Wade Corbett
We’re all guilty of working too much on occasion. It’s absolutely inevitable if you have the drive to challenge yourself and succeed at all costs… and we all have that, right? I’ll be the first to admit sometimes my vision for success overshadows my need for rest. But just as being lazy won’t get you anywhere, overworking yourself can be just as bad.
How do we create that perfect balance between work and play? Well, if you’re like me, you probably have a small panic attack when you can’t access your phone at any given moment. Do you sleep with your phone by your pillow? E-mail during meetings? Rest your phone on your bathroom counter when showering? Don’t do it!
If I was stranded on a deserted island and could only take one item, it would be my iPhone. I wouldn’t even take it to call for help, but to make sure that I didn’t get behind on my e-mails. Don’t think you’re that addicted? Next time you’re sitting still, notice how often you instinctively reach to check your phone for missed alerts. Continue reading »
Peter Lamandre
By Peter N. Lamandre
No Apple event would be complete without a post from me, the self-proclaimed “Über Apple Fan-boy.” iOS 6 is finally here and the new features are aplenty…
I will rundown a few of the super cool new things iPhone/iPad users can now do.
Let’s start with the new maps app replacing the previous map application, which was a Google product. It’s clear that Google was holding back some of the cool features in the iOS version of their product as the Android version had far superior features. Can you really blame Google though? Would you really provide your competitor with a “great product” or a “just okay” one? So Apple took the bull by the horns and created a new map app from the ground up, and I must say, so far this is a killer app. With all the iOS users out there, I can not see how the GPS companies will stay in business. The turn by turn is smooth, and so far it is accurate — hopefully it won’t send me into a corn field as I test in in some rural areas in the next few days. I took a spin on the highway and the anonymous crowd-sourced data to determine traffic patterns seems to be spot-on.
Mail received a facelift with the ability to now directly insert pictures and movies from the mail screen. Seems like a simple idea, but the insertion of videos and pictures was previously a cumbersome task, now it’s easy peasy lemon squeezy. I frequently read messages then mark them as “unread” in order to remind me to go back and do something with the email… I know I can flag them but I prefer to mark as unread so I was a bit scared when I could not find the “Mark as unread” link where it normally is. You can now find it in the lower left hand corner of your screen under the flag icon.
In the camera and photo features, there is now a built in panorama shooting mode in the iPhone, but not the iPad. I have used many panoramic apps over the years, and this one is fast, easy, and the sticking works very well. The photo app has noticeably faster loading, which I’m sure all the users can appreciate. The addition of a multiple photo stream will allow users to quickly share specific photos either publicly or privately by invitation only. I can think of numerous real estate-related uses for this feature.
As REALTORS®, we are always in meetings with clients, or in committee meetings where phones can be a distraction. Continue reading »
Subhi J. Gharbieh
By Subhi Gharbieh
No Matter how hard we try to keep up with all the latest trends and technology, it is virtually impossible to use every single real estate-related mobile application in our business today. There is just too many of them! My fellow MetroTex (Dallas) YPN member- Justin Levitch and I have been teaching what we call our “iPads, Smart Phones, and Real Estate Apps Course” to diverse crowds of REALTORS® all over the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. We highlight hundreds of apps that could potentially boost your business, or just make you look like the most rock star, tech savvy real estate agent in town. Here are a few of my favorite apps that I use in my business today. Now, I’m already the coolest REALTOR® in town, but these definitely put me way ahead of the competition. 
1. MagicPlan (iOS – free) - MagicPlan measures your rooms and draws your floor plan just by taking pictures. You can then get your floor plan in PDF, JPG and DXF format or publish an interactive floor plan on the Web. With MagicPlan, everyone can create a floor plan in just a few minutes. Example use: Draw a floor plan for your listing to show an out of town buyer the house layout.
2. Cards (iOS – free) – Create and mail beautifully crafted, real greeting cards personalized with your own text and photos – right from your iPhone. Your Apple ID is charged $2.99 for each postcard you send. Incredible, way better than a Hallmark! Example use: Post-closing thank yous.
3.Videolicious (iOS – free) – Turn raw video clips and photos into tightly-edited masterpieces to share with your friends in just three simple steps. Example use: 20-second buyer testimonial videos to use as commercials.
