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Another tech tool to put in your pocket

Another tech tool to put in your pocket

How often do you find a program that transitions easily from mobile device to browser to Screen Shot 2013-03-27 at 9.56.09 AMdesktop/laptop?  It’s rare to discover a decent one that allows all the same compatibility and functionality.

During Professional Development Week in January 2013, EdTech introduced Pocket (formerly Read It Later) at an iPad user group session.

Pocket is a program that allows you to save articles, Tweets and several other content types into a list for reading at a later date.  This is a cloud-based app and is compatible on a variety of devices (mobile devices, Mac, PC, or browser-based) and from within other consumption-based apps (such as Flipboard and Zite).

The app now allows for different display layouts to make the content you save more enticing.  Some setup is needed to link Pocket to the apps on your mobile devices, but once this is complete, using Pocket is a snap!

Traditional list view:

The Pocket app can display your saved content in two formats. This image shows a list format.
The Pocket app can display your saved content in two formats. This image shows a list format. 

Tile view:

The Pocket app can display your saved content in two formats. This image shows a tile format.
The Pocket app can display your saved content in two formats. This image shows a tile format. 

 

Create an iOS dream team with SlideShark

Create an iOS dream team with SlideShark

During our last LinkEd, I experimented with an app called SlideShark.  I’ve had SlideShark on the iPad for a while now, but never really had the need to delve into it too much.

I painstakingly created my PowerPoint and then wished I had a better way to transport the content other than lugging the laptop.  SlideShark allows iOS users (iPhone & iPad) to create PowerPoints, upload them to SlideShark online, download them and present them from their mobile Apple device.

My experiment was to use the iPad as the device showing the presentation on-screen with a VGA adapter and to use my iPhone as a remote to control the progression of the slides (see image).

iPad 2 and iPhone 4S with SlideShark app installed. The iPhone is acting as the remote control to advance the slides that are displayed on the iPad.
iPad 2 and iPhone 4S with SlideShark app installed. The iPhone is acting as the remote control to advance the slides that are displayed on the iPad.

It was flawless.  And that’s saying quite a bit because I’m notorious for breaking technology or at least having to do the hokey pokey repeatedly in order for something to function properly right out of the box.

The remote feature with the iPhone allows you to swipe left or right to advance slides and a swipe upwards to bring up the slides and select a specific one to jump to.  A reassuring vibration setting gives the presenter notification that a command has been sent to the presentation device (the iPad in my case).

SlideShark was easy, quick and didn’t require too much setup.  They also give you the option to share or keep your slideshows private.