rock and scroll

Thank you

Meetings for iPad climbed steadily after debuting earlier this week.  I'll have more to say about all this later but this is certainly one of many things I'm thankful for this year.

Moving entries from one device to another in Chronicle

It's possible to move entries written on one device in Chronicle to another device using the backup and import feature.  This lets you write things on your iPhone and later transfer them to your iPad, for example.

There are two ways to move the entries: one is by using iTunes File Sharing, and the other is by using Dropbox.

One way: Using iTunes File Sharing

When you connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer you can open the iTunes application on your computer and browse the contents of the Chronicle folder.  If you've created any .backup files, you can see them (and save them to your computer).

Here's how you would move some entries from your iPhone to your iPad using iTunes File Sharing:

• Create a .backup file on your iPhone by tapping the settings gear and tapping "Backup and Import"
• Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes
• Browse Chronicle's folder on your iPhone using these steps (click to see steps)
• Save the .backup file to your PC or Mac
• Next, connect your iPad to your computer (you can disconnect your iPhone)
• Browse your iPad and view the Chronicle folder
• Drag-and-drop or add the .backup you saved in the step above to your iPad
• Next, open Chronicle on your iPad and tap the settings gear
• Tap "Backup and Import" and select the .backup you copied
• Tap the Import button

Put simply, you're copying the .backup file from your iPhone to your iPad and then importing it.

 

Another way: Using Dropbox

If you have Chronicle on your iPhone and iPad configured to use your Dropbox account you can easily move .backup files from one device to the other.  It's important to configure each app to use the same sub-folder of your Dropbox account (so both copies of the app "see" the same folder).  For example, you might have a Dropbox folder named 'chronicle' that both copies of the app are configured to use and store backups in.

• Create a .backup on your iPhone by tapping settings > "backup and import" > "backup"
• Grab your iPad and tap settings > "backup and import" > "import"
• The .backup file you created in the first step (from the iPhone) should appear in the listing on your iPad
• Tap to select the appropriate .backup file and then tap "Import"

 

This is much easier to do because the app can handle moving the .backup to and from each device via Dropbox.  When your copy of Chronicle is configured to use Dropbox, every .backup file you create is automatically uploaded to Dropbox.  Likewise, when you browse for .backup files to import on your device, you see ones that are present physically on your device as well as any that are in your Dropbox folder.  The app is able to download the files from Dropbox without you having to do anything.

Working on an icon

Sunday morning.  Using my little microscope to get some details right.

Captured with Picflick

Importing flashcards from Google Docs

Touchcards and Cardboard can import Google Docs spreadsheets as flashcards.  One benefit to using Google Docs is that you can keep your decks safe in the cloud.  You can also share them with others and manage changes more easily.

To make sure your spreadsheets are imported properly, use the following formats.  You can paste the URL to an image instead of text if you want to have the app import a photo.

The first row is a header row and isn't imported.  The columns correspond to question and answer.

You can provide multi-line answers if you need to.

You can add worksheets to your spreadsheet document.  Each worksheet is a set of flashcards.

iPad typing tip

Save time and organize your thoughts better with this simple tip.

I admit I didn't know you could do this for a long time.  Some users have told me this makes writing in Chapters a dream.  Hopefully this helps you too.

Learning to count money with MakeChange

MakeChange for iPad has been available for some time now. It's even been copied.

Over the past couple months I've heard from several educators running pilot iPad programs in their schools.  Some are using MakeChange and I've tried to incorporate some of the suggestions into the latest release, which is available starting today at the App Store.

The biggest change has been the addition of foreign currencies; you can now count out Canadian or Euro coins.  There's also an option to restrict the usage of the high-value dollar coins if you want to force counting with smaller coins.

More difficulty levels were added to make the app easier to use in classrooms with younger kids.  The coins themselves got a bit of a physics makeover.  You can slide them across the table now and they'll come to a stop (try sliding some slowly or quickly to see how they differ).

In this screenshot, the currency is formatted for the US.  Depending on your locale settings, you should see the appropriate currency symbol in front of your totals.

Apps for special education

My friend Joe just sent this to me. It's a list of apps suitable for
use in special education published by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in Victoria.

Chapters is listed as a core app, strongly recommended for use in the classroom.

I'm honored and excited.

Here's the full list of apps.

The new month view in Planner for iPad

The next update to Planner has a custom month view.  It's the best way to see what's happening beyond the current week, of course.

The 1.1.0 update also has lots of fixes and lets you sync with the built-in Calendar app on the iPad.  If your Calendar app is set up to sync with Google Calendar, MobileMe, or other calendars, you'll be able to see and edit those events from within Planner.  The changes you make will be sync'd back to the calendar they originated from.  It's optional - just flip the switch to turn it on or off.

Look for Planner 1.1 in the App Store soon.

Flashboard Free Flashcards on iPad

Yesterday Apple approved Flashboard, the free (ad-supported) version of Cardboard.  You can use it to study flash cards on your iPad.  One of the features I like most is that you can create and manage your sets of flash cards from Google Docs.  The app can easily import your set and bring it to life.  

You can also browse Quizlet.com for sets; they have an amazing collection of cards from students like you.

I'm using Apple's iAd within the app.  This comes shortly after my AdMob account was disabled for no apparent reason.

I was happy to see it hop up to #37 on the charts this morning - it means people are studying!  I've heard from some teachers in the past and I hope those schools fortunate enough to have iPads can use it as one of many tools to make learning fun.

The to-do list planner

I recently came across a post titled getting things done like a Zen master.  One of the techniques discussed is that of the to-do planner, a planner that integrates a to-do list with a calendar.  It's exciting to me because it captures some of the motivations I had when building Planner for iPad.  If something has a specific due date, it's a calendar event.  If it's indeterminate, it's just a to-do.  It's important to see both at all times.

The reason I suggest using a weekly to-do planner is because daily planners have too much room. Focus not on how many things you can get done in a day; instead, focus on one critical task that will actually have an impact on your life.

App copycats

I was browsing around the App Store tonight and noticed an app that
looks extremely similar to one I created last year. Have a look.

Above is a screenshot from MakeChange, an app I designed.

 

and here's Coin Math.

 

Not illegal, perhaps even natural,  but I don't really like seeing this.

 

Planner for iPad - Calendar and tasks on the same page

Michelle is somewhat particular about her planner format. During the great planner shortage of 2008 we spent a couple weeks fishing around Barnes and Noble for a red Moleskine like this.

Things tied to a specific date fit nicely on the calendar. The right side works perfectly for to-dos that you might do in a few minutes, hours, or even weeks. The problem with the paper planner is that if you don't accomplish everything on the right side during a given week, you end up turning the page and having to rewrite your tasks. Michelle solved this with a paper clip and a post-it note that she floated from week to week, with occasional replacement.

If you have an iPad and can sympathize with the above scenario, you might like Planner for iPad. It's a weekly calendar and todo list on a single page.

Events and reminders you create in the app get published to the system calender so that you get the alerts and reminders you need.

Events are color-coded and you can pick from several color themes.  One of the themes matches the paper color if you don't like the highlighted blocks of text.  

I really enjoy how easy it is to enter a calendar event with Google Calendar and tried to replicate some of that with Planner. Just tap the empty space on one of the days of the week and type a few words and a new event is created.

There's a someday category for the todos you want to keep in mind but don't need to focus on just yet.