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Big hands like to text, too

Posted on by Patty Bois

Do you feel left behind when it comes to texting because you think your fingers are too chubby?

“Fat fingers” joins “bad eyesight” as reasons people can’t type a text message. The average person texts 20-30 messages per day, and not all of them have thin fingers.

Here are some alternate ways you can send text messages, instant messages and emails on your smartphone:

  • use a soft touch stylus, a writing tool that provides more precision and looks like a ballpoint pen.
  • use custom apps such as iMean for iPhones and Big Buttons Keyboard for Android phones.
  • use SwiftkeyX predictive typing app for the Android.
  • use speech-to-text systems for voice dialing and messaging.
  • get a phone with a Qwerty keyboard, as it’s roomier and you get more tactile precision.

Remember, a big phone and big screen doesn’t mean a big keyboard.  But at least you have options now for staying connected.

Online portfolios: the future of the job search

Posted on by Brian Lee

Just like any college senior, a big part of my life has consisted of job hunting. During a recent search I made an interesting observation. On one of the applications, the only requirement was a link to a personal website/portfolio.

Now, while I have grown accustomed to providing links to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn (and even heard of making an online profile), I have never seen it as the only method of applying. This led me to one simple question: are online profiles the future of the job search?

Building an online profile provides several benefits over the traditional resume and allows applicants to stand out in a competitive job market. Applicants are not only able to list their work, but they also can show it visually. It also provides simplicity for those who are doing the hiring, by eliminating the process of photocopying stacks of papers to share the resumes of potential candidates, for example.

Users are able to bring together representative pieces such as pictures, videos and published works all in one place, along with the added advantage of showing basic web design knowledge. Building a website has become easier than ever, with tools like Wix, OPResume and even WordPress doing most of the work for you through customizable templates.

Portfolios can include links to other pages, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. This allows all of the information on a traditional resume, plus the simplicity of clicking to view other resources.

One snag in using a program such as Wix is that since the user is not paying for hosting, the domain name remains in the program’s name (e.g. name.wix.com). Fortunately, this is more detrimental for a business website than for a personal portfolio.

Another concern is how to customize the portfolio for each job that the applicant applies for. One way to address this issue is by writing a specific cover letter to the employer, while keeping the portfolio specific to the field of work the applicant is interested in.

This new method of showcasing work and skills provides the applicants more flexibility in what they choose to show off, and it represents a shift in the world of job hunting.

The top 3 free mobile news apps

Posted on by Brian Lee

In this day and age, people are looking for newer, faster and easier ways to get their daily news. I tested many mobile news apps to find out which ones are worthwhile, using the criteria of compatibility with both Apple and Android phones, variety of news topics and price (free). Here are my top three picks:

Flipboard

Flipboard has a fun graphic element where you can actually flip up and down through story lines (like you’re turning a page) and then tap on a headline to read more about it. When you download the app, the way you can choose from categories such as: news, business, sports, style, design and travel.

My favorite feature about Flipboard is that it encourages you to sync it with Facebook and Twitter to add your timelines and newsfeeds. It also has the potential to share news on a social media sphere.

With all that said, Flipboard would be much more interesting if it had more variety in its categories. It would also be nice if it allowed you to share and save stories.

Rating: B+

Google Currents

If you’re a fan of anything Google, this is the app for you. To sign in, all you need is a Google account. This app comes with the categories of news, lifestyle, business, science & tech, sports, entertainment and design. For each category, there are pre-loaded sites that you can either choose to keep or get rid of. Google Currents is also very user-friendly in the sense that you can add subscriptions. For example, instead of using the pre-loaded Huffington Post, you can choose to add the Los Angeles Times instead.  There are even publications from other countries.

This app also has the option of sharing it via social media. You can share on Google+, Tumblr, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Pocket and Instapaper.

The only downside to Google Currents is the pre-loaded sites in each category. I think it would be much better to start with a blank slate. That way, users don’t have to go through the extra work to delete the sites they don’t want.

Rating: A

News360

The name says it all: 360! With this app, you really do get the full circle. With more than 30 categories from which to choose, you can customize your app—all without even signing up (although you may choose to sign in with Twitter, Facebook, Google or your email account if you wish).

News360 adds a fun element by having strange categories such as zombies and paranormal. Not to worry, it also has the basics such as arts, politics and business. One feature that I find extremely useful is the option to add local news—something so simple, yet no one else has thought of it. I also like that you have the option to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down to better customize your stories. You may also save and share stories. Not only is News360 compatible with Apple and Android, but it works with Windows as well.

In my opinion, you can’t beat News360! It really has everything you could ever want in a news app.

Rating: A+