GeekwithEnvy

Mobile

Do We Really Need Microsoft Office?

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Every time I visit my local computer store and walk past the software section, I ponder whether or not I would benefit from having a copy of Microsoft Office. The product has been around for years and has been extremely useful throughout school. Businesses have relied on MS Office to get their work done as well and no one ever really bothered to ask if it was really necessary. Why would they? It’s just the way things go. If you’re a business or student then having MS Office is just a necessary as a #2 pencil. Open Office Logo

The times have changed though and people are starting to wonder why they keep paying for a product when a free alternative is offering similar quality. OpenOffice is a real contender and it’s getting better. I have been using OpenOffice for years and I don’t even consider using anything else. What makes OpenOffice even more appealing is that it runs on Windows, Linux and Mac OS. So now you have a free software suite with all of the bells as whistles of MS Office and it runs on all three major platforms. Another plus for OpenOffice is that it also has good library of templates and extensions, and yes you can still get access to clip art as well.

So why bother with Office? Really theres not too much to argue against using OpenOffice, except maybe the fact that you might run into a few problems with users getting used to the new suite. It definitely feels a little different than MS Office and that can make people a little uncomfortable. There is also the issue with the lack of pre-installed templates, this is something that’s easily solved by simply going out and getting them but with MS Office most of the common templates are already available.

Some businesses are not only moving away from Microsoft Office but they are moving away from traditional PC’s. OpenOffice is available on the iPad which is the one mobile device that is gaining a lot of popularity with companies and even has the interest of the government making the switch. Given it’s open source roots, the possibilities for OpenOffice seem endless as it allows the software to be engineered directly for a company’s needs. Add in the benefits of cost savings and it starts to look like a viable solution. OpenOffice is a great software suite and if you haven’t tried it yet I highly recommend you give it a shot. I’m sure you will find that it suits your needs.

Yahoo Mail Gets A Makeover

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Yahoo Logo

Yahoo mail has just been redesigned and it’s looking really good. The new look isn’t just on the web either it’s also translating to your mobile devices as well. Yahoo mail has been a bit behind other mail services like Gmail for a while now and it’s refreshing to see Yahoo reinvest some time into making it’s mail application a little more appealing.

The first thing you will undoubtedly notice is that there is a lot less clutter. One big feature of a good UI design is when it lets the content shine and basically stays out of the way. The new Yahoo mail does exactly that. Right away I can see only two tabs, inbox and contacts. The tabs are a nice size and located in an convenient  area of the screen. Folders and applications are tucked away nicely and collapsable, settings are easy to find and navigate through. Yahoo now looks very good on mobile devices as well and no matter which device you’re using, the experience should be the same. All Yahoo mail apps have been updated to feature this new look, including the Windows 8 app.

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The new design is a success and I’m glad to see that many companies are taking this newer, cleaner approach to apps that we use everyday to get things done, like mail apps and audio libraries like iTunes, which also just recently got a new look. Microsoft attempted a similar move earlier this year by transitioning Hotmail into Outlook. The new Outlook was also re-designed, not just to fit in with Windows 8 but to also to make it a better fit on mobile devices as well.

 

Featured App: The Simpsons Tapped Out

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The Simpsons Tapped Out, starts out with Homer accidentally destroying Springfield in a nuclear meltdown. You, the player are tasked with rebuilding Springfield and finding all the people who once lived there.

tapped out

You will be given quests to rebuild each house, restaurant and store that you know from the show. Every time you finish a building you will get the character that goes with it (e.g. Kwik-E-Mart will give you Apu). If you tap on a character you will be given a list of tasks they can do. The tasks can take a few seconds or last a few days. Once they have finished their task, you will receive in game rewards.

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Like most of these games, you are given timers for pretty much everything you do, with the option to buy stuff with real money. In this app, you can buy donuts, to either speed timers or purchase buildings and decorations. You will get donuts by leveling, but it is slow, and the prices for the stuff sold for donuts isn’t cheap.