4. Dropbox or Box (iOS, Android – free) – Dropbox or Box lets you bring all your photos, documents, and videos anywhere. Any file you save to your Dropbox or Box will automatically save to all your computers, your Android or iOS device, and even the Dropbox or Box website! Example use: Share files too large to e-mail with your clients, backup your photos and/or files in the cloud to have access while mobile. Access contracts or photos on your iPad without using up all your iPad memory.
5. Glympse (iOS, Android – free) Continue reading »
Stefanie Hahn
By Stefanie Hahn
What does getting it done mean? My “it” goes something like this…I want to work hard, be kind, and have a life. In order for me to be kind and have a life, I have to get it done. Working hard is weaved right in there. Here are a few of the apps that I use each day to get it done. *Bonus – all of these apps are free!
Assistant (Android) | SpeakToIt (Apple)
I spend a ton of time in the car – I got an Assistant to help me use this time effectively. The Assistant app can open apps, search for answers and addresses, compose an e-mail or text, read news, e-mails, and texts, play voicemails, save “to do” list items, and more. The voice transcriptions are some of the best I’ve seen in apps of this ilk, which makes using the Assistant fast and easy (and hands free)!
Any.Do (Android, Apple, Chrome add-on and Web)
Using lists helps me keep it together and accomplish what I need to each day. Any.Do works on my phone and has a fun little Chrome add-on that I use on my laptop. Of course, like most of these “to do” list apps Any.Do allows you to cross off items that you’ve completed. Additionally, you can set priorities, display and file under multiple lists, set alarms, add notes, and share your “to do” items.
Business Calendar Free (Android only) Continue reading »
Shannon Williams King
By Shannon Williams King
Looking for affordable, unique gifts for your loved ones or yourself? Here are five must-have tech gadgets all road warriors need, and a few more gift ideas I thought sounded cool! What’s on your list this year?
1.) Kindle Fire – At $199 who can’t resist finding out what all the fuss is about? I love Amazon, so I think I’ll like it. They say it’s the iPad2′s closest competition… I want to find out! Is this on your list?
2.) Mophie Juice Pack – True road warriors are always on the phone. Don’t find yourself without battery power for the ever so important phone call. These small cases double your phones’ battery life. Only $79 online!
3.) Motorola t505 – A must have if your car doesn’t come equipped with built-in Bluetooth. You will love the way this little device integrates with your car’s radio. Buy it online at Amazon for the best deals – about $60.
4.) Drivesafe.ly App – You can now text and drive safely! This is the perfect FREE gift to “give” your friends, clients and kids. Who knows, you might even save a life.
5.) Wide Angle Lens Kit – For your iPhone or video camera – all of us who shoot photos with our smartphones you can now use this wide angle attachment to get the best photos possible. $50 on HDhat.com
And now for some other fun ideas!!!
6.) Square up – Think PayPal for your smartphone. It’s perfect if you sell products, have a fundraiser, or a garage sale. Or someone just owes you money. You can now accept credit cards for ANYTHING with just your phone! And it’s FREE… what a great gift for those you know who are in any service industry.
7.) The Flip – OK, so they are going out of business — but I just LOVE this camera. So while supplies last you can still manage to get a 1-hour model for $80! Continue reading »
Drew Burks
By Drew Burks
Are You Distracted?
In today’s world most of us are overwhelmed with information, new products, and services, most of which provide little more than distraction to the average person.
As a REALTOR®, it is definitely easy to get caught up in the hype of the latest technologies; after all, most of them are very appealing with the promises of making our lives easier and more profitable. Last week I attended the CAR Tech Tuesday event in Anaheim, Calif. and while there I had many great conversations with REALTORS®, but one really stood out in my mind …
“How does one cut through all of the noise that we are bombarded with to get to the dollar-producing activities?”
CAR added a fun twist to the event this year, they had a “meet the speakers” during a “speed networking” session. This was by far the best part of the day for me. Those of us who spoke at the event got the chance to do 4-minute sessions with approx 25-30 groups of approximately 30 people. The common questions asked by the REALTOR® attendees in these different groups were things like: Continue reading »
Brooke Wolford
By Brooke Wolford
My husband recently pointed out there is never a moment when I am not looking at something on my iPhone. I kind of thought to myself, “How did I get here?” I do remember a time in my life where the Internet was not my whole entire life…I think. Well, I was born in 1980, so I was practically born with a computer in my hands.
