So far in this series we have discussed two choices of tablets: Apple’s iPad, and the various flavors of Android tablets. While both of these systems have shown their ability to work as an extension of a serious workflow, such as for freelancers, one (the iPad) has been undoubtedly successful while the other (Android) has barely been able to tread water. While this situation has led some to believe that the iPad cannot be competed against, there may be another option that can.

Sometime around October, manufacturers are going to be releasing tablets with Windows 8 from Microsoft. Since the release of these machines is at least 6 months away it is very difficult to say what they will be like and whether or not they will actually be able to compete. However the possibilities here are very interesting. While the hardware specs have already been released and are shaping up to be as good or better than the iPad and Android, it is not simply hardware specifications that make a good computer. It is the day to day use, ease of use, and usefulness. We will explore some of those things here.

What we know

We know that Windows 8 tablets are going to run on ARM processors, similar to the processors in iPads and Android tablets. We also know that a number of sizes will be supported, up to at least 10 inches, with as good or higher resolution. We know that the tablets will use the Windows Phone 7 “Metro” interface of “live tiles” that display live information such as how many unread emails you have, or how many unread @reply tweets. There is also a rumor that the new tablets will come with the next version of Microsoft Office, which is touch enabled and ready to use on a tablet. For business users, this could be a very exciting feature. As for other apps, Microsoft is opting for a “locked down” app store similar to Apple’s in order to try to promote the same kind of positive user experience.

What We Don’t Know

For everything that we do know about the upcoming Windows 8 tablets, there are probably five things we do not. Hardware wise we do not know what the tablets are really going to look like, how heavy they will be, or what kind of battery life they will have. We also do not know what kind of support they will receive in terms of apps and how good they will be. To date Apple has more than 200,000 apps just for the iPad, not counting apps for iPhones and universal apps that work on both. This is a major consideration in any new hardware platform. It does not matter how fast the tablet is, how light, how pretty, if you do not have useful apps that enhance your productivity.

We also do not know how well Windows 8 tablets will connect with Windows 8 desktops. As stated in our first article in this series most users are not getting rid of their desktop or laptop to only use a tablet. They are using the tablet in conjunction with their PC and possibly their phone. So if you create a document on a Windows 8 tablet, will you be able to keep working on that document when you get back to your desk? Will you have to email the document to yourself back and forth (a very tedious process that most workers will not put up with) or will you be able to get to the next device and have the document just appear, like it does with Apple’s iCloud?

Microsoft is coming into the tablet race very late, which is a major disadvantage. Many Windows users have already embraced the iPad and have accepted that it is on a very different operating system than their desktop. Many fewer users have done the same thing with Android, leaving Microsoft left with the die hard fans who have waited patiently for them to make their move. However if Microsoft can get the formula right, they can take advantage of their tablet being supported by the most used desktop OS in the world, and possibly give Apple some competition where Android has not been able to.

photo credit: aaron_anderer

Next in our ‘A Closer Look at Tablets’ series is the Android Tablet. One thing many people are not aware of is that all Android devices are able to sync up the same way Apple’s devices can. They all run the same operating system (Android OS), which allows each device to automatically sync with your Gmail, Calendars, etc. Even though the iPad is still further ahead in sales, Google released a report as of December 2011 stating that over 700,000 Android devices are activated daily. Those are some big numbers and most likely growing a little more everyday!

If you’re the type of person who is always on the go and you are in the market for a tablet that will give you the technology to access the same information from your Mac or PC, along with your iPhone or Windows phone, you must ask yourself some important questions. Will the tablet allow you to complete the work you need done in a timely manner and also allow you to create a seamless connection between your other devices? So all in all, our main question is ‘Is the Android tablet meant for you?’ The answer is Yes! With a variety of apps, you’ll be able to create a worry-free experience between your mobile and home devices.

