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The 10 Best Productivity Apps For Business Professionals

In contrast with last month's "The 12 Best Apps for Wasting Time (and Having Fun!)," this month we're shifting our focus to something a bit more serious.  Whether it's the cooler weather, back-to-school season, or just time to get down to business, this month we've turned our attention to the best apps for business professionals.  And, considering that most business professionals don't have time to spend hours wading through the numerous ‘productivity' apps available in the App Store, we've tested and compiled a list of the ten very best apps for time management, organization, and, of course, increasing productivity.   Though these apps don't prove that iPhone owners are all work and no play—they do provide some evidence that the iPhone is a functional tool for the workforce (and not just gamers).  For Android users, we've included well-rated alternatives for most apps that are not available in the Android App marketplace.

So if it's time to roll up your sleeves and increase productivity on the go, check out these apps—tested and recommended by yours truly:

1. Evernote & Springpad Free

Alright, alright—we're only on the first recommendation and we've already thrown out two different apps—but that's because they'reboth really great and serve, well, virtually the same purpose.

Use either of these programs to quickly file and sort all of the various bits of information you encounter daily with notes in the form of text, images, and voice recordings.  Both are aesthetically pleasing and easy to use.  Evernote is slightly better at synchronizing desktop and mobile notes, however with Springpad you can additionally create barcode notes, and notes on what's around you.  And for the fantastic price of free, why not use them both? (Both available for iPhone and Android)

2. ListPro Free

ListPro is a pretty simple app that allows you to do just what the name suggests—create as many lists as you could ever want or need. There are several formatting options that allow you to build basic lists for grocery shopping or running errands, as well as lists that enable you to create complex maps of all the tasks related to a given project.  With this app, you can streamline your to-do list for free—and never forget the milk again!

3. Calengoo $6.99

If you're an iPhone owner that, like many of us, prefers to use Google Calendars to manage your schedule, this app is a must-have.  It allows you to access and edit your Google Calendars from your iOS device.  View your events for the month, the week or the day, and add tasks to be completed in the form of a checklist.

For seven bucks, this app is a bit pricey, but for the added functionality that Calengoo provides, and the ability to keep your almighty calendar with you at al times, it's well worth the splurge. (No Android alternative is necessary—the default calendar provides the same functionality and syncs with Google Calendars.  For a more advanced calendar app for Android, try Jorte—free).

4. Due $2.99

Due may actually be the simplest app ever created.  The program allows you to createtasks on the fly and schedule a reminder for later.  Perfect for ensuring that minor tasks are completed on time without the hassle of logging an item in your calendar.  Additionally, the app includes a timer for managing time spent on routine tasks. Though not quite free, the time this app saves you will quickly make up for its minor cost.

5.  Quickoffice Connect Mobile Suite $7.99

If you're helpless without your docs, this is the productivity app for you.  Access, modify and share your Microsoft Office suite documents, including PDF's, Word Documents and Excel Spreadsheets.  Transfer files from your desktop to your mobile device and vice versa, and never be stuck without critical documents again.  Quickoffice, available for the iPhone, as well as Android devices, isn't cheap (as apps go), but it's not unlikely that many professionals would shell out twice as much to have this functionality in a bind—get it now, and be prepared.

6.  Read It Later Free

For anyone that does a lot of reading or researching on the job, this app is essential. Send articles and web pages directly to your mobile device with just one click.  This app eliminates the need to bookmark, or save browser tabs for later—just select pages that you want to view on your mobile device, and they'll be ready and waiting for you within the app, making the workflow much more fluid when you're on the go. (Available for iPhone and Android)

7. TripIt Free

If your job requires you to travel—at all—this app is absolutely indispensable.  Sign up and forward your flight confirmation, hotel reservation, rental car booking information—everything associated with your trip—to [email protected], and the app will create a detailed itinerary for you, storing all of your reservation information and details in a color coded, linear presentation format.  While the app isn't guaranteed to get you to the airport on time, it will definitely make your next business trip less hectic. (Available for iPhone and Android)

8. Dragon Dictation Free

This app is perfect for multitaskers.  The program converts speech into text, so you can dictate e-mails, text messages and more on the fly—and stop wasting your time pecking away on a miniature keyboard.  (Low quality voice to text capabilities are built into the Android OS, but for more advanced functionality try Handcent, or Chomp)

9.  Text'n Drive Free

Look Ma—no hands! The opposite of Dragon Dictation, T'n D converts text to speech, reading your text messages aloud so you're free to do more important things—like beat the traffic to work! (Android version is currently in development)

10. LinkedIn Free

Social media is becoming more essential to business professionals every day, so what better app to close on than one that keeps you connected with your network?  Don't attend another conference without this app, which allows you to instantly add new contacts to your network, and stay in contact while you're out of the office. (Android users are limited to DroidIn—download the Lite version for free, or upgrade to Pro for $2.00).

Now that you've read our recommendations for the best productivity apps, don't you have a report to get back to? In the meantime, take a few minutes to check out these apps, and give your productivity a boost!

 

About the Author

Erin maintains the DevelopmentNow company blog.  Her insightful reports on mobile marketing trends serve to inform brands, businesses and individuals of how to take advantage of the growing new media industry. Featuring professional recommendations on how to mobilize your business, engage mobile users and leverage your small screen presence to maximize ROI, these tips can help jumpstart your mobile strategy.

