How to Plan a Super-Productive Schedule

It is hard to deny that planning is the key to success. A strict plan is something that helps managers and employees avoid numerous problems and know how to cope with those that were not predicted. Managing your time smartly is crucial for project completion. When talking about small businesses, one should admit that the number of occurring planning challenges is enormous. As a rule, developing companies have fewer resources than large ones. However, they still need to pull things up.

The necessity to plan the day cannot be overestimated – whenever you decide to let things slide, problems become unavoidable. In this article, we will discuss some productivity hacks and efficient ways to plan a project within a small business. Hopefully, these tips will help you follow the right direction!

Plan Smooth Coordination Between Employees

Make sure not to overload the employees – stress ruins productivity. Start by defining roles and positions in a team. You need people to work on particular parts of the project as well as managers to control the process.

As a rule, small companies have small staff, so some members will have to execute numerous responsibilities. The number of people in a team will depend on the amount of work and deadlines. If the project is large and time-consuming, you may need to hire more experts, management consultants, and testers. Consider finding a sponsor if your budget is too tight.

Plan Meetings

It’s crucial to meet with employees, team members, customers, and sponsors to check the progress and solve current issues. Even insignificant and small meetings should be planned. When people have a strict schedule at hand, they know how to arrange their everyday activities. Set the same day and time for regular conversations with the team members to check the progress. Sometimes, such events will take no more than a couple of minutes. However, this will help you correct all minor mistakes and problems at their very source. If you neglect this opportunity, the issues will grow and take hours to be solved.

Plan for a Week/Month

Indeed, you won’t get too far without thinking about the future. While a daily schedule maker can help you with short-term planning, you need to look at the larger picture. When students fail to plan their learning hours, they end up looking to get essay help online.

However, when employees and managers rely on short-term planning, they end up missing an important deadline. For assistance in structuring your weekly plans, consider utilizing the schedule planner app. Know what you will do each day of the week! Make Monday a planning day. Check your inbox, take a look at the task list, plan meetings, and think about the main priorities.

Routine Needs Scheduling

How to organize your life and schedule around it? Well, all of us have routine tasks to do every day. Even if this activity is repetitive, there is always a room for surprises. If you set a schedule for your most routine tasks, you will know how to approach them. Checking your inbox, calling your customers, making deliveries, or whatever you do – make sure to keep these things in order. For efficient planning and organization, consider utilizing a Digital planner for iPad. Leave some blank hours in the day, and you won’t get the jitters if something unexpected happens.

Image source: inc.com

Don’t Make Your Schedule Too Tight

Include free hours into your plan because clear space is a lifebuoy ring. Extra time will help you deal with surprises efficiently, and you won’t feel like being on a sinking ship. Let’s be honest – building an ideal schedule is impossible, and even if you do, distractions and unplanned things can happen. Sometimes, your tasks can take more time than you thought. The other tasks can depend on your colleagues, and you cannot predict if they do everything timely. Free time will help you catch up with everything. If everything goes as planned and no unexpected events ruin your schedule, these extra hours can become a pleasing time for rest, YouTube videos, or a walk.

Some Additional Tips

  • Get an online planner and share it with your colleagues to manage group projects
  • Don’t hesitate to revise the calendar
  • Have free spots in your schedule and use them wisely
  • Plan in advance
  • Try to improve your scheduling methods all the time

Conclusion

The better you manage your time, the more work you complete. Productivity is all about smart planning, not working till the late evening. When planning your projects at a small company, there are so many things to consider. It’s crucial to schedule as many daily and weekly activities as you can, including even the most routine tasks. Share tasks with your employees and colleagues, plan meetings and don’t forget that free space in your schedule can save your day and even an entire project. However, if you will follow these simple tips, you will be prepared for unexpected situations much better. Use them for yourself and share with your teammates!