For any of you who have a big to-do list that you must keep up with and check constantly no matter what your location, I suggest the app Evernote for your Android tablet. With Evernote, you can keep track of all your meetings and deadlines for the day, make and record different types of task lists, and record written or voice notes for later. You can also share your notes with your friends via Twitter or Facebook. Access all of your information with the Evernote app on your Smartphones and by installing Evernote on your PC or Mac. All in all, this a great time saving app that will give you a fantastic, seamless experience between your tablet, phone, and computer.

Another great app for the Android tablet is Shoeboxed. Shoeboxed allows you to take pictures of your receipts and within a day or so the good people at Shoeboxed will have entered the information into your financial software (such as Quickbooks, Freshbooks, etc.). This app is great for traveling, especially since you won’t need to keep up with receipts and worry about losing them along the way. You can even create and send expense reports from your tablet! Access all your receipt information via Smartphone or your home computer.

File Expert is another great app that is available to sync up and view your files. This app allows you to transfer files or documents to a number of other programs, such as Dropbox & Box.net. You’ll have the ability to read text documents and view images, compress and decompress ZIP files, along with other types of documents and folders, and send files via Wi-Fi. Since you are able to access, load and unload files into your Dropbox, you will be able to see any changes in files from your tablet, computer, or phone. This app is amazing for those of us who need to access and edit files on the go and allows you an easy way to send files out.

So if you’re looking for a new tablet and am not sure which Android tablet will work with your system, you now know that they will all give you access to the functions you desire! Make sure to check in next week for part 4 in our ‘A Closer Look at Tablets’ series when we explore the Windows Tablet.

photo credit: Sham Hardy

We’re kicking off our ‘A Closer Look at Tablets’ series with the extremely popular iPad. The iPad was the original tablet to pave the way for all other tablets. In this competitive market the iPad is still the King when it comes to sales and shows no signs of backing down.

So here’s the scenario: You are a die-hard Windows phone user and love the Windows 7 operating system you have on your laptop but you find yourself eyeballing that glorious new iPad 2. You do all of your work on your laptop and have no intention of getting rid of it. So being a person on the go, you ask yourself “Do I really want to take the plunge? How will my system work with the Windows 7 operating system I have on my computer?” No need to fear! There are several apps available to give you a seamless experience when adding an iPad into your mix of gadgets.

One of the most efficient ways to access your home computer desktop (whether it’s a PC or Mac) on your iPad is via remote desktop connection. Apple offers a variety of apps such as RDP iTap Mobile ($11.99) or iTeleport ($19.99) to access your desktop or laptop from your iPad. This way, you’re able to access all of your programs, including most of your software using your iPad. All of the documents you’ve worked on from your iPad will then be available on your desktop or laptop at home. Another great part is that if you have a Smartphone (iPhone, Windows or Android) other versions of these apps are available so all of your portable electronic devices can access your home computer when you are out and on the go. Both of the apps mentioned give your iPad a great experience when accessing your home computer and have awesome reviews.

Another app to help give you access to your Windows system or Mac from your iPad is the Dropbox app. Dropbox (a totally free app!) allows you to drag your documents or files to the Dropbox folder on your iPad and access them from your home computer or vice versa. This is extremely helpful when it comes to accessing documents you plan on looking over or editing later with just the touch of the screen or click of the mouse. Plus, you can share access to your Dropbox with your clients as well. So if you have a client who needs a document edited and you’re not at home, it’s not a problem! The client can just drag and drop the document into the Dropbox folder that you and the client share. Your folder will then update and the document will be accessible for you to edit. Easy as pie, right?

I would also like to point out the incredible Google Docs app, GoDocs ($4.99). Since both Windows and Mac users tend to use Google Docs because you can create all different types of documents and store them all in one place, I figured this would be a big one for someone considering an iPad. GoDocs allows you to access your documents anywhere when you are on the go. So feel free to edit your spreadsheets, create PDF’s and sync up multiple Google accounts so you’re able to access all of your documents in one place. If you have a client who needs to see a spreadsheet containing the hours and work you’ve done for them, you can easily use your iPad to go in and update the files you had previously created on your home computer, then share or email the spreadsheet to your client.

