Welcome to iPad Elementary
This past Sunday's paper devoted 2 full pages in the editorial section about how the new tablets are expected to change the way not only how children are taught in school but also how they learn.
Today, 1st graders are being taught to type so that they can communicate via the Internet using a key board. And there are probably a large number that can do it better and faster than we can as adults.
Digital books are sweeping education as both a cost savings measure and a more efficient way of handling text books. But readers at all levels want the experience of the paper page and digital books regardless of the device, deliver that experience. Guess how much they weigh? And lectures via webinars by teachers can supplement in-class instruction.
As real estate professionals, we are also embracing this new level of faster and more efficient mobile technology.
It is a bit like starting over from what we have learned over the past 10 or so years. Being in business, we have relied heavily on software that specifically addressed our business and communication needs. Over the past 5 years most of those software programs are disappearing and being replaced by cloud computing which allows for the data we entered into those programs to be stored on the Internet, accessible from anywhere or where ever we are and does require that we be tethered in front of our own desktop computers.
The iPad and other devices are delivering yet a whole new experience that proves not only to be faster but provides for the anywhere, anytime and all the time connectivity to everything from seminar notes just taken to, client contract files, e-mails and instant text messaging.
This portability was given to us initially on smart phones which still provides much of the experience but on a small limited screen. The new larger mobile devices with larger screens viewable regardless of being indoors or out are better at delivering that true mobile experience and more comfortably.
One of the better efficiencies I am realizing with my iPad is that I have many of the apps needed to do the functions I am used to doing on my computer.
As real estate professionals there are basic needs that we must have to do our job. Listing a few of these, we need access to our MLS. Most of us around the country have an "app for that" so that service is pretty well covered. And it might be my just my imagination but it seems faster in delivering the information. And I discovered that consumers have much easier and faster access then we do sitting at our computers searching for property in our MLS. Now we also have that faster speed though the data may be somewhat limited depending on your MLS service. We need access to our contract files and that to my surprise is not accessible by using an app but ZipLogic does provide mobile access via a Zipforms mobile account. It cost less than $10.00. Sure is nice to see, access and be able to generate my contract files in an instant.
We do need note taking accessibility where we can keep the client notes and communications divided into client files. There is an app for that, Penultimate seems to be very efficient in assigning a notebook to each client. Today I found a stylus from Ten One Design that allows me to hand write notes on the tablet using the Penultimate App. I found this accessory in the options file. More on that app as I discover more of it's capabilities. We need word processing and the Apple Pages App provides for that. The Evernote App provides for screen capture and storing clips of data from Internet sites that we need for delivering up to date market data to the consumer.
Through the course of shared experience here in the Rain, using the new iPad mobile device will give us instant access to the information on our computer, anywhere we happen to be. As my experience unfolds, it feels a lot like I am being unchained from my desktop once again. We will discover and share apps that provide for our needs and the ways for working in our real estate career efficiently and effectively.
It is also nice to carry around a dictionary, a thesaurus and my complete library of books that weigh nothing, everywhere I go.
Richard Iarossi wrote a post about a new external keyboard case designed by Zagg and available on line that is just awesome. I ordered mine this morning. Read his post, it is excellent and has many photos of the new keyboard and cover for the iPad. Thank you Richard.
Join Us in the ActiveRain iPad User Group where we will discover and share this wonderful new world of instant mobile computing.
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