7 Best Android Learning Apps

As your child grows, they’ll need your help in school less. Part of this is from independence and learning more. The other part is knowing where to find high school and college homework help. One useful tool for students is learning apps, which focus on teaching them how to do problems instead of just providing answers. Here are seven of the best apps for Android users. These are perfect for students, as well as adult learners who want to refresh on something or learn something new.

1. Khan’s Academy

Khan’s Academy has versions for children and adults. It has over 10,000 lessons and is completely free to use. Many of its subjects are more common, which is great for struggling students or adults who want to brush up on lessons. Some of the areas it covers include math, science, physics, English, economics, and others.

2. DuoLingo

DuoLingo is perfect for anyone trying to learn a second (or third) language. The app is full of fun games that make learning vocabulary easy and enjoyable. According to the designers, spending 34 hours on this app teaches as much as a semester in school. Currently, there are over a dozen languages offered such as Spanish, German, Chinese, Japanese, and French.

3. Amazon Kindle

Amazon Kindle is not just for entertainment reading. It is also full of reference guides and books on any topic students can think of. This can be useful if they are researching a topic or need extra information on a subject. As an added benefit, students can buy textbooks. This means they do not have to lug their book home every night.

4. Coursera

Coursera is its own online school. It is best for older students who need extra help or adult learners. There are more than 1,000 different courses available, each of them with video content, access to reading material, and lectures. At the end of each course, a certificate of completion is given to students.

5.  PhotoMath

PhotoMath works with your phone’s camera. It is useful for students or parents. Simply take a picture of the problem and wait for the explanation and answer. The major benefit comes from the explanation since it walks students through the steps toward a solution.

6. Wolfram Alpha

This is a more advanced app that might benefit high school or college students. It can be used for all types of information and works as a calculator. Some subjects covered include data analysis, physics, mathematics, engineering, geography, weather, astronomy, and more.

7. LinkedIn Learning

While this will not help the average student, this is a great app for adult professional learning. It is free to use and covers job skills. This could even benefit students considering their first job. Some topics covered include office skills and creative skills.

Parents and tutors are not students’ only options for assignment help. Learning apps for Android users are a great alternative for help. The best apps will guide students in finding the answer rather than doing the work for them. This ensures they are prepared come test time while providing the extra help they need to succeed.

Introducing DejaOffice 1.3 for iOS

The first thing you’ll notice when you open the latest update of DejaOffice for iOS is the crisp new graphics. We’ve refreshed the entire app with Retina graphics, perfect for those with the iPhone 4/4S and the new iPad. Beneath the fresh look, though, there’s even more…

Contact Photos

We’ve added the ability to sync pictures to DejaContacts. Now you’ll always be able to attach a face to the name of your next meeting. Due to the way the iPhone handles USB sync, this feature is only available when syncing via WiFi.

Category Enhancements

We’ve redesigned the categories app to make it faster and more reliable. Category colors will now sync from your computer to DejaOffice. If blue equals “Sales” on your PC, it will equal “Sales” in DejaOffice. A small improvement that makes a big difference!

A Better iPad Workflow

The process of adding or editing data has been streamlined.  We’ve made use of popovers to allow you to quickly and easily edit categories, times, dates, priorities, contact links, and more. This adds up to a more efficient workflow for you. And who doesn’t want that?

Overall Performance Improvements

Buttons are easier to tap, data loads faster, you can swipe between records from the details view, and the search function has been improved. Not only that, we’ve squashed a number of pesky bugs. Check out the full release notes for a list of what’s been fixed.