Lastly, I feel as though anything written about the iPad would not be complete without the mention of iCloud. iCloud allows you to store all of your content (videos, documents, contacts, etc.) and access it from any device. So anything you save to iCloud you will be able to access on your desktop computer (whether it’s a PC or a Mac) and from your phone. This technology from Apple is truly amazing due to the fact that it frees up space on your phone and the price for this service is just right (i.e. Free!). I know this is definitely a plus for those who have tons of documents and information they need to be able to access at any time and at multiple locations.

So if you are in the market for an iPad but didn’t want to purchase one because you don’t want to abandon your Windows or Android devices I hope this article has helped change your perspective and given you some new options. Next week we will explore the increasingly popular Android tablet and how it works with Windows 7 & Mac OS. Don’t miss it!

photo credit: Johan Larsson

Unless you are still doing all your typing on a typewriter (whatever that is), you have probably heard that tablet computing is becoming a big deal. In fact the sales of tablets is outpacing more traditional desktops and laptops. As a particular type of hardware gets popular, so does software develpment for it (the more people using a particular platform, the more developers want to write for it). So the amount of software for business people such as freelancers is growing everyday.

Of course most tablet users are not neccesarily throwing away their laptops or desktops and ONLY using tablets, they are using them in conjunction. Therefore users need their tablets to work together with their other computers, making a seamless work environment.

So what tablet should you buy? So far about 90% of tablet sales have gone to Apple’s iPad, but what if you are an Android phone user and like Google’s system? Or what if you are a dedicated Windows user? Microsoft is planning to release Windows 8 tablets that are supposed to meld the same user experience for every platform: desktop, tablet and phone. These systems have not been  released yet, but what are people saying about them?

We will explore each of these three choices, to help you determine what might be the best solution for you. Check back here each Monday in March for an exploration of one of these systems, and please feel free to share your experiences and opinions in the comments.

photo credit: jfingas

Working virtually brings with it many “perks” such as wearing fuzzy slippers at your desk, freedom to be a bit more liberal with your schedule and countless dollars saved on commuting.  It also brings the need to adjust how folks view the “company office.”

When you’re working virtually, there’s no more central meeting room down the hall on the left or impromptu power meetings at the water cooler.  Dropping a memo off at someone’s cubicle isn’t an option.

Does this mean it can’t be business as usual?  No. It doesn’t mean that at all.

Enter Basecamp.  Basecamp is the new headquarters for your virtual office.  It’s Basecamp that organizes and notifies everyone of meetings and sends reminders for project deadlines.  Basecamp’s message center replaces the chatter at the water cooler and great ideas and eureka moments still come alive.  The big gathering in conference room 7?  It can still happen in Basecamp.  All the information, documents, important files and illustrations are all available in one central location with easy access for everyone to use.  It’s like gathering around a long conference table except without the unusually oversized centerpiece in the middle.

Communication is one of the biggest ingredients for successful business operations.  Whether this be keeping a team of three up to speed on recent project developments or making sure all 20 assigned to specific tasks are working at the same pace and getting equal expected results.  The communication capabilities within Basecamp keep everyone informed, in the loop and on the same page.  No more digging through emails and long back and forth email threads.  See a conversation, from start to finish, in its entirety right in Basecamp.

Of course the message center in Basecamp lets your email know what’s going on so you don’t ever miss any important conversations.  No worries.  Communication is a big big feature.

Across the board, Basecamp encourages both team and client interaction and discussion. It’s a simple click of a button to add your comments and input to any conversation.

Sharing files, documents, images, and designs has never been easier.  When new information is added, anyone involved with the particular project or file is notified and Basecamp keeps a running version of the original right up to the current version.  No more wondering where the missing link is because it’s not missing!!!

Basecamp allows the user to assign responsibility, set to-do’s, set deadlines, work up a budget and track time spent.  Get things done the way you want them done; On time and within budget.

