apps

Many freelancers who juggle between work and personal life are in a constant struggle for productivity. Therefore, the last thing you want to do is waste precious time. Luckily, mobile apps for Apple or Android devices can help simplify many day-to-day tasks. Here are 5 apps that might save you time and help to keep you more organized:

LogMeIn: Use LogMeIn to access your Mac or PC content from your iPhone or iPad. This app is great for traveling or to pull up files remotely. With LogMeIn you can also run any PC application from your mobile device.

Total Recall: Automatically or manually record calls, lectures or meetings, or leave yourself an audio note with Total Recall. The app works on most Android devices and even syncs with Evernote.

EasySign: With EasySign, eliminate the need for paper documents altogether. Using your finger or a stylus, sign Word docs, PDFs, JPEGs and more on your iPhone, iPad or Android device. You have the option to add three signatures per document. You can then send securely and/or import to Dropbox or Box.net for example.

LucyPhone: If you are tired of waiting on hold with customer service for hours and hours, LucyPhone takes the hassle out of holding by allowing you to …hang up. Search LucyPhone’s list of popular customer service phone numbers, then LucyPhone will patch you through. If you get put on hold, press **. You’ll be disconnected, but when a customer service agent comes back on the line, LucyPhone will call you back and reconnect you two.

Pocket: Securely store sensitive information on your Android mobile device with Pocket. The app stores bank information, passwords, prescriptions, locker combinations, etc. The information is only accessible via a master password that cannot be accessed locally, in case your phone were to fall in the wrong hands. Connect to Dropbox or to your desktop for extra access and backup.

Google+, Facebook’s newest challenger, has been available for a while now. Some interesting new features include: “Circles” – which enables users to organize contacts into groups for sharing, “Hangouts”  - which are places used to facilitate group video chat, “Sparks” – which enables users to identify topics they might be interested in sharing with others, or ”Huddle” – which is a feature available to Android, iPhone, and SMS devices for communicating through instant messaging within circles. If you have an account and plan to use it professionally, here are some things that might be helpful for you to know.

Innovative software and applications from services like Box.net and Huddle.com suggest new concepts for how to work and communicate in the knowledge age and apparently offer an alternative to long-established players like Microsoft or Oracle. Some of these companies seem to be taking collaboration technology past traditional conventions to reshape the way we approach the workday…

We have known for some time now the rocketing demand for mobile app development, however, the fact that firms are literally scrambling for engineers who can write software for mobile devices is somewhat amazing. Apparently, the supply of sufficiently experienced software engineers is seriously lagging behind the high demand. According to the WSJ, companies have reacted with increased wages to retain top talent and outsourcing to third-party developers. Mobile apps have worked their way into various industries. As stated in the WSJ article, Google Inc. and Apple Inc. expect revenues for the App Store and Android Market to tripple to about $15billion in 2011…

Check out the full article here: Mobile App Talent Pool Is Shallow

Dropbox is a Web-based file hosting service operated by Dropbox, Inc. that uses cloud computing to enable users to store and share files and folders online using file synchronization. The tool has great potential: No more fumbling for lost or damaged storage devices and always up to date with the latest file versions. Alternatives: Zumo or SugarSync.

“…your files follow you to whichever device you happen to be working on.”

Portfolios trump resumes, more workers telecommute, social media continues its spread, and mobile marches over desktop: Online magazine CIO provides technology and business leaders with insight and analysis on information technology developments and gives an interesting forecast of some of the key trends for the next year.

According to CIO, the workplace has evolved in new and exciting ways and has become even more centered on the Web. In 2010, mobile applications gained on desktop apps as many companies focused on facilitating smartphones and tablet PCs. Traditional marketing techniques were edged out by web-based marketing via search engines and social media. However, one of the most important trends is the continuous growth of online work. According to the CEO of one of the leading marketplaces for online talent: “It’s a digital world, and the smart companies will hire more flexibly and get more work done online in 2011″. Read the full post on CIO.com.

Technology-centered work trends for 2011:

• Digital portfolios replacing resumes
• Mobile is the new desktop
• Online work: Hiring in the could
• The HTML5/Flash War: Programmers needed
• Businesses will get even more social
• The decline of traditional marketing

as we all know, many jobs are found through networking. therefore, many businesspeople are on the lookout for tools to improve their networking skills. the number of business apps is increasing day by day and smartphones are becoming a portable toolkit for business professionals everywhere.

5 useful iphone apps:

• meet people with happening
• exchange information using linkedin
• meet in the middle using meetme
• organize business cards with worldcardmobile
• manage relationships with contactsjournal

“twitter lists” is a new twitter feature that allows you to group the tweets of certain users into categories. there is also an option to view and subscribe to the twitter lists of other users… check out: 10 ways you can use twitter lists on mashable.

…the following link provides a list of very helpful and relatively novel project management tools. applications such as projectivity, subernova, opengoo, worketc, daylite, and workspace aid freelancers in managing time, tasks and people more effectively and efficiently.

“why should i sign up for another website, and just add to all the sites i already use? …the idea for vreebit grew out of frustration with artificial limitations of these sites. vreebit does not just combine the most valuable elements of existing social networking and groupware technologies – it transforms these indispensible platforms into powerful and effective tools. in short, vreebit changes the very concept of social networking into one of versatility, simplicity, efficiency – and fun!”