DejaOffice for iOS gets better with each new release and we’re excited for you to download this latest version! It’s free, and in the App Store today. Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Full Release Notes:
+ all new and updated graphics for Retina displays on iPhone 4/S and new iPad
+ added contacts pictures to DejaContacts (currently only syncs via Wi-Fi)
+ completely redesigned categories app
+ categories now sync from PC to DejaOffice with matching colors
+ enhanced button feedback throughout DejaOffice
+ refreshed list views – load faster and more efficient, especially for large databases
+ completely redesigned search, no longer tries to search until you hit “search”
+ added Sort By Category to DejaTasks
+ add new context menu for DejaToday settings
+ added swiping between records from view/details view
+ all new logging with send database option to help with troubleshooting
+ DejaOffice now opens in landscape view correctly on first run
-fixed an issue where DejaOffice would crash on some screens in non-English localizations
+ fixed an issue where some calendar events prior to 2000 did not sync
+ fixed an issue where weekly recurring events from/to native didn’t sync with DJO
+ fixed an issue where recurring end dates were not synchronized to/from native
+ fixed an issue where tasks sync one day off in some time zones
+ fixed an issue where syncing an ampersand or tab character did not work via Wi-Fi or CLSH
+ fixed an issue where hyperlinks go away when tapping on white space
+ fixed issues syncing Other address between native Apple contacts and DejaContacts
+ fixed an issue where the Office field did not sync
+ fixed an issue where syncing yearly recurring event to native would crash
+ fixed an issue where the SMS button did not work

Sync the HTC One S with Outlook

Need to sync your new HTC One S with Outlook? We’ve got you covered.

CompanionLink lets you sync your Outlook contacts, calendars, tasks, memos, and more to the One S. And you can customize this sync to your liking – from filtering specific categories to the direction each data type syncs. You can even choose from a variety of sync methods, including USB and WiFi.

Getting started is easy. We have a 14-day free trial, which you can download here. From there, just follow our simple setup guide for your preferred sync method and you’ll have your data on your new phone before you know it.

Questions? Comments? Shout them out in the comments below.

Making Sense of Your Data

As we put more and more information on our mobile devices, it can become difficult to make sense of what’s there. Let’s face it, the smaller screens just aren’t optimized for displaying large amounts of data very effectively.

That’s why we built powerful organization options into DejaOffice. With our filtering, sorting, and grouping features, we’re able to help you make sense of your data.

Learn just how to use them in the video below, then leave a comment telling us your favorite combination of filtering, sorting, and grouping.

Apple Unveils Their Latest iPad

Apple announced the latest update to their iPad line today, dubbed simply “the iPad.” It would seem that Apple is moving away from the numbered naming system. Don’t let the name fool you, however, the new iPad is a significant improvement on the iPad 2 in many ways.

Perhaps the most notable difference is the new 2048×1536 pixel Retina display. The hi-res screen makes images and videos pop with unparalleled clarity. Add in the optional 4G LTE speeds, quad core graphics processor, enhanced camera, and built-in dictation features, and you get the most powerful iPad yet, and perhaps the most powerful consumer tablet currently available. Learn all about the new iPad over at Apple’s site: https://www.apple.com/ipad.

And if you need to sync the new iPad with Outlook & more, CompanionLink and DejaOffice will work right out of the box! The core operating system is the same, and we’re already testing iOS 5.1 – the update version that the new iPad will ship with – on our current iPads. Watch this blog for any updates on that.

In the meantime, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the new iPad. Will you be buying one?

Sync the LG Nitro HD

The past month or two have brought a number of top-tier Android phones: the Motorola DROID Razr, the HTC Rezound, and the soon-to-be-released Samsung Galaxy Nexus. This week, the LG Nitro HD joins the pack.

Sporting a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 4.5” HD screen, 4G data speeds, and Android 2.3, the Nitro HD can compete with the best of them. While the Razr, Rezound, and Nexus are all Verizon phones, the Nitro HD brings its power to AT&T. Check one out in stores today.

If you’re thinking about picking one up, rest assured that CompanionLink will sync the Nitro HD with Outlook, ACT!, Salesforce, and more. And if you’re upgrading from an older device, just download DejaOffice to the Nitro HD and in one sync you’ll have access to all your contacts, calendars, tasks, and memos.

Questions? Comments? Shout out in the comments below!

Sony Shutting Down The Sony Ericsson Sync Service

Image Credit: WikipediaSony recently announced that it is shutting down its in-house Sony Ericsson sync service at the end of the year. In their announcement, they suggest exporting your contacts and importing them into Google for future use. Google works with all Android devices, which is where Sony devices seem to be headed.