Basecamp offers 3 plans. Each plan is based on your needs, the size of your group or business and the frequency and content of your projects.  If you’re not quite at the level of needs to qualify for any of the 3 main plans, they also offer a basic plan with some smaller amenities or a free plan that works great for freelancers that work with one client at a time and want a great way to keep them informed through the process.

With a 30 day free trial on all accounts and only 60 seconds to get signed up once you decide you can’t live without it, Basecamp is bringing more and more people into the new “virtual office”.

Over 5 million people worldwide have used Basecamp to collaborate on over 4 million projects, track 57 million hours of work, share 46 million files, and complete 43 million to-dos. How will you use Basecamp?

As a freelancer, multitasking is simply a fact of life. Often when I am sitting in my office working at my computer, a call will come in that I either need to take notes on, or I need to keep working during the call. I also participate in online conference calls, where taking notes or working at the same time is a must. Recently I finally got tired of holding my phone between my shoulder and my ear, and decided to get a bluetooth headset. I figured that it would not only be helpful in the office, but when out driving as well, especially since some of the towns in my area have laws against holding a cell phone and driving.

Out of the slew of headsets out there, I chose the new Jawbone ERA. The ERA is the newest product from Jawbone, which has had great success with it’s previous ICON models. The ERA starts with the same basic foundation as other good headsets: good sound quality, noise cancellation, and easy to pair bluetooth connection. It then goes a few steps further. Like the ICON, the ERA keeps track of it’s battery life by displaying a battery meter on smart phones (iPhones do this automatically, Blackberry and Android phones require a download) or by speaking a low battery warning message. Also like the ICON you can add apps to the headset by plugging it into your computer and downloading them form the Jawbone website. You can change the caller id voice you hear and add various dialing apps such as Dial2Do or Jott (both of these services require additional fees, however the standard dialing app is free).

The ERA also adds a few new tricks, such as a built in accelerometer. This allows for motion controls to operate the device. Shake the headset four times to put it into pairing mode. To answer or end a call when the headset is in your ear tap on the front twice. When it is out of your ear, shake the headset twice before inserting it in your ear.

So all of these features sound great, the question is how does it work? First, lets discuss the physical. The headset comes with six different cushions to go over the end that fits in your ear. The one I am using is comfortable, although I might switch to a smaller one as when I first started using it my ear got a bit sore after a few hours. Taking the headset out for a few minutes relieved the pain, and after a few days it is not happening as often, so I may just need to get used to using a headset.

The motion controls work very well and make the headset very simple to use. It paired with my phone and computer instantly. If the headset is in my ear when a call comes in tapping on it answers the call right away. If it is not in my ear I can pick up my phone to answer, or shake the headset and put it in my ear to take the call with no problem.

The other big draw for me was the apps. I am somewhat addicted to them on my phone, and being able to use apps on my headset was something I was dying to try. I like that I can choose the voice that is used for things like caller id and battery life.I also like that I can use different dialing apps for accomplishing different tasks. The basic app allows you to speak names you want to call. Jawbone’s Thoughts app lets you speak text messages, then send them using their free iPhone app. Other services such as Dial2Do and Jott allow you to do all kinds of things using voice commands such as send email and text, listen and reply to Twitter, get weather updates, and more. My only complaint here is that you can only have one dial app installed at a time. Which means when I installed Dial2Do so I could try it, I could no longer use voice dialing to make a call (I could however use voice to send text, check and send email, etc. as mentioned above). This is not a major complaint, just a mild disappointment that I have to choose.

The Jawbone ERA retails for $129.00 and is available at many electronics retailers such as Best Buy, and cell phone stores such as AT&T. Availability is a bit spotty right now since ti was just released (AT&T only had one of the four colors when I bought mine last week). It has plenty of bells and whistles for the tech savvy, however the motion controls make it easy to use for those that are not big technology users as well. I recommend this headset for anyone who like to work hands free, likes ease of use, or likes tweaking their technology to get it exactly the way they like it.

photo credit: Silly Jilly

I hate that there are only 24 hours in a day… and that I need to sleep and eat in there somewhere. As a freelance writer, after I’ve set my fees, my daily revenue is limited to the speed at which I can type. Faster typing = more money. (Yes, I realize that’s a simplistic equation). 

