Anyone using an iPhone (or iPhones) in their building and remodeling business?
I’m wondering just how are you using them (what applications) and just how is it working out?
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Replies
I go through the cheap phones to often to drop that kind of cash on a play toy. but my builder friend in ky did and loves it. but then again he's from kentucky!;)
hey whats so bad about kentucky?!
Edited 11/16/2008 8:54 pm ET by phelps86
you tell me !? that's why you came to ohio to find a bride? :)
you win.
Man you give up way too easy!
I cant say much about that..... well maybe I could
We have no AT&T service here, but I have the iPod Touch and use it for business.
It is nice to have my portfolio in there. It is so intuitive and fun to use, that people enjoy looking at the portfolio. Bright, crisp photos.
Also use the calculator at work and listen to tunes.
>>Bright, crisp photos.<<For the most part. I wish you had the option of upping the resolution of the photos it generates for the Touch. As you are probably aware, it down-samples the photos for the touch. It's fine until you zoom in, which I do a lot when looking at details of shots of rough-ins to remember where wires and blocking and such are. You can't zoom in very much before the image gets fuzzy.Steve
True enough.When I take the kind of pics you are talking about I run a tape measure across the field of view, can't read the tape in the pics, but you can make out the foot marks and the 16" layout red spots and guess from there.I was annoyed that the first generation iPod Touch does not have Bluetooth. I bought a Blue tooth adapter and a wireless head set. Nice to be able to listen to music with out the headset wires and leave the iPod out of harms way across the room.
I got one 5 weeks ago for my business, but that's web development, not remodeling.
I love it. I had one of the original Palm phones back in 2000 or so and didn't like that much (heavy, no bluetooth so you had to hold the phone like, well, a phone, and the web capability was just above useless). I stuck with a free phone from TMobile for the last 5 years or so.
Which means just about anything would impress me by now.
The email is obviously useful. And the web browser is better than I thought it would be.
The camera is a fun add on, but it's really handy for shots you wouldn't have been able to take before (presuming your camera wasn't next to you like your phone usually is).
GPS and map capabilities are great. Yes, it's not a true GPS, but it seems to work close enough for my taste.
I use the weather app to get a quick forecast.
Just last weekend I used the iphone to look up a restaurant, get directions, and find a handful of coffee shops while walking around Baltimore.
And the built in ipod means one less thing to cart around.
How would it be useful for you? Communication. Weather. Camera. Photo gallery like Basswood mentioned. Music if you are so inclined.
And the apps. There's one for a clinometer. Might prove handy for you.
http://www.plaincode.net/mds/site/clinometer/
And this news feed: http://www.apple.com/webapps/news/constructionindustryheadlinenews.html
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Picked one up last night. Sweet is all I have to say about it. There's enough free apps to keep me busy for awhile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
Funny, it was you having that web-enabled phone at the fest that put me over the edge to get one.I can't say enough good things about it.Think I have to try this one out.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/27/Urbanspoon-on-the-iPhone.html'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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Get the iBeer app. it's lot's of fun, I use it to end meetings all the time."We don't throw the first punch, but we'll throw the last" Barack Obama Oct.2008
I loved that phone. This one is 10 times that one. I'm on
It now. The wife is dragging me to Nashville to Christmas
Shop. I got it last night to entertain me on the trip. We are even on the edge thing. You pushed me
Over on buying this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
Happy to help. LOLHave fun shopping. How far is Nashville??'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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2 1/2 hours. We're here now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
I just bought a couple of nifty little construction-related apps for the iPod touch. One is a clinometer that turns it into a bubble level and a slope meter. The other is a construction-master style calculator. I haven't fooled around with the calculater much. It's not as intuitive as my construction master, so I've got to spend a little time fiddling with it to see how to use it, but for 7 bucks, it looks like it'll save me running to the truck for the construction master nine times out of ten.
Steve
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Sweet, going to download that right now.I got a Chinese language tutorial recently too.
I wish I had a faster internet connection. Satellite sux. I would spend all day looking for stuff in the appstore. That's the greatest thing about this whole iPhone/Touch thing. It can be whatever anyone has the sense to write an app for. I got so excited about the possibilities when the app store launched, that I bought some apple stock. Then of course the market tanked, but hey, I still think this is just the beginning of rising of the phoenix...Steveedited to correct spelling of phoenix after seeing TGNY's reply...