While this option should work well for some users, we recognize that not all of Sony’s customers will want to store their data on Google’s servers. For those people, CompanionLink has another option.

CompanionLink is able to sync contacts, calendars, tasks, and memos to your Sony device. We support popular contact managers like Microsoft Outlook, Palm Desktop, Lotus Notes, and many others.  And we offer a variety of sync methods, as well as our free Android app, DejaOffice, for managing your data on the go. CompanionLink also offers free phone support. If you ever get stuck with your sync, just give us a call – we’re here to help!

The latest version of CompanionLink currently supports all Sony phones and tablets running the Android OS, and we intend to continue supporting new Android-based Sony devices as they are released. Should you ever upgrade to a new phone that doesn’t happen to be a Sony, rest assured your data will come with you. We sync with Android, Apple iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and more.

If you’d like to try CompanionLink as an alternative to Google Sync, head over to www.companionlink.com/android and download a 14-day free trial!

Rearranging Your Calendar Is Easier Than Ever With DejaOffice 1.12.5

DejaOffice 1.12.5 just hit the Android Market and we’ve added some great new features to both DejaCalendar and DejaContacts. We’ve also fixed some pesky bugs, which you can read about after the break. Let’s look at what’s new…

DejaCalendar

We’ve brought two great new features to DejaCalendar. If you don’t use DejaCalendar to plan weekend events, then our new 5-day week view is for you. By trimming the weekends, we have more space to display the details of your current work week. We’ve also made rearranging your schedule significantly easier. To move an event to a new date or time, simply tap and hold the event in day or week view, then drag it to your desired date and time. Try it out for yourself – it’s really easy!

DejaContacts

In addition to the calendar enhancements, we wanted to make adding contacts even easier. So we added the ability to send and receive vCards to DejaContacts. If you haven’t heard of a vCard before, think of it as a digital business card. You can simply email or text your contact information in a format that many contact applications are able to read. Sharing your information or adding contact details for a new client is now fast and easy with vCard support in DejaOffice.

If you’d like to start using these great new features, just head over to the Android Market to download DejaOffice 1.12.5 today! Continue reading

Give the Kindle Fire a Productivity Boost with DejaOffice!

Image credit: AmazonWe just finished putting the Kindle Fire through its paces, testing both CompanionLink and DejaOffice on the affordable new tablet from Amazon. The results? DejaOffice runs well, and sync with the Kindle Fire works perfectly!

In fact, everything is working as we expected, with the exception of USB sync, which requires a small, but simple workaround. The Kindle Fire automatically mounts its SD card. You must Disconnect from USB Storage, then open DejaOffice and hit sync. We’re looking into a fix to eliminate this step, however.

After testing the Kindle Fire, I think it is important to remember that it’s first and foremost a Kindle – great for consuming media. But with a few easily downloaded apps like DejaOffice, you’ll have transformed your Kindle Fire into a business machine, filled with your contacts, calendars, tasks, memos, and more.

Syncing the HTC Rezound

It’s a great time to be in the market for a new smartphone, especially for Verizon customers. With the DROID RAZR now available and the Nexus Galaxy around the corner, the carrier has quite the holiday line-up. But they’re not done yet. The HTC Rezound, released today, completes the trio of powerful Android phones available from Verizon this season.

The folks over at The Verge have an impressive review of the Rezound available, and I’d encourage you to check it out if you’re interested in learning more about the phone. If you’re interested in learning more about syncing the Rezound, however, you’re in the right place.

As with most any Android device, you’re able to sync contacts, calendars, tasks, and memos from a whole host of CRM software to the HTC Rezound. Learn more about your options at https://www.companionlink.com/phones/htc-rezound.html or head over to our downloads page to get your 14-day free trial and start syncing today!

