Apple has updated Keynote, Pages and Numbers for iOS.
According to Apple “For the first time, users will be able to draw, sketch or write with Apple Pencil directly in the Pages, Numbers and Keynote apps. With Apple Pencil, advanced yet easy-to-use tools allow all users, from students to professionals, to bring their documents to life with drawings, illustrations, diagrams and more. Apple Pencil can also be used to easily and precisely add color, texture and more to any drawing.”
Book creation is now possible in Pages for iOS and macOS allowing users to collaborate in real time.
You can read more about the various updates including Box integration, Donut Charts and more here.
If you use the Lexis legal research service, you will find the updated Lexis Advance® HD app a useful tool to allow you to research on the go.
You can search the various services you have access to including State, Federal, Practice Areas and more.
The information is displayed in an easy to see format and you can easily filter the information. When you find a case of interest, you can see it displayed along with the citation and various hyperlinks in the case will take you to the cases and statutes cited.
One helpful feature is the ability to download cases, statutes and other files and store them locally for reference later.
The developer states:
With the Lexis Advance app, you can:
• View and annotate documents while offline with ability to sync changes!
• View alerts instantly
• Stay organized with remote access to saved files and folders
• Access favorites, previous research results quickly and search within results
• Ensure your research is “good law” with Shepard’s®
• Browse Sources and access Table of Contents
• Highlight and annotate text within documents
• Deliver documents via email, wireless printing or one-click PDF options
So, if you already have the service, you should try the app to take your research on the go. This app works on the iPhone as well.
Apple has released an update to iOS 11 to address an issue with the keyboard auto-correct and where “Hey Siri” stops working.
To update, connect to a Wi-Fi network and tap on Settings > Software Update and download and install. As usual, it is always best to back up your device first. You can read more about the update process here.
Workflow is an app that lets you string together steps or actions you may perform on your iOS device into a single tap. The steps allow you to manage your media, share content, create and send notes, tweets and more. The app is now an Apple product.
There are 3 basic concepts for the app. Creating, running and managing workflows.
Creating
A workflow is a series of actions that accomplish a task.
credit Workflow
The app allows you to organize the actions and tap once to begin them with each step like a falling domino that leads to the next until the task is complete.
credit Workflow
A single action could be Get Latest Photo, Edit Image or Post on Facebook. If you combine the three, you can tap once and perform all three together to get an image, crop it and then post on Facebook.
Running
You can run a workflow from within the app or from outside the app by using Spotlight, the Today Widget, your Apple Watch and more.
Managing
Each workflow is represented by a button like icon.
Credit Workflow
You can arrange or rearrange them similar to your home screen. You can even choose to have workflows appear in the widget.
Advanced Steps
You can learn about more advanced steps, like using variables, choosing from a list or menu in the advanced workflow documentation.
The “documentation” for Workflow can be found here.
A YouTube video posted by AppChasers walks through the process in about 12 minutes.
