Sunday, December 8, 2013

December 7, 2013 by Peggy Aebersold-Fetzer
Bob Leger shared info on Textilus  - a free Word Processor app that is compatible with Microsoft Office.  You can create documents, insert photos, drawings and charts, and can send as an email.
Next, he quickly showed us how to manage multiple emails on the iPad in the Mail App:                      Once you have the Mail App open, tap "edit" on the upper right above your emails that are stacked along the left side of the screen.  A clear circle appears  beside each email.  Tap the circles to select the emails you want, then tap the "Trash" button on the lower right (below the emails).  "Trash Message"  appears in red text within a bubble,  giving you a second chance to confirm you want to delete the email(s).   Tap that, and the selected emails swoosh into the trash can.
Then we broke up into groups based on user level experience.                                                                      Our  group  of 3s & 4s chose to go around the tables and have each person share his or her favorite (or most frequently used) App.  Surprisingly, almost every one of us shared something different and boy, did we learn a lot!  Here is a list of the  Apps shared:
Avery Design and Print (free app) - use to make your own Business Card.
Magic Jack (free app) - use to make free calls (even to Canada) but you must have access to the internet.  Another caveat - when you use magic jack to place a call, the person receiving the call will see a Florida area code, so let them know ahead of time by text or email that you will be calling if they refuse to answer unrecognized phone calls.  Also, you can't call MasterCard in Canada and/or some other toll free numbers.  Probably because of the Florida area code.
Pinterest (free app) - use to look up and save thousands of ideas.  User stated it was like having 100 magazines to browse through while her husband watches hockey.  Caution, it may be addictive! :-)
BTW, Sandy showed us how to find and use emojicons (various little symbols) to personalize events on our Calendars so we can see at a glance what we have going on each day of the month.                            i.e.:  Three things to attend in one day?  A little computer could indicate "Computer  Club";  a little cake - someone's birthday;  a Dog or Cat - Vet appointment;  etc.                                                                                 It's called the emojicon keyboard.  Go to:  Settings/General /Keyboard/Keyboards/Add New Keyboard/Swipe through the Alphabetical list of languages to Emoji.  Tap on Emoji, and that keyboard will be added.                                                                                                                                                               To access the Emojicons during regular typing, tap the World button on the keyboard (just left of the space bar).  To get back to the English keyboard, tap the world button again (now on the far left).
iPad Secrets (free app) - lite version with tons of little tips on the new ios7.4 operating system.  You can even share the tips with friends via email, facebook or twitter.
*Card Mate Pro ($2.99) or Card Mate (free app) - Card scanner & card reader by Qiwen Zhang.  Save your collection of business cards on your iPad and throw the paper ones away!
Facetime (comes on iPad) - use to talk to others with iProducts  i.e. iPhone, iPod, iPad, probably Mac computers.  (If you don't like how you look in the video view, you can turn it off).
Messages (comes on iPad) - send text messages to others  using the contacts on your iPad (not in your email programs such as Gmail).  Tap on the 'pencil in a box'  to start.  At the to: prompt, tap on the + sign to access your iPad contacts.  Type the message in the long box next to the camera icon, then send.
*Gas Buddy (free app) - use to find nearby gas stations by city, state, zip (or using current location) along with their gas prices.  Especially helpful when traveling.  Needs internet access, but can get that free at McDonalds,  Hospitals (sit in their parking lot), Fry's Food Store, Safeway,  etc.
Kindle (free app) - use to download and read books from the Library.  Also to download and read free books from eReaderNewsToday (ENT) and BookBub (both found on facebook or Google their website to sign up to have the daily selections emailed to you).
**HTRecorder ($9.99 - User originally got it free from Apps Gone Free.) She used it to record Bob 6 feet away in our noisy San Tan room as he explained an app, and the recording captured his voice well! 
Free Mapping  Apps -                                                                                                                                                    Google Maps                                                                                                                                                              Google Earth                                                                                                                                                            Maps                                                                                                                                                             **Citymaps2go ($2.99) (offline map and travel guide ) CityMaps2goLite (free app)- allows you to download 2 maps from their 7500+ map collection)                                                                                           - National Geographic World Atlas ($1.99) Not a mapping app, but an atlas - wait for it to come up on Apps Gone Free.

*If you search for a recommended app in the App Store and that app doesn't come up in the results, it may be offered only  as an iPhone app, but can be downloaded onto the iPad.  In the top row of blue text, tap the down arrow beside iPad Only , then check iPhone Only.  The App will probably now appear!
** If you missed an app being free on Apps Gone Free, try again in a month.  Sandy says they often cycle around and come up free again!  AppsGoneFree (free app) - check daily to see what apps are being offered for free on that day only.
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The other smaller groups, worked on scanners, and apps with the ability to put text on them.  Reviewed settings and changing default signatures to email, worked on Contacts and the A2Z application so that you can create Groups on the iPad.  Currently the only way to create a group is on the PC or Mac.  Liked the idea of adding Emoji to Calendar to identify events visually.

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