Sync The HTC EVO Design 4G

Sync the EVO Design 4GJust the other day, Sprint released the HTC EVO Design 4G.  At just $99, this Android-powered phone is a great buy. In fact, the EVO Design 4G features a lot of the power and style of the EVO 3D – just without the 3D. When it comes down to it, the value you get for your money makes the EVO Design 4G a hard phone to beat.

Tech Specs:

  • 1.2GHz dual-core processor
  • 4” qHD display
  • 5-megapixel, 720p camera
  • 4G data speeds
  • Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

As with nearly all new Android devices, we’re able to sync the EVO Design 4G with a variety of CRM software, including Outlook, ACT!, Salesforce, Lotus Notes, and more. To learn more, visit companionlink.com/android/outlook or download your 14-day free trial at companionlink.com/downloads today!

Android + Chrome OS: The Next Step in Mobile Computing?

We’ve talked about this before on our blog, but I felt it bears repeating as it inches closer to reality. In a post over at Droid-Life, we can see what the future of mobile computing might look like, from the Android perspective…

“…a good first step to resolving these problems with notifications and making lapdock and deskdock form factors useful would be to use Chrome OS. I think there will always be a place for a mouse and keyboard form factor because touch doesn’t always make sense. As computing continues to become more mobile and as technology improves, we may eventually be able to have one device that connects to different form factors.”

Read the full article over at Droid-Life, then swing back by our blog to share your thoughts in the comments!

How To Use Siri To Set Up Business Meetings In Outlook, ACT!, & More

Just the other day, Apple revealed their latest iteration of the iPhone – the iPhone 4S. One of the biggest new features comes in the form of Siri, Apple’s self-described “humble personal assistant.” Using voice recognition technology, Siri is able to take verbal commands and act on them, allowing you to check and compose messages, emails, calendar appointments, and much more.

Image Credit: TUAW

Currently, Siri is designed to work with Apple’s built in apps – it’s not clear if or when the technology will be opened up to third party developers. However, DejaOffice has the unique ability to connect with Apple’s built in apps. As such, DejaOffice is able to harness the full power of Siri and sync new or updated data back to your existing CRM solution.

Doing so is simple. First, you’ll need to ensure that DejaOffice is set to sync with the native databases. To do this, just launch DejaOffice on your iPhone 4S, tap “Settings,” then “Sync.” From there, select “Sync with Apple’s Calendar” and “Sync with Apple’s Contacts” to enable syncing with the native databases.

Once that’s enabled, press and hold the home button on your iPhone 4S to activate Siri. Say something like “Schedule lunch with John Smith at noon on Friday” and Siri will comply. The next time you sync DejaOffice via CompanionLink, that appointment will be transferred into Outlook, ACT!, Salesforce, or whatever CRM solution you’re using. It’s that easy!

DejaOffice for iOS Receives Major Update

Don’t let the version number fool you – DejaOffice 1.2.6 for iOS is a major update. While you won’t notice too many cosmetic changes (yet), we’ve done quite a bit of work under the hood.

The biggest focus of this update has been DejaCalendar. We’ve completely rewritten the calendar to improve stability and sync reliability. Right away, you’ll notice a much smoother experience when using the app. This is just the beginning for us, however. We have exciting plans for DejaOffice!

Continue reading

Sync Outlook on Windows 8 Developer Preview

Image Credit: PCAuthority

I know – Windows 8 won’t actually be released until sometime next year. That hasn’t stopped us from working with the Windows 8 Developer Preview, however. After some initial testing, I’m happy to inform you CompanionLink works great with Windows 8! That’s right – we can sync Outlook from Windows 8 to your mobile device. CompanionLink works with both 32- and 64-bit versions of Outlook. We can also sync ACT!, Salesforce, Lotus Notes, Palm Desktop, Zoho, and more, all from Windows 8!

You’ll want to ensure you’re running the latest version of CompanionLink, but other than that there are no special steps required to get up and running in Windows 8. So, if you enjoy working with the latest technology and software (like I do!), rest assured CompanionLink is there to support your synchronization of contacts, calendar, tasks and notes.