One way to improve productivity is with Dragon NaturallySpeaking . Dragon NaturallySpeaking is a voice-to-text program that, well, takes the things you say and turns it into text in your favorite programs. Additional voice commands allow you to perform various functions (a surprising amount of functions!) like opening and closing files, selecting and copying text, and so on. And what I really like about Dragon NaturallySpeaking is that you can train it. It becomes more and more useful over time because it learns how you say the things you say and it stores that information so when it hears you say that phrase again, it gets it right. 

Why it might be right for you:

• This can be a way to gain much more productivity, simply because we tend to talk faster than we can type. (I can type 75 words a minute, nothing spectacular, but most people talk around 140 – 200 words per minute). If you type slower than you can talk, this is a good way to get more typing done.
• If you tend to write the way you talk (for example, your writing is very conversational) then this is a good reason to use the program.
• If you like to get up and walk around or if you are having wrist problems because of excessive typing, this program can help to alleviate that. (I hurt my back on summer and found sitting to be painful and Dragon NaturallySpeaking got me through the summer).
• If you work from an outline then you can simply speak the content for each point in your outline and it will go quickly. 

Why it might not be right for you:

• Not all writing is conversational. I found it really useful for conversational writing but formal writing I found to be harder to speak. That’s not something against the software; it was just a challenge for me that I couldn’t overcome. Over the past few years, I’ve used Dragon NaturallySpeaking less and less because my formal writing has increased.
• If you type really fast or you mumble when you talk, this might not be a good tool for you. It can pick up what you are saying and you can correct and train the program but it’s not perfect. (To be fair, though, it is very good).
• If you work in an industry with very specialized terms, you will spend a lot of time correcting and training the program in the beginning.
• If you compose on the fly (instead of an outline) then you might find yourself starting and stopping your speech to think about what you want to say next.  

Dragon NaturallySpeaking can be a really useful tool for you to create good content quickly. It’s not for everyone but it can be very useful. It’s best (at least in my opinion) when you write informal content that is more like a conversation than an article or report. Think about whether it’s an investment you want to make in your freelancing business.

The website we’re reviewing today is SeeNow.com.

SeeNow is a clever site in which you can upload a picture of someone’s face and then have their face appear on someone else’s body in magazines, photos, and more. It’s like what you do when you go to a tourist destination and you stick your face through a hole in a sign so it appears like your head in on a pirate body or a medieval knight’s body. It’s fun and addictive.  

The site is insanely simple to use:

• Simply browse through their pictures and find one that you like.

• Then click on it and upload your picture.

The site is smart and can find the subject’s eyes and will also color-correct the image so that it blends better with the template.

Choose from all kinds of pictures, including random pictures of men and women, superheroes, movie stars, musicians, athletes, commercial models, scary Halloween characters, magazine covers and more. Basically, if it normally has a person in it, you can stick your face on top.

It sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

Give it a try. There is not memberships or sign-ups, it’s so easy, and it’s worth a laugh and a few minutes of your time.

Now, here are a couple of reasons why we’re reviewing it on this site:

1. The first reason is because we review websites. And this is a website.
2. The second reason is because, as a freelancer, you work your butt off and sometimes need to take a break but just want to browse around mindlessly on the computer. I get that. I do that, too.
3. The third reason is this: There might actually be something here for you to use as a freelancer. I’m not kidding. If your brand is one that is fun, funny or totally casual, you might want to periodically post a picture of yourself from this site. During the Halloween season, why not put up a picture of you that is extra scary? Or maybe during the Academy Awards you want to put up some pictures of yourself as a movie star. There might also be tie-ins with specials that you offer or a blog series you write. Get the point? Some freelancers want to maintain a professional image and this won’t be for them. But some freelancers are fine positioning themselves as having a good time and totally relaxed and easy to work with. Get your pictures here .