MacDirectory Magazine

Spring-Summer 2012

MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.

Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/62609

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CLOSER LOOK FROGPAD >TEXT WITH ONE HAND BEHIND YOUR BACK WORDS BY JONE DEVLIN I know there are plenty of people out there with fast thumbs. You've all seen the people who can text faster than some of us can talk. I have always envied them, because as someone who does pretty well on a traditional QWERTY keyboard, I always found texting extraordinarily frustrating. Even when I got a smartphone that had a cute little QWERTY keyboard attached, I still found it taking forever and a day to put together and send the very simplest of text messages. The good news is that those days are now over – even for people like me – thanks to FrogPad. For those of us who aren't familiar with FrogPad, it is a special, one-handed keyboard that allows even the slowest texters (like me) among us to type out message like pros. The FrogPad, which can be easily customized for both left- and right-handed users, is a keyboard that boasts 20 keys, 15 of which are in the center, and five of which are along the edges. Different keys are enabled among the 20 based on which mode the keyboard is placed in. Modes, meanwhile, can be easily (and quickly) shifted among letters, numbers, and symbols. Of course, as with anything new, there is a little bit of a learning curve. But because FrogPad is logical and compact, it is fairly easy to get accustomed to this new way of communicating. Then too, the company also has lots of easy, and free, tutorials available online to help you get acclimated to this new and exciting way of staying connected. And for those of us who already have a QWERTY keyboard, you can still use the FrogPad app. In fact there is a special version available that comes with a set of removable clings to simply and quickly convert your old school QWERTY to a new school FrogPad. Not much of a texter? That's the beauty of FrogPad. iPad users rave about how they can hold their computer in one hand and take notes with other. Others, meanwhile, can't stop talking about how quick and easy it is capture information or shoot out a status update. And if you are still not convinced, look up FrogPad on the Web and see all the rave reviews. Not to mention the fact that the FrogPad website itself is filled with testimonials from satisfied customers, including some from individuals who are disabled and have found this more modern, easier method of staying connected to be a total God send. Yet even though the response to date to FrogPad has been phenomenal, the company is still working hard to stay ahead of the technology curve. That's why, in May 2012 FrogPad 2 will be introduced, adding the great new features of Bluetooth compatibility and the ability to interact with PCs, Macs and Linux computers. Meanwhile, iPhone users can download the FrogPad Note Taker in iTunes, while iPad users can download SoftFrogPad at the Apple app store. These more complex versions of FrogPad are designed specifically for "two thumbs in portrait mode" and come with a recommendation that you get (or are) familiar with FrogPad before adding this app, which will be upgraded with more features such as games and DropBox in the very near future. So if you ever wanted to be able to hold a keyboard in one hand while transferring notes and other information from iPads and PDAs with the other, or just sending out a quick text during a break or free moment, give FrogPad a try. Designed with comfort and ease in mind, there is no better way to get up to speed with today's fast paced way of communicating. For more information, visit . 94 MacDirectory

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