Edited 11/16/2008 12:18 pm by mmoogie
"phoenix", thanks, I need that word for another thread ;-)I live a few blocks from an Apple store, it is way too tempting.
Hey, do they have a compass app. ?
There are celestial compass apps, and some pilot oriented ones, but not one that I see that might be useful for working on something inside.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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I'd still figure out how to get lost anyhow ;)
Well, there's always the GPS that's built in there. Or google maps is just a mouse click away.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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Too much like reading the directions or asking someone. Much better to have one arrow from which to make it up as you go.
The one thing I haven'nt. Been able to
Figure out is how to. Run a program like
Pandoras box and surf the web.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
Does it make phone calls? (G)Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
>>Does it make phone calls? <<Well actually mine does not! It's only an iPod Touch, which is essentially the iPhone minus the phone part.Steve
Have you checked out the Running Gypsy app? Looks pretty handy for a guy like you. I don't do enough miles yet or work on my time. But it's kind of interesting.
http://www.therunninggypsy.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
Interesting. I wouldn't use it for running, only because I don't like carrying anything.But I see you can use it for cycling. So I might have to give that a try.Thanks.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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I'm the same way. After awhile my shoes even get too heavy. LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
Yeah, I'd make a lousy Sherpa. And even for training I'm looking for the lightest shoes possible.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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I'm scared to run a marathon. I'd be shoeless and naked at the end trying to peel my tatoos off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
I might try it in the car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
I think my wife is ready to confiscate mine. I downloaded a lightsaber app today. That really annoyed her. Then she had me hanging pictures and I pulled it out and used it as a level. "OH COME ON!" Was her response. Wait till I pull out the magic 8 ball on her to start making decisions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
gunnner been off line for awhile, you still in the banking business. loved all the obsecure web sites you came up with. whats the guy from brooklin that was a absulte hoot. busting everybodys arse.
How you doin man? Long time no see you post. I've been here and gone a couple time myself. Not near as long as you.
http://www.thekidfrombrooklyn.com/
p.s. Yep still in the banking business and still like it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
Edited 11/21/2008 7:12 am ET by Gunner
I hadn't seen that site in awhile. He wants to charge you now. I did find a link to his youtube videos. There's one on staying single that's hilarious. How he doesn't blow a blood vessle I don't know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddqx_cWUN-g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
I almost forgot. This is the latest craze in the tavern. The puppy cam. I could watch them for hours.
http://cdn1.ustream.tv/swf/4/viewer.45.swf?cid=317016
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
Check this out:http://www.slipperybrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/otterbox-iphone-case.jpg
Sweet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related
I have an iPod Touch that I carry in my pocket everywhere I go. I love it and it's tough too. Not at all a toy, rather it's another tool. It's a lot of computer for 200 bucks.
Besides using it as my primary source of music on the job, I use the address book for all my contacts, the notes application for to-do and materials lists, plus I keep about 2500 photos of work projects on it. I use it a lot to refer to rough-ins of wiring and plumbing when I'm about to start sinking screws into walls.
At home I use it for a remote for my iTunes on the computer. I've been meaning to spend some time looking at some of the third-party applications out there, but so far have only downloaded 3 or 4 freebies...games and such.
Out here in the sticks, wifi is nonexistent, so the internet functions are wasted on me unless I'm in the city for something.
I've got ATT cell service and use a Moto Razr. I've usually got the Razr on my hip and the touch in the boom box or in my pocket. I don't listen through the earbuds at all. When I'm sanding, or doing something else tedious and noisy I jack it into a set of WorkTunes earphones.
My wife was going to switch to an iPhone when the new ones came out, but they were going to penalize her because she hadn't been on her current plan for 2 years yet, so they lost that sale. If It had benn around for 200 dollars when we sighned up, we would have both got them.
Steve
200 hundred bucks? where? that's cheaper than my razor
(Okay, not mmoogie here, but I'll jump in anyway)The 3G iphone 8g is $200. as I recall, and the 16g is $300. through apple.com (and apple retail stores). I have the 16g. Apple has an application on the site that you can go through to determine your eligibility to upgrade, view rate plans, etc plus technical information on the phone. Just follow the "iphone" tab.soj
You must have the fancy razr. Mine was 50 bucks. Don't know how to do much with it except ad numbers to the address book and look numbers up. I've dug through all the menus to try and learn about the phone, and find it very obtuse. I have the manual but find that too boring to read...and I usually read manuals!iPod touch (and by extension, the iPhone) I've never cracked a manual on and use it for everything.Steve
I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to a lot of this stuff, but I'm learning.