DevelopmentNow is a new media consulting company that specializes in building integrated mobile web solutions and native apps. For more information on mobile web technology and the services we offer, give us a call at 800.284.3961, or visit our website, www.developmentnow.com.

How can a phone be "sexy"?

http://www.intomobile.com/2010/10/21/review-windows-phone-7-microsoft-wp7/

http://www.winrumors.com/sexy-new-samsung-windows-phone-advert-asks-what-if/

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Evernote-hits-WP7-and-looks-sexy_id19635

I know some people have strange fetishes, but are there really a mass of people out there who are sexually aroused by cell phones?!?!?!?

With the right wallpaper maybe.. just maybe.

Microsoft Evernote
Update On My Evernote Vs Microsoft Office OneNote Journey

Top 10 Apps That Make Magic on Your iPad

Top 10 Apps That Make Magic on Your iPad by www.batteryfast.co.uk

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPad and referred to it as a magical device, lots of people snickered.
Silly people.

Most iPad owners will tell you that it can indeed inspire the kind of astonishment you might have felt while watching your first magic show — that is, if the device is properly loaded.

Here are my 10 favorite apps, plus a few extras to make the iPad magic happen:

IWORK ($30, or $10 each for Pages, Keynote or Numbers): Since you can't type easily on an iPad, it may never replace your laptop. But with this software, which is made by Apple, you won't need to rush to your other computers to edit Microsoft Office files. The Pages app is great for revising and exporting text files; the Numbers app is good (and getting better) with spreadsheets; and Keynote is a serviceable complement to PowerPoint.

AIR DISPLAY ($10): Turn your iPad screen into an extra PC monitor with Air Display, and never again miss a new Twitter post, Facebook post or stock market move.

FLIPBOARD (free): Twitter and Facebook rely on "new stuff on top" layouts, with links that send you elsewhere to see what people are fussing about. Flipboard rationalizes this editorial insanity. The app plops your Facebook feed into a magazine format, showing all the stories your friends recommended, with photos and updates. You can create other personalized magazines from Twitter feeds, on topics of your choice.

STAR WALK ($5): A jaw-dropping astronomy app. Hold the iPad toward the night sky and it labels everything. You can also preview the movement of tonight's sky, or witness a particular night sky from centuries ago. Star Walk is billed as an educational app, but it's as entertaining as anything on the market.

SKETCHBOOK PRO ($8): Experienced artists can create masterpieces with this program. Hobbyists and children can happily lose themselves for hours. The app is powerful, yet fairly intuitive.

NETFLIX (free, but requires a paid Netflix subscription): The iPad renders video beautifully, and Netflix streams a nearly limitless catalog of movies and TV shows to the device. Fast, easy, addicting.

FRUIT NINJA HD ($5): On the iPad's big screen, this game will give you more of a jolt than Angry Birds. (But do yourself a favor and download that one too.) The task: swipe your finger to slice flying fruit. Hit a bomb and your ninja days are numbered. A recent update added online multi-player functionality.

INSTAPAPER ($5): Great articles typically appear when you have no time to read them. Instapaper quickly stores links, so you can read the full articles later, from within the app. Instapaper also remembers articles you've saved with the free online version. Some will find setting up the service on an iPad frustrating, but it is worth it.

PANDORA RADIO (free): Fans of the personalized radio service will appreciate the big-screen format, which is great for reading liner notes and browsing artists and songs. The music selections and ads (if you don't pay for upgraded service) are the same as on the iPhone or online version.

EVERNOTE (free): Another bigger-is-better entry. Evernote stores notes, photos and voice memos, so you can retrieve them later on any Web-connected device. The service offers a fair amount of free storage, but you can skip the limit for $45 a year.

Honorable Mention

Reuters News Pro (free): Among the best news apps, it will cache articles for offline reading; Photoshop Express (free): Import your photos and crop, filter, rotate and change them to suit your tastes. Great for youngsters, too; Wikipanion (free): An iPad-centric approach to surfing Wikipedia pages; AirCoaster ($1): Design and ride 3-D roller coasters, with amazing graphics; Magic Piano ($2): Make music with whimsically elegant keyboards; Scrabble ($10): The wordsmith's standby, nicely rendered for the iPad. (Use your iPhone or iPod Touch as tile racks).

Orbital HD ($3): A game that will engage your brain, test your reflexes and kill many hours of your time; Weather HD ($1): No matter the forecast, it's a treat to read; Twitter for iPad (free): Twitter's official app delivers an efficient, simple experience; Skype (free): Make free (or cheap) calls with your iPad; Epicurious (free): Professionally tested recipes, in big-screen glory; Real Racing HD ($10): Take the wheel and steer the iPad to victory; NPR (free): Catch up on the news and your favorite NPR programs, or read top articles; TextPlus (free): Free texting; The Elements ($14): Could make you want to take high school chemistry again; Dragon Dictation (free): Speak your mind, and the app delivers a text message or e-mail, ready for sending.

About the Author

www.batteryfast.co.uk

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Microsoft Evernote