As a software trainer I am frequently asked what apps I use to get done what I need to. Or during a training session I will use an app and it will get someone’s attention.
Here’s a list of my preferred apps and their uses:
Screen Recording and Publishing – Screencast – O – Matic
Screencast-o-matic is my goto for screen recording and publishing. It’s affordable for the full features, the built in editor enables me to easily zoom, annotate, blur etc my videos, and I can easily save them to OneDrive or publish directly to my YouTube channel. I have it installed on my iPad and iPhone as well to record training. Paid plan gives me unlimited recording length and access to royalty free images and video clips to use as well.
I pay $48 annually for the Solo Premier plan which for me is great value for money for a core tool in my role.
Screenshots and Editing – ShareX
ShareX is a free screenshot program with a massive amount of features. Full list on their website. My typical use would be to capture a screenshot and edit it using tools such as – blur, pixelate, highlight, outline circle/square, add arrows, labels, stickers Step numbers. Then save to OneDrive. It has more than I need. Totally free. App sits in the Quick Launch tray for easy access.
ShareX is a free software.
Colour Picking Tool – Instant Eyedropper
Instant Eyedropper is a free colour detection tool that I use to identify and copy to my clipboard a colour on the screen that I click on. I use it a lot to match colours when designing and creating images, logos and websites. Super useful and sits in the Quick Launch tray, click it then mouse over a colour on your screen, one click and that colour code is in your clipboard ready to paste.
Instant Eyedropper is free software.
Note Taking and Record Keeping – OneNote
OneNote is what I use to record information. I create notebooks for different areas of life and in each notebook divide it into sections which contains pages for topics. For example in my Personal notebook I have a section for Warranties and create a new page in that section each time I buy a product with a warranty. I simply take a photo of the receipt and insert it into the page. Fully searchable, it makes finding those instructions, recipes, car details, manuals, flight itinerarys and anything recorded, easy to access. Plus it is available on all my devices. So whether I am on my iPad, iPhone or computer I can get it all, with note changes syncing so the latest is always available.
OneNote is included in my $99 Office 365 subscription.
Disk Space Management – TreeSize Free
TreeSize Free is a free little utility which helps me find where my disk storage space has gone. It will scan the directory you tell it (eg. C: ) and list folders with the Gigs or Megs of data stored in them. From there you can drill down into any folder to identify what is taking up space. Useful, I dont use it every day and to be honest as I write this Im wondering if there is something in Windows which does this – and if not – why not?
I use the free version Treesize Free (there is also a Pro version)
Password Management – LastPass
LastPass – I pay to get the Premium account for this which enables me to have LastPass installed on an unlimited number of devices. Phones, iPads, work and personal computers. Changes to passwords and my password vault sync across these devices so I am always up to date. I use it mostly to generate hard passwords and remembering them when I sign up to something online.
I use the $54 per annum Premium version.
Video Downloader – 4K Video Downloader
I prefer to download some videos and use them in presentations rather than linking to them, so I know they are available and will play when required! 4K Video Downloader is an app I pay for, cost me one off $15 and I can use it on two computers. I don’t use it every week, but it lets me download videos or video playlists to my computer really easily.
$15 one off registration for 2 computers.
Remote Computer Access – RealVNC
I do some messing about with RaspberryPI devices and sometimes have to access them remotely. I also have a desktop setup at home and a PC media centre connected to my TV. Instead of accessing these computers all individually I installed VNC Server on each of them, then VNC Viewer onto the computers that I would use to access those from. It means wherever I am connected I can access those computers if needed.
I use the free versions of VNC Server and VNC Viewer to get this done.
Web Browser Content Blocking plugin – uBlock Origin
I use uBlock Origin, a web browser plugin to block content I’d rather not see. This includes adverts, tracking and malware sites. I use it in Firefox, Edge and Chrome. It’s nice and easy to turn off it a website is getting content blocked that you need to see – just turn it off for that site and refresh the page.
You’ve heard of VR right? Virtual reality – the experience (at the moment) of viewing a movie which is presented through a headset in a way that you can look around as though you are in the setting. With headphones and sound you can start getting tricked that it’s more real than it is…..
Google Cardboard is a low cost, cheap as kitset you can buy which enables you to use your smartphone and some folded up cardboard to create a VR Headset, download some VR apps, and get into some virtual reality.
So once your cardboard headsets arrive you just put them together, download a few VR apps and off you go.
Well, it took me about 30 minutes to put the first cardboard goggles together – Because they were missing a piece! Once I realised that I requested a refund from the seller and in about 10 minutes had the other set build.
One thing that puzzled me was the magnets that came with it. I had no idea what the heck they were for. Google. Turns out the magnets work with the phone’s magnetometer to act as a button with the headset, so head movements can act like button taps.
And lets be honest here – its $2 worth of cardboard so don’t expect anything amazing. Make some modifications with a bit of sticky tape and rubber bands where you need to!
