Have tech, will travel

My last post was almost a year ago.  Makes sense as about this time last year I began the hunt for a career move.  Countless phone interviews later (the strangest was with a popcorn seasoning company) I was newly employed as a National Account Manager for a world-renowned data storage company.  Day 1 on the job I flew from Chicago O'Hare to San Diego and my frequent-flier miles have been adding up ever since. 

Aside from the numerous travel tips I have acquired in the past 8 months (carry on, don't check - pick up  sample jars from department store cosmetic counters for all your toiletries to fit in to a quart-sized baggie) I have also learned how to maximize flight time and productivity while on the road.  
Here are some of my tips:

1. A smartphone is key.  With my iPhone I am almost always accessible (damn it).  The Mail function is great.  Sure, I can't open and view spreadsheets easily, but I can address important issues while waiting in the TSA security line.  (I can address several issues during that time.)  I love the Mail feature on iPhone because it consolidates message trails so I can go back to all related messages and see the path it has taken since it started.  I also love the tap to dial feature within Mail.  No fumbling for a piece of paper to write the number down and then dial it, just tap and call.  Last but not least, when going to the airport starts to feel like the movie Groundhog Day I use the camera on my iPhone to snap a pic of my parking location so I can always find my way to my car in the lot.  Wasn't I on the Bears floor, row 17?  No, that was last week!
2. Flight time is not nap time.  I cannot sleep on planes, no matter how tired I am.  So, I plan ahead and have productive things to do when "all electronic devices must be turned off" and when "it is now safe to use approved electronic devices".  During take-off and landing good old printed documents come in handy, it's a great time to review industry reports, price list and roadmap updates, etc.  As soon as I get the green light though, my 13" MacBook Pro is up and running.  It fits nicely on the tray table in coach, although if the person in front of me wants to recline it's not so great (note to self: write business case for iPad and submit to corporate).  The magsafe airline adapter is great to keep me charged, though not all planes have the feature.  Some flights also have go-go in-flight wireless now, which, let me tell you is not as great as it seems.  I prefer to use the time to catch up on my inbox by drafting responses to send as soon as I land.  I can knock out so many without the interruption of more messages coming in.
3. Prioritization has never been more important.  Sure my Out of Office reply says I am not available, but, people still think I am.  Replying to every little thing while on the road sets an expectation that I am accessible at all times.  Instead, I handle the most important issues and respond to only my key constituents while on the road.  Everything else is handled on the flight home (draft, save, send when home!) or when I'm back to the office.  As my manager says, "There is no way you can get everything done in one day." so I pick and choose to feel accomplished and let others know I am responsive when really needed.
4. Be aware of your surroundings.  Ever talk about someone in the bathroom only to have that person walk out of a stall and glare at you?  Fortunately I've never had to learn that lesson.  You never know who is around you, especially when traveling.  There are many roadwarriors in my industry and it is not uncommon for us to be on the same plane or sitting next to one another.  (Great networking opportunity!)  I am careful of what is on my MacBook screen while I'm in flight.  I haven't picked up a privacy screen as the glare on my glossy finish works well, but maybe I should.  One can never be too careful!  I also don't wear anything with a company logo on it or offer up information on what I do to chatty travelers.  "I'm in sales for a tech company." suffices and protects my identity as well as that of my company.

What tips, tricks, and "can't live without" tech to you use when on the road for business?


Photo All rights reserved by CubaGallery http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubagallery/

5 basic but priceless Apple tech features.

Last Thursday I left for work and realized I left my iPhone on the bedroom dresser.  I felt completely lost all day, like a piece of me was missing.  In a way it was - for as much as I use my iPhone it may as well be permanently attached to my hand. (Notice I said hand, not ear!)  Every day I seem to find new and creative uses for Apple products, but there are a few good old standbys I simply cannot do without:

1.  iPhone Clock Alarm.  I never worry I won't wake up because I set my alarm wrong or the power went out overnight.  Open the Clock app (standard on every iPhone/iPod touch) and click Alarm.  Click the + button to add a new alarm.  Choose the frequency by individually choosing days, sound (I like Marimba or Strum for a 5:30 wake-up versus Bark or Old Car Horn!), if you want a snooze option (yes, please!), and name the alarm if you'd like (in case you set up multiple ones).  Click Save, and just turn it on!