Anyhow, I'm on Verizon and have an LG that's 2 years old and they keep telling me that I'm eligible for an update but I keep putting it off because I've gotten used to the phone I have.So I was visiting my cousin in Providence RI, he's an industrial designer-tech and he was showing me his LG that he just got (he's also Verizon), that's the size of a regular phone, but that folds out to a keyboard and has all the functions that I'm seeing here with the Iphone. I was really impressed. I started adding up all the functions and decided I would like to take the next step up soon. I'm wondering what the difference is between the two, besides the outer design.I have an Ipod Touch that I absolutely love, and I'm still learning all of what I can do with that. So far I have pictures, podcasts, and of course, music. I also saw in one of those schmancy catalogs (Brookstone, or Sharper Image), that there are glasses you can get which show downloaded videos from your Ipod. They block out all outside light and the display is apparently like being at the movies.I'm curious what you do about dust & c r a p that naturally occurs on the jobsite.
I bought one of those plastic cases for my Ipod (boy is that a racket...), and it seems to work ok...it keeps it from getting scratched up at least. and my phone that I always carry in one of those lower side pockets of my work pants is also encased in a leather protector. It still gets dirty though.Worktunes earphones? I'll google it.
Can't tell you anything about the Razr, but to touch on your question of dust, etc. I'd recommend something as simple as a ziplock bag to stick your iphone in. Then get some bluetooth headphones for the wireless capability and you should be set. Leave your phone in a bag or on a plan desk and you'll have decent range to be mobile. You might even be able to find some that have a mic built in to handle calls, too.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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I've had Palm Pilots since 1999, and have had the Treo 600, 650, and 755p.The Treo's were almost handy, but because they eliminated the ability to use the Palm"s Graffitti way of writing, they were useless for any data entry.The internet browser on them was USELESS.Basically it was a good phone that integrated all my contacts and allowed me to carry one device instead of two - but I didn't really use it for much more than that - too many compromises.My Girl friend has a Blackberry curve, I was curious to see how that was, as I've heard so many good things about them... wow - what a piece of ####. The operating system is so darn clunky it feels like the old windows DOS stuff. you have to use this funky menu and changing settings is a PITA.I got myself an iPhone 2 months ago.FINALLY! A phone that does it all. Great phone - excellant contacts, calender, todos, etc. No more scraps of paper. I'm a Mac guy anyways, but I signed up for the Apple ME service which is like a business exchange "push" service that "pushes" my email, contacts, calender to the phone and also to the computer and a seperate website. I never have to sync a thing - I add a contact or meet date in the field and it's on my computer at home instantly.My email comes to my phone in a very usable, if somewhat restricting (no mail rules..) email viewer.The web browser is amazing and very handy - easy to browse and zoom and move around - no more only looking at BS mobile versions of websites. Makes for staying on top of CL tool deals very easy...But almost best of all is the contacts integration with the phone and other functions. You go to a contact and hit the address and it'll come up on the map and you can get directions to or from. You see a phone number anywhere in an email or a website and you can add it as a contact or add to an existing contact. The visual email is priceless. you'll have 13 Vmails and without calling your Vmail at all - you can simply pick and choose which you'd like to listen to and which to keep and delete. No more having to listen to 12 just to get to the 13th one.Add-on programs galore - games, utilities, etc. - One very cool free one is Zenbe lists. Works great as a todo list that syncs itself with a web-based version of the program. So if you have a lot to enter - you can create or edit a bunch of todo lists online and they are instantly synced to your iphone Zenbe list program. You can also share a certain list with someone to access and edit online only - so it's great for a spouse to line up honey-do tasks and shopping lists that you just check your phone to look at.Bottom line - this phone is the first real smartphone that does it all - and has virtually no comprimises. Paid $300 for a 16GB and it's not eligible for insurance, so if I dump it - I'll have to pay about $500 for another one - but I would in a minute - it's worth it.Julian
Edited 10/25/2008 10:41 am ET by JulianTracy
Forgot to add that the virtual keyboard is really easy to use once you get used to it. Even for typing a basic email it's relatively painless and much better than those stupid tiny keyboards on Treos and BB's.JT
