Author Topic: TECHNOLOGY: Smart phones  (Read 4762 times)

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Eyrk

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TECHNOLOGY: Smart phones
« on: Feb 13, 2010, 02:25 am »
As I'm sure many of you probably are as well my phone is always in reach, so who here uses which smart phone and if applicable how does it help you work?

I use to have a blackberry but now have the new Motorola Droid. This runs circles around my blackberry are really is more like a small computer that I can call people on. I have evernote on it as well which I saw a thread about.

Celeste_SM

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Re: TECHNOLOGY: Smart phones
« Reply #1 on: Feb 13, 2010, 05:14 pm »
I'm an iPhone users. I love it. I previously had a Treo (which I do not recommend) and a Blackberry.

KMC

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Re: TECHNOLOGY: Smart phones
« Reply #2 on: Feb 13, 2010, 05:19 pm »
Topic Guide

Okay folks - happy to have this discussion but let's try to steer this in a productive direction.  

If you like a phone tell us why, let's hear specifics geared towards Stage Management.  If you don't like a phone, again tell us why.  

Happy posting!
Get action. Do things; be sane; don’t fritter away your time; create, act, take a place wherever you are and be somebody; get action. -T. Roosevelt

Cedes

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Re: TECHNOLOGY: Smart phones
« Reply #3 on: Mar 03, 2010, 09:16 pm »
I am an iPhone user. Here is why I like it for Stage Management:

Dropbox: It's an internet-based program, but has an iPhone app that allows you to view all your documents anywhere. It's nice because it doesn't require a lot of space on your memory.

Docs To Go: This is a purchase app that allows you to download and save documents in excel, word, and powerpoint on your phone, and edit them if necessary.  I love it because you can basically have your whole prompt book on your phone, and editable.

Flashlight: obvious reasons.

Units: Allows me to have measurements anywhere-any and all units. 

Yelp: Allows me to look up anything within my local area, and close by without crazy searches.

Map: Has directionality built in.

And basically the fact that it is a smart phone.  I can get mail right to the minute about fittings, appointments, changes, etc.  I also like how you can sync your calendar with Google Calendar, so that all your appointments and schedules are already on your phone...and it works both ways: if you put an appt. on your phone it puts it on google calendar. 





megf

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Re: TECHNOLOGY: Smart phones
« Reply #4 on: Mar 10, 2010, 10:13 pm »
I am an iPhone user as well... although my favorite element of the device applies to any touchscreen item. I LOVE the silence of a touchscreen phone... unless I have to compose a long email or see large drawings, no need to have the laptop open at all! I found myself texting or emailing quite during rehearsals for my current show, and having the silent option was a huge help.

Pip T

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Re: TECHNOLOGY: Smart phones
« Reply #5 on: Apr 03, 2010, 07:34 pm »
Another iPhone user here!

Docs to Go is a great app for paperwork on the fly - and the iPhones native notes app is pretty good for quick notes as well. I also have a couple of SM specific apps, one called 'Showtimer,' which is basically a stopwatch and countdown timer in one that can count you down from the Half to the show, then time the show, putting auto labels (eg end of act 1) in a log that you can save. The other app I have is called 'ShowTool SM,' which is a props list and pre-show check sheet on the phone, and also incorporates a timer.

One thing I have discovered very rapidly about all this though, is brilliant though these apps are, there's no substitute for a paper pad and pencil at times!

NomieRae

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Re: TECHNOLOGY: Smart phones
« Reply #6 on: Apr 04, 2010, 12:20 am »
I had an iPhone for a little over a year, now I'm using a Blackberry, and will soon be getting a Droid. Honestly, I don't think I could go back to stage managing without a smart phone.  Getting up to date e-mail, google calendar and contact info is just that important in this crazy freelance world I live in.

One of my favorite new tools: gchat. I've noticed the trend towards most of the people I'm working with having gmail accounts and since no one really leaves their e-mail alone anymore, everyone is always lurking on gchat. During rehearsal before a break I can warn a producer in the office 75 feet away that the director is headed their way fuming. All without using a text message (which to those without unlimited plans can get spendy...)

Just my $.02
--Naomi
"First, I honor life, and with it my life in theatre." -- Jacques Burdick

Thespi620

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Re: TECHNOLOGY: Smart phones
« Reply #7 on: Apr 25, 2010, 07:44 pm »
Has anyone used the Rehearsal App?  It's geared more towards actors and voice-over artists, but it lets you forward pdf versions of scripts to the app, highlight, leave text/video/photo/audio comments.  It seems that with a little finagling and some creativity this could be helpful, especially in situations such as training a replacement on tricky sequences. 

It's one of the first apps I've seen specifically tailored to theatre professionals, so I thought I would mention it here and see if anyone had tried it out.

[The SM is] a very gifted, slightly eccentric master mechanic [keeping] a cantankerous, highly complex machine running at top efficiency by talking to it, soothing it, & lovingly fixing whatever is broken. 
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