If you are an iPhone user you are probably already aware of how easy smart phones are to use. The OS makes it a breeze to access and use applications. It is so easy to use that it is easy to overlook just how powerful that device in your hands really is.
There are hundreds of thousands of apps for the iPhone. Many are free, many cost, and some are built on a “freemium” model which includes usually nice functionality for free, and a premium level of functionality for a price.
Two productivity apps that I have made use of are the focus of this post. The first is TextGrabber, and the second is ScannerPro. Both make use of the iPhone camera to function as a handheld scanner.
Text Grabber
The iTunes App Store says this about the app: TextGrabber + Translator turns your
iPhone into a multifunctional mobile scanner with translation capability. Just take a picture of the text, and you can immediately edit it or translate, share via e-mail and SMS, or post directly to your account at on Facebook, Twitter and Evernote.
To use TextGrabber click on the icon. The app is started and uses an interface very much like taking a photo on the iPhone. After a page is photographed, the app indicates it is “Recognizing” the text. If the text cannot be read it can be recognized, the app will prompt you to improve the lighting.
The results can be copied to the clipboard for pasting into other applications. The text can also be translated from other languages to English or English to other languages (and so forth).
At just 99 cents, TextGrabber is a great solution for grabbing the text to paste into other applications.
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Scanner Pro
Scanner Pro is one of my favorites. I typically don’t buy apps if I can avoid it, but the reviews I read, and the features I wanted made this app well worth the $6.99 I paid for it.
The iTunes App Store says this about Scanner Pro: Scanner Pro easily handles situations
when you have a hard copy document that should be sent by email and there is no scanner nearby. The application incorporates special algorithms to enhance image quality and make it as readable as possible.
To use Scanner Pro you start the app. The first screen after starting takes you to your album of existing scans. If you have a previously scanned document you can edit it further.
For most users the plus sign in the lower left will be what is next chosen. This picture at the right will show you the steps in the entire process.
Clicking the camera lets you scan a new document. The app will encourage you to hold the phone steady. Obviously this will help make a better scan.
Once scanned the app appears to function like a stand alone flatbed scanner. This is some initial processing of the image you’ve just taken. The PDF is created and is available for further editing within Scanner Pro. You can return to editing at a later point.
The next screen let’s you chose what you want to do with the PDF. Among the choices are “Send by email”, “Upload to web storage” or “Print and other actions”.
Once a PDF has been created in ScannerPro, you can return to it for additional actions. You can add a Print, Fax, Add Password (to the PDF), or select an app to open the file.
This screen shot shows these actions:
There are further functions available with Scanner Pro. It is a full featured productivity app, and one I can recommend highly.
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What about you? Do you have favorite productivity apps for your iOS device?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
What about Must Do today? It is a very useful app.
Jeff recently posted..Why most to-do lists don’t work!
I’m not familiar with it, but I will certainly give it a look. Thanks for stopping by!
Text grabber is just what I was looking for. This technology is simply amazing to have in your pocket, when you think about how far we’ve come in the last 10-15 years. Incredible stuff.
Textgrabber sounds really cool. I’m going to have to see if they have an android version.
Pam at MoneyTrail recently posted..A Conversation with David Domzalski from Financial Bin
It is a very useful application. I use it regularly.
I can’t wait until I get an iPhone one day, there’s so much you can do on them.
Jen @ Master the Art of Saving recently posted..The Life of The Evil Credit Card- part 10
There are probably Android apps that do similar things. But, for sure, these devices are incredibly useful. I use my iPhone at work, and am moving more of my conference calls away from our company phone system and to Voip, usually via my iPhone. Look for future posts about connectivity apps.
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