I fiddled around with the LG phone in a verizon store one day. I found it less than intuitive, but ok. I'm pretty wedded to the Mac ecosystem. I wouldn't want a phone that wasn't easily tied to iPhoto, my computer's address book, my computer's browser bookmarks, and my iTunes of course.I kind of wish I didn't have the iPod Touch. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but now it would be really hard to justify getting an iPhone. I would rather have the phone than the touch, then I could lose one device. I wish my touch had a microphone. The newer ones do.I carry the touch in my pocket when not listening to it through the job-site boom-box. I've got a really thin clear plastic case that snaps onto the back. You have to look really close to even see it's there. I've got one of those peel-and-stick clear screen protectors on the front. It's started to get dinged up a little, but it is nearly a year old now. I carried around an old hard-drive based iPod at work for years. Dropped it thirty feet off a church steeple, and that didn't phase it. Looks like crud, and now it's failing, but I'm surprised it took the abuse it did.I think the flash-based stuff is pretty impervious to anything but cosmetic damage. No moving parts, you know. Which brings me back to the LG Phone. Anything with a physical keyboard is going to be more prone to being affected by dust, dirt, moisture, etc. Apparently the Razr has a substatial rate of keypad failures.Steve
Edited 10/25/2008 10:15 am by mmoogie
I think there's a cheaper iphone coming in 2009, if the rumors floating about are to be believed. If I see anything concrete, I'll send it your way.'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
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"I think there's a cheaper iphone coming in 2009"That occurred to me just before I read your post. Think I'm gonna wait a while. They always come way down after the first few successful waves. I'm set for now and besides I'm not a gotta-have-it buyer with the electronic stuff like I am with tools, especially fine hand tools.
No mention of the monthly charge here that I noticed but I think it comes out to over $1500 a year...whewwwwwwwww. Z'at right?"Revolution is not something fixed in ideology, nor is it something fashioned to a particular decade. It is a perpetual process embedded in the human spirit". abbie
"Give them what they want" abbie
Steve,I think you use Makita cordless. You might want to look into the Makita jobsite radio. It has an MP3 input in the battery compartment, with room for an iPod Touch inside. This lets you listen to the iPod while it is protected from dust or other insults.It looks like you are just listening to a hip radio station, with the iPod hidden inside.I have some pics of this, if you or anyone else is interested, I can post them.Cheers,Brian
I think you posted those once before...That radio does or does not have a battery charger in it?
Yeah, I posted that once before... and no charger, but it will run all day on a battery, or it can run on AC (but the cord is kinda wimpy and has a "brick" for a plug).I bought my Makita radio on clearance at a Menards store, nice to have a radio that works with my cordless stuff.
I know pelican makes a great case for the 30Gb ipod so I imagine they make one for the iphone/touch. It looks like a really rugged system and I believe they have a lifetime guarantee (?). Just google 'pelican cases' and you should come up with their home page. It's a pretty good site.
I would destroy a phone like that in about a minute. I have an old beat up motorola that I kill everyday.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
Google just came out with an answer to the iphone, and apparently it is less expensive.
http://www.google.com/mobile/android/#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-bk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google%20phone
I use one. It paid for itself when some fancy european cabinet hardware came with no instructions. Surfed to the mfr's website, found the pdf, installed the hardware, got paid.
It is an absolutely invaluable tool. If I smashed the #### out of it, I'd go right back out and get another. Worth every penny.
-Jamie
Get it, you won't regret it.
I use mine all the time for my business, but I'm an environmental consultant. I have the 16 gig.
Contacts, visual voice mail, e-mail...keeping in touch, rapid response to clients is key to any well run business.
I use the maps app with google map and GPS frequently. I don't have a GPS in the car but this works well enough, even though it doesn't talk to you.
The Apple App store is not set up that well. You have to search through many pages. But there are user reviews of each application.
Used it to read AND respond to Breaktime while DW was driving on a long trip to NH to pick up our Woodstock Soapstone woodstove. How cool is that?!
"The Apple App store is not set up that well"ain't that the truth, how hard would it be for them to add a search feature.
They've got one. Right there on the bottom of your screen when you go to apps. Far right side.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sbqIyeed4g&feature=related