2.  iTunes Radio.  Although my music library is pretty diverse and I have over 1400 songs and 9 Genuis mixes, I still get tired of listening to my own music when I need to "plug in and tune out" at the office.  iTunes streaming radio is amazing - I can quickly find a genre beffiting of my mood du juor and choose from hundreds of stations.  I know Pandora is supposed to be streaming radio to the nth degree, yet I like to stay within the cozy, familiar confines of iTunes.

3.  Spotlight.  Oh, where do I begin?  I use Spotlight to find files, find and launch applications, and easily navigate my hundreds of daily email messages.  The level of intelligence this little, unassuming app has is mind-blowing.  I love that it can search the complete record or just title.  Last week I used a Windows-based PC for about 45 mins. and wanted to scream because I couldn't find a thing!  Little tip - when using the system-wide search use shortcut "Command + spacebar" to launch Spotlight.  Type in your search, navigate to your desired result and hit return.  Your wish is Spotlight's command!

4.  Two-finger scrolling.  Another function I simply can't live without.  How much time to PC users spend dragging their cursor to the upper right hand corner of their browser or file window and click/dragging the side scroll down?  When I help someone on their PC or have to use one myself (like last week) I instinctively two-finger scroll... the desired result does not occur.  Infuriating!  For setting/exploring one, two, and three finger trackpad "finger gestures" - click on System Preferences, Trackpad.  Turn features on and off and customize them as you wish, and view a video of how to use them.  Genius.  With the Apple Magic Mouse and now Magic Trackpad this is getting even better!

5.  Exposé.  Last but not least, this has got to be one of my all time faves.  The ability to clear all windows and find my desktop by dragging to a corner is such a time saver.  I'm one of those users who has about 8-10 applications and about 15-20 windows open at any given time during the day.  My newer to Mac husband likes to close down every window before moving to the next and "can't understand how I work like that".  How do you not?!?  Again, to view current settings and customize them visit System Preferences and click on Exposé and Spaces.  Configure away, or use the default settings.  To use the special functions on the function keys, click on Keyboard under System Prefs and check the "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" to turn them "on".  You'll need to press the Function (fn) key to use the features printed on the keys.

What are your favorite iPhone, iPod, Mac, or iPad features and functions?  How do you use them in your daily life?

Boogers and iPods don't mix.

If your iPhone and your child were hanging over a cliff and you could only save one, which would you choose?  Okay, that’s an easy one (hopefully).  Every day your gear comes dangerously close to its demise at the hands of the ones you love the most; your kids.  Kids are drawn to the glow of the iPod and iPhone screen like a moth to light.  They are mesmerized and must touch the magical devices.  Unfortunately, their sweet little digits are usually covered in some sort of food, boogers, or other unsavory substance that will inevitably leave a smear of goo across your screen.  Gives new meaning to finger gestures.  Ewww.  Kids don’t come with instruction manuals, but your Apple toys do and they do not recommend that type of screen treatment.  With Apple stores no longer carrying film-based protection it appears the company believes their screens don’t require a barrier.  Jimmy’s post-PB&J hands beg to differ.

With a shiny new iPad in your posession or sadly on back-order, you are likely devising a plan for how to keep the sacred device under lock and key for fear of Jim-Jim using it as a coloring book - not a cool coloring app, with actual crayons and markers. Just like any other lesson in life, children will learn what they are shown.  When was the last time you carelessly tossed your iPod/iPhone on the counter?  (gulp) Dropped it on the floor?   Accidents happen of course, but that’s what AppleCare and third party accidental damage protection (ADP) plans are for (and when will Apple offer ADP as an extension to their Protection Plans?)  Don’t set the bar too low for your kids by thinking they can’t handle the responsibility.  Explain proper use and care, and show them how to do it.  Limit use and supervise them.  If you let your three year old carry your iPod into the bathroom chances are pretty good it will end up in the toilet.  Can you really blame your little darling?  He just wanted to see the bowl light up.  Thankfully, it doesn’t look like protective screen manufacturers will go away quietly.  When your best parenting efforts fail, shop the web and invest in some really good gear-friendly shields and cleaning wipes like those from ZAGG.  If invisibleSHIELD (available for iPod, iPhone, and iPad too) is strong enough to protect military helicopter blades it had better withstand your boogery offspring.