Best Useful Apps-Tools to do More Work, Multitask Productively

I’m what you might call a computer “power user.” I tend to learn programs I use inside-and-out, and I always look up built-in tricks for saving time. But many times, common tools for productivity are just not fast enough. Sure, I save time by using keyboard shortcuts, operating system tricks, and all kinds of hidden shortcuts on my iPhone. But to be a real speed and productivity ninja, I’ve added a few tools to my computing arsenal.

I’m going to present some of my favorite apps and tools, for smartphones and desktops that eliminate tedious repetition and save me gobs of time.

photo credits : ryantron

Best Tools and Apps to Enhance Productivity and Get More Things Done

Now, there is a paradox to all these methods: You need to spend time setting them up, learning them, and customizing them. Still, the overall time savings far outweighs your initial investment (including money investments in some cases). Give these tools a serious try and you’ll have a hard time imaging life without them.

Tools for Writing and Text Input on Mac, PC

If you have any kind of job that involves typing the same thing over and over again, you’ll love text expansion software.

You can find variations for the Mac, PC, iPhone, and Android. So just what is a text expansion? I’ll explain. This software creates system-wide text shortcuts that automatically expand into words or phrases. So, “Dear Sir or Madam:” could be shortened to “dsm.”

Likewise, by creating shortcuts for your name, e-mail address, phone number and other contact information, you can fill out web forms very quickly. Plus, you will eliminate the possibility of spelling mistakes.

Check out these programs : TextExpander (Mac, iPhone) | AutoHotKey (Windows)

Making Appointments and Adding Contacts

Unless you have a secretary, and chances are that you don’t, you probably spend a decent chunk of your work hours making appointments, managing contacts, and other tedious administrative tasks.

Save yourself time with a calendar program that includes appointment templates. With Week Calendar for iPhone, for instance, you can create templates that include an event’s category, location, duration, and other information.

Useful : Week Calendar (iPhone) | Pocket Informant (iPhone and Android)

Business cards are at once ubiquitous and obsolete. In a word of digital information, the idea of a printed out card with contact information seems so outdated. Yet, no one’s figured out a universal standard by which anybody can share their contacts easily with anybody else.

So until that day comes, use a card reader to capture the text on business cards and add them to your contacts. To really speed things up, you can use a program like QR Droid, which scans QR codes on business cards and turns them into contacts.

Links : Worldcard (iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, PC, Mac) | QR Droid (Android)

Hardware and Network to Speed Things Up

Finally, I present to you some suggestions for equipment that can speed up how you use both phones and computers.

If you’re constantly on-the-go and using programs like Dropbox to manage files, I recommend a phone with 3G or 4G internet. You’ll find sending e-mails, opening web pages, and downloading files much faster even than many home internet connections. (Useful T-Mobile 4G phones)

Next, if you work a lot on your smartphone, and especially your tablet, you’ll want to invest in a portable keyboard. You’ll always type faster using a proper keyboard instead of a touchscreen. A portable keyboard also gives you newfound flexibility: You can work on documents on-the-fly using just your iPhone or Android phone, a task that may otherwise seem preposterous.

Links : Kensington Keyboard Cases for iPad and Keyboard for Android

Finally, I recommend a fancy mouse. Yes, the kind with tons of buttons and an ergonomic feel. With a device like the Logitech MX, you can customize what the buttons do, including setting them to trigger keyboard shortcuts. You’ll save time by customizing the buttons to perform tasks like copying text and switching between active windows.

Guest Post by Ashlee McCullen who is a staff writer for ApronAddicts.com, a site about fashionable aprons and kitchen style.

Also Read : 5 Awesome Websites You Should Visit Daily to Learn Valuable Topics

Post by Debajyoti Das