Tag: iOS

Apple’s mobile OS. I find that I use iOS (on the iPad and iPhone) for a lot of things these days, mainly because it’s just so useful.

My app of the week this week is Dispatch

Posted by on in Admin, Mobile Applications

Email is one of those things that always gets me down. I never seem to be on top of email, but this app helps, it helps a lot. Dispatch lets you do all sorts of things with email that other apps or services don’t, things like saving URLs directly from an email to instapaper or pocket. Taking dates and making calendar entries from them.

You get the idea. A lot of what it does is obvious, but I’ve not seen a way of doing this elsewhere. So finally I might get a bit more of a handle on email. Maybe.

Dispatch: Action-Based Email - Clean Shaven Apps

My iOS App of the week is …

Posted by on in Mobile Applications, Tech

Pythonista. I’ve been using it to make little scripts to run from Launch Center Pro and it’s quite easy to use so far. I’m enjoying getting to understand how things work and learning about Python at the same time.

But by far the best thing about it is that I’m able to use it for something productive that makes daily tasks easier and that’s really worth doing. So, all in all a great app for automating stuff in iOS and for learning at the same time.

Pythonista - omz:software

Drafts (iOS Automation) updated

Posted by on in Mobile Applications

I’ve written a bit about Drafts before. It’s had a massive overhaul and added a load of new functionality. I’ve only had a brief play with the new features, and whilst they seem quite useful, it still isn’t the level of automation I’d like to have in my device.

I’ll give it a bit more of a chance, but it doesn’t go far enough.

Drafts - Agile Tortoise

Actions for iPad could be the automation I’ve been looking for, maybe

Posted by on in Mobile Applications, Tech

Actions for iPad presents as another interesting possibility for automating things. This time automating the use of your Mac from your iPad. Here’s what the app store description says:

Control your computer applications in the best way, your way.

Advanced but incredibly simple to use, Actions is a revolutionary app that lets you interact more naturally with your computer, thanks to your beloved iPad.

You can send a wide variety of commands (see the list below) to any software with a tap and create your personal palette for each one. Your most used actions will be always lying directly at your side, handily and neatly organized in Sets and Subsets.

Each Set is completely customizable with different colors and many icons (+900!), and contextual aware: change app on your computer and your iPad will always show you the right set of actions, it’s automagic!

Actions covers universal digital needs: you can both improve and streamline you workflow with massive softwares as Adobe Suite’s and idly control your everyday apps with ease, or even iTunes remotely from the warm side of your sofa.

Direct manipulation and instant feedback lets you save time and frustrations, transforming your digital experience in something new, closer to the future of computer interaction.

Compose your palette choosing from a wide variety of actions:

  • hotkeys
  • system commands
  • media controls
  • windows handling
  • launch webpages
  • create email templates
  • text snippets

 

MAIN FEATURES

  • Mac & Win compatibility
  • Wi-fi syncing with auto-reconnection
  • Works in landscape and portrait
  • Organize your actions in Sets and Subsets
  • Highly customizable (Sizes, Colors & Icons)
  • 900 icons to choose from for your touchpads
  • Multitouch gestures for most used actions
  • Automatic set switching
  • Target actions to a specific app
  • Backup and exchange your sets with your friends
  • Built in presets for the most popular applications, such as:

 

Ableton Live, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Aperture, Evernote, Excel, Internet Explorer, Final Cut, Finder, Firefox, Garageband, Chrome, iCal, iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, Keynote, Logic Pro, Mail, Notes, Numbers, Outlook, Pages, Pixelmator, Powerpoint, Reeder, Reminders, Safari, TextEdit, Vlc, Word, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Media Player.

I’m going to see what it can do as it’s only £2.49, which isn’t much more than a coffee, so it’s not like it’s a big investment. Also, the developers have an interesting feature in the works involving macros which could be really useful.

Actions for iPad - Usefool Apps