The app had a bunch of updates recently that include:
Optimized for iOS 11 and iPhone X
Drag and drop content onto a workflow to run the workflow with that input
Added HEIF support to the Convert Image action
Added HEVC support to the Encode Media action
Added support for iOS 11 Health data types: Insulin Delivery, V02 Max, Waist Circumference, Resting Heart Rate, Walking Heart Rate Average, and Heart Rate Variability
Added the ability to retrieve and save multiple files at a time in the Get File and Save File actions
Added the ability to specify a default “From” address for the compose sheet in the Send Email action
Add TaskPaper to OmniFocus now supports adding TaskPaper under specific folders, projects, and tasks
Bug Fixes
Fixed the Tweet and Post on Facebook actions on iOS 11
Fixed an issue where text items could unexpectedly be converted to image metadata dictionaries
Fixed an issue where granting access to Ulysses may not work
Fixed an issue where workflows launched from the Complication would not run on watchOS 4
Fixed an issue where the Text action may randomly scroll to the top while typing
Fixed an issue where the Send Message via WhatsApp action contact field did not work properly
Fixed an issue where the Convert Image action may crash in the Today Widget or Action Extension
Fixed an issue where the Show Directions action may not use the correct travel mode when opening Google Maps
Fixed an issue where messaging the attendees of an event may include yourself
Fixed an issue where VoiceOver may not focus on an action after it’s added to a workflow
Fixed an issue where the Select Photos action did not work with VoiceOver when “Select Multiple” was turned on
Fixed an issue where a Workflow Input variable may not be editable after being added from the variable bar
Fixed a crash when inserting variables into the List and Dictionary actions
Fixed an issue where some files may not be selectable in the Dropbox and Box file pickers
Fixed an issue where a ghost workflow may appear while workflows are being reordered
Fixed an issue where passing a comma-separated list of email addresses into the Send Email action did not work
Fixed an issue where the Get Contents of URL action did not support passing a JSON body in DELETE requests
Fixed an issue where saving a file to Dropbox when a file already exists with the same name did not properly append a number to the filename
If you are looking for an app to keep up with and help you bill your time, consider OfficeTime. There is an app for your iOS device and Mac that can sync. There is a free version and a paid version that costs $7.99 that allows wireless syncing.
You can create invoices and view graphs to see how your time is spent.
The developer lists the features of the pro version as follows:
* Track your time from your home screen or any app with the OfficeTime widget.
* No monthly fees.
* Increase your billables
* Know if you’re on budget
* Improve your productivity by knowing where your time goes
* Easy, intuitive, flexible.
* Pay once. Get for both iPad and iPhone
* Work offline. No need for WiFi or cell connection.
* Export to Numbers, Excel and tab delimited.
* Get cross team reports on your Mac or PC (sold separately)
* Work with cross platform offices (sold separately): PC, Mac , iPhone, iPad
* Run multiple timers
* Rapidly switch tasks
* Time in the background
* Free Apple Watch version! Quickly start and stop timers and see where your day’s at.
The Mac version costs about $47. The developer advertises a 120 day refund policy. You can learn more about the app here.
This slightly dated video gives you some idea about the app.
Fantastical 2 for iPad is like a digital hub for your calendar, reminders, and contacts. This is a place where you can organize and plan events or tasks to be performed on a particular day with ease. Fantastical allows you to enter the information in plain English (or other supported language) and the event will be created in your calendar(s).
If you have not already done so, take a moment to adjust some preferences in the app. For example, in settings (the gear icon), under New Events, select default alerts you would like to receive before an event – like 1 hour and 2 hours before. Choose your default calendar there too so when you enter an event, it will automatically be placed there.
Another thing that is helpful is to turn on the Share feature. This allows you to be in another app, tap and select information and then share it with Fantastical.
To do this, in an app like Mail, select the text you want to send to Fantastical and then tap on the Share… pop up. Scroll along the apps visible and select Fantastical. If the app is not there, scroll until you see More, tap on it and slide the selector to turn on the Fantastical app. Now, Fantastical will be available to share your selections to create events, etc.
For example, lets say you get an email reminding you about a dinner meeting.
First, select the language you want to send to Fantastical.
Then, from the pop up share menu, tap Fantastical.
Then, tap Add on the top right.
Last, make any modification that may be necessary.
As seen below, Fantastical automagically, created the event, time, etc. from the selected text.
MindNode 4 is my go to mind mapping app. One of the reasons it is great is because of the ability to sync between the MindNode Mac version and the iOS version. This allows me to work on my mind maps whether I’m in front of my computer or on the go.
The latest update adds the following:
• Fixes importing documents from Files.app
• Allow to import text files from in-app document browser
If you are wondering about what Mind Mapping is or how to use MindNode, check the below video from MindNode.
The developer has announced that MindNode 5 is coming with some new features like Top-Down-Layout and orthogonal branches.
