Jonathan Wylie

Getting Things Done With Google Drive

Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash

I’m old enough to remember the early days of cloud storage. I used to tell teachers that it was like having a filing cabinet that you could access anywhere you wanted, and on any device you felt like using. Then I realized the error of my ways. Every physical filing cabinet I had ever used had files that were neatly labeled and meticulously organized with the aid of those ubiquitous green file folders. Somewhere along the way, we lost some of that organizational structure when we started using cloud storage. However, help is at hand.

Getting Things Done With Gmail

Photo by Stephen Phillips – Hostreviews.co.uk on Unsplash

Gmail is the most popular email service in the world. Most of us have used it for years and are pretty comfortable using it to read and send emails. However, there’s a difference between knowing how to use email and knowing how to manage email. If you don’t have a system to help you stay organized, the hundreds of emails you get each week will quickly overwhelm you. So, here’s how to use the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology to manage your Gmail inbox.

Getting Things Done With Google Tasks

blank post-it notes on a desk next to a computer keyboard — Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

I used to use Post-it notes a lot. They were on my desk, on my computer, stuck to the wall, and in my teacher manuals. However, they are not without their shortcomings. For instance, if I was not at my desk, I wouldn’t be able to recall that important piece of information from one of those important yellow Post-it notes. I needed something more universal, a way to take my tasks with me everywhere I went, as well as the ability to add to my task list at a moment’s notice. The answer was there all along. I needed a digital task manager.

Getting Things Done With Google

Man walking past a whiteboard wall with a phone to his ear. The wall has the work Productivity written on it. — Photo by Andreas Klassen on Unsplash

I used to think about the word “busy” as a positive word. I would come home from work and my wife would ask me how my day was. I would reply, “busy”, like it was a good thing. It implied that I was always on the go. I was never short of things to do. I was working hard and doing as much as I could to fill my day. And then I thought about it. Many of those things were true, but I didn’t necessarily get a lot done. Here’s how I fixed that.

Introducing: The Tech Nuggets Newsletter

The top left corner of a laptop screen showing a Gmail inbox

Email is often decried as a waning, outdated form of communication. However, it shows no signs of leaving us anytime soon. Why? Email remains an important part of most people’s workflows. It’s predictable, manageable, and if you subscribe to the right sources, it can also be a valuable place for new learning. To that end, I decided to create my own email newsletter. Here’s the scoop.

How to Use Your iPhone for Macro Photography

Macro photography used to require a DSLR, a set of expensive lenses, and some lighting equipment. However, you can now use your iPhone for macro photography. This makes close-up photography so much more accessible because it uses the camera that you always have with you—your iPhone! So, if you are ready for your close-up, here’s how to get started.

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What is Live Video in Keynote?

Apple’s Fall software updates are often dominated by updates for their mobile and desktop operating systems. However, this year, the often-overlooked iWork suite also got a significant update. Pages, Keynote, and Numbers are still used less than their illustrious counterparts from Microsoft and Google, but they continue to include unique features that make them a compelling alternative. Live Video in Keynote is one such feature. Here’s how it works.

10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Apple Watch

apple watch lying on its side on top of a macbook

The Apple Watch started its life as a relatively straightforward device. However, as time progressed, it gained a host of new features and has grown in complexity to the point that hardly anybody knows everything that it is actually capable of. So, if you are looking for new ways to get the most out of your Apple Watch, take a look at the tips below.

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Why Live Text in iOS 15 is Great for Schools

hand holding a space gray iPhone — Photo by Bagus Hernawan on Unsplash

In its annual update for its mobile devices, Apple has prepared a buffet of new features for iOS 15. There are lots of innovative ideas here, but the one that stood out the most for me is the new Live Text feature. I think it could be a great option for schools and anyone else that is looking to extract text from an image. In this post, I will show you how it works and why it could be a bigger deal than some people have given it credit for.

Everything Announced at Apple’s September Event

A side view of the camera lenses on the iPhone 13 Pro

It’s September, and that only means one thing in Cupertino – new Apple products. In a live-streamed event, Apple unveiled a new iPad, a new iPad Mini, the Apple Watch Series 7, and the iPhone 13. So, will these new devices have you running for your wallet, or will you simply walk on by the next time you see an Apple Store? As always, the devil is in the details, so let’s dive a little deeper.