This game has kept me hooked since I started playing a few months ago. They update with seasons and Holidays and you get new quests all the time. It’s definitely worth trying, especially since it’s free.

Available for iOS at the App Store. You can also check out their Facebook page at The Simpsons Tapped Out

Product Review: KIDIGI Universal Desktop Cradle for iPad

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When I am doing the GWE podcast or when I am working on content for the website I find it absolutely necessary to have multiple screens in front of me. One of the screens that I love having the most is the iPad. However, I can’t always find the optimal place for my iPad and the outer case doesn’t always allow me to position the iPad in a way that’s comfortable for me while I work. Fortunately, I was recently sent the KIDIGI Universal Desktop Cradle for iPad from MobileFun.

KIDIGIDekstopCradle

The KIDIGI Universal Desktop Cradle works with the iPad (3rd generation)iPad 2, iPad and will also fit the iPod and iPhone. This cradle comes with USB cord to allow you to connect your device to your computer or directly to your Apple charger through the cradle itself. The 30-pin connector in the cradle is adjustable to ensure everything sits firmly in place regardless of what device your using. Another plus for this device is that you should be able to use it without removing your case, a huge annoyance that often comes up with other desk cradles. The KIDIGI cradle also looks really nice, it’s slick design makes it look like an Apple product.

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The only con I found for this cradle is that I feel it could be a little more stable. While using it, I put it to the test and pushed hard and it began to wobble a bit. The cradle held it’s ground well enough and your device will definitely be safe, it’s just not as solid as I would like.

Overall I would recommend picking this up if you’re looking for a nice desktop cradle to use with pretty much any Apple device with a 30-pin connector.

Here are some of the key features:

  • Data Hot Sync and charging on your desk with a cradle.
  • The connector is easy to adjust to fit all ipods & iphones ipad.
  • Keep Silicon case or leather case with your iPad or iPhone in the cradle and can use in stable condition.

 

You can pick one of these up for just $17.49 at MobileFun. Have a device with the new lightning connector? No problem, MobileFun has something for  iPhone 5 as well, so go ahead and check it out.

Featured App: Smart Aliens

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Smart Aliens is a social hangman-like game that you can play with your friends via Facebook, or 3 random people from all over in real-time. At first you may think..”oh, hangman, okay whatever”, but this game is actually way better than I expected.

You first pick your alien avatar, then you choose to play the arena mode, or duel mode. In arena, you will be asked to make your bet amount, Rookie Arena-5 gold, Gamblers Arena-10 gold, and Psychopath Arena-15 gold. Inside you are joined with 3 other actual players, no CPU. The game will give you a category and letters to choose. You must choose carefully, once you lose all your lives you lose your bet twice! The game’s gold coins are used in the shop to buy bots, different avatars, traps and medikits. These things will help while in the arena with other players to make sure you win, by taking lives away from them, or refilling your lives.

ArenaMultiplayer SmartAliens
Arena Multiplayer, SmartAliens

 

The avatars are cute and funny looking, some come at a high price, and there is one that you must have the paid version to get. Although you don’t have to buy the app (since there is a free version) the paid version gives you some perks, like extra gold. I wanted a certain alien, but she was very expensive and the winnings for each round, really don’t add up very fast, so I feel like they know you will definitely buy the full version and more gold to get what you want, otherwise, you would be playing for a pretty long time before you got it. That is the only con that I believe this game has. Overall at $1.99, I think it was a good buy.

Available at the App Store and coming soon to Google Play. You can also check out their website at www.smartaliens.com

Features include:

DUEL mode: Challenge your friends in a turn-by-turn game.
ARENA mode: WARNING! ADDICTIVE GAME! Play against 3 other aliens in real-time!
FACEBOOK: Connect with Facebook, invite and challenge your friends.
TRAPS: Assured victory by trapping your opponents with the lightning, the psycho keyboard or the kidnapping.
SUPER POWERS: Upgrade your alien to reveal letters at the beginning of a round, block lightning or resurrect from death.