Monday, January 23, 2012

Episode 43: Attachments and the Cloud

Hi Everyone,

I gotten a few questions last week on how to store or access files on your mobile devices. So, let’s cover how to access your files in today’s “Tip of the Day”.

The Cloud: (Android, iPhone, iPad, Mac & PC)
Did you know that you can upload and access your files from the Cloud? You can work on a file from your desktop and finish it at home on your iPad. There are several clouds to choose from. You can use the SDCOE cloud to access your U:Drive or your Department drive. If you use iWorks (Pages, Numbers, Keynotes) on your mobile device/computer, you can use Apple’s iCloud. If you want to store your Microsoft document, PDF files and more, try “Dropbox”. Want to know more on how to use iCloud?…just email or call.

Open In… (iPhone & iPad)
Have you ever received a pdf file that you wanted to keep? From your email or web, just click or click and hold on the file to see “Open in iBooks”. The file is then saved in iBooks under PDFs. This function (click and hold) applies to other objects as well. Do you want to save a picture from the web, click and hold to save in Camera Roll. Surfing the web and want to open the link in another tab, just click on hold to open in new tab.

Keyboard: Emoji (Available on both Android and Apple)
Do you like those face symbols you see in emails and text messages? Add Emoji to your keyboard and you can send smiley faces with your next text message. From your iPhone, go to General/Keyboard/International Keyboards and you will see Emoji. Now when you use your keyboard, just click on the symbol that looks like a globe to see the Emoji keyboard. Don’t forget, the other person needs Emoji on their mobile device to see the symbols. Speak and write in another language? Add it to your keyboard.

Today’s app recommendation is brought to you by Griselda. “Temple Run”…she gives it 4 stars and it is free at the app store.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Episode 42: Email, Contacts & Calendar Settings

Hi Everyone,

Well it’s the beginning of a new year, and we’ll start the year with some simple email tips. Reading through my email, I’m finding more and more people responding to your email from your mobile devices.

Signature: Mail Settings
Did you know that you can add/change the signature on your device? Have you seen what others see when they receive your email? If you go to your mail settings on your device, you will see the default signature. In most cases (Apple), it will say “Sent from my iPhone”.

Default Alert Times: Calendar Settings
 If you always want a reminder when you set a calendar event, go to “Default Alert Times” and set the default. If you have Birthdays in your contact, set the reminder to alert you the day before (I’ll remind you when my birthday comes up in June).

Calendar: Calendar Settings
 Do you have multiple calendars? You can set your default calendar in “Calendar Settings”. Are you like me and have multiple Google Calendars (default, Family, etc.)? This one is from iPhone and iPad users. From your device, launch Safari and go to www.google.com/calendar/iphoneselect. Sign in and select your calendars you want to sync. That’s it…easy as apple pie. Now when I get home and find no one home, I check our “Family” calendar and see that they are at the HS for Jazz Band…oops, I better get going too…or maybe I’ll enjoy the quiet.

Here’s a side note. Did you know that the Calendar Icon displays the current date?