How2App: Notability

How2App is a video tutorial series about how to start using an app and learn the basics of using it.

This week, I made a video detailing the awesome features of Notability.

For your viewing pleasure

Notability is truly an A+ app. I highly recommend it to any student.

Google Releases Standalone Apps for Docs and Sheets

Since it was first released in 2010, Google Docs has been one of the most popular Document editing applications, alongside Sheets for spreadsheets and Slides for presentations. In 2012, Google furthered the functionality of these applications by introducing Google Drive. While it had been possible to use Docs as a file storage system, Drive made it official with increased storage space and a desktop client. Now, Google is taking another step forward by releasing standalone applications for Docs and Sheets on iOS and Android (with a Slides app coming soon).

Google's current Drive app offerings on Chrome

With the release of these apps, Google has removed the editing functionality from the main Drive app on iOS and Android. Instead, with the new update, Drive now opens documents and spreadsheets in their own standalone apps, and prompts you to download them if you haven't already.

Docs and Sheets on an iPhone

The Good:

• Simplified apps are easy to use
• Accessing specific document type (document, spreadsheet, etc.) is faster
• Capable replacement for Microsoft's and Apple's office suites
• Separate applications allow Google to quickly fix bugs on any individual app
• Easy to collaborate with others on files

The Bad:

• No image insertion support
• Can be more annoying to manage multiple apps
• Lack certain features that make editing smoother
• No Slides app as of 5-5-2014

Overall, I like the direction that Google is taking with their new standalones. Touting separate apps for each of the main document types, Google is now capable of going toe-to-toe with Apple's offerings on the iPad - Docs for Pages, Sheets for Numbers, and Slides for Keynote. Though some functionality is left to be desired, I am sure that Google will continuously update in the future and listen to user concerns.

The Modular Future

Building blocks. Lego. Minecraft. It seems that humans have an obsession with taking things apart and putting them back together.

Smartphones. Another obsession that is everywhere today. According to Business Insider, "One in every 5 people in the world own a smartphone". It is a huge market, and will grow explosively in the coming years.

Google, kingpin of just about every service on the web, is about to capitalize on both of these things with the Ara Modular Smartphone.

Several Ara Bases and Modules

Rather than let you get locked into a long smartphone contract with a wireless carrier, Google's Ara aims to let you upgrade the phone piece-by-piece through the use of Modules. The processor, wireless radios, and even screen are contained in swappable modules. Crack the screen? Swap it out. Faulty speaker? Swap it out? Need a better camera for your vacation to Aruba? You know what to do.

Swapping out modules is a fast and easy process with the Ara

Ara's concept of a modular phone solves 2 growing problems in the modern world:

• The outrageous prices you need to pay in order to keep up with the latest technology - It has been reported that "pricing is expected to be around $50 for the base device." (Android Guys). This will allow people in lower-income situations to break into the world of technology without bankrupting themselves
• Electronic waste. We live in a world where everything is replaced and disposed of at at alarming rate. "Electronic equipment and gadgets are the fastest growing waste stream in many countries." (e-Stewards).

E-Waste is a persistent problem in many parts of the world

Hopefully, this concept of modules and customizability will leak out into the mainstream, and the concept will be picked up by other smartphones and tablets. The low entry price and high upgradability means that the Ara will allow more and more people all over the world to connect. This, truly, is the future.

Chromebook vs. iPad

1:1 programs and technology integration is a recent trend sweeping the nation. Schools seek to use technology to augment the learning process. Indeed, many resources exist online that help students of all ages and grades with learning new concepts. I myself take notes over PDFs, as I find it a much more efficient process that the classic pen-and-paper. A question that every school district needs to ask is "What device to use?". Though my school uses iPads, I recently have had the opportunity to use a Samsung Chromebook to test its capabilities vs. the iPad's. Here are the pros and cons of the Chromebook that I have found so far:

Pros:

• Deep integration with Google Services
• Full keyboard
• 2 USB Ports (1 USB 2.0 and 1 USB 3.0)
• 1 HDMI Port
• 1 Standard SD Card Slot
• Ability to expand to an external hard drive or flash drive
• Chromecast Support
• Chrome App Store
• Ability to use extensions
• 11.6 inch screen
• Ability to plug in a full keyboard and a mouse

Cons:

• Little to no ability to annotate .PDF files
• Bulky
• Trackpad is difficult to use for larger hands
• Somewhat flimsy plastic frame

Overall, I find that the iPad is currently the better option for schoolwork. The touchscreen allows for very user-friendly interaction, and it has a much wider selection of applications available. Still, some features such as USB ports and the full keyboard are sorely missed features on the iPad.