PDF Productivity with iPhone and Dropbox
This is the first guest post that I have had on DidIGetThingsDone.com and it is written by Chris Garrett, co-author of the ProBlogger Book, speaker at many blogging and new media conferences and a genuine good guy.
In this post, Chris is going to provide an overview of PDF Productivity with the Apple iPhone and Dropbox.
Since I bought my iPod touch, and more recently upgraded to an iPhone 3GS, I have been making better use of my time by reading PDF documents while out and about. You can see more about my iPhone software productivity obsession here.
It is amazing how much spare time you actually have in a day. Think of all the times you are just waiting.
- Daily commute
- Waiting in line
- Sat at a restaurant table
- Outside changing rooms while friend or family member tries on their 20th item
- Before meetings
- After calling a taxi
- Airport lounges
- Security lines
Rather than sit and stare into space or doodle on a napkin, I have been reading ebooks, memorizing from mindmaps, and generally trying to fill the time while filling my head.
Up to now I have been getting these documents onto my iPhone using various methods such as emailing them to myself, or using an app called Files that allows you to configure your iPhone as a mini file server. Now I have a better choice, which makes moving files to your iPhone AND enabling offline storage much easier.
Dropbox now has an iPhone application!
If you do not know Dropbox, you are in for a treat. It is a free online storage space (up to 2gb, then you start paying) that allows you to sync files between computers and your online storage. It’s like a hard disk that follows you around. Now with the iPhone app you can sync to your iPhone too. And when you make the file a favorite you have instant access to the file even without an internet connection.
Go to https://www.getdropbox.com and check it out and create an account, then install the appropriate desktop application for your computer type (windows, mac and linux). When you have done that, grab the iPhone app and get logged in. Now any files you drag on to your Dropbox will appear on your iPhone – easy!
Of course my wife is not happy that I have my head down tinkering with my iPhone all the time … as yet I haven’t found an app that can help with that particular speed bump …
Do you see the iPhone as a productivity boon or a productivity pain? Please let me know in the comments …
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I wonder how is the speed of this baby viewing large PDF files. GoodReader does a tremendous job but i know Dropbox can be free.
http://www.productiveorganizer.com/productivity-management/how-to-read-pdf-books-and-files-on-your-iphone-goodreader-app-review/
ReplyI wonder how is the speed of this baby viewing large PDF files. GoodReader does a tremendous job but i know Dropbox can be free.
http://www.productiveorganizer.com/productivity-management/how-to-read-pdf-books-and-files-on-your-iphone-goodreader-app-review/
ReplyI depend on the 2Gb from Dropbox for many things; the iphone app–at least right now–seems to only download items on demand rather than automatically syncing. This can be a limitation when travelling out of 3G range (subway or outside the city).
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