How does Google Cardboard VR work?
Google cardboard works by putting your phone the right distance away from your eyes so that the lenses can focus it – and with the split screen viewing the image takes on a 3D appearance. Think Viewmaster if you grew up when I did. But movies…..
Developers have made a bunch of apps containing or linking to movies to give you a taste of Virtual reality using Google cardboard – or other VR headsets.
It’d be wrong not to look at the Google cardboard app itself. It’s got a few of the same demo’s as Within mentioned below, but is a good introduction to using the Cardboard VR system.
Virtual Speech VR lets you choose different settings to practice public speaking in. Public hall, Boardroom or interview – plus expect more to come. There are options to animate the audience so there is some natural movement and background noise as well. Fairly realistic looking Im sure it could help someone with a really speaking anxiety to get more used to speaking in public.
Nivral offers a growing list of VR apps – the first, InMind VR lets you experience a scientific-educational activity where you travel inside a human brain on a rollercoaster-like ride zapping bad neurons! This VR app is probably a good starter one where users get a taste of many of the expected VR experiences. There’s also InCell VR…
Within VR provides a series of short VR movie experiences, some of which can also be found in Youtube’s 360 Video Hub. Some cool movies here and easy app to use. What attracted me most of all was U2’s 360 VR version of Song for Someone!
Yeah Im also a sucker for Star Wars. You may already have the Star Wars app on your phone, and inside that you’ll find Jakku Spy which is a VR activity. There’s a lot to download, but this may be the VR you’re looking for. Use the force in your role as a Resistance fighter.
BONUS VR APP TIP!
I realised after publishing this post that I hadn’t included the compulsory Rollercoaster VR app!
Check out Rollercoaster VR by Fibrum, which has cool scenes including jungle and water. Fun times. But you only get 4 free rides, then its $2.99……..
Wunderlist is a great productivity app available to install on all your devices – iOS, Android, web browser, Apple Watch, OSX and Windows. Easily create a List then add To-dos. Lists sync via the cloud to all your devices and can be shared with other Wunderlist users, for example – create a Family Shopping list shared with everyone in the family instead of sticking a note on the fridge! Due dates can also be set in Wunderlist so you can be sure not to forget to get that To-do completed.
Introductory Video from Wunderlist (1:16)
How I use Wunderlist:
I’ve been using the free version of Wunderlist to manage my tasks and to-do lists for various projects and work since 2011. Wunderlist is available for iOS, android, Windows and Mac and because its hosted in the cloud my Lists are also available in a web browser.
I usually create a List per project but have other Lists named: Things to Buy, Movies to Watch, House Jobs, Stuff Loaned, Stuff Borrowed as a really easy way to make notes. Wunderlist has a default To-do List called Inbox where you can just put To-dos without adding them to a separate List.
As a Family we share a List called Food Shopping. Everyone has the app so can add items to the Food Shopping list anytime and if one of us is at the supermarket we can always crack that list open and see if there’s anything to get.
For work I’m also using Wunderlist but have setup a separate account to help separate work/home.
What does Wunderlist do?
Wunderlist enables you to manage and organise all the tasks that you need to get done into Lists. A List is simply a collection of To-dos and each To-do can have extra information added to it such as: assign to, Due Date, Reminder, a subtask, Notes, Attached files, comments. See in the image below how a List – To-Do – more info are displayed. Lists can also be grouped into Folders – so for me as you can also see I use a Personal Folder, with a series of Lists, each with their own To-do items.
What I like most is that the Wunderlist interface is so easy to use and organise. With nothing complicated to think about it’s easy to get my head around what needs to be done.
Video: Short Wunderlist Tutorial (6:57)
Sharing Wunderlist to-Do Lists
Once you have a list created just tap the Share button and email the Link to your friend. They’ll need to have Wunderlist setup, but then they can just add the shared List to their app. Easy.
Wunderlist – difference between Free and Pro Versions?
So far I haven’t had a need to upgrade to the Pro version of Wunderlist as everything I need can be done without upgrading. Perhaps if I was in business and we were using it as a Team then the Pro version would become necessary. In 2015 Microsoft purchased Wunderlist so we may see it appear in the Office Suite in some form.
The premium or Pro version of Wunderlist basically offers you more of what you already get in the free version.
Wunderlist has a elegant and easy to drive interface which enables you to manage the things you need to get done alone or with others in an uncomplicated way. One of my favourite and busiest apps.
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Campbell Smythe
I am a Learning and Collaboration technologies advisor living in Cairns, Australia. An educational technology leadership background and experience managing a globally located information technology team, has given me wide experience in the application of digital technologies to a variety of educational and workplace contexts.
Certified Microsoft Service Adoption Specialist
Microsoft eSports Leader
Microsoft Innovative Educator
Mountain Biker and Triathlete
Former Asia Pacific Information Services Manager MAFINT
1 Minute Introduction to Wunderlist
