A Mish-Mash of Apps

One year ago today, give or take a few, the first major Apple product crossed the threshold of our home. Today, my iPad2 is competing for charging space with an iPhone, iPodTouch and a new iPad Mini.

We love the products but I know we are not using them to their full potential.  I appreciate the over 250,000 apps available but it's overwhelming. I am always on the look out for ways to increase my productivity.

Here are a few of the apps I am bouncing between. (Click app titles for links.)

• Reading: I am using Google Reader and Mr. Reader for RSS subscriptions. I like the Mr. Reader interface. When I find something on the web I want to read later, I am adding it to my iPad reading list.
  
• Writing: I am wandering amongst apps here - Moleskine and Evernote are downloaded but I still reach for pen and paper when I have thoughts to capture. I am not posting directly to the blogs and still use Word as my go to program but I am making the leap to Pages this weekend.
• Files: I am starting to work with Google Drive and Drop Box.
• Contacts: Between Verizon Backup Assist, Google Contacts, Google Contacts Sync and iCloud, I can't keep my lists straight to save my life.

I have yet to find my optimal grouping of apps for reading, writing and file storage. What works for you? What is one app you can't live without?

Where I'll Be: Federal Workplace Conference

If you are a federal HR professional or a leader in the federal workplace, you really have to take a look at attending the Federal Workplace Conference.

I attended for the first time in 2012 as the HR and EEO in the Federal Workplace conference and am heading back again in 2013.

Whether you're looking to brush up on your leadership or negotiation skills, get guidance on tackling employee leave, or need to know how to handle discrimination or workers' comp claims, the conference planners have got you covered.

• More than three dozen educational sessions: Proven techniques and compliance guidance will help you resolve your HR-related challenges and enhance your leadership skills. Plus, comprehensive coverage of recent EEOC, MSPB, FLRA and ECAB decisions will help you stay in compliance to avoid costly litigation.
• Networking and face-to-face communication with your peers: Discover what's working – and not working – for your agency colleagues from across the nation as you exchange ideas and share strategies.
• Insights and ideas from the federal community's most respected voices: First-class speakers will examine current issues and prepare you to face your toughest workplace challenges.

I am attending the conference as a guest of LRP to kick off the Human Capital Management Track with "Leadership, Credibility and the Federal HR Professional" and as a federal HR leader who values current, relevant information.    

Note: I was not asked to write this post and I am not being compensated to do so. I only recommend products or services I believe offer value or would be good for my readers.

Let me know if you are attending. We'll connect!