A better way to manage your files

Previously I have mentioned ways to store files on the cloud.  More recently I have been recommending a better way to manage your files.

I travel almost everyday through areas with limited to no internet access and there are times when I just need to be able to access a file.  The catch though is that I don't want to have to remember which files I've accessed and sync them over my Mac, PC, iPhone and iPad.  That's where Dropbox comes in.

Watch the following video for some more information.

Which Cloud Accounting Package do you recommend?

Freshbooks | Cloud AccountingI Lurve Freshbooks!

It is a Cloud Accounting package, tailored for individuals or businesses that bill $300k or less, that allows you to send and manage invoices online or via the MiniBooks App on your iPhone.  If you need to run timesheets for a client you can set up Time Trackers that you tap on your iPhone which can be associated with specific Projects or Tasks or just in general for a client.

Tracking expenses and re-billing clients can sometimes prove a nightmare but with Freshbooks you can add them on the go and associate them to a client with a few clicks.  Then when you go to raise an invoice it will remind you that you have expenses to invoice. Even better is that you can even have it linked to your Shoeboxed account!  So your entries will appear there for you and all you have to do is associate it with a

client, if necessary.

As far as reporting is concerned you can run Ageing & simple P&Ls.  Starting up you can import data is limited to contacts only, the developers need to look at history invoices and expenses for those coming in part way through a financial year.

When it comes to invoice reminders it is set and forget.  You can select the number of days between reminders and change any of the text for the emails that are generated.

I use Freshbooks everyday and just lurve how easy it is to run my invoicing system now!

For assistance on moving your business to the Cloud contact me via email or call me on 02 8014 8857.

What do you do for work?... aka... Our latest services

I was recently asked what do you do for work? After taking some time out to review what I do here is what I came up with.

Clarity Australia (that's my trading name) provide a Virtual Assistance service that can be anything from PA duties, Event Management, Training & Assessment and Technical Support.

Services include:

• Diary Management - Keeping busy professionals organised.
• Telephone Answering - With follow up actions completed according to defined scenarios.
• Email Marketing campaigns - One-off or planned regular communications.
• Product Distribution Service - Storage capabilities with distribution via Australia Post or Courier(s).
• Event Management - From concept to delivery or one-off business meetings to multi-day/location events eg. Annual Conference, Product Launch, Awards Ceremonies, Golf Day, Charity Functions.
• Training & Assessment - Qualified as a VET Trainer & Assessor with extensive Business Services Package knowledge. Training can be delivered with issuing of a Nationally Accredited qualification.
• Google Apps conversions - Using FREE online business applications to make your life easier eg. Mail, Calendar, Docs.
• iPhone - Set up, Sync OTA (over the air) and Updates to 3.0 OS, development of Apps.
• Website - Design, maintenance and troubleshooting.
• Other - All projects considered, no job too big or small.

If you are looking to enhance your perception and utilise the latest technologies at the lowest cost then you need to talk to Clarity!

Professional presentations using another great iPhone App

Do you want to look even more professional when delivering your presentations?

Sick of cue cards either getting out of sequences or worse still dropping them on the floor?

That is all a thing of the past.  As regular readers know I love my iPhone and I have discovered another great App, called AutoCue by Softalk Ltd.

This App turns your iPhone into a teleprompter, thus enabling you to deliver your speeches fluently.  It is designed to help you project a natural speaking style yet have everything written down.  You could use it for a company presentation of assist you with delivering a speech at a wedding or an awards ceremony.

You can write your speech directly on your iPhone in the App or write it using your Mac or PC and save it in a 'UTF-8 .txt' format then transfer it onto your device.  When you select your topic it will then slowly scroll through your speech.  You have full control and can pause, fast forward or reverse all by either the on screen buttons or simply use the familiar swipe technique you have come to love when using your other iPhone Apps.

There are a variety of colours and font sizes to choose from and you can adjust the speed at which the text scrolls.  This great App also gives you an estimate of the length of your speech and where you are up to in your delivery.  It even has a mirror option for true teleprompter usage, like US President Barrack Obama used at his Inauguration Speech.

For more information be sure to check out AutoCue.

Sync: Set Up Your iPhone

I have been waiting and finally it has arrived. FREE sync of Google Calendar and Contacts with the inbuilt iPhone over the air.

You need to Back Up your data first but if you follow the steps shown at the preceeding link first, all will be well.

So now that you have backed up your data its time to set up Google Sync on your iPhone or iPod Touch device. Please follow the steps below as sourced directly from Google's pages.

Requirements and Upload

1. Make sure your device has version 2.2 firmware or above. You can check your current version by going to Settings > About > Version.
To upgrade, follow the instructions at http://www.apple.com/iphone/softwareupdate/.

2. Upload any Contacts and Calendars from your phone to your computer before proceeding. The iPhone will delete Contacts and Calendars during setup.
Learn how to upload your Contacts with iTunes: PC Users - Mac Users.

3. The contacts that are replaced on your device will be the contents of your My Contacts group. This is the only group supported at this time, so make sure to clean up your My Contacts before syncing.

Getting Started

1. Open the Settings application on your device's home screen.
2. Open Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
3. Tap Add Account....
4. Select Microsoft Exchange.

Enter Account Info

5. In the Email field, enter the name of the account (anything you'd like).
6. Leave the Domain field blank.
7. Enter your full Google Account email address as the Username.
8. Enter your Google Account password as the Password.
9. Tap Next at the top of your screen.
10. A new Server field will appear. Enter m.google.com.
11. Press Next at the top of your screen again.

12. Select the Google services you want to sync. Currently only Contacts and Calendar are supported.
Make sure that you have uploaded your data before proceeding.

13. Press Sync twice when warned about data loss.

You've set up Google Sync for your iPhone. Synchronization will begin automatically if you have Push enabled on your phone. You can also open the Calendar or Contacts app and wait a few seconds to start a sync.

Tip: If your business, school, or organization uses Google Apps, your administrator will first need to enable ActiveSync before you can take advantage of this feature.

A little extra info if you use Google Apps!

If you have google apps, on your phone go to m.google.com via Safari. At the bottom of the screen there is a link for "Google Apps user? Tap to configure for your domain.
Once you are logged in you can select sync and get to the options you need.

It didn't do it for me the first time but I did get it to work and I now have my Main calendar, Personal, Public Holidays and Weather showing.

Only thing left to do is find a way to make the colours the same on iPhone as in Browser.