I often find it traumatic when something goes wrong with my iPhone. For instance, when my battery randomly dies and I instantly feel as if the world is coming to an end. I will race to a charger as quickly as possible. I don’t know how to handle life without it. My iPhone and I are really close. It’s one of the longest relationships I have had since I married my husband.
I also sometimes forget how to communicate without using a “handle,” “RT,” or a “hashtag.” I often catch myself abbreviating everything as well. Besides the fact that I get all of my news from various social media sites and I rarely call my friends on the phone.
Here’s my experiment for one weekend…seriously, I’m going to do it. I am going to shut my phone off. Not just temporarily, but for the WHOLE weekend. Here’s the plan: Continue reading »
Travis Broadwater
By Travis Broadwater
If you want to browse the Web on your iPhone or iPod Touch (or the upcoming iPad), the only option is the built-in Safari browser because Apple, until now, won’t approve other browser apps in their iTunes store.
Opera, hoping that Apple will change their policy, has developed a version of the Opera Mini browser for the iPhone and they’ll showing a preview of this iPhone App during the Mobile World Congress that happens in Barcelona next week.
An email from Opera PR says:
“We are thrilled to offer journalists and partners an exclusive preview of Opera Mini for iPhone during the year’s biggest mobile event,” said Jon von Tetzchner, Co-founder, Opera Software.
Safari vs. Opera for iPhone
According to a Reuters article, Opera claims the Opera Mini for iPhone offers up to six-times faster download speeds than Apple’s own browser, and up to 10 times smaller data traffic.
The Opera Mini for iPhone will only be shown to members of the press but Apple will have to approve the app for everyone else to experience Opera on their iPods and iPhones.
That may not happen anytime soon as Opera is yet to submit their Opera Mini iPhone App to the Apple App Store for approval.
Travis Broadwater is with Kennen & Kennen REALTORS® in West Virginia. Visit his Web site: www.TravisBroadwater.com.
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland, 2009 NAR Conference Blogger
I have officially picked up my conference book, expo guide, all the additions to the program and spamilicious bag of goodies. Perhaps it’s an eco-friendly thing, but I’m loving the idea of the iPhone app. Everything seems to be there in real time. I’ll be updating you throughout the week on how the iPhone App is jelling. Here’s a list of the things I’m looking forward to most with this new tool.
1. It’s great to see the @NAR2009 tweets to keep me connected with everyone around.
2. While I haven’t witnessed it yet, the Expo floor guidance looks like a winner.
3. As a chubby guy, the dining guide rocks!
If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you can search the App store under NAR 2009 or link HERE.
By Dan Iampieri
Dan Iampieri
I’m the 21st century REALTOR®, so let me tell you more.
I’m digitally enhanced, slightly cropped, I’m fine tuned and on iTunes downloading a new ring tone for my iPhone.
I’m camera ready, custom made, plugged-in and ready to rate, constantly updating my status update.
I e-mail, I e-commerce, I e-trade, but my life is still far from easy. I text early and e-mail late, but I always Pay-Pal on time.
I have too many user-names, passwords, and trick questions.
I said goodbye to MapQuest, but put me to the test because I’m now on GPS.
I grew up with a Rubik’s Cube, but now I have my own channel on YouTube.
I got rid of MySpace because it’s not my look, but my life is no longer my business, I’m keeping you updated on Facebook.
I’m not lame, I like to do things, so I don’t watch HGTV, FLN, TLC or DIY, but I do have HDTV and I always rent “On Demand.”
I work late, I social network, I’m connected to a Wi-Fi network, I don’t have time for network TV, but love watching TV sitcoms on my DVR.
I’m too young to be in bed by ten, but too old for AOL IM.
I have no need for CDs, I’m 100 percent MP3s.
We might have a lot in common and maybe we should meet, follow me on Twitter and read my latest tweet.
The real estate boom is done, so relax and take a run, I’m making the best, I’m clearly having fun.
Well friends give me a call or write on my wall, but for now I must go – I’m the 21st century REALTOR®, now you know!
Dan Iampieri is a REALTOR® with WEICHERT, REALTORS® – Caton Properties in Ellicott City, Md. Social network with Dan at www.TheHouseMan.tv.
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