Touch it up. TouchTip is a blog that offers some of the best information about the iPhone world. And another heavyweight offering reviews is CNET’s iPhone site.
30. Scout it out. AppScout is brought to you by the editors and analysts of PC Magazine, who scour the Net in search of the best software, sites and Web apps.
31. Keep it fresh. FreshApps adds a twist: Members can keep tabs on apps they like or have downloaded, submit comments and application reviews and vote for the apps they find useful or fun.
32. Find new apps. Lockergnome is a Digg-like Web tool that allows other iPhone users to find new iPhone apps, vote for the ones they like, vote against the ones they hate and comment on their favorites.
On the Home Front
33. Keep it all straight. If you’re a super multitasker, you may need some help with the basics, like remembering your keys and wallet. Try Before You Leave the House.
34. Budget your finances. Create your budget and track your expenses in your iPhone with myBudget.
35. Cook up something good. Check out the iPhone recipes on 101 Cookbooks to find recipes and ingredients when you’re on the go. Simply Recipes for iPhone offers hundreds of tested, family-friendly recipes for the home cook. And Recipes lets you add your own to the mix.
36. Entertain your kids. Gain a few precious minutes by mesmerizing your kids with Bubble, BubbleWrap or Lightsaber. Or let them record their ABCs using iTalk.
Escapes
37. Stream music to your iPhone. Use Simplify Media to stream your iTunes library to your iPhone (and anywhere else). Use Pandora to stream radio.
38. Manage your movies. Use iFlix to manage your Netflix queue.
39. Indulge your inner sports junkie. Get up to the minute access to scores, standings, stats and news for most major pro and college sports with Sportacular.
40. Catch up on podcasts. Upload podcasts to your iPhone and listen during your downtime.
41. Clear your mind. Ambiance allows you to create a “workspace in your head.” If there’s too much of the wrong kind of noise around you, select ambient sounds such as rain, waves, airplane, heartbeat and a plethora of others to surround yourself with.
42. Spread your wings. Wings is a flight virtualization tool that lets you experience the exhilaration of flying wherever you may be. Soar over a variety of beautiful virtual environments in four different seasons or crank up the fun with a couple of barrel rolls.
Accessories
43. Create a car dock. If you’re a DIY kind of person — and it’s only those people who are going to be interested in this — use these simple instructions to create a car dock for your iPhone.44. Create a stand. Impress your clients by making a stand for your iPhone out of a business card, and then launch into your PowerPoint presentation with your iPhone at a comfortable angle.
45. Improve your iPhone’s car integration. Make your iPhone more productive in the car with this upgrade from iLounge.
46. Get an earbud case as a keychain. Now, as long as you have your keys, you’ll have your earbuds too.
If you haven’t jumped on board with the iPhone, there's still some goodies out there for you. Check out Inside CRM’s Blackberry tips for more useful information.
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