There are plenty of great construction-oriented smartphone and tablet apps out there, and more are popping up every day, but sometimes KISS (keep it simple, stupid) is the way to go. Here are several of my favorite utility-type mobile applications that you may not have considered. If you don’t like these, there are loads of similar apps out there in each category — just search the AppStore (iOS) or Google Play for Android.
Illuminating app: Don’t laugh, this has turned out to be something I use almost every day. The best ones use both the camera’s flash LED and the screen itself for brightness and will light up any dark crawlspace. I use one called “Flashlight” for both iOS and Android.
Tallying apps: These let you keep track of things you’re counting while you’re counting them, e.g., the number of sinks on a blueprint or the number of windows in a house you’re bidding. “TallyPad” is the one I use on the iPhone and “Tally Counter” on Android.
More than just notes app: While it’s tempting to take notes on your device’s built in “memo” app, don’t. Instead, sign up for Evernote’s free version and use the Evernote client designed for your device. Add photos, documents, or even voice recordings. Organize your notes into “notebooks” or use “tags” — or just dump them all in a big digital “pile.” You can easily find them again with a clear text search.
The post Choosing Apps? Keep It Simple appeared first on Hanley Wood.
