Latest in productivity tips

Since its initial release in 2010, Windows Phone has generally had a reputation as the "other". Neither iOS nor Android but something else entirely, its curious and fast user interface has led to it experiencing a slow adoption rate as consumers struggled to work out whether it is a smartphone for leisure or productivity, gaming or business. The truth is, like a desktop PC, it is all of these things and much more.
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This is true for anyone that devotes a large portion of their time to the Internet. It may be bloggers trying to grow their website, technology workers working remotely, or just folks that get overly addicted to online games. The Internet can steal away many hours out of your day in the blink of an eye, and when you wake up you could discover that much of what you once loved is no longer there.
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For most people, the note-taking application of choice is Evernote. And Evernote users have good reasons for choosing the service for their note-taking needs -- it’s very functional, highly accessible, and has add-on features that can take you beyond the default Evernote experience. Here are seven tools that help to improve the way you use Evernote.
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You probably have a practical understanding of how Wikipedia works. To sum it all up, anyone can edit the information on a page, and they can do this quite quickly. These are the basic mechanics of how a wiki generally works, and Wikipedia just so happens to use it for their online encyclopedia. However, there are plenty of other purposes for this type of site. I'm here to offer a few suggestions for offbeat ways to use your own wikis.
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Google+ Circles are just that – a circle of friends organized around the way you want to share with them. Think of them as special and specific "drop zones" for stuff. The great thing about Circles is that you can use them in a variety of flexible ways. The ideas for using Google+ Circles for personal productivity aren't new by any means. Here are five.
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I've written several articles about Mac automation, including a MUO Automation Guide on how to get started with Apple's Automator and the built-in OS X features for creating smart folders, playlists, albums, and mailboxes. But next to the application called Hazel, which I also recently reviewed, the classic automation program Keyboard Maestro ($36.00) is my most used application for getting things done on my Mac. You can download it for a 30-day free trial.
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I just got back from a tour of California's beautiful Sonoma County, internationally known for its extraordinary wines and verdant, rolling hills. Unfortunately, with a deadline looming and no laptop available, the task of composing an article fell to my trusty smartphone, a suite of productivity software and a handful of peripheral devices. So, I hereby present some of the best equipment for working out of your smartphone.
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I have previously written an entire MUO guide about using Apple's smart folders and Automator program, but a classic third-party application called Hazel is one of my personal automation assistants that works in the background, requiring no keyboard shortcuts and mouse clicks on my part. Hazel is an automation program that essentially goes into action when files are added or changes are made to designated folders.
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I don't know about you, but I still find checking, writing, and managing email a tedious task. Two recently released iOS mail clients, Mailbox, and now Mail Pilot ($14.99) make great use of the iPhone and iPad's gesture navigation features to help you turn your inbox into a to-do manager for the email you receive. Today we'll be looking at Mail Pilot, a client that's not just about checking and reading email but also performing actions with those messages so you can get things done.
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Gmail is a powerful webmail client. You can manage multiple email accounts using a single Gmail account, easily set up advanced filters to manage incoming email, or quickly find archived emails using Google’s advanced search options. There is no end to Gmail’s awesomeness for everyday use, hence most users don’t even scratch the surface of [...]
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If you work at a home-based office like I do, you no doubt spend a significant amount of time getting things done on your Mac. While I have already written about the advantages of using a standup desk, there are also several important and general productivity apps for almost any type of workflow you engage in. These applications not only save me time but in many cases help me work more efficiently.
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Alfred is a task launcher for Mac OSX - hit a shortcut, start typing the name of a file, folder, contact, application or search term, and bam - there it is. Since version 2, the concept of workflows was introduced - essentially, user-created plugins that can extend the functionality. My mind was blown - this in an incredibly powerful app, possibly the most useful I've come across yet. To use workflows, you must have the PowerPack purchased for $25.
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The CAPS LOCK key is probably the most useless key on your keyboard. Netiquette forbids you to use it because it's considered screaming, which is simply rude. And what else would you use it for other than expressing your raw emotions? Unintentional activation of the CAPS LOCK is also a common reason why people fail to type the right password. That's because it sits on the home row, a prime location that is easily hit by accident.
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Do you find yourself constantly distracted by everything going on around you and having a hard time concentrating on what you're doing? The solution is noise-cancelling headphones. Whether you're in a café with a crying baby two tables away, the office with noisy chatter in the cubicle next to you or at home with the dog constantly barking, headphones will do the trick. But headphones are only part of the solution.
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I have previously covered timesaving features in the latest version of Apple's Mail client, but despite its improved user interface, search features, favorites bar and VIP folders, there are still missing features Mac power users could use to be more productive in Mail. Fortunately, there are several third-party plug-ins that enhance Mail and address some of its annoying problems or missing features.
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